Coupling Modes and Stoichiometry of Cl/HCO3 Exchange by slc26a3 and slc26a6

N Shcheynikov, Y Wang, M Park, SBH Ko… - The Journal of general …, 2006 - rupress.org
N Shcheynikov, Y Wang, M Park, SBH Ko, M Dorwart, S Naruse, PJ Thomas, S Muallem
The Journal of general physiology, 2006rupress.org
The SLC26 transporters are a family of mostly luminal Cl− and HCO3− transporters. The
transport mechanism and the Cl−/HCO3− stoichiometry are not known for any member of the
family. To address these questions, we simultaneously measured the HCO3− and Cl− fluxes
and the current or membrane potential of slc26a3 and slc26a6 expressed in Xenopus laevis
oocytes and the current of the transporters expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells.
slc26a3 mediates a coupled 2Cl−/1HCO3− exchanger. The membrane potential modulated …
The SLC26 transporters are a family of mostly luminal Cl and HCO3 transporters. The transport mechanism and the Cl/HCO3 stoichiometry are not known for any member of the family. To address these questions, we simultaneously measured the HCO3 and Cl fluxes and the current or membrane potential of slc26a3 and slc26a6 expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and the current of the transporters expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. slc26a3 mediates a coupled 2Cl/1HCO3 exchanger. The membrane potential modulated the apparent affinity for extracellular Cl of Cl/HCO3 exchange by slc26a3. Interestingly, the replacement of Cl with NO3 or SCN uncoupled the transport, with large NO3 and SCN currents and low HCO3 transport. An apparent uncoupled current was also developed during the incubation of slc26a3-expressing oocytes in HCO3-buffered Cl-free media. These findings were used to develop a turnover cycle for Cl and HCO3 transport by slc26a3. Cl and HCO3 flux measurements revealed that slc26a6 mediates a 1Cl/2HCO3 exchange. Accordingly, holding the membrane potential at 40 and −100 mV accelerated and inhibited, respectively, Cl-mediated HCO3 influx, and holding the membrane potential at −100 mV increased HCO3-mediated Cl influx. These findings indicate that slc26a6 functions as a coupled 1Cl/2HCO3 exchanger. The significance of isoform-specific Cl and HCO3 transport stoichiometry by slc26a3 and slc26a6 is discussed in the context of diseases of epithelial Cl absorption and HCO3 secretion.
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