Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Polycystic kidney disease

Polycystin-1 and polycystin-2—it's complicated

Mutations in the genes that encode polycystin-1 and polycystin-2 are the principal cause of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. These proteins form a receptor–ion-channel complex and were thought to regulate tubule luminal diameter in a codependent manner. However, new data suggest a more antagonistic relationship between the proteins.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Streets, A. J., Wessely, O., Peters, D. J. M. & Ong, A. C. M. Hyperphosphorylation of polycystin-2 at a critical residue in disease reveals an essential role for polycystin-1 mediated dephosphorylation. Hum. Mol. Genet. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddt031.

  2. Gallagher, A. R., Germino, G. G. & Somlo, S. Molecular advances in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Adv. Chronic Kidney Dis. 17, 118–130 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Plotnikova, O. V., Pugacheva, E. N. & Golemis, E. A. Aurora A kinase activity influences calcium signaling in kidney cells. J. Cell Biol. 193, 1021–1032 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yamaguchi, T. et al. cAMP stimulates the in vitro proliferation of renal cyst epithelial cells by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Kidney Int. 57, 1460–1471 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hanaoka, K. & Guggino, W. B. cAMP regulates cell proliferation and cyst formation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease cells. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 11, 1179–1187 (2000).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gattone, V. H. 2nd, Wang, X., Harris, P. C. & Torres, V. E. Inhibition of renal cystic disease development and progression by a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist. Nat. Med. 9, 1323–1326 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Delmas, P. H. et al. Constitutive activation of G-proteins by polycystin-1 is antagonized by polycystin-2. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 11276–11283 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Pritchard, L. et al. A human PKD1 transgene generates functional polycystin-1 in mice and is associated with a cystic phenotype. Hum. Mol. Genet. 9, 2617–2627 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sharif-Naeini, R. et al. Polycystin-1 and -2 dosage regulates pressure sensing. Cell 139, 587–596 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fedeles, S. V. et al. A genetic interaction network of five genes for human polycystic kidney and liver diseases defines polycystin-1 as the central determinant. Nat. Genet. 43, 639–647 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors' research is supported by the Intramural program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (ZIA DK075042; G. G. Germino) and by NIH grants P30DK090868 and DK095036 (T. J. Watnick).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Terry J. Watnick or Gregory G. Germino.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Watnick, T., Germino, G. Polycystin-1 and polycystin-2—it's complicated. Nat Rev Nephrol 9, 249–250 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2013.73

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2013.73

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing