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PubMed2006

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) is essential for the integrity of basement membranes in the developing placental labyrinth.

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) is a membrane-associated Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor that regulates cell surface and extracellular serine proteases involved in tissue remodeling and tumorigenesis, such as HGFA, matriptase, prostasin and hepsin. We generated HAI-1 deficient mice, which died in utero due to placental defects. The HAI-1(-/-) placental labyrinth exhibited a complete failure of vascularization and a compact morphology of the trophoblast layer. Immunofluorescent staining of collagen IV and laminin and electron microscopy analysis revealed that this aberrant labyrinth architecture was associated with disrupted basement membranes located at the interface of chorionic trophoblasts and allantoic mesoderm. Unlike the placental labyrinth, basement membranes and vasculogenesis were normal in embryo and yolk sac. Therefore, basement membrane defects appear to be the underlying cause for the greatly impaired vascularization and trophoblast branching in HAI-1(-/-) placentas. In wild-type placentas, the expression of matriptase and prostasin co-localized with their physiological inhibitor HAI-1 to the labyrinthine trophoblast cells in proximity to basement membranes. In HAI-1(-/-) placentas, both the localization and expression of the two proteases remained unchanged, implying uncontrolled proteolytic activities of the two enzymes. Our study demonstrates the important role of HAI-1 in maintaining the integrity of basement membrane most likely by regulating extracellular proteolytic activities during placental development.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Long-term effects of vasopressin on the subcellular localization of ENaC in the renal collecting system.

Previous studies revealed that chronic (days) vasopressin treatment stimulates amiloride-sensitive sodium transport in isolated renal cortical collecting ducts and increases the abundance of beta- and gamma-subunits of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in the kidney. The aim of the present work was to investigate in vivo the cellular basis of these effects. The long-term effect of V2 vasopressin agonist (1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP)) on the abundance and subcellular localization of ENaC along the rat renal collecting system was determined by immunohistochemistry and laser confocal microscopy. Moreover, we studied by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction the effect of vasopressin on proteins implicated in the regulation of ENaC (Nedd4-2, prostasin, Sgk1). After 5 days of administration, dDAVP markedly increased the intracellular pool of the beta- and gamma-ENaC subunits in the principal cells, with an increasing gradient from connecting tubule to the outer medullary collecting duct, but did not increase any subunit at the cell surface. The apical immunostaining of ENaC increased in response to sodium restriction, as expected, but dDAVP did not further enhance this apical labelling. dDAVP increased the gene expression of prostasin in the cortex but not that of Nedd4-2 and Sgk1. These findings suggest that the previously reported increase in sodium transport induced by sustained stimulation of vasopressin V2 receptor is probably mediated by other mechanism than an increase in the apical density of ENaC.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed2003

Serine protease activation of near-silent epithelial Na+ channels.

The regulation of epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) function is critical for normal salt and water balance. This regulation is achieved through cell surface insertion/retrieval of channels, by changes in channel open probability (Po), or through a combination of these processes. Epithelium-derived serine proteases, including channel activating protease (CAP) and prostasin, regulate epithelial Na+ transport, but the molecular mechanism is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that extracellular serine proteases activate a near-silent ENaC population resident in the plasma membrane. Single-channel events were recorded in outside-out patches from fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) stably expressing rat alpha-, beta-, and gamma-subunits (rENaC), before and during exposure to trypsin, a serine protease homologous to CAP and prostasin. Under baseline conditions, near-silent patches were defined as having rENaC activity (NPo) < 0.03, where N is the number of channels. Within 1-5 min of 3 microg/ml bath trypsin superfusion, NPo increased approximately 66-fold (n = 7). In patches observed to contain a single functional channel, trypsin increased Po from 0.02 +/- 0.01 to 0.57 +/- 0.03 (n = 3, mean +/- SE), resulting from the combination of an increased channel open time and decreased channel closed time. Catalytic activity was required for activation of near-silent ENaC. Channel conductance and the Na+/Li+ current ratio with trypsin were similar to control values. Modulation of ENaC Po by endogenous epithelial serine proteases is a potentially important regulator of epithelial Na+ transport, distinct from the regulation achieved by hormone-induced plasma membrane insertion of channels.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Anti-human prostasome MAB 78 binds to antigen distinct from PSA and PAP.

PURPOSE: The characteristics of an antigen corresponding to a monoclonal antibody (mAb 78) against human prostasomes were compared with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). The correspondence of Ag 78 to two other prostate-derived antigens, prostasin and peptide pGlu-Phe-Pro-NH2, were also considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The immunoreactivity of mAb 78 and the cross-reactivity of mAb 78 with PSA and PAP were studied with immunohistochemical and enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) Western blotting methods. RESULTS: The mAb 78 did not bind to PSA blots, and anti-PSA antibody did not label prostasome blots. Neither did PSA and PAP impede the binding of mAb 78 onto prostasome blots nor to paraffin sections of prostate epithelium. Afer Western blots, mAb 78 bound diffusely to a band with a molecular weight of 35 kDa, but did not bind to PSA 933 kDa) or PAP (monomer 50 kDa, intact molecule 100 kDa) bands. From purified 35 kDa bands, three fractions were sequenced, which showed no similarities to PSA and PAP. CONCLUSIONS: The Ag 78 is different from PSA and PAP, and probably also from prostasin and peptide pGlu-Phe-Pro-NH2. The mAb 78 can be used as a new marker for human prostasomes.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2006

A novel neutrophil elastase inhibitor prevents elastase activation and surface cleavage of the epithelial sodium channel expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) constitutes a limiting step in sodium reabsorption across distal airway epithelium and controlling mucociliary clearance. ENaC is activated by serine proteases secreted in the extracellular milieu. In cystic fibrosis lungs, high concentrations of secreted neutrophil elastase (NE) are observed. hNE could activate ENaC and contribute to further decreased mucociliary clearance. The aims of this study were (i) to test the ability of an engineered human neutrophil elastase inhibitor (EPI-hNE4) to specifically inhibit the elastase activation of ENaC-mediated amiloride-sensitive currents (I(Na)) and (ii) to examine the effect of elastase on cell surface expression of ENaC and its cleavage pattern (exogenous proteolysis). Oocytes were exposed to hNE (10-100 microg/ml) and/or trypsin (10 microg/ml) for 2-5 min in the presence or absence of EPI-hNE4 (0.7 microm). hNE activated I(Na) 3.6-fold (p < 0.001) relative to non-treated hENaC-injected oocytes. EPI-hNE4 fully inhibited hNE-activated I(Na) but had no effect on trypsin- or prostasin-activated I(Na). The co-activation of I(Na) by hNE and trypsin was not additive. Biotinylation experiments revealed that cell surface gamma ENaC (but not alpha or beta ENaC) exposed to hNE for 2 min was cleaved (as a 67-kDa fragment) and correlated with increased I(Na). The elastase-induced exogenous proteolysis pattern is distinct from the endogenous proteolysis pattern induced upon preferential assembly, suggesting a causal relationship between gamma ENaC cleavage and ENaC activation, taking place at the plasma membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The epidermal barrier function is dependent on the serine protease CAP1/Prss8.

Serine proteases are proteolytic enzymes that are involved in the regulation of various physiological processes. We generated mice lacking the membrane-anchored channel-activating serine protease (CAP) 1 (also termed protease serine S1 family member 8 [Prss8] and prostasin) in skin, and these mice died within 60 h after birth. They presented a lower body weight and exhibited severe malformation of the stratum corneum (SC). This aberrant skin development was accompanied by an impaired skin barrier function, as evidenced by dehydration and skin permeability assay and transepidermal water loss measurements leading to rapid, fatal dehydration. Analysis of differentiation markers revealed no major alterations in CAP1/Prss8-deficient skin even though the epidermal deficiency of CAP1/Prss8 expression disturbs SC lipid composition, corneocyte morphogenesis, and the processing of profilaggrin. The examination of tight junction proteins revealed an absence of occludin, which did not prevent the diffusion of subcutaneously injected tracer (approximately 600 D) toward the skin surface. This study shows that CAP1/Prss8 expression in the epidermis is crucial for the epidermal permeability barrier and is, thereby, indispensable for postnatal survival.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Localization, expression and genomic structure of the gene encoding the human serine protease testisin.

