Stable expression and functional characterization of a Na+-taurocholate cotransporting green fluorescent protein in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells

GA Kullak-Ublick, MG Ismair, R Kubitz, M Schmitt… - Cytotechnology, 2000 - Springer
GA Kullak-Ublick, MG Ismair, R Kubitz, M Schmitt, D Häussinger, B Stieger, B Hagenbuch
Cytotechnology, 2000Springer
Sodium-dependent uptake of bile acids from blood is aliver-specific function which is
mediated by theNa+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp). We report the stable
expression of aNa+-taurocholate cotransporting green fluorescentfusion protein in the
human hepatoblastoma cell lineHepG2, normally lacking Ntcp expression. Ntcp-
EGFPassociated green fluorescence colocalized with Ntcpimmunofluorescence in the
plasma membrane. Intransfected HepG2 cells, the fusion protein mediatedthe sodium …
Abstract
Sodium-dependent uptake of bile acids from blood is aliver-specific function which is mediated by theNa+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide(Ntcp). We report the stable expression of aNa+-taurocholate cotransporting green fluorescentfusion protein in the human hepatoblastoma cell lineHepG2, normally lacking Ntcp expression. Ntcp-EGFPassociated green fluorescence colocalized with Ntcpimmunofluorescence in the plasma membrane. Intransfected HepG2 cells, the fusion protein mediatedthe sodium-dependent uptake of the bile acidtaurocholate (Km: 24.6 μmol/l) and of the anionicsteroids estrone-3-sulfate and dehydroepiandrosteronesulfate. We conclude that the Ntcp-EGFP fusion proteinfollows the sorting route of Ntcp, is functionallyidentical to Ntcp and could be used to monitor proteintrafficking in living HepG2 cells.
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