nd the kidneys reabsorb 99.9 percent of salt, too much salt returns to the blood, increasing blood volume and leading to hypertension. If less than 99 percent is absorbed, low blood pressure develops.
Dr. Huang said that not everyone who eats too much salt ends up with hypertension, but some population groups, such as African-Americans, are more prone to develop salt-sensitive high blood pressure, suggesting that genetic factors may play a role in the disease.
One extension of the current work may lead to a better understanding of hypertension that is induced by low potassium intake. Previous studies have shown that diuretics, a class of drugs commonly used to control hypertension, also cause potassium wasting, or low potassium levels, in patients.
"Studies have shown that if you are taking diuretics and let your potassium level fall, the diuretics are not as effective," Dr. Huang said. "But if you take diuretics and you supplement with potassium, you can lower blood pressure more effectively." Dr. Huang and his research group currently are conducting studies to determine whether low potassium intake increases WNK1 activity, leading to hypertension.
The WNK1 enzyme was first identified and cloned in 2000 by UT Southwestern researchers led by Dr. Melanie Cobb, co-senior author on the PNAS paper and dean of UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. After cloning the enzyme, Dr. Cobb's research group examined what proteins might be regulated by WNK1, and found that SGK1 was one of those proteins. Because he works on ion channels, including sodium channels, Dr. Huang joined efforts with Dr. Cobb to study how WNK1 regulates sodium channels.
"We have been working on WNK1 for several years now and these findings are unexpected from initial studies," said Dr. Cobb. "What is particularly satisfying and exciting is the ease with which we could establish such a collaboration at UT Southwestern to study the physiological and
'"/>
Source:UT Southwestern Medical Center
Related biology news :
1. Enzyme, lost in most mammals, is shown to protect against UV-induced skin cancer
2. Novel Enzyme Shows Potential As An Anti-HIV Target
3. Enzyme allows B cells to resist death, leading to leukemia
4. Enzyme shown to help protect genomic stability
5. Measuring Enzymes At End Of Cancer Pathway Predicts Outcome Of Tarceva, Taxol
6. Enzymes newly discovered role may make it target for arthritis treatment
7. Promiscuous Catalytic Activity Possessed by Novel Enzyme Structure
8. Gene Bridges And Covalys To Develop Restriction-Enzyme-Free SNAP-tag Gene Fusion Kits
9. Newly Discovered Role for Heart Response Enzyme May Yield Better Heart Failure Therapy
10. Enzyme inhibitors block replication of SARS virus
11. Enzyme crystal structure reveals unexpected genome repair functions
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |