The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity
Abstract DEG/ENaC ion channels have various functions in different organisms. In Drosophila, DEG/ENaCs are named Pickpockets (PPKs) and form a large insect-specific radiation with seven subfamilies containing 31 members. Several different functions have been proposed for PPKs, including salt and wat...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10609-7 |
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| author | Lu Qin Nikita Komarov Cornelia Fritsch Simon G. Sprecher Stefan Gründer Dominik Wiemuth |
| author_facet | Lu Qin Nikita Komarov Cornelia Fritsch Simon G. Sprecher Stefan Gründer Dominik Wiemuth |
| author_sort | Lu Qin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract DEG/ENaC ion channels have various functions in different organisms. In Drosophila, DEG/ENaCs are named Pickpockets (PPKs) and form a large insect-specific radiation with seven subfamilies containing 31 members. Several different functions have been proposed for PPKs, including salt and water taste. However, despite their many functions, most PPKs have not been functionally characterized in heterologous expression systems, leaving their functional properties unknown. Here, we expressed six PPKs in Xenopus oocytes, which are expressed in the chemosensory system of Drosophila larvae. We found that PPK12 forms a constitutively open ion channel that is permeable to Na+ ions. PPK12 currents do not saturate even at high Na+ concentrations, suggesting that PPK12 may be involved in sensing high salt concentrations. Our study shows that at least some PPKs are amenable to functional characterization in Xenopus oocytes, allowing to elucidate the relation of their functional properties with their proposed functions in the organism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-868a19b9c63b474f95596c5e5bc6c86b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-868a19b9c63b474f95596c5e5bc6c86b2025-08-20T04:03:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-10609-7The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinityLu Qin0Nikita Komarov1Cornelia Fritsch2Simon G. Sprecher3Stefan Gründer4Dominik Wiemuth5Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Biology, University of FribourgDepartment of Biology, University of FribourgDepartment of Biology, University of FribourgInstitute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen UniversityInstitute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen UniversityAbstract DEG/ENaC ion channels have various functions in different organisms. In Drosophila, DEG/ENaCs are named Pickpockets (PPKs) and form a large insect-specific radiation with seven subfamilies containing 31 members. Several different functions have been proposed for PPKs, including salt and water taste. However, despite their many functions, most PPKs have not been functionally characterized in heterologous expression systems, leaving their functional properties unknown. Here, we expressed six PPKs in Xenopus oocytes, which are expressed in the chemosensory system of Drosophila larvae. We found that PPK12 forms a constitutively open ion channel that is permeable to Na+ ions. PPK12 currents do not saturate even at high Na+ concentrations, suggesting that PPK12 may be involved in sensing high salt concentrations. Our study shows that at least some PPKs are amenable to functional characterization in Xenopus oocytes, allowing to elucidate the relation of their functional properties with their proposed functions in the organism.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10609-7Ion channelLarvaeSalt sensationTaste |
| spellingShingle | Lu Qin Nikita Komarov Cornelia Fritsch Simon G. Sprecher Stefan Gründer Dominik Wiemuth The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity Scientific Reports Ion channel Larvae Salt sensation Taste |
| title | The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity |
| title_full | The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity |
| title_fullStr | The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity |
| title_short | The Drosophila DEG/ENaC PPK12 is a Na+ leak channel with a low Na+ affinity |
| title_sort | drosophila deg enac ppk12 is a na leak channel with a low na affinity |
| topic | Ion channel Larvae Salt sensation Taste |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10609-7 |
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