SPAK and OSR1 Sensitivity of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter EAAT3

Background/Aims: Kinases involved in the regulation of epithelial transport include SPAK (SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and OSR1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1). SPAK and OSR1 are both regulated by WNK (with-no-K(Lys)) kinases. The present study explored whether SPAK and/or OSR1 influence the excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT3, which accomplishes glutamate and aspartate transport in kidney, intestine and brain. Methods: cRNA encoding EAAT3 was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes with or without additional injection of cRNA encoding wild-type SPAK, constitutively active T233E SPAK, WNK insensitive T233A SPAK, catalytically inactive D212A SPAK, wild-type OSR1, constitutively active T185E OSR1, WNK insensitive T185A OSR1 and catalytically inactive D164A OSR1. Glutamate-induced current was taken as measure of electrogenic glutamate transport and was quantified utilizing dual electrode voltage clamp. Furthermore, Ussing chamber was employed to determine glutamate transport in the intestine from gene-targeted mice carrying WNK insensitive SPAK (spak tg/tg ) and from corresponding wild-type mice (spak +/+ ). Results: EAAT3 activity was significantly decreased by wild-type SPAK and T233E SPAK, but not by T233A SPAK and D212A SPAK. SPAK decreased maximal transport rate without affecting significantly affinity of the carrier. Similarly, EAAT3 activity was significantly downregulated by wild-type OSR1 and T185E OSR1, but not by T185A OSR1 and D164A OSR1. Again OSR1 decreased maximal transport rate without affecting significantly affinity of the carrier. Intestinal electrogenic glutamate transport was significantly lower in spak +/+ than in spak tg/tg mice. Conclusion: Both, SPAK and OSR1 are negative regulators of EAAT3 activity.