title: Epithelial sodium channel regulatory proteins identified by functional expression cloning.
abstract: We describe here our current strategy for identifying and cloning proteins involved in the regulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). We have set up a complementation functional assay in the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system. Using this assay, we have been able to identify a channel-activating protease (CAP-1) that can increase ENaC activity threefold. We propose a novel extracellular signal transduction pathway controlling ionic channels of the ENaC gene family that include genes involved in mechanotransduction (degenerins), in peptide-gated channels involved in neurotransmission (FaNaCh), in proton-gated channels involved in pH sensing (ASIC) or pain sensation (DRASIC).
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie et de Toxicologie, l'Université, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vallet
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Horisberger
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Rossier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015723:Gene Library; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015222:Sodium Channels