Neph1 and ZO-1 are localized at the cell-cell junction in cultured
podocytes. A, lysate obtained from the cultured human podocyte
cell line was immunoprecipitated (IP) with Neph1 antibody and
immunoblotted with Neph1 and ZO-1 antibodies. B, localization of
Neph1 and ZO-1 in the podocyte cell line was examined by staining the cells
with Neph1 and ZO-1 antibodies. Immunofluorescence analysis was done using
confocal microscopy. Colocalization of Neph1 and ZO-1 at the membrane
junctions appears yellow on merged images. Ischemia results in
dissociation of Neph1 and ZO-1. C and D, podocyte cells were
subjected to ATP depletion by antimycin A for the indicated times. Following
ATP depletion, the medium was replaced with fresh growth medium, and the cells
were grown for an additional 30 and 120 min. At each time point, the cells
were stained with actin (C), and relative ATP levels were determined
using the Promega Enliten ATP assay system (D). E, the cells
were subjected to injury by treatment with ischemia for 120 min. Following
injury, the medium in the cells was replaced with fresh growth medium, and the
cells were grown for an additional 2 h. The cells were lysed and
immunoprecipitated with Neph1 antibody. The presence of ZO-1 in the immune
complex was examined by immunoblotting with ZO-1 antibody. Relative binding of
ZO-1 with Neph1 during ischemia and recovery is also presented in the form of
a bar diagram, where data are presented as a mean of three
independent experiments.