A proton gradient is the driving force for uphill transport of lactate in human placental brush-border membrane vesicles

The characteristics of lactate transport in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from normal human full-term placentas were investigated. Lactate transport in these vesicles was Na+-independent, but was greatly stimulated when the extravesicular pH was made acidic. In the presence of an inwardly directed H+ gradient ([H+]o greater than [H+]i), transient uphill transport of lactate could be demonstrated. This H+ gradient-dependent stimulation was not a result of a H+ diffusion potential. Transport of lactate in the presence of the H+ gradient was not inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid or by furosemide, ruling out the participation of an anion exchanger in placental lactate transport. Many monocarboxylates strongly interacted with the lactate transport system, whereas, with the single exception of succinate, dicarboxylates did not. The monocarboxylates pyruvate and lactate, but not the dicarboxylate succinate, when present inside the vesicles, were able to exert a trans-stimulatory effect on the uptake of radiolabeled lactate. Kinetic analyses provided evidence for a single transport system with a Kt of 4.1 +/- 0.4 mM for lactate and a Vmax of 54.2 +/- 9.9 nmol/mg of protein/30 s. Pyruvate inhibited lactate transport competitively, by reducing the affinity of the system for lactate without altering the maximal velocity. It is concluded that human placental brush-border membranes possess a transport system specific for lactate and other monocarboxylates and that this transport system is Na+-independent and is energized by an inwardly directed H+ gradient. Lactate-H+ symport rather than lactate-OH- antiport appears to be the mechanism of the H+ gradient-dependent lactate transport in these membranes.     

Biotin uptake mechanisms in brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit kidney cortex

Biotin transport was studied using brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit kidney cortex. An inwardly directed Na+ gradient stimulated biotin uptake into brush-border membrane vesicles and a transient accumulation of the anion against its concentration gradient was observed. In contrast, uptake of biotin by basolateral membrane vesicles was found to be Na+-gradient insensitive. Generation of a negative intravesicular potential by valinomycin-induced K+ diffusion potentials or by the presence of Na+ salts of anions of different permeabilities enhanced biotin uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles, suggesting an electrogenic mechanism. The Na+ gradient-dependent uptake of biotin into brush-border membrane vesicles was saturable with an apparent Km of 28 microM. The Na+-dependent uptake of tracer biotin was significantly inhibited by 50 microM biotin, and thioctic acid but not by 50 microM L-lactate, D-glucose, or succinate. Finally, the existence in both types of membrane vesicles of a H+/biotin- cotransport system could not be demonstrated. These results are consistent with a model for biotin reabsorption in which the Na+/biotin- cotransporter in luminal membranes provides the driving force for uphill transport of this vitamin.     

Hydrogen ion-coupled transport of D-glucose by phlorizin-sensitive sugar carrier in intestinal brush-border membranes

In rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles, Na+-independent D-glucose uptake in the presence of an inside-negative transmembrane potential was found to be stimulated by an imposed pH gradient. Na+-independent, pH-dependent and phlorizin-sensitive D-glucose-evoked potentials could be recorded from isolated toad intestine. The obtained data suggest that phlorizin-sensitive D-glucose carriers of intestinal brush-border membrane can interact with H+ when Na+ is absent.     

Evidence for tripeptide/H+ co-transport in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

L-Phe-L-Pro-L-Ala is a tripeptide which is hydrolysable almost exclusively by dipeptidyl peptidase IV in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles. In order to delineate the mechanism of the transport of an intact tripeptide across the brush-border membrane, we studied the characteristics of the uptake of [3H]Phe-Pro-Ala in membrane vesicles in which the activity of dipeptidylpeptidase IV was completely inhibited by treatment with di-isopropyl fluorophosphate. In these vesicles, uptake of radiolabel from the tripeptide was found to be Na(+)-independent, but was greatly stimulated by an inwardly directed H+ gradient. The H(+)-gradient-dependent radiolabel uptake appeared to be an active process, because the time course of uptake exhibited an overshoot phenomenon. The process was also electrogenic, being stimulated by an inside-negative membrane potential. Under the uptake-measurement conditions there was no detectable hydrolysis of [3H]Phe-Pro-Ala in the incubation medium when di-isopropyl fluorophosphate-treated membrane vesicles were used. Analysis of intravesicular contents revealed that the radiolabel inside the vesicles was predominantly (greater than 90%) in the form of intact tripeptide. These data indicate that the uptake of radiolabel from [3H]Phe-Pro-Ala in the presence of an inwardly directed H+ gradient represents almost exclusively uptake of intact tripeptide. Uphill transport of the tripeptide was also demonstrable in the presence of an inwardly directed Na+ or K+ gradient, but only if nigericin was added to the medium. Under these conditions, nigericin, an ionophore for Na+, K+ and H+, was expected to generate a transmembrane H+ gradient. Uptake of Phe-Pro-Ala in the presence of a H+ gradient was inhibited by di- and tri-peptides, but not by free amino acids. It is concluded that tripeptide/H+ co-transport is the mechanism of Phe-Pro-Ala uptake in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles.     

Evidence for an organic cation-proton antiport system in brush-border membranes isolated from the human term placenta

Uptake of guanidine, an endogenous organic cation, into brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from human term placentas was investigated. Initial uptake rates were manyfold greater in the presence of an outward-directed H+ gradient ([pH]o greater than [pH]i) than in the absence of a H+ gradient ([pH]o = [pH]i). Guanidine was transiently accumulated inside the vesicles against a concentration gradient in the presence of the H+ gradient. The H+ gradient-dependent stimulation of guanidine uptake was not due to a H+-diffusion potential because an ionophore (valinomycin or carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone)-induced inside-negative membrane potential failed to stimulate the uptake. In addition, uphill transport of guanidine could be demonstrated even in voltage-clamped membrane vesicles. The H+ gradient-dependent uptake of guanidine was inhibited by many exogenous as well as endogenous organic cations (cis-inhibition) but not by cationic amino acids. The presence of unlabeled guanidine inside the vesicles stimulated the uptake of labeled guanidine (trans-stimulation). These data provide evidence for the presence of an organic cation-proton antiporter in human placental brush-border membranes. Kinetic analysis of guanidine uptake demonstrated that the uptake occurred via two saturable, carrier-mediated transport systems, one being a high affinity, low capacity type and the other a low affinity, high capacity type. Studies on the effects of various cations on the organic cation-proton antiporter and the Na+-H+ exchanger revealed that these two transport systems are distinct.     

Distinct transport activity of tetraethylammonium from L-carnitine in rat renal brush-border membranes

We investigated the contribution of the Na(+)/L-carnitine cotransporter in the transport of tetraethylammonium (TEA) by rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles. The transient uphill transport of L-carnitine was observed in the presence of a Na(+) gradient. The uptake of L-carnitine was of high affinity (K(m)=21 microM) and pH dependent. Various compounds such as TEA, cephaloridine, and p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) had potent inhibitory effects for L-carnitine uptake. Therefore, we confirmed the Na(+)/L-carnitine cotransport activity in rat renal brush-border membranes. Levofloxacin and PCMBS showed different inhibitory effects for TEA and L-carnitine uptake. The presence of an outward H(+) gradient induced a marked stimulation of TEA uptake, whereas it induced no stimulation of L-carnitine uptake. Furthermore, unlabeled TEA preloaded in the vesicles markedly enhanced [14C]TEA uptake, but unlabeled L-carnitine did not stimulate [14C]TEA uptake. These results suggest that transport of TEA across brush-border membranes is independent of the Na(+)/L-carnitine cotransport activity, and organic cation secretion across brush-border membranes is predominantly mediated by the H(+)/organic cation antiporter.     

Na+ + Cl- -gradient-driven, high-affinity, uphill transport of taurine in human placental brush-border membrane vesicles

Uptake of taurine in human placental brush-border membrane vesicles was greatly stimulated in the presence of an inwardly-directed Na+ + Cl- -gradient and uphill transport of taurine could be demonstrated under these conditions. Na+ as well as Cl- were obligatory for this uptake and both ion gradients could energize the uphill transport. This Na+ + Cl- -gradient-dependent taurine uptake was stimulated by an inside-negative membrane potential, demonstrating the electrogenicity of the process. The uptake system was highly specific for beta-amino acids and the Km of the system for taurine was 6.5 +/- 0.4 microM.     

