Biophysical approach to determine the subunit stoichiometry of the epithelial sodium channel using the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system

Methods Mol Biol. 2006:337:53-63. doi: 10.1385/1-59745-095-2:53.

Abstract

The amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) is typically composed of three structurally related subunits termed alpha, beta, and gamma. We describe methods to determine the functional subunit stoichiometry of ENaC based on a biophysical approach that was first introduced in 1991 to determine the subunit stoichiometry of a voltage-gated K+ channel. The strategy is to analyze channel sensitivity to a specific blocker when various mixtures of block-sensitive and blocker-insensitive subunits are coexpressed in a heterologous expression system. Details related to the expression of wild type and mutant ENaCs in Xenopus oocytes and the examination of blocker sensitivity by two-electrode voltage clamp, as well as analysis of data are provided.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electrodes
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / chemistry*
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / genetics*
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / metabolism
  • Gene Expression*
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry*
  • Protein Subunits / genetics*
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • RNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Xenopus laevis*

Substances

  • Epithelial Sodium Channels
  • Protein Subunits
  • RNA, Complementary