Water transport by the renal Na+-dicarboxylate cotransporter

This study investigated the ability of the renal Na+-dicarboxylate cotransporter, NaDC-1, to transport water. Rabbit NaDC-1 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, cotransporter activity was measured as the inward current generated by substrate (citrate or succinate), and water transport was monitored by the changes in oocyte volume. In the absence of substrates, oocytes expressing NaDC-1 showed an increase in osmotic water permeability, which was directly correlated with the expression level of NaDC-1. When NaDC-1 was transporting substrates, there was a concomitant increase in oocyte volume. This solute-coupled influx of water took place in the absence of, and even against, osmotic gradients. There was a strict stoichiometric relationship between Na+, substrate, and water transport of 3 Na+, 1 dicarboxylate, and 176 water molecules/transport cycle. These results indicate that the renal Naf-dicarboxylate cotransporter mediates water transport and, under physiological conditions, may contribute to fluid reabsorption across the proximal tubule.