Vasopressin-inducible ubiquitin-specific protease 10 increases ENaC cell surface expression by deubiquitylating and stabilizing sorting nexin 3

Adjustment of [Na.sup.+] balance in extracellular fluids is achieved by regulated [Na.sup.+] transport involving the amiloride-sensitive epithelial [Na.sup.+] channel (ENaC) in the distal nephron. In this context, ENaC is controlled by a number of hormones, including vasopressin, which promotes rapid translocation of water and [Na.sup.+] channels to the plasma membrane and long-term effects on transcription of vasopressin-induced and -reduced transcripts. We have identified a mRNA encoding the deubiquitylating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (Uspl0), whose expression is increased by vasopressin at both the mRNA and the protein level. Coexpression of Uspl0 in ENaC-transfected HEK293 cells causes a more than fivefold increase in amiloride-sensitive [Na.sup.+] currents, as measured by whole cell patch clamping. This is accompanied by a three- to fourfold increase in surface expression of [alpha]- and [gamma]-ENaC, as shown by cell surface biotinylation experiments. Although ENaC is well known to be regulated by its direct ubiquitylation, Uspl0 does not affect the ubiquitylation level of ENaC, suggesting an indirect effect. A two-hybrid screen identified sorting nexin 3 (SNX3) as a novel substrate of Usp10. We show that it is a ubiquitylated protein that is degraded by the proteasome; interaction with Uspl0 leads to its deubiquitylation and stabilization. When coexpressed with ENaC, SNX3 increases the channel's cell surface expression, similarly to Uspl0. In [mCCD.sub.c11] cells, vasopressin increases SNX3 protein but not mRNA, supporting the idea that the vasopressin-induced Usp10 deubiquitylates and stabilizes endogenous SNX3 and consequently promotes cell surface expression of ENaC. sorting nexin 3; epithelial sodium channel