Reversed transport of amino acids in Ehrlich cells.

Gramicidin induces a marked Na+-dependent efflux of amino acids from Ehrlich cells. In absence of Na+, gramicidin does not alter the efflux. In presence gramicidin, glycine efflux is inhibited by methionine and less so by leucine. Glycine efflux caused by HgCl2 is neither Na+ dependent nor inhibitable by amino acids. Neither efflux of inositol which is transported by an Na+-dependent route, nor efflux of several other solutes which are transported by Na+-independent routes, is affected by gramicidin. The antibiotic appears to permit a reversal in the direction of of the operation of the Na+-dependent amino acid transport system. The increased efflux is partly, but not entirely, due to an increase in the cellular Na+ concentration and a reduction of the electrochemical potential difference for Na+.     

Amino acid transport in the thermophilic anaerobe Clostridium fervidus is driven by an electrochemical sodium gradient.

Amino acid transport was studied in membranes of the peptidolytic, thermophilic, anaerobic bacterium Clostridium fervidus. Uptake of the negatively charged amino acid L-glutamate, the neutral amino acid L-serine, and the positively charged amino acid L-arginine was examined in membrane vesicles fused with cytochrome c-containing liposomes. Artificial ion diffusion gradients were also applied to establish the specific driving forces for the individual amino acid transport systems. Each amino acid was driven by the delta psi and delta mu Na+/F and not by the Z delta pH. The Na+ stoichiometry was estimated from the amino acid-dependent 22Na+ efflux and Na(+)-dependent 3H-amino acid efflux. Serine and arginine were symported with 1 Na+ and glutamate with 2 Na+. C. fervidus membranes contain Na+/Na+ exchange activity, but Na+/H+ exchange activity could not be demonstrated.     

Effects of perturbation of the Na+ electrochemical gradient on influx and efflux of alanine in isolated rat hepatocytes

Transmembrane alanine transport was studied in hepatocytes isolated from 48-h fasted rats. Aminooxyacetate was used to render alanine nonmetabolizable. Gramicidin D eliminated the transmembrane Na+ electrochemical gradient. At 135 mM Na+ and 0.1 mM alanine gramicidin D decreased the steady-state intracellular-to-extracellular alanine distribution ratio from 20.2 to 0.9. The underlying kinetic changes appeared to be a decrease in alanine influx to one-third of the control value and an increase in the rate constant of alanine efflux by a factor of 9. Analogous changes were observed when the Na+ gradient was decreased by ouabain. The inhibitory effect of gramicidin D on alanine influx was confined to the Na+-dependent, saturable component which showed a prominent increase in the apparent Km for alanine and a small decrease in the apparent Vmax. The effect of gramicidin D on alanine efflux was related to the increased cytosolic Na+ concentration: the rate constant of alanine efflux was increased by cytosolic Na+ with half-maximal stimulation at 30 mM; voltage-sensitive alanine efflux could not be demonstrated.     

Ca2+ dependence of transverse tubule-mediated calcium release in skinned skeletal muscle fibers

Isometric force and 45Ca efflux from the sarcoplasmic reticulum were measured at 19 degrees C in frog skeletal muscle fibers skinned by microdissection. After Ca2+ loading, application of the ionophores monensin, an Na+(K+)/H+ exchanger, or gramicidin D, an H+ greater than K+ greater than Na+ channel-former, evoked rapid force development and stimulated release of approximately 30% of the accumulated 45Ca within 1 min, whereas CCCP (carbonyl cyanide pyruvate p-trichloromethoxyphenylhydrazone), a protonophore, and valinomycin, a neutral, K+-specific ionophore, did not. When monensin was present in all bathing solutions, i.e., before and during Ca2+ loading, subsequent application failed to elicit force development and to stimulate 45Ca efflux. 5 min pretreatment of the skinned fibers with 50 microM digitoxin, a permeant glycoside that specifically inhibits the Na+,K+ pump, inhibited monensin and gramicidin D stimulation of 45Ca efflux; similar pretreatment with 100 microM ouabain, an impermeant glycoside, was ineffective. Monensin stimulation of 45Ca efflux was abolished by brief pretreatment with 5 mM EGTA, which chelates myofilament-space calcium. These results suggest that: monensin and gramicidin D stimulate Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that is mediated by depolarization of the transverse tubules, which seal off after sarcolemma removal and form closed compartments; a transverse tubule membrane potential (myofilament space-negative) is maintained and/or established by the operation of the Na+,K+ pump in the transverse tubule membranes and is sensitive to the permeant inhibitor digitoxin; the transverse tubule-mediated stimulation of 45Ca efflux appears to be entirely Ca2+ dependent.     

