Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Actin filaments regulate epithelial Na+ channel activity.

H F Cantiello1, J L Stow, A G Prat

  • 1Renal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.

The American Journal of Physiology
|November 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

The study reveals that the actin cytoskeleton regulates sodium (Na+) channel activity in epithelial cells. Disrupting or adding actin filaments directly impacts channel function, highlighting a new regulatory mechanism.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Recycling endosome-dependent and -independent mechanisms for IL-10 secretion in LPS-activated macrophages.

Journal of leukocyte biology·2012
Same author

Changes in the expression of the Alzheimer’s disease-associated presenilin gene in drosophila heart leads to cardiac dysfunction.

Current Alzheimer research·2011
Same author

Polycystin-2 as a signal transducer.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2008
Same author

Morphological and electrical properties of human trophoblast choriocarcinoma, BeWo cells.

Placenta·2008
Same author

Reactive oxygen species inhibit polycystin-2 (TRPP2) cation channel activity in term human syncytiotrophoblast.

Placenta·2008
Same author

Co-inheritance of a PKD1 mutation and homozygous PKD2 variant: a potential modifier in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

European journal of clinical investigation·2008

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Epithelial Physiology

Background:

  • The role of the cytoskeleton in regulating ion channel function remains largely unexplored.
  • Actin's precise involvement in controlling epithelial sodium (Na+) channel activity is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional relationship between the cortical actin cytoskeleton and apical Na+ channel activity in A6 epithelial cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which actin filaments modulate Na+ channel gating and function.

Main Methods:

  • Immunocolocalization of Na+ channels and F-actin using specific antibodies and fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin.
  • Patch-clamp electrophysiology to measure Na+ channel activity in cell-attached and excised patches.
  • Manipulation of actin dynamics using cytochalasin D, exogenous actin filaments, ATP, DNase I, and filamin.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Actin was consistently found in close proximity to apical Na+ channels.
  • Disruption of actin filaments with cytochalasin D induced significant Na+ channel activity in both cell-attached and excised patches.
  • Addition of short actin filaments, particularly with ATP, also activated Na+ channels.
  • The actin-binding proteins DNase I and filamin modulated actin-induced and spontaneous channel activity, indicating specific interactions.

Conclusions:

  • The cortical actin network plays a crucial functional role in regulating apical epithelial Na+ channel activity.
  • Actin filament dynamics directly influence Na+ channel gating, suggesting a mechanism for controlling ion transport.
  • This finding complements the known structural roles of the cytoskeleton in membrane protein organization.