title: Intracellular chloride channels: determinants of function in the endosomal pathway.
abstract: Endosomes, and related subcellular compartments, contain various Cl- channels in the ClC family. In this review, we describe the known roles of intracellular Cl- channels and also explore some of the functional implications of transmembrane Cl- flux in these organelles. Cl- influx acts to control intralumenal pH, both by shunting the effects of the proton pump on membrane potential and, possibly, through direct effects of Cl- on the proton pump. Changes in intralumenal pH likely help regulate membrane trafficking. We propose that changes in intralumenal Cl- concentration ([Cl-]) could theoretically play a direct role in regulating membrane trafficking and organellar function through effects on chloride-sensitive proteins in the vesicular membrane, which could transduce information about intralumenal [Cl-] to the outside of the vesicle and thereby recruit various signaling molecules. We present a model in which regulation of cytosolic [Cl-] and vesicular Cl- conductance could help control the amount or type of neurotransmitter stored in a particular population of synaptic vesicles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Faundez
authors.forename: H Criss
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hartzell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels