Membranes Seminar

Abstract

he renal distal convoluted tubule (DCT) is a short, but important nephron portion localized between the thick ascending limb and the connecting tubule (CNT). Although the DCT reabsorbs only 5-10% of the sodium (Na+ ) load filtered at the glomeruli, the DCT is critical for the control of extracellular volume and arterial blood pressure. Moreover, the DCT cooperates with other nephron portions including the CNT to maintain potassium (K+ ) homeostasis. Na+ reabsorption by the DCT depends on the activity of the thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter (NCC), which is regulated by a complex network of kinases, phosphatases and ubiquitin ligases. The critical role of the DCT for ion homeostasis is evidenced by genetic diseases in which loss-of-function mutations in NCC cause renal salt wasting and hypokalemia, while increased NCC-activity is associated with forms of familial hyperkalemic hypertension. A unique characteristic of the DCT is its huge functional and structural plasticity, which allows this segment to adapt to changing functional demands. The seminar will highlight these adaptive responses and discuss underlying cellular and molecular mechanism and how they could be relevant for normal renal physiology and human diseases.

After the seminar there will be free lunch with the speaker in the Chemistry Canteen at 12.20.

Sign up before May 3 at 12.00 via this link: Registration

Søren Brandt Poulsen
Administrative Research Theme Coordinator
MEMBRANES