We demonstrate here that coexpression of ROMK2, an inwardly rectifying ATP-sensitive renal K+ channel (IKATP) with cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) significantly enhances the sensitivity of ROMK2 to the sulfonylurea compound glibenclamide. When expressed alone, ROMK2 is relatively insensitive to glibenclamide. The interaction between ROMK2, CFTR, and glibenclamide is modulated by altering the phosphorylation state of either ROMK2, CFTR, or an associated protein, as exogenous MgATP and the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A significantly attenuate the inhibitory effect of glibenclamide on ROMK2. Thus CFIR, which has been demonstrated to interact with both Na+ and Cl-channels in airway epithelium, modulates the function of renal ROMK2 K+ channels.Inwardly rectifying potassium channels occur in a number of excitable and non excitable cells, where they maintain the membrane potential (Em) near the K+ reversal potential (Ek). These channels mediate high K+ conductance at potentials near or slightly positive to EK, but they are decreased when the membrane is depolarized. A defining characteristic of a subgroup of this family, the ATP-sensitive K+ channels (IKATP), is their inhibition by ATP or other nucleotides (1). IKATP channels provide not only a link between the metabolic status of the cell and membrane potential but also a mechanism for K+ secretion in epithelia. ATP-sensitive K+ channels are present in the apical membrane of distal nephron segments of the mammalian kidney where they play a major role in K+ homeostasis (2, 3). IKATp-renal channels share many of the properties and characteristics of other members of this family found in tissues such as heart and pancreas. However, IKATPrenal channels are insensitive to tetraethylammonium chloride, have less sensitivity to ATP (millimolar concentrations are required to induce channel inhibition), and have a lower affinity for sulfonylureas such as glibenclamide than required for inhibition of other IKATP channels. (21,24,25), and epithelial sodium channels (26,27). Using patch clamp techniques, we examined whether CFIR could enhance sulfonylurea sensitivity of ROMK2. We coexpressed both CFTR and ROMK2 cRNA in Xenopus oocytes and assayed for glibenclamide sensitivity. We now present evidence that demonstrates that CFTR enhances sulfonylurea sensitivity of ROMK2, and that the interaction between these two proteins is modulated by phosphorylation.Preliminary reports of these data have been presented in abstract form (28,29).
MATERIALS AND METHODSPreparation ofXenopus Oocytes for cRNA Expression. Stage V-VI oocytes were isolated by partial ovariectomy under tricaine anesthesia. Oocytes were then defolliculated by treatment with 2 mg of collagenase per ml (Boehringer Mannheim) in Ca2+-free hypotonic solution (82.5 mM NaCl/2.0 mM KC1/1.8 mM MgCl2/5.0 mM Hepes, pH 7.4). Oocytes were Abbreviations: ABC, ATP-binding cassette; CFTR, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator; PKA, protein kinase A. §To whom reprint requests should be addressed at: