Phospholipase C-γ binds directly to the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 3 and is required for calcium regulation of exchange activity

Multiple studies suggest that phospholipase C-γ(PLC-γ) contributes to regulation of sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) in the small intestine, although the mechanism(s) for this regulation remain unknown. We demonstrate here that PLC-γ binds directly to the C terminus of NHE3 and exists in similar sized multiprotein complexes as NHE3. This binding is dynamic and decreases with elevated [Ca²⁺]_i. The PLC-γ-binding site in NHE3 was identified (amino acids 586-605) and shown to be a critical regulatory domain for protein complex formation, because when it is mutated, NHE3 binding to PLC-γ as well as NHERF2 is lost. An inhibitory peptide, which binds to the Src homology 2 domains contained in PLC-γ without interrupting binding of PLC-γ to NHE3, was used to probe a non-lipase-dependent role of PLC-γ. In the presence of this peptide, carbachol- stimulated calcium inhibition of NHE3 was lost. These results mirror previous studies with the transient receptor potential channel and suggest that PLC-γ may play a common role in regulating the cell-surface expression of ion transporters.