A PDZ-Like Motif in the Biliary Transporter ABCB4 Interacts with the Scaffold Protein EBP50 and Regulates ABCB4 Cell Surface Expression

PLoS One. 2016 Jan 20;11(1):e0146962. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146962. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

ABCB4/MDR3, a member of the ABC superfamily, is an ATP-dependent phosphatidylcholine translocator expressed at the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. Defects in the ABCB4 gene are associated with rare biliary diseases. It is essential to understand the mechanisms of its canalicular membrane expression in particular for the development of new therapies. The stability of several ABC transporters is regulated through their binding to PDZ (PSD95/DglA/ZO-1) domain-containing proteins. ABCB4 protein ends by the sequence glutamine-asparagine-leucine (QNL), which shows some similarity to PDZ-binding motifs. The aim of our study was to assess the potential role of the QNL motif on the surface expression of ABCB4 and to determine if PDZ domain-containing proteins are involved. We found that truncation of the QNL motif decreased the stability of ABCB4 in HepG2-transfected cells. The deleted mutant ABCB4-ΔQNL also displayed accelerated endocytosis. EBP50, a PDZ protein highly expressed in the liver, strongly colocalized and coimmunoprecipitated with ABCB4, and this interaction required the QNL motif. Down-regulation of EBP50 by siRNA or by expression of an EBP50 dominant-negative mutant caused a significant decrease in the level of ABCB4 protein expression, and in the amount of ABCB4 localized at the canalicular membrane. Interaction of ABCB4 with EBP50 through its PDZ-like motif plays a critical role in the regulation of ABCB4 expression and stability at the canalicular plasma membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / biosynthesis*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / genetics
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Cell Membrane / genetics
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • PDZ Domains
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / genetics
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / metabolism*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
  • sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor
  • multidrug resistance protein 3

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the French association for the study of the liver (AFEF), and the Association Mucoviscidose – ABCF2. QV received a fellowship from the “Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche” and “Association pour la lutte contre les maladies inflammatoires du foie et des voies biliaires (Albi)”. TF was supported by fellowships from INSERM and Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM).