Analysis of Na+,K+-ATPase motion and incorporation into the plasma membrane in response to G protein-coupled receptor signals in living cells

Dopamine (DA) increases Na+,K+-ATPase activity in lung alveolar epithelial cells. This effect is associated with an increase in Na+,K+-ATPase molecules within the plasma membrane (Ridge et al., 2002). Analysis of Na+,K+-ATPase motion was performed in real-time in alveolar cells stably expressing Na+,K+-ATPase molecules carrying a fluorescent tag (green fluorescent protein) in the alpha-subunit. The data demonstrate a distinct (random walk) pattern of basal movement of Na+,K+-ATPase- containing vesicles in nontreated cells. DA increased the directional movement (by 3.5 fold) of the vesicles and an increase in their velocity (by 25%) that consequently promoted the incorporation of vesicles into the plasma membrane. The movement of Na+,K+-ATPase- containing vesicles and incorporation into the plasma membrane were microtubule dependent, and disruption of this network perturbed vesicle motion toward the plasma membrane and prevented the increase in the Na+,K+-ATPase activity induced by DA. Thus, recruitment of new Na+,K+-ATPase molecules into the plasma membrane appears to be a major mechanism by which dopamine increases total cell Na+,K+-ATPase activity.