Study of Trafficking of the Epithelial Na+ Channel toward the Plasma Membrane by Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) (CAT#: STEM-MT-0043-WXH)

Introduction

The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) plays a central role in control of epithelial surface hydration and vascular volume. Similar to other ion channels, ENaC activity is set, in part, by its membrane levels. The small G protein RhoA increases ENaC activity by increasing the membrane levels of this channel.
Ion channels are integral membrane proteins. Regulated trafficking of these proteins to and from the plasma membrane in part controls their activity. This is true for ENaC, which is a nonvoltage-gated, Na+-selective ion channel. ENaC is localized to the apical plasma membrane of epithelia particularly that lining the distal renal nephron and colon and alveolar spaces.