Role of protein kinases in regulating sheep erythrocyte K-Cl cotransport

K-Cl cotransport in sheep erythrocytes can be activated by treatment either with A-23187 and EDTA to reduce concentration of internal ionized Mg ([Mg](i)) to submicromolar levels, with staurosporine, a potent kinase inhibitor, or with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Activation by these maneuvers is prevented and reversed by genistein [inhibition constant (K-i) of 15 mu M], which inhibits tyrosine kinases (TK). The related glycosidated compound genistin, which does not inhibit TK, does not inhibit transport, whereas another TK inhibitor, tyrphostin B46, inhibits both basal and stimulated transport (K-i of 28 mu M). Cotransport activation by NEM is prevented and reversed by the phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A, and activation by staurosporine occurs only if cells contain ATP. Increasing [Mg](i) inhibits cotransport in the presence of calyculin A whether or not staurosporine is present as well. Our work suggests that genistein inhibits cotransport through a TK and that staurosporine and NEM activate cotransport, probably through inhibition of other kinases, causing stimulation through dephosphorylation of a protein (possibly the transporter itself) by a serine/threonine phosphatase. [Mg](i) inhibits cotransport by activating a kinase (concentration for half-maximal activation of 10 mu M) that phosphorylates this protein.