Role of kinesin light chain-2 of kinesin-1 in the traffic of Na,K-ATPase-containing vesicles in alveolar epithelial cells

Recruitment of the Na,K-ATPase to the plasma membrane of alveolar epithelial cells results in increased active Na+ transport and fluid clearance in a process that requires an intact microtubule network. However, the microtubule motors involved in this process have not been identified. In the present report, we studied the role of kinesin-1, a plus-end microtubule molecular motor that has been implicated in the movement of organelles in the Na, K-ATPase traffic. We determined by confocal microscopy and biochemical assays that kinesin-1 and the Na, K-ATPase are present in the same membranous cellular compartment. Knockdown of kinesin-1 heavy chain (KHC) or the light chain-2 (KLC2), but not of the light chain-1 (KLC1), decreased the movement of Na, K-ATPase-containing vesicles when compared to sham siRNA-transfected cells (control group). Thus, a specific isoform of kinesin-1 is required for microtubule-dependent recruitment of Na, K-ATPase to the plasma membrane, which is of physiological significance-Trejo, H. E., Lecuona, E., Grillo, D., Szleifer, I., Nekrasova, O. E., Gelfand, V. I., Sznajder, J. I. Role of kinesin light chain-2 of kinesin-1 in the traffic of Na, K-ATPase-containing vesicles in alveolar epithelial cells. FASEB J. 24, 374-382 (2010). www.fasebj.org