The amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaCs) family includes 4 members: ENaCα, β, γ and δ. The ENaC channel is located in the luminal (apical) plasma membrane of several epithelial tissues such as kidney, lung, salivary glands and skin. The functional channel is believed to be a multimer including a α (or δ) and a β and γ subunits with a likely stoichiometry of α2βγ.ENaC channel enable entry of Na+ into the cell along its electrochemical gradient and thus has a central role in the maintenance of renal Na+ balance (and hence blood pressure) and liquid balance in the lung. Indeed, genetic mutations in the ENaC subunits causes Liddle’s syndrome (a form of hypertension) or pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA) that is characterized by hypotension.
