Regulation of transport mechanisms in lens cells

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We are just beginning to understand how any tissue, not just lens, regulates Na,K-ATPase activity. Work in our laboratory causes us to think lens Na,K- ATPase activity can be fine tuned by a mechanism dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation. This may underlie the spatial distribution of Na,K-ATPase activity. It also may enable the lens to increase the activity of dormant Na,K- ATPase in the anterior epithelium or in some regions of the fibers. The mechanism leading to a change of Na,K-ATPase activity involves Src tyrosine kinases and can be set in motion by agonists like ATP or endothelin-1 that are released from the lens itself. Some agonists cause an increase of Na,K-ATPase activity while others cause inhibition even though tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in both responses. In this proposal we present a plan to test the hypothesis that the signaling pathways leading to Na,K-ATPase activation and inhibition involve different Src kinases that associate with Na,K-ATPase. In seeking to understand the interaction between Src tyrosine kinases and Na,K- ATPase we propose studies to figure out how Src-family kinase activation and Na,K-ATPase activity modulation fit in the context of other signaling events such as the transient cytoplasmic calcium rise. The specific aims are: (1) Test the hypothesis that different members of the Src kinase family are involved in stimulatory and inhibitory Na,K-ATPase activity responses. (2) Determine where Src kinase activation fits in the sequence of signaling events that leads to altered Na,K-ATPase activity following receptor activation. (3) Study how Src-Na,K- ATPase interactions affect lens function. By studying lens Na,K-ATPase we hope to obtain information that will help us plan experiments in the future to explain why lens sodium-potassium homeostasis fails in human cortical cataract. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVEANCE. Lens cells utilize Na, K-ATPase to maintain a stable cytoplasmic ion composition. Regulation of Na,K-ATPase activity is important because lenses become opaque when the ion composition is abnormal. Work in our laboratory causes us to think the lens has an elegant system for fine tuning Na,K-ATPase activity. We want to know more about how the mechanism works and how it affects lens function. Pilot studies tell us the mechanism involves Src tyrosine kinases. Here we propose studies to understand the interaction between Src kinases and Na,K-ATPase.