SLC26A6 (or putative anion transporter 1, PAT1) is located on the apical membrane of mouse kidney proximal tubule and mediates [Formula: see text] exchange in in vitro expression systems. We hypothesized that PAT1 along with a [Formula: see text] exchange is present in apical membranes of rat kidney proximal tubules. Northern hybridizations indicated the exclusive expression of SLC26A6 (PAT1 or CFEX) in rat kidney cortex, and immunocytochemical staining localized SLC26A6 on the apical membrane of proximal tubules, with complete prevention of the labeling with the preadsorbed serum. To examine the functional presence of apical [Formula: see text] exchanger, proximal tubules were isolated, microperfused, loaded with the pH-sensitive dye BCPCF-AM, and examined by digital ratiometric imaging. The pH of the perfusate and bath was kept at 7.4. Buffering capacity was measured, and transport rates were calculated as equivalent base flux. The results showed that in the presence of basolateral DIDS (to inhibit [Formula: see text] cotransporter 1) and apical EIPA (to inhibit Na+/H+ exchanger 3), the magnitude of cell acidification in response to addition of luminal Cl– was ∼5.0-fold higher in the presence than in the absence of [Formula: see text]. The Cl–-dependent base transport was inhibited by ∼61% in the presence of 0.5 mM luminal DIDS. The presence of physiological concentrations of oxalate in the lumen (200 μM) did not affect the [Formula: see text] exchange activity. These results are consistent with the presence of SLC26A6 (PAT1) and [Formula: see text] exchanger activity in the apical membrane of rat kidney proximal tubule. We propose that SLC26A6 is likely responsible for the apical [Formula: see text] (and Cl–/OH–) exchanger activities in kidney proximal tubule.
Increase of Na/Pi-cotransport encoding mRNA in response to low Pi diet in rat kidney cortex.