Testisin is a recently identified human serine protease expressed by premeiotic testicular germ cells and is a candidate tumor suppressor for testicular cancer. Here, we report the characterization of the gene encoding testisin, designated PRSS21, and its localization on the short arm of human chromosome 16 (16p13.3) between the microsatellite marker D16S246 and the radiation hybrid breakpoint CY23HA. We have further refined the localization to cosmid 406D6 in this interval and have established that the gene is approximately 4. 5 kb in length, and contains six exons and five intervening introns. The structure of PRSS21 is very similar to the human prostasin gene (PRSS8) which maps nearby on 16p11.2, suggesting that these genes may have evolved through gene duplication. Sequence analysis showed that the two known isoforms of testisin are generated by alternative pre-mRNA splicing. A major transcription initiation site was identified 97 nucleotides upstream of the testisin translation start and conforms to a consensus initiator element. The region surrounding the transcription initiation site lacks a TATA consensus sequence, but contains a CCAAT sequence and includes a CpG island. The 5'-flanking region contains several consensus response elements including Sp1, AP1 and several testis-specific elements. Analysis of testisin gene expression in tumor cell lines shows that testisin is not expressed in testicular tumor cells but is aberrantly expressed in some tumor cell lines of non-testis origin. These data provide the basis for identifying potential genetic alterations of PRSS21 that may underlie both testicular abnormalities and tumorigenesis.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1999

Cloning and structural analysis of leydin, a novel human serine protease expressed by the Leydig cells of the testis.

We present the cloning and structural analysis of a novel member of the large family of trypsin-related serine proteases. Northern blot analysis shows that this protease, in adult tissues, is expressed almost exclusively in the human testis. In addition, a larger transcript was detected in relatively high abundance in several embryonic tissues, indicating different functions during embryonic and adult life. Sera raised against this protease was used to locate the expression in adult tissues to the testosterone producing cells of the testis, the interstitial Leydig cells. We therefore propose the name leydin for this novel protease. Leydin is clearly distinct from acrosin, the other testis-specific serine protease which is expressed by the spermatocytes. Leydin is probably a two-chain protease such as acrosin, prostasin, and coagulation factor XI. The heavy chain consists of 246 amino acids, corresponding to a molecular mass of 27384 Da and a net charge of +10.76. The size of the light chain is between 9 and 18 amino acids depending on the site of proteolytic cleavage, which remains to be determined. The amino-acid residues surrounding the active site indicate a trypsin-like cleavage specificity. The presence of two dibasic sequences Arg-Arg and Lys-Arg at the N-terminus of the heavy chain indicate that one or more subtilisin-like endopeptidases are responsible for the processing of leydin. However, leydin may also be activated by a trypsin-like enzyme, possibly by auto catalysis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A novel serine protease highly expressed in the pancreas is expressed in various kinds of cancer cells.

We have isolated a cDNA that encodes a novel serine protease, prosemin, from human brain. The cDNA of human prosemin is 1306 bp, encoding 317 amino acids. It showed significant homology with the sequence of a chromosome 16 cosmid clone (accession no. NT_037887.4). The prosemin gene contains six exons and five introns. The amino acid sequence of prosemin shows significant homology to prostasin, gamma-tryptase, and testisin (43%, 41%, and 38% identity, respectively), the genes of which are also located on chromosome 16. Northern hybridization showed that prosemin is expressed predominantly in the pancreas and weakly in the prostate and cerebellum. However, western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that prosemin is expressed and secreted from various kinds of cancer cells, such as glioma, pancreas, prostate, and ovarian cell lines. Prosemin is secreted in the cystic fluid of clinical ovarian cancers. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed prosemin protein localized in the apical parts of ovarian carcinomas. Recombinant prosemin was expressed in COS cells and was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. Recombinant prosemin preferentially cleaved benzyloxycarbonyl (Z)-His-Glu-Lys-methylcoumaryl amidide (MCA) and t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)-Gln-Ala-Arg-MCA. Our results suggest that prosemin is a novel serine protease of the chromosome 16 cluster that is highly expressed in the pancreas. The usefulness of this serine protease as a candidate tumor marker should be further examined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Selection of potential markers for epithelial ovarian cancer with gene expression arrays and recursive descent partition analysis.

