title: Carbonic anhydrase: in the driver's seat for bicarbonate transport.
abstract: Carbonic anhydrases are a widely expressed family of enzymes that catalyze the reversible reaction: CO(2) + H(2)O <=> HCO(3)(-) + H(+). These enzymes therefore both produce HCO(3)(-) for transport across membranes and consume HCO(3)(-) that has been transported across membranes. Thus these enzymes could be expected to have a key role in driving the transport of HCO(3)(-) across cells and epithelial layers. Plasma membrane anion exchange proteins (AE) transport chloride and bicarbonate across most mammalian membranes in a one-for-one exchange reaction and act as a model for our understanding of HCO(3)(-) transport processes. Recently it was shown that AE1, found in erythrocytes and kidney, binds carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) via the cytosolic C-terminal tail of AE1. To examine the physiological consequences of the interaction between CAII and AE1, we characterized Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchange activity in transfected HEK293 cells. Treatment of AE1-transfected cells with acetazolamide, a CAII inhibitor, almost fully inhibited anion exchange activity, indicating that endogenous CAII activity is essential for transport. Further experiments to examine the role of the AE1/CAII interaction will include measurements of the transport activity of AE1 following mutation of the CAII binding site. In a second approach a functionally inactive CA mutant, V143Y, will be co-expressed with AE1 in HEK293 cells. Since over expression of V143Y CAII would displace endogenous wild-type CAII from AE1, a loss of transport activity would be observed if binding to the AE1 C-terminus is required for transport.
authors.affiliation: Membrane Transport Group and CIHR Group in Molecular Biology of Membrane Proteins, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta. Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Reithmeier
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Casey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017920:Antiporters / Q000502:physiology; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D001639:Bicarbonates; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases