title: K-Cl co-transport: immunocytochemical and functional evidence for more than one KCC isoform in high K and low K sheep erythrocytes.
abstract: K-Cl co-transport (COT) is significantly higher in low K (LK), L-antigen (L) positive, than in high K (HK), M-antigen (M) positive, sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) and is inhibited by sheep allo-anti-L1 antibody. To answer the question of whether this difference in K-Cl co-transport activity resides at the level of the transporter or its regulation, a combined immunocytochemical and functional approach was taken. At least four isoforms of K-Cl COT encoded by different KCC genes are known, with 12 transmembrane domains and cytoplasmic C- and N-terminal domains (Ctd and Ntd, respectively). Polyclonal anti-rat (rt)KCC1 antibodies against a fusion peptide with 77 amino acids from the Ctd of rtKCC1 and anti-human (h)KCC3 against an 18-aa peptide from the Ntd of hKCC3, were prepared in rabbits (rb). Two distinctly separate protein bands of 180 and 145 kDa molecular mass were detected in hemoglobin-free ghosts from RBCs of two LK (one homozygous LL and one heterozygous LM) and one HK (homozygous MM) sheep by Western blots with rb anti-rtKCC1 and rb anti-hKCC3. Confocal microscopy showed specific immunostaining of KCC1 with rb anti-rtKCC1, and of KCC3 with rb anti-hKCC3, in white ghosts from both LK and HK SRBCs. To test the functional heterogeneity of K-Cl COT, the effect of the anti-L1 antibody was assessed on K-Cl COT activated by the kinase inhibitor staurosporine. Incubation of LK SRBCs with anti-L1 serum inhibited by 30% staurosporine-stimulated K-Cl COT suggesting that approximately two-thirds of the transport activity is independent of the L1 antigen. That staurosporine altered the L1 antigen/antibody reaction is unlikely since the action of another antibody, anti-Lp, stimulating the Na/K pump flux, was not modified. The present results, in conjunction with earlier work, lead to the hypothesis that the partial anti-L1 inhibition of K-Cl COT may be related to the molecular KCC dimorphism, seen in these cells with anti-KCC1 and anti-KCC3 antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA. peter.lauf@wright.edu
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lauf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delpire
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Fyffe
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mount
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Adragna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood*; D012756:Sheep; D027981:Symporters / Q000097:blood*; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D027981:Symporters; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters