The Nedd4 family and SGK

In collaboration with Dr Fiona McDonald, University of Otago

The human epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is vital for sodium and water homeostasis and the consequent regulation of blood pressure in the body. Proteins of the Nedd4 family contain multiple WW domains that mediate binding to the human ENaC, thereby regulating channel activity by the ubiquitination and subsequent endocytosis of the channel subunits. Their activity is thought to be mediated via the aldosterone-regulated kinase SGK1. We are interested in visualising these regulatory interactions at the atomic level, to understand how the channel is regulation in healath and disease.