HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (18) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boron, W. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Boron, W. F.

REPORT

Regulation of intracellular pH

Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8026

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: W. F. Boron, Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale Univ. School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06520 (E-mail: walter.boron{at}yale.edu)

Abstract

The approach that most animal cells employ to regulate intracellular pH (pH_i) is not too different conceptually from the way a sophisticated system might regulate the temperature of a house. Just as the heat capacity (C) of a house minimizes sudden temperature (T) shifts caused by acute cold and heat loads, the buffering power (ß) of a cell minimizes sudden pH_i shifts caused by acute acid and alkali loads. However, increasing C (or ß) only minimizes T (or pH_i) changes; it does not eliminate the changes, return T (or pH_i) to normal, or shift steady-state T (or pH_i). Whereas a house may have a furnace to raise T, a cell generally has more than one acid-extruding transporter (which exports acid and/or imports alkali) to raise pH_i. Whereas an air conditioner lowers T, a cell generally has more than one acid-loading transporter to lower pH_i. Just as a house might respond to graded decreases (or increases) in T by producing graded increases in heat (or cold) output, cells respond to graded decreases (or increases) in pH_i with graded increases (or decreases) in acid-extrusion (or acid-loading) rate. Steady-state T (or pH_i) can change only in response to a change in chronic cold (or acid) loading or chronic heat (or alkali) loading as produced, for example, by a change in environmental T (or pH) or a change in the kinetics of the furnace (or acid extrudes) or air conditioner (or acid loaders). Finally, just as a temperature-control system might benefit from environmental sensors that provide clues about cold and heat loading, at least some cells seem to have extracellular CO₂ or extracellular HCO₃^– sensors that modulate acid-base transport.

Key words: hydrogen ions; bicarbonate; exchanger; cotransporter

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Swietach, S. Wigfield, P. Cobden, C. T. Supuran, A. L. Harris, and R. D. Vaughan-Jones Tumor-associated Carbonic Anhydrase 9 Spatially Coordinates Intracellular pH in Three-dimensional Multicellular Growths J. Biol. Chem., July 18, 2008; 283(29): 20473 - 20483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Lee, J. M. Harlow, M. P. Limberis, J. M. Wilson, and J. K. Foskett HCO3- Secretion by Murine Nasal Submucosal Gland Serous Acinar Cells during Ca2+-stimulated Fluid Secretion J. Gen. Physiol., July 1, 2008; 132(1): 161 - 183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Schewe, E. Schmalzlin, and B. Walz Intracellular pH homeostasis and serotonin-induced pH changes in Calliphora salivary glands: the contribution of V-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase J. Exp. Biol., March 1, 2008; 211(5): 805 - 815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. J. Lynch, A. Rudin, S.-L. Xia, L. R. Stow, G. E. Shull, I. D. Weiner, B. D. Cain, and C. S. Wingo Impaired acid secretion in cortical collecting duct intercalated cells from H-K-ATPase-deficient mice: role of HK{alpha} isoforms Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): F621 - F627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-M. Chen, I. Choi, G. G. Haddad, and W. F. Boron Chronic continuous hypoxia decreases the expression of SLC4A7 (NBCn1) and SLC4A10 (NCBE) in mouse brain Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, December 1, 2007; 293(6): R2412 - R2420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kanaan, R. M. Douglas, S. L. Alper, W. F. Boron, and G. G. Haddad Effect of chronic elevated carbon dioxide on the expression of acid-base transporters in the neonatal and adult mouse Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R1294 - R1302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Hille and B. Walz A vacuolar-type H+-ATPase and a Na+/H+ exchanger contribute to intracellular pH regulation in cockroach salivary ducts J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2007; 210(8): 1463 - 1471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Balakrishnan, M. Gopalakrishnan, M. Alagesan, and E. S. Prakash What is the ultimate goal in acid-base regulation? Advan Physiol Educ, March 1, 2007; 31(1): 51 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Srivastava, D. L. Barber, and M. P. Jacobson Intracellular pH Sensors: Design Principles and Functional Significance Physiology, February 1, 2007; 22(1): 30 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]