The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is the central component of the sodium absorption pathway in epithelia. It is critical for sodium homeostasis and blood pressure control, which is demonstrated by rare genetic disorders such as Liddle�s syndrome and pseudohypoaldosteronism type I, that are associated with hyper- and hypotension, respectively. ENaC is mainly regulated by mechanisms that control the expression of active channels at the cell surface. Ubiquitin ligases of the Nedd4-like family, such as Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 decrease epithelial sodium absorption by binding to and targeting ENaC for endocytosis and degradation. This is most likely achieved by catalyzing the ubiquitination of ENaC. Conversely the serum- and glucocorticoid regulated kinase (SGK) increases ENaC activity. This effect is partly mediated by the interaction of SGK with the ubiquitin ligases Nedd4 and Nedd4-2. SGK is able to bind to both Nedd4 and Nedd4-2, however only Nedd4-2 is phosphorylated by SGK. The phosphorylation of Nedd4-2 inhibits its interaction with ENaC, thus reducing ENaC ubiquitination, thereby increasing surface expression and sodium absorption. Nedd4-like proteins interact with ENaC via their WW-domains. These domains bind PY-motifs (PPXY) present in ENaC subunits. Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 both have four highly similar WW-domains. Previous studies have shown that interaction between Nedd4 and ENaC is mainly mediated by WW-domain 3. SGK also has a PY-motif; therefore it was analyzed whether the WW-domains of Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 mediate binding to SGK. Here, it is shown that single or tandem WW-domains of Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 mediate binding to SGK and that, despite their high similarity, different WW-domains of Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 are involved. These data also suggest that WW-domains 2 and 3 of Nedd4-2 mediate the interaction with SGK in a concerted manner, and that in vitro the phosphorylation of SGK at serine residue 422 increases its affinity for the WW-domains of Nedd4-2. The stimulatory effect of SGK on ENaC activity is partly mediated via Nedd4-2 and will decrease if competition between Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 for binding to SGK occurs. Here it is shown that Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 are located in the same subcellular compartment and that they compete for binding to SGK. Besides its function in the proteasomal degradation pathway ubiquitination is involved in the regulation of membrane protein trafficking, including their endocytosis. ENaC was shown previously to be ubiquitinated. Here, we provide evidence that ENaC can be ubiquitinated differentially depending on its cellular location. Channels residing in the plasma membrane are multiubiquitinated and we suggest that this serves as an internalization signal for ENaC and a control for further trafficking. Cytosolic ENaC is mainly polyubiquitinated, and therefore probably targeted for proteasomal degradation. However, mono- and multiubiquitination of ENaC located within the cytosol is very likely to occur as well. In addition, it is shown that both proteasomal and lysosomal pathways are involved in the regulation of ENaC.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Microbiology and Immunology)--Vanderbilt University, May 2009. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-174).

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008 / Vita. Bibliography: p. 23-4

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 23-24

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-80).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brandeis University, 2009. Senior honors thesis--Brandeis University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 29, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-136). Also available in print.