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Published on: November 1, 2018
Effect of sulfhydryl modification on rat kidney basolateral plasma membrane transport function
Rais A Ansari1, Syed A A Rizvi, Kazim Husain
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Health Professions Division, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, USA. ra557@nova.edu
Mercuric chloride disrupts kidney function by affecting p-aminohippurate transport. Protein sulfhydryl modification by mercury and pCMBS inhibits this transport, but dithiothreitol can restore it.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Renal Physiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Kidney transport processes are crucial for function.
- Nephrotoxicants like mercuric chloride (HgCl2) impair these processes.
- Reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion by HgCl2 affects p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of protein sulfhydryls (-SH) in PAH transport.
- To understand mercury's effect on protein sulfhydryls and PAH transport.
Main Methods:
- Utilized basolateral (BL) membrane vesicles from kidney.
- Examined the impact of sulfhydryl-modifying reagents (pCMBS, HgCl2) on PAH transport.
- Assessed the protective effect of dithiothreitol (DTT) on protein sulfhydryls.
Main Results:
- Modification of protein -SH groups by pCMBS and HgCl2 significantly reduced PAH transport.
- Dithiothreitol treatment recovered protein -SH groups, offering protection against pCMBS and HgCl2.
- This suggests protein sulfhydryls are vital for PAH transport in BL membrane vesicles.
Conclusions:
- Protein sulfhydryls play a critical role in mediating PAH transport across the renal basolateral membrane.
- Mercury-induced nephrotoxicity may involve the disruption of these essential protein sulfhydryl groups.
- Targeting sulfhydryl modification could be a strategy to mitigate mercury's nephrotoxic effects.
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