Cellular localization and regulation of CHIF in kidney and colon.

Channel inducing factor (CHIF) is a novel cDNA recently cloned from a rat distal colon cDNA library of dexamethasone-treated animals. While its expression in Xenopus oocytes evokes a potassium channel activity similar to that induced by Isk (minK), its cellular role is not clear. CHIF exhibits significant homologies with proteins that are putatively regulatory (phospholemman, gamma-subunit of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Mat-8) while it differs from the small-conductance potassium channel Isk. We have studied the tissue specificity of CHIF expression in rat by in situ hybridization. CHIF is selectively present in the distal parts of the nephron (medullary and papillary collecting ducts and end portions of cortical collecting tubule) and in the epithelial cells of the distal colon. No expression of CHIF was found in renal proximal tubule, loop of Henle and distal tubule, proximal colon, small intestine, lung, choroid plexus, salivary glands, or brain. To gain some insight into CHIF function, we have investigated, us...