PURPOSE: Advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis with long-term survival in less than 30% of patients. When the disease is detected in stage I, more than 90% of patients can be cured by conventional therapy. Screening for early-stage disease with individual serum tumor markers, such as CA125, is limited by the fact that no single marker is up-regulated and shed in adequate amounts by all ovarian cancers. Consequently, use of multiple markers in combination might detect a larger fraction of early-stage ovarian cancers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To identify potential candidates for novel markers, we have used Affymetrix human genome arrays (U95 series) to analyze differences in gene expression of 41,441 known genes and expressed sequence tags between five pools of normal ovarian surface epithelial cells (OSE) and 42 epithelial ovarian cancers of different stages, grades, and histotypes. Recursive descent partition analysis (RDPA) was performed with 102 probe sets representing 86 genes that were up-regulated at least 3-fold in epithelial ovarian cancers when compared with normal OSE. In addition, a panel of 11 genes known to encode potential tumor markers [mucin 1, transmembrane (MUC1), mucin 16 (CA125), mesothelin, WAP four-disulfide core domain 2 (HE4), kallikrein 6, kallikrein 10, matrix metalloproteinase 2, prostasin, osteopontin, tetranectin, and inhibin] were similarly analyzed. RESULTS: The 3-fold up-regulated genes were examined and four genes [Notch homologue 3 (NOTCH3), E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3), GTPase activating protein (RACGAP1), and hematological and neurological expressed 1 (HN1)] distinguished all tumor samples from normal OSE. The 3-fold up-regulated genes were analyzed using RDPA, and the combination of elevated claudin 3 (CLDN3) and elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) distinguished the cancers from normal OSE. The 11 known markers were analyzed using RDPA, and a combination of HE4, CA125, and MUC1 expression could distinguish tumor from normal specimens. Expression at the mRNA level in the candidate markers was examined via semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR and was found to correlate well with the array data. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify expression of the genes at the protein level in 158 ovarian cancers of different histotypes. A combination of CLDN3, CA125, and MUC1 stained 157 (99.4%) of 158 cancers, and all of the tumors were detected with a combination of CLDN3, CA125, MUC1, and VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: Our data are consistent with the possibility that a limited number of markers in combination might identify >99% of epithelial ovarian cancers despite the heterogeneity of the disease.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2003

Analysis of the comprehensive effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid on mRNA expression using a gene chip.

To investigate the comprehensive effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on gene expression, we analyzed changes of mRNA expression in PUFA-treated HepG2 cells using a DNA micro array. We incubated HepG2 cells for 24 h with or without 0.25 mM oleic acid (OA), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and then compared the expression profiles of thousands of genes using a GeneChip. PUFA influenced the expression of various genes related to cell proliferation, growth and adhesion, as well as for many transcription factors including sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP). Treatments with AA, EPA, and DHA repressed the expression of genes related to cholesterol and lipid metabolism. Moreover, data from gene chip analysis proved that PUPA reduced the expression ofprostasin, which is a serine protease. By measuring the mRNA levels of SREBPs, mevalonate pyrophosphatase and prostasin using quantitative RT-PCR, we confirmed the effect of PUFA revealed by gene chip analysis. These data might provide useful clues with which to explore novel functions of PUPA.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1999

Testisin, a new human serine proteinase expressed by premeiotic testicular germ cells and lost in testicular germ cell tumors.

We have cloned and characterized a cDNA encoding a new human serine proteinase, testisin, that is abundantly expressed only in the testis and is lost in testicular tumors. The testisin cDNA was identified by homology cloning using degenerate primers directed at conserved sequence motifs within the catalytic regions of serine proteinases. It is 1073 nucleotides long, including 942 nucleotides of open reading frame and a 113-nucleotide 3' untranslated sequence. Northern and dot blot analyses of RNA from a range of normal human tissues revealed a 1.4-kb mRNA species that was present only in testis, which was not detected in eight of eight testicular tumors. Testisin cDNA is predicted to encode a protein of 314 amino acids, which consists of a 19-amino acid (aa) signal peptide, a 22-aa proregion, and a 273-aa catalytic domain, including a unique 17-aa COOH-terminal hydrophobic extension that is predicted to function as a membrane anchor. The deduced amino acid sequence of testisin shows 44% identity to prostasin and contains features that are typical of serine proteinases with trypsin-like substrate specificity. Antipeptide antibodies directed against the testisin polypeptide detected an immunoreactive testisin protein of Mr 35,000-39,000 in cell lysates from COS-7 cells that were transiently transfected with testisin cDNA. Immunostaining of normal testicular tissue showed that testisin was expressed in the cytoplasm and on the plasma membrane of premeiotic germ cells. No staining was detected in eight of eight germ cell-derived testicular tumors. In addition, the testisin gene was localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization to the short arm of human chromosome 16 (16p13.3), a region that has been associated with allellic imbalance and loss of heterozygosity in sporadic testicular tumors. These findings demonstrate a new cell surface serine proteinase, loss of which may have a direct or indirect role in the progression of testicular tumors of germ cell origin.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Involvement of phosphorylation of Tyr-31 and Tyr-118 of paxillin in MM1 cancer cell migration.

We demonstrated previously that rat ascites hepatoma MM1 cells require both lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and fibronectin (FN) for phagokinetic motility and transcellular migration and that these events are regulated through the RhoA-ROCK pathway. It remains to be elucidated, however, how the signals from both LPA and FN are integrated into cell migration. To examine this, total cellular lysates after stimulation with LPA or FN were subjected to time-course immunoblot analysis with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies (Abs). Consequently, tyrosine-phosphorylation of paxillin was obviously persistent after stimulation with FN + LPA as compared to after stimulation with either alone. Tyrosine-phosphorylated paxillin comprised 2 components; slowly and fast migrating ones. Immunoblotting of anti-paxillin immunoprecipitates with phosphorylation site-specific Abs revealed the following: tyrosine-phosphorylation was enhanced preferentially on a slowly migrating component after stimulation with FN + LPA; this component contained phosphorylation at both tyrosine residue (Y) 31 and Y118; and phosphorylation of paxillin at Y181 was constitutive and not augmented by stimulation with either FN or LPA. Amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+/H+ antiporter downstream of ROCK, suppressed cell motility and correspondingly paxillin tyrosine-phosphorylation at both Y31 and Y118. Paxillin phosphorylation weakly induced by FN alone, insufficient for cell migration, was not inhibited by amiloride. These results demonstrate that LPA collaborates with FN for persistent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin at both Y31 and Y118, regulated by the Na+/H+ antiporter downstream of ROCK and that this phosphorylated paxillin is essential for MM1 cancer cell migration.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1997

An epithelial serine protease activates the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel.

Sodium balance, and ultimately blood pressure and extracellular fluid volume, is maintained by precise regulation of the activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). In a Xenopus kidney epithelial cell line (A6), exposure of the apical membrane to the protease inhibitor aprotinin reduces transepithelial sodium transport. Sodium-channel activity can be restored by subsequent exposure to the nonspecific protease trypsin. Using A6 cells and a functional complementation assay to detect increases in ENaC activity, we have cloned a 329-residue protein belonging to the serine protease family. We show that coexpression of this protein with ENaC in Xenopus oocytes increases the activity of the sodium channel by two- to threefold. This channel-activating protease (CAP1) is expressed in kidney, gut, lung, skin and ovary. Sequence analysis predicts that CAP1 is a secreted and/or glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein: ENaC activity would thus be regulated by the activity of a protease expressed at the surface of the same cell. This previously undiscovered mechanism for autocrine regulation may apply to other ion channels, in particular to members of the ENaC family that are present in neurons and epithelial cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Regulation of ENaCs by proteases: An increasingly complex story.

Proteolytic processing of epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) subunits has an important role in the regulation of ENaC gating. This Commentary addresses the potential roles of specific proteases and protease inhibitors in the control of Na+ channel gating.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1997

Molecular organization of the genes required for the synthesis of type 1 capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae: formation of binary encapsulated pneumococci and identification of cryptic dTDP-rhamnose biosynthesis genes.

We report here the molecular organization of the capsular locus (cap1) of the type 1 pneumococcus. This locus is located between dexB and aliA and flanked by IS1167 insertion elements. Sequence analysis showed that the cluster contains 11 genes (cap1A to cap1K), which are apparently arranged as a single transcriptional unit. The presence of a functional promoter (cap1p) located upstream of cap1A has been demonstrated and the transcription start point was mapped by primer-extension analysis. A 14.3 kb fragment containing the genes cap1ABCDEFGHIJK and including cap1p was sufficient to allow the synthesis of a type 1 capsule in Streptococcus pneumoniae. An internal deletion of cap1E leads to an unencapsulated phenotype demonstrating that this gene is essential for capsular production. The cap1K gene has been expressed in Escherichia coli resulting in UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UDP-GlcDH) activity. Moreover, this gene was able to restore the synthesis of type 3 capsule when cloned into a plasmid and introduced by transformation into S. pneumoniae cap3A mutants deficient in UDP-GlcDH. In marked contrast with what was previously thought, recombination between cap1K and cap3A does occur. We provide data on the molecular mechanism that leads to the formation of binary encapsulated pneumococcal cells, i.e. strains that simultaneously produce type 1 and type 3 capsules. Downstream of cap1K, one truncated and three complete open reading frames homologous to those involved in the biosynthesis of dTDP-rhamnose, a monosaccharide that does not participate in the formation of type 1 polysaccharide, have been identified in all the clinical strains of type 1 pneumococcus tested. Our results provide new insights into the generation of capsule diversity in pneumococci.

Bacterial Capsules↗
PubMed1999

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator inhibits epithelial Na+ channels carrying Liddle's syndrome mutations.

Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC) are inhibited by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) upon activation by protein kinase A. It is, however, still unclear how CFTR regulates the activity of ENaC. In the present study we examined whether CFTR interacts with ENaC by interfering with the Nedd4- and ubiquitin-mediated endocytosis of ENaC. Various C-terminal mutations were introduced into the three alpha-, beta-, and gamma-subunits of the rat epithelial Na+ channel, thereby eliminating PY motifs, which are important binding domains for the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, most of the ENaC stop (alpha-H647X, beta-P565X, gamma-S608X) or point (alpha-P671A, beta-Y618A, gamma-P(624-626)A) mutations induced enhanced Na+ currents when compared with wild type alpha,beta,gamma-rENaC. However, ENaC currents formed by either of the mutant alpha-, beta-, or gamma-subunits were inhibited during activation of CFTR by forskolin (10 micromol/l) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1 mmol/l). Antibodies to dynamin or ubiquitin enhanced alpha,beta,gamma-rENaC whole cell Na+ conductance but did not interfere with inhibition of ENaC by CFTR. Another mutant, beta-T592M,T593A-ENaC, also showed enhanced Na+ currents, which were down-regulated by CFTR. Moreover, activation of ENaC by extracellular proteases and xCAP1 does not disturb CFTR-dependent inhibition of ENaC. We conclude that regulation of ENaC by CFTR is distal to other regulatory limbs and does not involve Nedd4-dependent ubiquitination.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