β-Subunit overexpression alters the stoicheometry of assembled Na-K-ATPase subunits in MDCK cells

Abstract

In eukaryotic cells, the apparent maintenance of 1:1 stoicheometry between the Na-K-ATPase α- and β-subunits led us to question whether this was alterable and thus if some form of regulation was involved. We have examined the consequences of overexpressing Na-K-ATPase β1-subunits using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells expressing flag-tagged β1-subunits (β1flag) or Myc-tagged β1-subunits (β1myc) under the control of a tetracycline-dependent promoter. The induction of β1flag subunit synthesis in MDCK cells, which increases β1-subunit expression at the plasma membrane by more than twofold, while maintaining stable α1expression levels, revealed that all mature β1-subunits associate with α1-subunits, and no evidence of “free” β1-subunits was obtained. Consequently, the ratio of assembled β1- to α1-subunits is significantly increased when “extra” β-subunits are expressed. An increased β1/α1stoicheometry is also observed in cells treated with tunicamycin, suggesting that the protein-protein interactions involved in these complexes are not dependent on glycosylation. Confocal images of cocultured β1myc-expressing and β1flag-expressing MDCK cells show colocalization of β1myc and β1flag subunits at the lateral membranes of neighboring cells, suggesting the occurrence of intercellular interactions between the β-subunits. Immunoprecipitation using MDCK cells constitutively expressing β1myc and tetracycline-regulated β1flag subunits confirmed β-β-subunit interactions. These results demonstrate that the equimolar ratio of assembled β1/α1-subunits of the Na-K-ATPase in kidney cells is not fixed by the inherent properties of the interacting subunits. It is likely that cellular mechanisms are present that regulate the individual Na-K-ATPase subunit abundance.