The carboxyl-terminal region of the Na+/H+ exchanger interacts with mammalian heat shock protein.

We expressed the carboxyl-terminal 178 amino acids of the rabbit cardiac Na+/H+ exchanger as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase. The fusion protein (PCR178) was found in the supernatant of extracts of E. coli and was purified using Glutathione-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Affinity-purified antibodies raised against the carboxyl-terminal region of the Na+/H+ exchanger identified the resultant protein. PCR178 copurified with a 70 kDa protein. Amino-terminal sequencing of the 70 kDa protein identified it as dnaK, the bacterial equivalent of the mammalian 70 kDa heat shock protein (hsp70). DnaK was dissociated from the Na+/H+ exchanger fusion protein by the addition of MgATP. When purified PCR178 was coupled to a cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose column, bovine hsp70 bound to the column and was eluted with MgATP. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that, in the absence of MgATP, hsp70 formed a complex with PCR178. The complex was dissociated by the addition of MgATP. GST alone did not form a complex with hsp70. Immunoprecipitation of the Na+/H+ exchanger with antiexchanger antibodies resulted in coprecipitation of hsp70 protein from antiporter containing cells. Cells that overexpress the Na+/H+ exchanger had increased amounts of hsp70 which coprecipitated with antiexchanger antibody. The results show that heat shock protein complexes with the mammalian Na+/H+ exchanger.