Unconventional chemiosmotic coupling of NHA2, a mammalian Na+/H+ antiporter, to a plasma membrane H+ gradient

Human NHA2, a newly discovered cation proton antiporter, is implicated in essential hypertension by gene linkage analysis. We show that NHA2 mediates phloretin-sensitive Na(+)-Li(+) counter-transport (SLC) activity, an established marker for hypertension. In contrast to bacteria and fungi where H(+) gradients drive uptake of metabolites, secondary transport at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells is coupled to the Na(+) electrochemical gradient. Our findings challenge this paradigm by showing coupling of NHA2 and V-type H(+)-ATPase at the plasma membrane of kidney-derived MDCK cells, resulting in a virtual Na(+) efflux pump. Thus, NHA2 functionally recapitulates an ancient shared evolutionary origin with Bacterial NhaA. Although plasma membrane H(+) gradients have been observed in some specialized mammalian cells, the ubiquitous tissue distribution of NHA2 suggests that H(+)-coupled transport is more widespread. The coexistence of Na(+) and H(+)-driven chemiosmotic circuits has implications for salt and pH regulation in the kidney.