PTH-induced internalization of a type IIa Na/Pi cotransporter in OK-cells

Regulatory phenomena in brush border membrane sodium/phosphate (Na/Pi) cotransport are directly related to the type IIa Na/Pi-cotransporter and can be analyzed in opossum kidney cells (OK-cells). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) leads to a decreased expression of the type IIa Na/Pi-cotransporter protein at the apical cell surface. To provide evidence for PTH-induced membrane retrieval of the cotransporter protein we labeled OK-cell surface membrane protein NH2-groups with N-hydroxysuccinimide bound via a disulfide bond to biotin (NHS-SS-biotin) prior to or after treatment with PTH. Biotinylated transporters can be detected by streptavidin precipitation and Western blotting using type IIa Na/Pi-cotransporter specific antibodies. To detect only internalized biotinylated transporters biotin located at the cell surface was removed ("stripped") by disulfide bond splitting reagents under reducing conditions. Neither biotinylation per se, nor "stripping" interfered with PTH-induced inhibition of Na/Pi-cotransport activity. The internalization of the transporter was highly increased in response to PTH treatment. The data document that the first step in PTH regulation is internalization of the type IIa Na/Pi-cotransporter protein from the apical membrane.