Volume enlargement and recovery of Na+-dependent amino acid transport in proteoliposomes derived from Ehrlich ascites cell membranes

Na+-dependent amino acid transport can be reconstituted from solubilized Ehrlich cell plasma membranes by addition of asolectin vesicles, gel filtration, and a freeze-thaw cycle. Removal of phosphatidic acid (approximately 10% of the total lipid) by Ba2+ precipitation reduces the efficiency of reconstitution of Na+-dependent amino acid transport by approximately 73% and decreases intravesicular volume of the proteoliposomes by approximately 43%. The loss of transport activity is not due to exclusion of specific proteins during reconstitution. The phosphatidic acid-free liposomes are less permeable and require more time to attain an equilibrium distribution of solute. Transport activity and intravesicular volume can be restored to Ba2+-precipitated asolectin proteoliposomes by addition of egg-phosphatidic acid during reconstitution. The extent of recovery of transport activity is proportional to the change in intravesicular volume and depends on the amount of phosphatidic acid present. Replacement of phosphatidic acid with 20% phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylglycerol leads to increases in intravesicular volume with little or no increase in amino acid transport. Generation of phosphatidic acid in situ by treatment of Ba2+-precipitated proteoliposomes with phospholipase D also restored transport. The observed increase in transport activity (9-fold) is accompanied by a 46% increase in intravesicular volume, presumably caused by vesicle fusion. Phosphatidic acid is also required for successful reconstitution of Na+-dependent amino acid transport from pure phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine (1:1) mixtures with only a small change (approximately 16%) in intravesicular volume. The results provide evidence for both indirect and direct effects of phosphatidic acid on reconstitution of Na+-dependent amino acid transport. The indirect effects occur through enlargement of intravesicular volume, large vesicles showing higher rates of transport. However, there is also evidence to indicate a specific effect of phosphatidic acid on the Na+-dependent amino acid transporter, since other acidic lipids may change intravesicular volume without a commensurate change in transport activity.     

The influence of cytoplasmic sodium concentration on the stoichiometry of the sodium pump

Using inside-out vesicles of human red cell membranes, the effects of cytoplasmic Na+ in the range 0-5 mM on ATP-dependent 22Na+ influx (normal efflux) and 86Rb+ efflux (normal influx) were tested. The sodium pump stoichiometry, i.e. the ratio of net 22Na+ influx:86Rb+ efflux was reduced markedly when the cytoplasmic Na+ was reduced to less than 1 mM. Reduction in cytoplasmic Na+ concentration was associated also with a decreased sensitivity of the pump to effects of extracellular Rb+. Thus, extracellular (intravesicular) Rb+ stimulation observed at high ATP concentration and inhibition observed at low ATP concentration were not observed when the cytoplasmic (extravesicular) Na+ concentration was reduced to less than or equal to 0.2 mM. It is suggested that at low cytoplasmic Na+, the pump can operate with less than maximal sites filled with Na+ ions. Under this condition, it is likely that an enzymic step associated with either the ion translocation step or the enzyme's conformational transition becomes rate-limiting.     

Na+-Na+ exchange mediated by (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reconstituted into liposomes. Evaluation of pump stoichiometry and response to ATP and ADP

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase from shark rectal glands reconstituted into lipid vesicles and oriented inside out catalyses an ouabain-sensitive Na+-Na+ exchange in the absence of intravesicular K+ when ATP is added extravesicularly. Intravesicular ouabain inhibited the exchange completely. This was also the case with digitoxigenin added to the vesicles. Intravesicular oligomycin inhibited the Na+-Na+ exchange partly in a fashion which was ATP dependent. The exchange is accompanied by a net hydrolysis of ATP with an apparent Km of 2.5 microM. ADP was found to give no stimulation of the Na+-Na+ exchange, contrarily, ADP inhibited the ATP-dependent exchange of Na+ both at optimal and supraoptimal ATP concentrations. When initial influx and efflux of 22Na was measured and the hydrolysis of ATP concomitantly determined a coupling ratio of 2.8:1.3:1 was found, i.e. 2.8 moles of Na+ were taken up (cellular efflux) and 1.3 moles of Na+ extruded (cellular influx) for each mole of ATP hydrolyzed. The electrogenic Na+-Na+ exchange generated a transmembrane potential which was measured with the fluorescent probe ANS (8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid) to be 60 mV positive inside the liposomes (extracellular).     

Stimulation of the efflux of L-glutamate from renal brush-border membrane vesicles by extravesicular potassium

The rate of efflux of L-glutamate from renal brush-border membrane vesicles was enhanced by Na+ and by extravesicular L-glutamate, but not by D-glutamate nor analogs of L-glutamate that do not share the Na+-L-glutamate co-transport system. These results suggest that efflux was mediated by the Na+-L-glutamate carrier. The efflux of L-glutamate was increased by extravesicular K+ or Rb+ but not by Li+, choline+, or Tris+. These findings, together with previous results showing that intravesicular K+ or Rb+ increased L-glutamate uptake and that a K+ gradient energized the concentrative uptake of the acidic amino acid in the absence of other gradients, provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the co-transport of Na+-L-glutamate is coupled to the transmembrane flux of K+.     

Light-induced glutamate transport in Halobacterium halobium envelope vesicles. II. Evidence that the driving force is a light-dependent sodium gradient.

Illumination of cell envelope vesicles from H. halobium causes the development of protonmotive force and energizes the uphill transport of glutamate. Although the uncoupler, p-trifluoromethoxycarbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (FCCP), and the membrane-permeant cation, triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP+), are inhibitory to the effect of light, the time course and kinetics of the production of the energized state for transport, and its rate of decay after illumination, are inconsistent with the idea that glutamate accumulation is driven directly by the protonmotive force. Similarities between the light-induced transport and the Na+-gradient-induced transport of glutamate in these vesicles suggest that the energized state for the amino acid uptake in both cases consists of a transmembrane Na+ gradient (Na+out/Na+in greater than 1). Rapid efflux of 22Na from the envelope vesicles is induced by illumination. FCCP and TPMP+ inhibit the light-induced efflux of Na+ but accelerate the post-illumination relaxation of the Na+ gradient created, suggesting electrogenic antiport of Na+ with another cation, or electrogenic symport with an anion. The light-induced protonmotive force in the H. halobium cell envelope vesicles is thus coupled to Na+ efflux and thereby indirectly to glutamate uptake as well.     

Active amino acid transport in plasma membrane vesicles from Simian virus 40-transformed mouse fibroblasts. Characteristics of electrochemical Na+ gradient-stimulated uptake.

Selectively permeable membrane vesicles isolated from Simian virus 40-transformed mouse fibroblasts catalyzed Na+ gradient-coupled active transport of several neutral amino acids dissociated from intracellular metabolism. Na+-stimulated alanine transport activity accompanied plasma membrane material during centrifugation in discontinuous dextran 110 gradients. Carrier-mediated transport into the vesicle was demonstrated. When Na+ was equilibrated across the membrane, countertransport stimulation of L-[3H]alanine uptake occurred in the presence of accumulated unlabeled L-alanine, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, or L-methionine. Competitive interactions among neutral amino acids, pH profiles, and apparent Km values for Na+ gradient-stimulated transport into vesicles were similar to those previously described for amino acid uptake in Ehrlich ascites cells, which suggests that the transport activity assayed in vesicles is a component of the corresponding cellular uptake process. Both the initial rate and quasi-steady state of uptake were stimulated as a function of a Na+ gradient (external Na+ greater than internal Na+) applied artificially across the membrane and were independent of endogenous (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. Stimulation by Na+ was decreased when the Na+ gradient was dissipated by monensin, gramicidin D or Na+ preincubation. Na+ decreased the apparent Km for alanine, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, and glutamine transport. Na+ gradient-stimulated amino acid transport was electrogenic, stimulated by conditions expected to generate an interior-negative membrane potential, such as the presence of the permeant anions NO3- and SCN-. Na+-stimulated L-alanine transport was also stimulated by an electrogenic potassium diffusion potential (K+ internal greater than K+ external) catalyzed by valinomycin; this stimulation was blocked by nigericin. These observations provide support for a mechanism of active neutral amino acid transport via the "A system" of the plasma membrane in which both a Na+ gradient and membrane potential contribute to the total driving force.     

Kainic Acid Inhibits the Synaptosomal Plasma Membrane Glutamate Carrier and Allows Glutamate Leakage from the Cytoplasm but Does Not Affect Glutamate Exocytosis

Kainate inhibits the exchange of D-aspartate into guinea-pig cerebrocortical synaptosomes. Kainate inhibits the Ca2+-independent efflux of endogenous glutamate in the presence of a trapping system for the released amino acid but potentiates a Ca2+-independent net efflux of endogenous and labelled glutamate and aspartate in the absence of the trap. Dihydrokainate has a similar effect. No discrepancy is seen between the release of endogenous and exogenously accumulated amino acid. These results are consistent with the presence of a slow leak of glutamate or aspartate from the cytoplasm independent of the kainate-sensitive Na+-cotransport pathway. In the presence of the trap, glutamate effluxes by both pathways, whereas in the absence of the trap, the Na+-cotransport pathway opposes the leak. Neither in the presence or absence of the glutamate trap does kainate induce, inhibit, or otherwise affect the Ca2+-dependent release of endogenous glutamate. The results enable many of the apparent complexities in the presynaptic actions of kainate to be resolved.     

Inhibition by K+ of Na+-Dependent D-Aspartate Uptake into Brain Membrane Saccules

Na+-dependent uptake of dicarboxylic amino acids in membrane saccules, due to exchange diffusion and independent of ion gradients, was highly sensitive to inhibition by K+. The IC50 was 1-2 mM under a variety of conditions (i.e., whole tissue or synaptic membranes, frozen/thawed or fresh, D-[3H]aspartate (10-1000 nM) or L-[3H]glutamate (100 nM), phosphate or Tris buffer, NaCl or Na acetate, presence or absence of Ca2+ and Mg2+). The degree of inhibition by K+ was also not affected on removal of ion gradients by ionophores, or by extensive washing with H2O and reloading of membrane saccules with glutamate and incubation medium in the presence or absence of K+ (3 mM, i.e., IC70). Rb+, NH4+, and, to a lesser degree Cs+, but not Li+, could substitute for K+. [K+] showed a competitive relationship to [Na+]2. Incubation with K+ before or after uptake suggested that the ion acts in part by allowing net efflux, thus reducing the internal pool of amino acid against which D-[3H]aspartate exchanges, and in part by inhibiting the interaction of Na+ and D-[3H]aspartate with the transporter. The current model of the Na+-dependent high-affinity acidic amino acid transport carrier allows the observations to be explained and reconciled with previous seemingly conflicting reports on stimulation of acidic amino acid uptake by low concentrations of K+. The findings correct the interpretation of recent reports on a K+-induced inhibition of Na+-dependent "binding" of glutamate and aspartate, and partly elucidate the mechanism of action.     

Release of Neurotransmitter Amino Acids from Synaptosomes: Enhancement of Calcium-Independent Efflux by Oleic and Arachidonic Acids

Abstract: The release of preloaded [¹⁴C]neuroactive amino acids (glutamic acid, proline, γ-aminobutyric acid) from rat brain synaptosomes can occur via a time-dependent, Ca²⁺ -independent process. This Ca²⁺-independent efflux is increased by compounds that activate Na⁺ channels (veratridine, scorpion venoms), by the ionophore gramicidin D, and by low concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid and arachidonic acid). Saturated fatty acids have no effect on the efflux process. Neither saturated nor unsaturated fatty acids have an effect on the release of [¹⁴C]leucine, an amino acid not known to possess neurotransmitter properties. The increase in the efflux of neuroactive amino acids by oleic and arachidonic acids can also be demonstrated using synaptosomal membrane vesicles. Under conditions in which unsaturated free fatty acids enhance amino acid efflux, no effect on ²²Na⁺ permeability is observed. Since Na⁺ permeability is not altered by fatty acids, the synaptosomes are not depolarized in their presence and, thus, the Na⁺ gradient can be assumed to be undisturbed. We conclude that unsaturated fatty acids represent a potentially important class of endogenous modulators of neuroactive amino acid transport in nerve endings and further postulate that their action is the result of an uncoupling of amino acid transport from the synaptosomal Na⁺ gradient.     

Ion specificity of cardiac sarcolemmal Na+/H+ antiporter

In bovine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles, an outward H+ gradient stimulated the initial rate of amiloride-sensitive uptake of 22Na+, 42K+, or 86Rb+. Release of H+ from the vesicles was stimulated by extravesicular Na+, K+, Rb+, or Li+ but not by choline or N-methylglucamine. Uptakes of Na+ and Rb+ were half-saturated at 3 mM Na+ and 3 mM Rb+, but the maximal velocity of Na+ uptake was 1.5 times that of Rb+ uptake. Na+ uptake was inhibited by extravesicular K+, Rb+, or Li+, and Rb+ uptake was inhibited by extravesicular Na+ or Li+. Amiloride-sensitive uptake of Na+ or Rb+ increased with increase in extravesicular pH and decrease in intravesicular pH. In the absence of pH gradient, there were stimulations of Na+ uptake by intravesicular Na+ and K+ and of Rb+ uptake by intravesicular Rb+ and Na+. Similarly, there were trans stimulations of Na+ and Rb+ efflux by extravesicular alkali cations. The data suggest the existence of a nonselective antiporter catalyzing either alkali cation/H+ exchange or alkali cation/alkali cation exchange. Since increasing Na+ caused complete inhibition of Rb+/H+ exchange, but saturating K+ caused partial inhibitions of Na+/H+ exchange and Na+/Na+ exchange, the presence of a Na(+)-selective antiporter is also indicated. Although both antiporters may be involved in pH homeostasis, a role of the nonselective antiporter may be in the control of Na+/K+ exchange across the cardiac sarcolemma.     

Sodium pump-catalyzed sodium-sodium exchange associated with ATP hydrolysis

Inside-out red cell membrane vesicles have been used to study sodium interactions with the ATP-dependent sodium pump at sites accessible to both membrane surfaces. ATP-dependent 22Na+ influx (equivalent to efflux from cells) shows sigmoid dependence on extravesicular Na+ concentration. This is observed both in the absence of intravesicular cations and in the presence of intravesicular K or Rb ions. The kinetic behavior is similar to that observed earlier with intact cells, (Garay, R. P., and Garrahan, P. J. (1973) J. Physiol. (Lond.) 231, 297-325) and is consistent with a ratio of close to three Na ions transported per molecule of ATP hydrolyzed. With vesicles having relatively high intravesicular sodium concentration, (approximately 50 mM NaCl), the sodium pump effects an ATP-dependent sodium efflux coupled to sodium influx and to strophanthidin-sensitive ATP hydrolysis. The influx:efflux stoichiometry is approximately 1:1, and the influx:ATP hydrolysis ratio is close to 3. This ATP-dependent exchange has a higher affinity for vanadate than ATP plus ADP-dependent sodium exchange. It is concluded that this sodium-sodium exchange mode resembles sodium-potassium exchange whereby intravesicular sodium, i.e. sodium at the extracellular surface, at relatively high concentration, behaves like potassium.     

Cation flux in the ehrlich ascites tumor cell. Evidence for Na+-for-Na+ and K+-for-K+ exchange diffusion.

In a previous study, evidence was presented for an external Na+-dependent, ouabain-insensitive component of Na+ efflux and an external K+-dependent component of K+ efflux in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell. Evidence is now presented that these components are inhibited by the diuretic furosemide and that under conditions of normal extracellular Na+ and K+ they represent Na+-for-Na+ and K-+for-K+ exchange mechanisms. Using 86Rb to monitor K+ movements, furosemide is shown to inhibit an ouabain-insensitive component of Rb+ influx and a component of Rb+ efflux, both representing approx. 30 percent of the total flux. Inhibition of Rb+ efflux is greatly reduced by removal of extracellular K+. Furosemide does not alter steady-state levels of intracellular K+ and it does not prevent cells depleted of K+ by incubation in the cold from regaining K+ upon warming. Using 22Na to monitor Na+ movements, furosemide is shown to inhibit an ouabain-insensitive component of unidirectional Na+ efflux which represents approx. 22 percent of total Na+ efflux. Furosemide does not alter steady-state levels of intracellular Na+ and does not prevent removal of intracellular Na+ upon warming from cells loaded with Na+ by preincubation in the cold. The ability of furosemide to affect unidirectional Na+ and K+ fluxes but not net fluxes is consistent with the conclusion that these components of cation movement across the cell membrane represent one-for-one exchange mechanisms. Data are also presented which demonstrate that the uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyrate is not affected by furosemide. This indicates that these components of cation flux are not directly involved in the Na+-dependent amino acid transport system A.     

Distinct effects of various amino acids on 45Ca2+ fluxes in rat pancreatic islets.

The effects of three types of amino acids on 45Ca2+ fluxes in rat pancreatic islets have been compared. Alanine, a non-insulinotropic neutral amino acid, transported with Na+, increased 45Ca2+ efflux in the presence or in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, but not in the absence of Na+. Its effects in Na+-solutions were practically abolished by 7 mM-glucose. Alanine slightly stimulated 45Ca2+ influx (5 min uptake) only when Na+ was present. Two insulinotropic cationic amino acids (arginine and lysine) triggered similar changes in 45Ca2+ efflux. They accelerated the efflux in the presence of Ca2+ and inhibited the efflux in a Ca2+-free medium, whether glucose was present or not. In an Na+-free Ca2+-medium, arginine and lysine markedly accelerated 45Ca2+ efflux, but this effect was suppressed by 7 mM-glucose. Arginine stimulated 45Ca2+ influx irrespective of the presence or absence of glucose and Na+. Leucine, a neutral insulinotropic amino acid well metabolized by islet cells, inhibited 45Ca2+ efflux from the islets in a Ca2+-free medium; this effect was potentiated by glutamine. In the presence of Ca2+ and Na+, leucine was ineffective alone, but triggered a marked increase in 45Ca2+ efflux when combined with glutamine. In an Na+-free Ca2+-medium, leucine accelerated 45Ca2+ efflux to the same extent with or without glutamine. Leucine also stimulated 45Ca2+ influx in the presence or in the absence of Na+, but its effects were potentiated by glutamine only in the presence of Na+. The results show that amino acids of various types cause distinct changes in 45Ca2+ fluxes in pancreatic islets. Certain of these changes involve an Na+-mediated mobilization of cellular Ca2+ from sequestering sites where glucose appears to exert an opposite effect.     

Na+-dependent transport of glycine in renal brush border membrane vesicles: Evidence for a single specific transport system

The uptake of glycine in rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles was shown to consist of glycine transport into an intravesicular space. An Na⁺ electrochemical gradient (extravesicular>intravesicular) stimulated the initial rate of glycine uptake and effected a transient accumulation of intravesicular glycine above the steady-state value. This stimulation could not be induced by the imposition of a K⁺, Li⁺ or choline⁺ gradient and was enhanced as extravesicular Na⁺ was increased from 10 mM to 100 mM. Dissipation of the Na⁺ gradient by the ionophore gramicidin D resulted in diminished Na⁺-stimulated glycine uptake. Na⁺-stimulated uptake of glycine was electrogenic. Substrate-velocity analysis of Na⁺-dependent glycine uptake over the range of amino acid concentrations from 25 μM to 10 mM demonstrated a single saturable transport system with apparent K_m = 996 μM and V_max = 348 pmol glycine/mg protein per min. Inhibition observed when the Na⁺-dependent uptake of 25 μM glycine was inhibited by 5 mM extravesicular test amino acid segregated dibasic amino acids, which did not inhibit glycine uptake, from all other amino acid groups. The amino acids d-alanine, d-glutamic acid, and d-proline inhibited similarly to their l counterparts. Accelerative exchange of extravesicular [³H]glycine was demonstrated when brush border vesicles were preloaded with glycine, but not when they were preloaded with l-alanine, l-glutamic acid, or with l-proline. It is concluded that a single transport system exists at the level of the rabbit renal brush border membrane that functions to reabsorb glycine independently from other groups of amino acids.     

Single-channel studies on linear gramicidins with altered amino acid side chains. Effects of altering the polarity of the side chain at position 1 in gramicidin A.

The modulation of gramicidin A single-channel characteristics by the amino acid side chains was investigated using gramicidin A analogues in which the NH2 terminal valine was chemically replaced by other amino acids. The replacements were chosen such that pairs of analogues would have essentially isosteric side chains of different polarities at position 1 (valine vs. trifluorovaline or hexafluorovaline; norvaline vs. S-methyl-cysteine; and norleucine vs. methionine). Even though the side chains are not in direct contact with the permeating ions, the single-channel conductances for Na+ and Cs+ are markedly affected by the changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of the side chains. The maximum single-channel conductance for Na+ is decreased by as much as 10-fold in channels formed by analogues with polar side chains at position 1 compared with their counterparts with nonpolar side chains, while the Na+ affinity is fairly insensitive to these changes. The relative conductance changes seen with Cs+ were less than those seen with Na+; the ion selectivity of the channels with polar side chains at position 1 was increased. Hybrid channels could form between compounds with a polar side chain at position 1 and either valine gramicidin A or their counterparts with a nonpolar side chain at position 1. The structure of channels formed by the modified gramicidins is thus essentially identical to the structure of channels formed by valine gramicidin A. The polarity of the side chain at position 1 is an important determinant of the permeability characteristics of the gramicidin A channel. We discuss the importance of having structural information when interpreting the functional consequences of site-directed amino acid modifications.     

The Na+ gradient-dependent transport of D-glucose in renal brush border membranes.

The Na+-dependent transport of D-glucose was studied in brush border membrane vesicles isolated from the rabbit renal cortex. The presence of a Na+ gradient between the external incubation medium and the intravesicular medium induced a marked stimulation of D-glucose uptake. Accumulation of the sugar in the vesicles reached a maximum and then decreased, indicating efflux. The final level of uptake of the sugar in the presence of the Na+ gradient was identical with that attained in the absence of the gradient, suggesting that equilibrium was established. At the peak of the overshoot the uptake of D-glucose was more than 10-fold the equilibrium value. These results suggest that the imposition of a large extravesicular to intravesicular gradient of Na+ effects the transient movement of D-glucose into renal brush border membranes against its concentration gradient. The stimulation of D-glucose uptake into the membranes was specific for Na+. The rate of uptake was enhanced with increased concentration of Na+. Increasing Na+ in the external medium lowered the apparent Km for D-glucose. The Na+ gradient effect on D-glucose transport was dissected into a stimulatory effect when Na+ and sugar were on the same side of the membrane (cis stimulation) and an inhibitory effect when Na+ and sugar were on opposite sides of the membrane (trans inhibition). The uptake of D-glucose, at a given concentration of sugar, reflected the sum of the contributions from a Na+-dependent transport system and a Na+-independent system. The relative stimulation of D-glucose uptake by Na+ decreased as the sugar concentration increased. It is suggested, however, that at physiological concentrations of D-glucose the asymmetry of Na+ across the brush border membrane might fully account for uphill D-glucose transport. The physiological significance of the findings is enhanced additionally by observations that the Na+-dependent D-glucose transport system in the membranes in vitro possessed the sugar specificities and higg phlorizin sensitivity characteristic of more intact preparations. These results provide strong experimental evidence for the role of Na+ in transporting D-glucose across the renal proximal tubule luminal membrane.