Functional expression of rat renal Na/Pi-cotransport (NaPi-2) in Sf9 cells by the baculovirus system

The recently cloned Na/Pi-cotransport system NaPi-2 is an apical membrane protein of rat proximal tubular cells and is involved in proximal phosphate reabsorption. To make the protein available for further functional/structural studies, this transport system has been expressed in Sf9 insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus. Sf9 cells infected with NaPi-2 (or 6His tagged NaPi-2) expressed functional Na/Pi-cotransport up to 20- to 50-fold over noninfected Sf9 cells. Transport of phosphate in infected cells was highly dependent on sodium, exhibited a Km for Pi of 0.114 mM and an apparent Km for Na of 63 mM (Hill coefficient of approximately 3) and was stimulated by high external pH. Infected cells expressed a polypeptide of 65 kDa representing a nonglycosylated form of the 85 kDa mature NaPi-2 transporter as present in proximal tubular brush-border membranes. By confocal microscopy expression of NaPi-2 protein was observed in the plasma membrane, yet submembranous accumulation of NaPi-2 protein could not be excluded. This demonstrates that the rat proximal tubular Na/Pi-cotransport system NaPi-2 can be successfully expressed in Sf9 cells with characteristics similar to that in isolated brush-border membranes. The 6His tagging will permit isolation of the NaPi-2 cotransporter in amounts sufficient for structural/functional studies.