In the Department of Pharmaceutical Physiology, we study about ion-transporting proteins in epithelial cells by using physiological, biochemical, and pharmacological techniques. We focus on:

• 1. Structure and function of transportsome in gastrointestinal cells.
• 2. Pathophysiological function of ion pumps, transporters, and ion channels in cancer cells.
• 3. Volume-regulated anion channel VRAC/VSOR.
• 4. Physiological properties of TRP-related channels.

Publications

Our recent publications on these topics are as follows:

Structure and function of transportsome in gastrointestinal cells

• 1. Positive regulation of the enzymatic activity of gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase by sialylation of its β-subunit. (2016) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1858: 1228-1235.
• 2. Proton-Potassium (H⁺/K⁺) ATPases: Properties and Roles in Health and Diseases. (2016) Met. Ions Life Sci. 16 : 459-483.
• 5. Inhibition of gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase by 4-(2-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentylindan-1-on-5-yl)oxybutyric acid (DCPIB), an inhibitor of volume-regulated anion channel. (2015) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 765 : 34-41.
• 4. Functional coupling of chloride-proton exchanger CIC-5 to gastric H⁺,K⁺-ATPase. (2014) Biol. Open 3: 12-21
• 5. Modulation of H⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity by the molecular chaperone ERp57 highly expressed in gastric parietal cells. (2013) FEBS Lett. 587 : 3898-3905

Pathophysiological function of pumps, transporters and ion channels in cancer cells

• 1. Up-regulation of Kv7.1 channels in thromboxane A₂-induced colonic cancer cell proliferation. (2014) Pflügers Arch. 466 : 541-548
• 2. Inhibition of ecto-ATPase activity by curcumin in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. (2012) J. Physiol. Sci. 62 : 53-58
• 3. Increase in ouabain-sensitive K⁺-ATPase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma by overexpression of Na⁺，K⁺-ATPase α3-isoform. (2010) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 638 : 42-46

Molecular candidates for volume-sensitive anion channels

• 1. Volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl^- channels contribute to butyrate-triggered apoptosis of murine colonic epithelial MCE301 cells. (2015) J Physiol Sci. 65 : 151-157.
• 2. TMEM16F is a component of a Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channel but not a volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl^- channel. (2013) Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 304 : C748-C759

Physiological properties of TRP-related channels

• 1. Gating modulation by heat of the polycystin transient receptor potential channel PKD2L1 (TRPP3). (2014) Pflügers Arch. 466: 1933-1940
• 2. Bimodal effect of alkalization on the polycystin transient receptor potential channel, PKD2L1. (2011) Pflügers Arch. 461 : 507-513