Proton gradient-dependent transport of glycine in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles

This study describes evidence for the existence of a H+/glycine symport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles. An inward proton gradient stimulates glycine transport across the brush-border membrane, and this H+-driven glycine uptake is attenuated by the protonophore carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. It is a positive rheogenic process, i.e. the H+-dependent glycine uptake is further enhanced by an intravesicular negative potential. Glycine uptake is stimulated to a lesser degree by an inward Na+ gradient. H+-dependent glycine uptake is inhibited by sarcosine (69%), an analog amino acid, imino acids (proline 81%, hydroxy proline 67%), and beta-alanine (31%), but not by neutral (L-leucine) or basic (L-lysine) amino acids. The results demonstrate that H+ glycine co-transport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles is a carrier-mediated electrogenic process and that transport is shared by imino acids and partially by beta-alanine.     

Sodium/proton antiport in brush-border-membrane vesicles isolated from rat small intestine and kidney.

Studies on proton and Na+ transport by isolated intestinal and renal brush-border-membrane vesicles were carried out to test for the presence of an Na+/H+-exchange system. Proton transport was evaluated as proton transfer from the intravesicular space to the incubation medium by monitoring pH changes in the membrane suspension induced by sudden addition of cations. Na+ transport was determined as Na+ uptake into the vesicles by filtration technique. A sudden addition of sodium salts (but not choline) to the membrane suspension provokes an acidification of the incubation medium which is abolished by the addition of 0.5% Triton X-100. Pretreatment of the membranes with Triton X-100 prevents the acidification. The acidification is also not observed if the [K+] and proton conductance of the membranes have been increased by the simultaneous addition of valinomycin and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone to the K+-rich incubation medium. Either valinomycin or carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone when added alone do not alter the response of the membranes to the addition of Na+. Na+ uptake by brush-border microvilli is enhanced in the presence of a proton gradient directed from the intravesicular space to the incubation medium. Under these conditions a transient accumulation of Na+ inside the vesicles is observed. It is concluded that intestinal and renal brush-border membranes contain a NA+/H+ antiport system which catalyses an electroneutral exchange of Na+ against protons and consequently can produce a proton gradient in the presence of a concentration difference for Na+. This system might be involved in the active proton secretion of the small intestine and the proximal tubule of the kidney.     

Stoichiometry of the renal sodium-L-lactate cotransporter

We re-examined the electrical and stoichiometric properties of the Na+-L-lactate cotransporter using highly purified brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from the whole cortex of rabbit kidney. A valinomycin-induced K+ diffusion potential (interior-negative) stimulated Na+ gradient-dependent L-lactate uptake. However, this stimulation reflected catalytic rather than energetic activation as an inside-negative membrane potential did not induce net uphill lactate accumulation in the presence of Na+ but in the absence of a Na+ concentration gradient. Additional evidence for electroneutrality of the cotransporter was the finding that, under voltage-clamped conditions, L-lactate flux was a hyperbolic function of extravesicular Na+ concentration with a Hill coefficient (n) of 1.0. Moreover, the plot of V/[Na+]n versus V was linear for n = 1, indicating that one Na+ ion is co-transported with an anionic lactate1- molecule. Finally, addition of L-lactate to vesicles under Na+ equilibrium conditions failed to generate an inside-positive membrane potential as monitored by 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine iodide fluorescence quenching, arguing against Na+-L-lactate cotransport by an electrogenic process. Taken together, these data indicate that the luminal Na+-L-lactate co-transporter is electroneutral with a stoichiometry of 1.     

Role of pH gradient and membrane potential in dipeptide transport in intestinal and renal brush-border membrane vesicles from the rabbit. Studies with L-carnosine and glycyl-L-proline

We examined the role of pH gradient and membrane potential in dipeptide transport in purified intestinal and renal brush-border membrane vesicles which were predominantly oriented right-side out. With an intravesicular pH of 7.5, changes in extravesicular pH significantly affected the transport of glycyl-L-proline and L-carnosine, and optimal dipeptide transport occurred at an extravesicular pH of 5.5-6.0 in both intestine and kidney. When the extravesicular pH was 5.5, glycyl-L-proline transport was accelerated 2-fold by the presence of an inward proton gradient. A valinomycin-induced K+ diffusion potential (interior-negative) stimulated glycyl-L-proline transport, and the stimulation was observed in the presence and absence of Na+. A carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone-induced H+ diffusion potential (interior-positive) reduced dipeptide transport. It is suggested that glycyl-L-proline and proton(s) are cotransported in intestinal and renal brush-border membrane vesicles, and that the process results in a net transfer of positive charge.     

Pantothenate-sodium cotransport in renal brush-border membranes

The mechanism of pantothenate transport into rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles was studied. Under voltage-clamped conditions, an inward NaCl gradient induced the transient accumulation of pantothenate against its concentration gradient, indicating Na+/pantothenate cotransport. K+, Rb+, Li+, NH4+, and choline+ were ineffective in replacing Na+. Pantothenate analogs, D-glucose, and various carboxylic acids did not inhibit Na+-dependent pantothenate transport, suggesting that this system is specific for pantothenate. Kinetic analysis of the Na+-dependent pantothenate uptake revealed a single transport system which obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km = 16 microM and Vmax = 6.7 pmol X mg-1 X 10 s-1). Imposition of an inside-negative membrane potential caused net uphill pantothenate accumulation in the presence of Na+ but absence of a Na+ gradient, indicating that Na+/pantothenate cotransport is electrogenic. The relationship between extravesicular Na+ concentration and pantothenate transport measured under voltage-clamped conditions was sigmoidal: a Hill coefficient (napp) of 2 and a [Na+]0.5 of 55 mM were calculated. It is suggested that an anionic pantothenate1- molecule is cotransported with two Na+ to give a net charge of +1. The coupling of pantothenate transport to the Na+ electrochemical gradient may provide an efficient mechanism for reabsorption of pantothenate in the kidney.     

H+ coupled uphill transport of aminocephalosporins via the dipeptide transport system in rabbit intestinal brush-border membranes

The transport characteristics of aminocephalosporin antibiotics, possessing an alpha-amino group and a carboxyl group, in brush-border membranes isolated from rabbit small intestine have been studied by a rapid filtration technique. The uptake of cephradine by brush-border membrane vesicles was stimulated by the countertransport effect of dipeptides, which indicates the existence of a common carrier transport system. An inward H+ gradient ([pH]i = 7.5 to 8.4, [pH]o = 6.0) stimulated cephradine uptake against a concentration gradient (overshoot phenomenon), and this stimulation was reduced when the H+ gradient was subjected to rapid dissipation by the presence of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, a protonophore. A valinomycin-induced K+ diffusion potential (interior-negative) stimulated H+ gradient-dependent cephradine uptake without altering the equilibrium value. The uptake of other aminocephalosporins (cefadroxil, cefaclor, cephalexin) was also stimulated in the presence of an inward H+ gradient, while the uptake of cephalosporins without the alpha-amino group (cefazolin, cefotiam) was not changed in the presence or absence of the H+ gradient. These results suggest that the transport of aminocephalosporins can be driven actively by an inward H+ gradient via the dipeptide transport system in the intestinal brush-border membranes, and that the process results in the transfer of a positive charge.     

Specific interaction of 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)amiloride with the organic cation-proton antiporter in human placental brush-border membrane vesicles. Transport and binding.

The interaction of 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)amiloride (MIBA) with brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from normal human term placentas was investigated using two parameters: binding and transport. The binding of MIBA to placental membranes was specific and temperature- and pH-dependent, and the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) for the process was 58 +/- 2 microM. The binding was inhibited by other amiloride analogs and also by clonidine and cimetidine with a rank order potency: MIBA > benzamil > dimethylamiloride > amiloride > clonidine > cimetidine. These compounds also inhibited Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity in these membrane vesicles, but with a different order of potency: dimethylamiloride > MIBA > amiloride > benzamil > cimetidine > clonidine. The membrane vesicles were also able to transport MIBA into the intravesicular space, and the transport was stimulated many-fold by the presence of an outwardly directed H+ gradient across the membrane. The H+ gradient was the driving force for uphill accumulation of MIBA inside the vesicles. The transport process was electrically silent. The transport of MIBA was inhibited by other amiloride analogs and by clonidine and cimetidine, and the order of potency was the same as the order with which these compounds inhibited the binding of MIBA. The Michaelis-Menten constant (Kt) for the transport process was 46 +/- 2 microM. The binding as well as the transport were also inhibited by Na+ and Li+. Interestingly, tetraethylammonium and N1-methylnicotinamide, two of the commonly used substrates in organic cation transport studies, failed to inhibit the binding and transport of MIBA. Furthermore, although the outwardly directed H+ gradient-dependent uphill transport of tetraethylammonium could be demonstrated in renal brush-border membrane vesicles, there was no evidence for the presence of a transport system for this prototypical organic cation in placental brush-border membrane vesicles. It is concluded that the human placental brush-border membranes possess an organic cation-proton antiporter which accepts MIBA as a substrate, the low affinity binding site for MIBA observed in these membranes represents this antiporter, and that the placental organic cation-proton antiporter is distinct from the widely studied renal organic cation-proton antiporter.     

Transport of procainamide via H(+)/tertiary amine antiport system in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane

Transport characteristics of procainamide in the brush-border membrane isolated from rabbit small intestine were studied by a rapid-filtration technique. Procainamide uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles was stimulated by an outward H(+) gradient (pH(in) = 6.0, pH(out) = 7.5) against a concentration gradient (overshoot phenomenon), and this stimulation was reduced when the H(+) gradient was subjected to rapid dissipation by the presence of a protonophore, FCCP. An outward H(+) gradient-dependent procainamide uptake was not caused by H(+) diffusion potential. The initial uptake of procainamide was inhibited by other tertiary amines with N-dimethyl or N-diethyl moieties in their structures, such as triethylamine, dimethylaminoethyl chloride, and diphenhydramine, but not by tetraethylammonium and thiamine. Furthermore, procainamide uptake was stimulated by preloading the vesicles with these tertiary amines (trans-stimulation effect), indicating the existence of a specific transport system for tertiary amines. These findings indicate that procainamide transport in the intestinal brush-border membrane is mediated by the H(+)/tertiary amine antiport system that recognizes N-dimethyl or N-diethyl moieties in the structures of tertiary amines.     

Divalent metal is required for both phosphate transport and phosphate binding to phosphorin, a proteolipid isolated from brush-border membrane vesicles

The Na+-dependent phosphate transport system in the brush border of rabbit kidney exhibits a positive requirement for a divalent metal ion. Treatment of the brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) with a divalent metal chelator in combination with the divalent metal ionophore A23187 dramatically and selectively decreased the Na+-dependent uptake of phosphate; Na+-independent uptake of phosphate was not affected. The combination of chelator plus A23187 also inhibited uptake of phosphate in the presence of Na+ but in the absence of a gradient for sodium across the BBMV. This indicates that the inhibitor is not a result of an alteration in the Na+ gradient by chelator plus ionophore. The inhibited Na+ gradient-dependent transport of phosphate was restored by removing the chelator and adding Mn2+ to the BBMV. The phosphate-binding proteolipid (phosphorin) isolated from rabbit kidney BBMV binds inorganic phosphate with high affinity and specificity. Binding of phosphate to phosphorin is also inhibited by divalent metal chelators and can be restored by addition of a divalent metal. We conclude that a divalent metal ion is required both for the Na+-dependent phosphate transport in BBMV and for the binding of phosphate to the proteolipid phosphorin. These findings are consistent with our suggestion that phosphorin is a component of the Na+-dependent phosphate transport system in renal brush-border membranes.     

Solubilization and reconstitution of the renal phosphate transporter

Proteins from brush-border membrane vesicles of rabbit kidney cortex were solubilized with 1% octylglucoside (protein to detergent ratio, 1:4 (w/w). The solubilized proteins (80.2 +/- 2.3% of the original brush-border proteins, n = 10, mean +/- S.E.) were reconstituted into artificial lipid vesicles or liposomes prepared from purified egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (80%) and cholesterol (20%). Transport of Pi into the proteoliposomes was measured by rapid filtration in the presence of a Na+ or a K+ gradient (out greater than in). In the presence of a Na+ gradient, the uptake of Pi was significantly faster than in the presence of a K+ gradient. Na+ dependency of Pi uptake was not observed when the liposomes were reconstituted with proteins extracted from brush-border membrane vesicles which had been previously treated with papain, a procedure that destroys Pi transport activity. Measurement of Pi uptake in media containing increasing amounts of sucrose indicated that Pi was transported into an intravesicular (osmotically sensitive) space, although about 70% of the Pi uptake appeared to be the result of adsorption or binding of Pi. However, this binding of Pi was not dependent upon the presence of Na+. Both Na+-dependent transport and the Na+-independent binding of Pi were inhibited by arsenate. The initial Na+-dependent Pi transport rate in control liposomes of 0.354 nmol Pi/mg protein per min was reduced to 0.108 and 0 nmol Pi/mg protein per min in the presence of 1 and 10 mM arsenate, respectively. Future studies on reconstitution of Pi transport systems must analyze and correct for the binding of Pi by the lipids used in the formation of the proteoliposomes.     

Carrier-mediated transport systems of tetraethylammonium in rat renal brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles

Transport of [3H]tetraethylammonium, an organic cation, has been studied in brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from rat kidney cortex. Some characteristics of carrier-mediated transport for tetraethylammonium were demonstrated in brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles; the uptake was saturable, was stimulated by the countertransport effect, and showed discontinuity in an Arrhenius plot. In brush-border membrane vesicles, the presence of an H+ gradient ( [H+]i greater than [H+]o) induced a marked stimulation of tetraethylammonium uptake against its concentration gradient (overshoot phenomenon), and this concentrative uptake was completely inhibited by HgCl2. In contrast, the uptake of tetraethylammonium by basolateral membrane vesicles was unaffected by an H+ gradient. Tetraethylammonium uptake by basolateral membrane vesicles was significantly stimulated by a valinomycin-induced inside-negative membrane potential, while no effect of membrane potential was observed in brush-border membrane vesicles. These results suggest that tetraethylammonium transport across brush-border membranes is driven by an H+ gradient via an electroneutral H+-tetraethylammonium antiport system, and that tetraethylammonium is transported across basolateral membranes via a carrier-mediated system and this process is stimulated by an inside-negative membrane potential.     

The role of potassium and chloride ions on the Na+/acidic amino acid cotransport system in rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

The Na+/L-glutamate (L-aspartate) cotransport system present at the level of rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles is specifically activated by the ions K+ and Cl-. The presence of 100 mM K+ inside the vesicles drastically enhances the uptake rate and the transient intravesicular accumulation (overshoot) of the two acidic amino acids. It has been demonstrated that the activation of the transport system depended only in the intravesicular K+ concentration and that in the absence of any sodium gradient, an outward K+ gradient was unable to influence the Na+/acidic amino acid transport system. It was also found that Cl- could specifically activate the Na+-dependent L-glutamate (L-aspartate) uptake either in the presence or in the absence of K+. Also the effect of Cl- was observed only in the presence of an inward Na+ gradient and it was noted to be higher when chloride ion was present on both sides of the membrane vesicles. No influence (activation or accumulation) was observed in the absence of the Na+ gradient and in the presence of chloride gradient. L-Glutamate uptake measured in the presence of an imposed diffusion potential and in the presence of K+ or Cl- did not show any translocation of net charge.     

Amino acid transport in brush-border-membrane vesicles isolated from human small intestine.

Uptake of L-alanine and L-phenylalanine by purified bursh-border-membrane vesicles isolated from human small intestine was investigated by using a rapid-filtration technique. L-Alanine entered the same osmotically reactive space as D-glucose, indicating that transport into the vesicle rather than binding to the membranes was being observed. The uptake rate for L-alanine was higher in the presence of a Na+ gradient than in the presence of a K+ gradient. In the presence of a Na+ gradient, the lipophilic anion SCN- caused an increase in L-alanine transport, whereas the nearly impermeant SO42- anion decreased the uptake of L-alanine compared with its uptake in the presence of Cl-. The uptake of L-phenylalanine into the brush-border-membrane vesicle was also stimulated by Na+. The results indicate co-transport of Na+ and neutral amino acids inthe human intestinal brush-border membrane.