Microtubule-associated [corrected] protein 7 increases the membrane expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4).

The molecular mechanism of the transmission of changes in the shape of the cell surface to ion channels remains obscure. Ca2+ influx induced by cell deformity is inhibited by actin-freezing reagents, suggesting that the actin microfilament couples with an ion channel. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a candidate in the calcium-permeable, swelling-activated mechanosensitive channel in heterogeneously expressed cells. To investigate the mechanosensitive molecular complex, we found that microtubule-associated protein 7 (MAP7) is the mouse TRPV4 C-terminal binding protein. MAP7 was coimmunoprecipitated with TRPV4. The results of a pull-down assay demonstrated that the alignment of amino acids 798-809 of TRPV4 was important in this interaction. TRPV4 and MAP7 colocalized in the lung and kidney. The coexpression of these two molecules resulted in the redistribution of TRPV4 toward the membrane and increased its functional expression. The alignment of amino acids 798-809 of TRPV4 was also important in the functional expression. The activated current was abolished by actin-freezing but not by microtubule-freezing reagents. We therefore believe that MAP7 may enhance the membrane expression of TRPV4 and possibly link cytoskeletal microfilaments.