title: ENaC at the cutting edge: regulation of epithelial sodium channels by proteases.
abstract: Epithelial Na+ channels facilitate the transport of Na+ across high resistance epithelia. Proteolytic cleavage has an important role in regulating the activity of these channels by increasing their open probability. Specific proteases have been shown to activate epithelial Na+ channels by cleaving channel subunits at defined sites within their extracellular domains. This minireview addresses the mechanisms by which proteases activate this channel and the question of why proteolysis has evolved as a mechanism of channel activation.
authors.affiliation: Renal-Electrolyte Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kleyman
authors.forename: Marcelo D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Carattino
authors.forename: Rebecca P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hughey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D021122:Protein Subunits; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases