A SLC4 family bicarbonate transporter is critical for intracellular pH regulation and biomineralization in sea urchin embryos

  1. Marian Y Hu  Is a corresponding author
  2. Jia-Jiun Yan
  3. Inga Petersen
  4. Nina Himmerkus
  5. Markus Bleich
  6. Meike Stumpp
  1. Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany
  2. Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Taiwan
7 figures and 2 additional files

Figures

Figure 1 with 3 supplements
Expression pattern of the SpSlc4a10 gene from blastula through pluteus larva in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

(A) Localization of SpSlc4a10 expression in the sea urchin larva along the larval development until 3 days post fertilization (dpf). Expression was detected in primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) of the late blastula stage forming a ring around the blastopore. In the early pluteus larva SpSlc4a10 expression is exclusively found in PMCs located at ends of the spicules. (B) SpSlc4a10 expression levels and total calcium content along the early development of sea urchin larvae raised under control conditions. Bars represent mean ± SD; n = 3. dpf: days post fertilization; LV, lateral view; VV, vegetal view; OV, oral view.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.003
Figure 1—figure supplement 1
Expression of SpSlc4a10 in the syncytial cables of the PMCs.

(A) Whole-mount in situ hybridization using the SpSlc4a10 antisense probe demonstrated high expression levels of this gene in the cell bodies of PMCs and staining is also found in the syncytial cables. (B) High-magnification image of four PMCs and the filopodia of the PMC syncytium that are positively stained.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.004
Figure 1—figure supplement 2
Phylogeny of vertebrate and sea urchin Slc4 transporters.

Phylogenetic analysis performed on deduced amino acid sequences of the four S. purpuratus SLC4 family transporters and those from vertebrates and other marine invertebrates (see Supplementary file 1-Table S1 for sequence information).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.005
Figure 1—figure supplement 3
Sequence alignment of the human NBCn2 (Slc4a10) and the sea urchin SpSlc4a10.

Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences demonstrates 44% identity between the human Slc4a10 and the sea urchin SpSlc4a10.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.006
Figure 2 with 1 supplement
Morphological and molecular characterization of the SpSlc4a10 morphant.

(A) Light microscopic analyses with polarized light (birefringence) were used to detect deformations of the larval skeleton in SpSlc4a10 morphants (4 dpf). The tri-partite digestive tract is normally developed in the SpSlc4a10 morphants (st, stomach). (B) Length of the primary rod and total calcium content (inset) were used as indicators for reductions in calcification in 4 dpf morphants. Grey dots indicate individual measurements from experimental replicates (n = 4) (C) Expression of SpAtp1a3 (Na+/K+-Atpase; NKA) and SpSlc9a2 (Na+/H+-exchanger; NHE) in PMCs and stomach epithelial cells. (D) mRNA levels of SpSlc4a10, SpAtp1a3 and SpSlc9a2 in control and SpSlc4a10-MO injected larvae. (E) Ring formation (2 dpf) of the SpSlc4a10 expressing PMCs is disrupted in SpSLC4a10 morphants (LV, lateral view; VV, vegetal view). Bars represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 (*p<0.05; **p<0.01).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.007
Figure 2—figure supplement 1
Comparison of KCL and scramble morpholino (MO) injected larvae.

The primary rod length was used as an indicator for skeletal deformations. Fertilized eggs were injected with 0.5 M KCL, the vehicle of the MOs used in the present work. The concentration of the scramble morpholino was adjusted to 150 µM which corresponds to the concentration of SpSlc4a10 MO used for all experiments.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.008
Localization of the SpSlc4a10 protein in PMCs and validation of the morpholino knock-down.

(A) Immunohistological analyses using a custom made antibody designed against the sea urchin SpSlc4a10 protein demonstrating high concentrations of this protein in PMCs of late gastrula larvae (2 dpf). (B) High-magnification confocal microscopy showing the sub-callular localization of the SpSlc4a10 protein. (C) Negative controls were performed by blocking the primary antibody with the immunizing peptide (PMCs indicated by arrowheads) (D) Westernblot analysis demonstrated specific immunoreactivity of the SpSlc4a10 antibody with a 135 KDa protein that disappeared in the peptide compensation assay. (E) Validation of the SpSlc4a10 knock-down by quantification of protein levels using western-blot analyses. Bars represent mean ±SD; n = 3 (**p<0.01).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.009
Figure 4 with 1 supplement
Development, calcium accumulation and expression of SpSlc4a10 in sea urchin larvae raised under experimental ocean acidification.

(A) Total Ca2+ content of larvae raised under three different pH conditions. (B) Larval Ca2+ content plotted as a function of body length to normalize for the developmental delay caused by acidified conditions (for morphometric analyses see Supplemental information Figure 4—figure supplement 1). (C) SpSlc4a10 mRNA levels normalized to the housekeeping gene SpZ12 during development under different pH conditions. (D) Expression pattterns for SpSlc4a10 along the early development plotted as a function of body length. Different letters denote significant differences between treatments. Bars represent mean ± SD; n = 3.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.010
Figure 4—figure supplement 1
Mortality and growth of sea urchin larvae raised under different pH treatments.

(A) Larval densities were constant at 140 to 160 larvae per ml over the experimental duration of 5 days. No effects on the larval densities were observed between the three pH treatments. Larval growth expressed as body length (BL) followed a logarithmic curve along the period of 5 days. Regression analyses demonstrated significant differences in BL between the three pH treatments. Values are presented as mean ± SD.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.011
Intracellular pH regulatory abilities of primary mesenchyme cells.

(A) Ratiometric fluorimetry in primary mesencyme cells (PMCs) using the pH sensitive dye BCECF-AM. False colour images superimposed on transmission images at time points 1, 2, 3, 4 as indicated in (B). (B) Summarized data from the control period (control (1)), after addition and removal of NH3/NH4+ (alkalosis (2) and acidification (3); ammonium pulse), and during pHi recovery (4). (C) The recovery rate of the SpSlc4a10 morphants was significantly reduced (see Supplementary file 1-table S2 for summary of prameters measured). (D) Calibration curve of BCECF-AM in PMCs obtained at different pH levels in the presence of the ionophore nigericin and 150 mM K+ allowing the translation of ratios to pH values. (E) Acid–base regulatory abilities of PMCs in the presence of 500 µM DIDS or only the vehicle (DMSO) as control. (F) The recovery rate from an intracellular acidosis is inhibited by DIDS in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 120 µM. Bars represent mean ±SD; *p<0.05 (n = 4–5 larvae with 3–5 cells measured per larvae).

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.012
Calcein pulse–chase experiments to determine Ca2+incorporation into spicules during inhibition and knock-down of HCO3- transport pathways.

(A) Larvae of the late gastrula stage (2 dpf) were incubated in 160 µM calcein for 3 hr and confocal microscopy was used to determine fluorescence intensities in the spicules at different locations (posterior rod: PR, junction: JC, anterior rod: AR) after the calcein pulse. (B) Flourescence intensities are decreased in the morphants in all three locations. (C) Calcein incorporation in the presence of 10 µM DIDS or only the vehicle (DMSO) as control. (D) Fluorescence intensities, reflecting the amount of Ca2+ precipitated into spicules during the calcein pulse, decreased in DIDS-treated larvae in a dose-dependent manner (inset: intensities for entire larval skeleton). Values are presented as mean ± SD; n = 4 (with 2–3 larvae per replicate experiment: 9–11 individuals). Different letters denote significant diffrences between treatments. Same symbols used in Figure 5D indicate groups that were compared by one-way ANOVA. *p<0.05; **p<0.01.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.013
Hypothetical model for pH regulation and bicarbonate transport in PMCs of the sea urchin larva.

PMCs form a syncytium within the extraxellular matrix (ECM) that has a pH the same as sea water (SW) in which the larva develops. Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is precipitated in intracellular vesicles and exocytosed to the growing calcite spicule. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is provided through endogenous (i.e. respiratory CO2) as well as exogenous (from the sea water) sources. SpSlc4a10 (NBC) is proposed to mediate the import of bicarbonate from the seawater and to buffer protons generated during the precipitation of CaCO3. Protons are exported from the vesicles through so far unknown pathways. Protons accumulating in the cytoplasm are potentially exported by the Na+/H+-exchanger (NHE) SpSlc9a2. Both secondary active transporters, NBC and NHE are driven by the Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA; SpAtp1a3) that is highly expressed by PMCs. In addition to its localization in the plasma membrane, NBC is associated with intracellular compartments including vesicles (1), vesicular networks (2) and vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane (3). n; nucleus.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.014

Additional files

Supplementary file 1

Table S1: List of species and gene accession numbers of sequences used for phylogenetic analysis of Slc4 family transporters.

Table S2: pH regulatory parameters of primary mesenchyme cells in control and SpSlc4a10 morphants along the ammonia pulse experiment. Intracellular buffercapacitiy (ß) was calculated using the equation: ß = ∆[NH4+]/∆pHi. Table S3: Seawater physico-chemical parameters monitored during the pH manipulation experiment. Parameters measured include Salinity, Temperature, pH (NBS scale), and total dissolved inorganic carbon (CT). pHNBS and CT were used to calculate the carbonate system, including pCO2, total alkalinity (AT) and the satuation states for calcite (ΩCa) and aragonite (ΩAr). Table S4: List of primers used for molecular cloning. Table S5 List of primers used for qPCR.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.015
Transparent reporting form
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600.016

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  1. Marian Y Hu
  2. Jia-Jiun Yan
  3. Inga Petersen
  4. Nina Himmerkus
  5. Markus Bleich
  6. Meike Stumpp
(2018)
A SLC4 family bicarbonate transporter is critical for intracellular pH regulation and biomineralization in sea urchin embryos
eLife 7:e36600.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.36600