The biology of amiloride-sensitive sodium channels

Studies of the molecular nature of epithelial sodium channels are in their infancy and have largely involved experiments in which the interaction between amiloride and this transport process has been examined. Because of the inherent geometric complexity of epithelial tissues, these studies have in large measure been macroscopic in nature, with the molecular details of transport being deduced. In the past five years, however, the molecular biology of these critical ion channels has been studied directly. The development of radioactive high-affinity probes, the application of patch-clamp and reconstitution techniques, the generation of specific antibodies, and the formulation of epithelial cDNA expression libraries have propelled the field of epithelial ion channels into a new era. Now, for the first time, we can rigorously address questions concerning the molecular nature of the amiloride block, the channel's selectivity to alkali metal cations, and the modulation of ion transport through this channel by other ions (such as calcium), hormones (such as vasopressin, aldosterone, and atrial natriuretic factor), or intracellular second messengers (such as cAMP or cGMP). The complexity of the epithelial sodium channel's structure may reflect the constitutive and regulatory role this protein plays in sodium homeostasis. The epithelial sodium channel is continually operating, constantly changing its activity on a second-to-second basis. Hence, its tonic functions are probably modulated by a myriad of factors, most of which are unknown. With the application of molecular techniques, a much clearer understanding of the nature and regulation of epithelial sodium channel processes in health and disease will emerge in the years to come.