Sequence analysis of coding and 3' and 5' flanking regions of the epithelial sodium channel α, β, and γ genes in Dahl S versus R rats

BACKGROUND: To test whether epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) genes' variants contribute to salt sensitive hypertension in Dahl rats, we screened ENaC α, β, and γ genes entire coding regions, intron-exon junctions, and the 3' and 5' flanking regions in Dahl S, R and Wistar rats using both Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC) and sequencing. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed no sequence variability in the three genes encoding ENaC in Dahl S versus R rats. One homozygous sequence variation predicted to result in a D75E substitution was identified in Dahl and Wistar rat ENaC α compared to Brown Norway. Six and two previously reported polymorphic sites in Brown Norway sequences were lost in Dahl and Wistar rats, respectively. In the 5' flanking regions, we found a deletion of 5GCTs in Dahl and Wistar rat ENaC α gene, five new polymorphic sites in ENaC β and γ genes, one homozygous sequence variation in Dahl and Wistar rat ENaC γ gene, as well as one Dahl rat specific homozygous insertion of -1118CCCCCA in ENaC γ gene. This insertion created additional binding sites for Sp1 and Oct-1. Five and three Brown Norway polymorphic sites were lost in Dahl and Wistar rats, respectively. No sequence variability in ENaC 3' flanking regions was identified in Dahl compared to Brown Norway rats. CONCLUSION: The first comprehensive sequence analysis of ENaC genes did not reveal any differences between Dahl S and R rats that were isogenic in the regions screened. Mutations in ENaC genes intronic sequence or in ENaC-regulatory genes might possibly account for increased ENaC activity in Dahl S versus R rats.