Kinetics of K-Cl Cotransport in Frog Erythrocyte Membrane: Effect of External Sodium

Abstract

In frog red blood cells, K-Cl cotransport (i.e., the difference between ouabain-resistant K fluxes in Cl and NO(3)) has been shown to mediate a large fraction of the total K(+) transport. In the present study, Cl(-)-dependent and Cl(-)-independent K(+) fluxes via frog erythrocyte membranes were investigated as a function of external and internal K(+) ([K(+)](e) and [K(+)](i)) concentration. The dependence of ouabain-resistant Cl(-)-dependent K(+) ((86)Rb) influx on [K(+)](e) over the range 0-20 mm fitted the Michaelis-Menten equation, with an apparent affinity (K(m)) of 8.2 +/- 1.3 mm and maximal velocity (V(max)) of 10.4 +/- 1.6 mmol/l cells/hr under isotonic conditions. Hypotonic stimulation of the Cl(-)-dependent K(+) influx increased both K(m) (12.8 +/- 1.7 mm, P < 0.05) and V(max) (20.2 +/- 2.9 mmol/l/hr, P < 0.001). Raising [K(+)](e) above 20 mm in isotonic media significantly reduced the Cl(-)-dependent K(+) influx due to a reciprocal decrease of the external Na(+) ([Na(+)](e)) concentration below 50 mm. Replacing [Na(+)](e) by NMDG(+) markedly decreased V(max) (3.2 +/- 0.7 mmol/l/hr, P < 0.001) and increased K(m) (15.7 +/- 2.1 mm, P < 0.03) of Cl(-)-dependent K(+) influx. Moreover, NMDG(+) Cl substitution for NaCl in isotonic and hypotonic media containing 10 mm RbCl significantly reduced both Rb(+) uptake and K(+) loss from red cells. Cell swelling did not affect the Na(+)-dependent changes in Rb(+) uptake and K(+) loss. In a nominally K(+)(Rb(+))-free medium, net K(+) loss was reduced after lowering [Na(+)](e) below 50 mm. These results indicate that over 50 mm [Na(+)](e) is required for complete activation of the K-Cl cotransporter. In nystatin-pretreated cells with various intracellular K(+), Cl(-)-dependent K(+) loss in K(+)-free media was a linear function of [K(+)](i), with a rate constant of 0.11 +/- 0.01 and 0.18 +/- 0.008 hr(-1) (P < 0.001) in isotonic and hypotonic media, respectively. Thus K-Cl cotransport in frog erythrocytes exhibits a strong asymmetry with respect to transported K(+) ions. The residual, ouabain-resistant K(+) fluxes in NO(3) were only 5-10% of the total and were well fitted to linear regressions. The rate constants for the residual influxes were not different from those for K(+) effluxes in isotonic ( approximately 0. 014 hr(-1)) and hypotonic ( approximately 0.022 hr(-1)) media, but cell swelling resulted in a significant increase in the rate constants.

K+-Cl− cotransporter 1 (KCC1): a housekeeping membrane protein that plays key supplemental roles in hematopoietic and cancer cells

“…Further studies eventually showed that the K + -Cl − cotransport mechanism was inhibited by the loop diuretic furosemide and the alkanoic acid DIOA [11, 23, 24]. They also shed light on the mechanisms by which this transport moiety is regulated in response to cell swelling.…”

“…As for the effect of various agents on KCC1 activity per se, it was found to be as described in native cells types or tissues and similar among the isoforms. In essence, the pharmacological signature of KCC1 was characterized by the following traits: stimulation by N -ethylmaleimide, modest inhibition by bumetanide, DIDS, and barium, and stronger inhibition by furosemide and DIOA [11, 23, 24, 42, 43]. Importantly, several of these traits were observed in at least two heterologous expression systems.…”