The K01 award will transition Dr. Harry Gill from a currently mentored Assistant Professor to an independent scientific investigator, focusing on understanding the mechanism of Na/HCO3 cotransport by renal NBCe1-A. Dr. Gill's background is in molecular biology, biochemistry, and crystallography. However, because the necessary functional assays are physiological, it is critical that Dr. Gill be integrated into the Physiology Lab of his mentor, Professor Walter Boron. A mentoring committee consisting of senior investigators from three institutions will guide Dr. Gill's progress. The training activities include: (a) developing new experimental (electrophysiological) techniques at the cellular level;(b) preparing for new experimental work at the whole-animal level;(c) taking didactic physiology coursework;(d) performing original research;(e) participating in lab meetings, journal clubs, and seminars;(f) attending mentor at physiologically oriented scientific meetings with mentor;(g) initiating mentor-generated networking;(h) teaching (limited) to enhance training;(i) mentoring undergraduate students in the Lab;and (j) training in grant writing. Item (d) will provide Dr. Gill with preliminary data and otherwise prepare him for his first R01 application.
The specific aims of the research plan are: (1) To use X-ray crystallography to illuminate the role of the cytosolic N terminus (Nt) and the human R298S mutation in the function of NBCe1-A. (2) To develop electrophysiological skills as a cell physiologist, and exploit the inside-out giant patch to measure for the first time the dependence of NBCe1-A on cytosol-side [Na], [HCO3], and pH. (3) To explore the functional significance of conduits that appear to weave through the interior of the cytosolic Nt of NBCe1, and to prepare a targeting vector for the future generation of a knock-in mouse carrying a key Nt mutation. The proposed experimental work-from the atomic to the cellular/molecular levels-will provide important new insights into the role of the cytosolic Nt in the function of members of the broader SLC4 family. The K01 training program will produce a well rounded academic scientist who will be highly competitive in submitting his own R01 grant.

Public Health Relevance

Bicarbonate (HCO3) transport across epithelial cells of the kidney is of great importance for maintaining the proper acid-base balance of the blood, which is in turn essential for nearly all body functions. NBCe1-a critically important protein in the membrane of kidney cells-transports HCO3 from the urine into the blood, and thereby prevents the blood acid-base balance from becoming too acidic. Patients with a defective NBCe1 gene are severely affected, having very acidic blood, problems with their eyes, and mental retardation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01DK082646-05
Application #
8601182
Study Section
Digestive Diseases and Nutrition C Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2009-09-21
Project End
2014-12-31
Budget Start
2014-01-01
Budget End
2014-12-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
George Washington University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20052
Tan, Xiaohui; Wang, Hongyi; Luo, Guangbin et al. (2015) Clinical significance of a point mutation in DNA polymerase beta (POLB) gene in gastric cancer. Int J Biol Sci 11:144-55
Gill, Harindarpal S; Choi, Kun-Young; Kammili, Lakshmi et al. (2015) Rescue of the temperature-sensitive, autosomal-recessive mutation R298S in the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCe1-A characterized by a weakened dimer and abnormal aggregation. Biochim Biophys Acta 1850:1286-96
Gill, Harindarpal S; Roush, Eric D; Dutcher, Lauren et al. (2014) Direct evidence for calcineurin binding to the exon-7 loop of the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1. Int J Biol Sci 10:771-6
Liu, Ying; Qin, Xue; Wang, Deng-Ke et al. (2013) Effects of optional structural elements, including two alternative amino termini and a new splicing cassette IV, on the function of the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7). J Physiol 591:4983-5004
Danielsen, Andreas A; Parker, Mark D; Lee, Soojung et al. (2013) Splice cassette II of Na+,HCO3(-) cotransporter NBCn1 (slc4a7) interacts with calcineurin A: implications for transporter activity and intracellular pH control during rat artery contractions. J Biol Chem 288:8146-55
Wing, Maria R; Ramezani, Ali; Gill, Harindarpal S et al. (2013) Epigenetics of progression of chronic kidney disease: fact or fantasy? Semin Nephrol 33:363-74
Gill, Harindarpal S; Dutcher, Lauren; Boron, Walter F et al. (2013) X-ray diffraction studies on merohedrally twinned ?1-62NtNBCe1-A crystals of the sodium/bicarbonate cotransporter. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 69:796-9
Gill, Harindarpal S (2012) pH-sensitive self-associations of the N-terminal domain of NBCe1-A suggest a compact conformation under acidic intracellular conditions. Protein Pept Lett 19:1054-63
Gill, Harindarpal S (2010) Evaluating the efficacy of tryptophan fluorescence and absorbance as a selection tool for identifying protein crystals. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 66:364-72