Salt, sodium channels, and SGK1.
The hormone aldosterone increases extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure by activating epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs). Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) is an aldosterone-stimulated signaling molecule that enhances distal nephron Na+ transport, in part by preventing the internalization of ENaCs from the plasma membrane. In this issue of the JCI, Zhang et al. demonstrate that SGK1 enhances transcription of the alpha subunit of ENaC by preventing histone methylation, providing an additional mechanism by which SGK1 increases ENaC-mediated Na+ transport in the distal nephron (see the related article beginning on page 773).
Pearce
David
D
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA.
Kleyman
Thomas R
TR
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D009399:Nephrons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases
D000450:Aldosterone; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D006657:Histones; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases