Regulation of Transporters and Channels by Membrane-Trafficking Complexes in Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Epithelial cells transport substances through protein channels that are localized to the apical or basolateral membranes. Progress is being made to characterize the machinery that establishes and maintains this polarity.

Abstract

The vectorial secretion and absorption of fluid and solutes by epithelial cells is dependent on the polarized expression of membrane solute transporters and channels at the apical and basolateral membranes. The establishment and maintenance of this polarized expression of transporters and channels are affected by divers protein-trafficking complexes. Moreover, regulation of the magnitude of transport is often under control of physiological stimuli, again through the interaction of transporters and channels with protein-trafficking complexes. This review highlights the value in utilizing transporters and channels as cargo to characterize core trafficking machinery by which epithelial cells establish and maintain their polarized expression, and how this machinery regulates fluid and solute transport in response to physiological stimuli.