Search

Gain-of-function mutations in with no lysine (K)1 (WNK1) and WNK4genes are responsible for familial hyperkalemic hypertension (FHHt), a rare, inherited disorder characterized by arterial hypertension and hyperkalemia with metabolic acidosis. More recently, FHHt-causing mutations in the Kelch-like 3-Cullin 3 (KLHL3-CUL3) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex have shed light on the importance of WNK's cellular degradation on renal ion transport. Using full exome sequencing for a 4-generation family and then targeted sequencing in other suspected cases, we have identified new missense variants in the WNK1 gene clustering in the short conserved acidic motif known to interact with the KLHL3-CUL3 ubiquitin complex. Affected subjects had an early onset of a hyperkalemic hyperchloremic phenotype, but normal blood pressure values' Functional experiments in Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK293T cells demonstrated that these mutations strongly decrease the ubiquitination of the kidney-specific isoform KS-WNK1 by the KLHL3-CUL3 complex rather than the long ubiquitous catalytically active L-WNK1 isoform. A corresponding CRISPR/Cas9 engineered mouse model recapitulated both the clinical and biological phenotypes. Renal investigations showed increased activation of the Ste20 proline alanine-rich kinase-[Na.sup.+]-[Cl.sup.-] cotransporter (SPAK-NCC) phosphorylation cascade, associated with impaired ROMK apical expression in the distal part of the renal tubule. Together, these new WNK1 genetic variants highlight the importance of the KS-WNK1 isoform abundance on potassium homeostasis., Introduction Familial hyperkalemic hypertension (FHHt), also known as Gordon syndrome and pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2, is a rare disease associated with net positive [Na.sup.+] balance and renal [K.sup.+] retention resulting in [...]

Familial hyperkalemic hypertension (FHHt) can be mainly attributed to increased activity of the renal Na+:Cl- cotransporter (NCC), which is caused by altered expression and regulation of the with-no-lysine (K) 1 (WNK1) or WNK4 kinases. The WNK1 gene gives rise to a kidney-specific isoform that lacks the kinase domain (KS-WNK1), the expression of which occurs primarily in the distal convoluted tubule. The role played by KS-WNK1 in the modulation of the WNK/STE20-proline-alanine rich kinase (SPAK)/NCC pathway remains elusive. In the present study, we assessed the effect of human KS-WNK1 on NCC activity and on the WNK4-SPAK pathway. Microinjection of oocytes with human KS-WNK1 cRNA induces remarkable activation and phosphorylation of SPAK and NCC. The effect of KS-WNK1 was abrogated by eliminating a WNK-WNK-interacting domain and by a specific WNK inhibitor, WNK463, indicating that the activation of SPAK/NCC by KS-WNK1 is due to interaction with another WNK kinase. Under control conditions in oocytes, the activating serine 335 of the WNK4 T loop is not phosphorylated. In contrast, this serine becomes phosphorylated when the intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]i) is reduced or when KS-WNK1 is coexpressed with WNK4. KS-WNK1-mediated activation of WNK4 is not due to a decrease of the [Cl-]i. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis revealed that KS-WNK1 and WNK4 interact with each other and that WNK4 becomes autophosphorylated at serine 335 when it is associated with KS-WNK1. Together, these observations suggest that WNK4 becomes active in the presence of KS-WNK1, despite a constant [Cl-]i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ArcB/A two-component signal transduction system of Escherichia coli modulates the expression of numerous operons in response to redox conditions of growth. We demonstrate that the putative arcA and arcB genes of Mannheimia succiniciproducens MBEL55E, a capnophilic (CO2-loving) rumen bacterium, encode functional proteins that specify a two-component system. The Arc proteins of the two bacterial species sufficiently resemble each other that they can participate in heterologous transphosphorylation in vitro, and the arcA and arcB genes of M. succiniciproducens confer toluidine blue resistance to E. coli arcA and arcB mutants. However, neither the quinone analogs (ubiquinone 0 and menadione) nor the cytosolic effectors (d-lactate, acetate, and pyruvate) affect the net phosphorylation of M. succiniciproducens ArcB. Our results indicate that different types of signaling molecules and distinct modes of kinase regulation are used by the ArcB proteins of E. coli and M. succiniciproducens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension (FHHt), a rare monogenic disease, allowed remarkable advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of regulation of NaCl reabsorption by the distal nephron. FHHt results from mutations in the genes encoding WNK1 and WNK4, two serine-threonine kinases of the WNK (With No lysine [K]) family. The clinical manifestations of FHHt are due, among others, to an increased activity of the Na(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter NCC. Several groups therefore tried to understand how WNK1 and WNK4 could regulate NCC. However, the data were often contradictory. Two of our recent studies allowed to partially explain these controversies and to propose a new model for the regulation of NCC by the WNKs., (© 2016 médecine/sciences – Inserm.)

The ArcB/A two-component signal transduction system of Escherichia coli modulates the expression of numerous operons in response to redox conditions of growth. We demonstrate that the putative arcA and arcB genes of Mannheimia succiniciproducens MBEL55E, a capnophilic (CO2-loving) rumen bacterium, encode functional proteins that specify a two-component system. The Arc proteins of the two bacterial species sufficiently resemble each other that they can participate in heterologous transphosphorylation in vitro, and the arcA and arcB genes of M. succiniciproducens confer toluidine blue resistance to E. coli arcA and arcB mutants. However, neither the quinone analogs (ubiquinone 0 and menadione) nor the cytosolic effectors (d-lactate, acetate, and pyruvate) affect the net phosphorylation of M. succiniciproducens ArcB. Our results indicate that different types of signaling molecules and distinct modes of kinase regulation are used by the ArcB proteins of E. coli and M. succiniciproducens.