Transport of gamma-butyrobetaine in an Agrobacterium species isolated from soil.

An Agrobacterium sp. isolated from soil by selective growth on gamma-butyrobetaine (gamma-trimethylaminobutyrate) as the sole source of both carbon and nitrogen has been shown to possess an inducible transport system for this growth substrate. This transport system has a Kt of 0.5 microM and a maximal velocity of 3.8 nmol/min per mg (dry weight). The influx of gamma-butyrobetaine is optimal at pH 8.5 and operates against a concentration gradient. The transport system shows a high specificity for trimethylamine carboxylic acid molecules of defined chain length. gamma-Butyrobetaine uptake was significantly reduced in osmotically shocked cells and a gamma-butyrobetaine binding activity was detected in the crude shock fluid. This suggests a transport mechanism involving a periplasmic gamma-butyrobetaine binding protein.     

The effect of thiol reagents on GABA transport in rat brain synaptosomes

The nature of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transport has been investigated in preparations of rat brain synaptosomes using a number of thiol reagents with varying membrane permeabilities. N-Ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate effectively inhibited GABA transport in both directions (i.e., uptake and release) whereas 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate, mercaptopropionate and N- nitroethylenediamine were much less effective, or ineffective, even at millimolar concentrations. For each of the thiol reagents, the inhibition profile for GABA uptake was approximately the same as that for its release. The effectiveness of the reagents indicates that there is an external, reactable SH-group on the transporter, that the thiol reagent must be somewhat lipophilic for it to react with the SH-group(s), and that the same synaptosomal transport system is responsible for both uptake and release of GABA.     

Characterization of the nitrate transporter in root plasma membranes of Cucumis sativus L

Nitrate uptake in right-side out plasma membrane vesicles isolated from cucumber roots was characterized. Nitrate uptake into vesicles was driven by an artificially imposed pH gradient. The uptake was strongly inhibited by phenylglyoxal, an arginyl residue modificator. Only a slight repression of NO ₃ ⁻ transport in vesicles was observed in the presence of NEM, a thiol group reagent. pCMBS, an other thiol reagent and DEPC, an effector of histidine residue, had no effect on the nitrate transport in plasma membranes. ATP-driven proton transport in vesicles was not significantly affected in the presence of both, phenylglyoxal and DEPC, whereas pCMBS and NEM abolished it almost completely. The possible role of the particular amino acids residues in the active nitrate transport is discussed. NO ₃ ⁻ uptake into vesicles isolated from both, nitrate-induced and nitrate-depleted plant material was higher than that observed in the vesicles obtained from uninduced plants. Thus, isolated vesicles reflect the well-known in vivo response of intact plants on the exogenous nitrogen regime.     

Nucleoside transport in Walker 256 rat carcinosarcoma and S49 mouse lymphoma cells. Differences in sensitivity to nitrobenzylthioinosine and thiol reagents.

The characteristics of nucleoside transport were examined in Walker 256 rat carcinosarcoma and S49 mouse lymphoma cells. In Walker 256 cells the initial rates of uridine, thymidine and adenosine uptake were insensitive to the nucleoside transport inhibitor nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) (1 microM), but were partially inhibited by dipyridamole (10 microM), another inhibitor of nucleoside transport. In contrast, the transport of these nucleosides in S49 cells was completely blocked by both inhibitors. Nucleoside transport in Walker 256 and S49 cells also differed in its sensitivity to the thiol reagent p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonate (pCMBS). Uridine transport in Walker 256 cells was inhibited by pCMBS with an IC50 (concentration producing 50% inhibition) of less than 25 microM, and inhibition was readily reversed by beta-mercaptoethanol. In S49 cells uridine transport was only inhibited at much higher concentrations of pCMBS (IC50 approximately equal to 300 microM). In other respects nucleoside transport in Walker 256 and S49 cells were quite similar. The Km and Vmax. values for uridine transport were nearly identical, and the transporters of both cell lines appeared to accept a broad range of nucleosides as substrates. Uridine transport in Walker 256 cells was non-concentrative and did not require an energy source. These studies demonstrate that nucleoside uptake in Walker 256 cells is mediated by a facilitated-diffusion mechanism which differs markedly from that of S49 cells in its sensitivity to the transport inhibitor NBMPR and the thiol reagent pCMBS.     

L(+)-lactate transport in perfused rat skeletal muscle: kinetic characteristics and sensitivity to pH and transport inhibitors

We have examined lactate uptake (as the rate of net muscle lactate accumulation) and unidirectional inward transport (measured by a paired-tracer dilution method) in muscle of the perfused skinned rat hindlimb. Inhibition of tracer influx (fractional uptake at 1 mM L(+)-lactate, 43.3 +/- 3.1% but only 32.9 +/- 1.8% at 50 mM lactate) suggested some competition between tracer and native forms of the carboxylate for transport. D(-)-lactate (50 mM) did not inhibit uptake of tracer L(+)-lactate. Pyruvate (25 mM), but none of five other monocarboxylates, inhibited uptake of tracer lactate, by 22% (P less than 0.01). Altering perfusate pH from 7.4 to 6.8 caused a 36% increase (P less than 0.001) in the unidirectional L(+)-lactate transport at 1 mM L(+)-lactate, whereas increasing pH to 7.7 reduced transport by 18% (P less than 0.01). Tracer lactate influx was inhibited by 500 microM 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene (SITS) (19%), 5 mM alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CIN) (20-30%), 1 mM amiloride (27%) and by a thiol group reagent p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonic acid (pCMBS) (26%). Overall the results indicate that at least two processes are involved in the transfer of lactate: one, saturable, with a Vmax of 0.84 mumol.min-1.g-1 and an apparent Km of 21 mM was sensitive to SITS, CIN, and a thiol group reagent; the other was non-saturable and insensitive to SITS and CIN with an apparent rate constant of 0.1 min-1.     

Steroid hormone receptor fraction stimulation of RNA synthesis: a caution.

Permeant and impermeant labelled thiol reagents were incubated with rat liver mitochondria, and incorporation of reagent into mitochondria estimated. With permeant thiol reagents, incorporation depends on the energetic state of mitochondria; when coupled electron-transfer takes place, incorporation is fairly increased; the stimulation is abolished in the presence of an uncoupler, an electron-transfer inhibitor or inorganic phosphate. With an impermeant thiol reagent, the incorporation is unaffected by the energetic state of the mitochondria. These results favour the view of a participation of thiol groups in the energy-conserving mechanism but it cannot be ruled out that part of the unmasked thiol groups are implicated in the phosphate transport system. The observed stimulation may reflect either an increase in accessibility or in reactivity of some mitochondrial thiol groups.     

OCTN3: A Na+-independent L-carnitine transporter in enterocytes basolateral membrane

L-carnitine transport has been measured in enterocytes and basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) isolated from chicken intestinal epithelia. In the nominally Na+-free conditions chicken enterocytes take up L-carnitine until the cell to medium L-carnitine ratio is 1. This uptake was inhibited by L-carnitine, D-carnitine, gamma-butyrobetaine, acetylcarnitine, tetraethylammonium (TEA), and betaine. L-3H-carnitine uptake into BLMV showed no overshoot, and it was (i) Na+-independent, (ii) trans-stimulated by intravesicular L-carnitine, and (iii) cis-inhibited by TEA and cold L-carnitine. L-3H-carnitine efflux from L-3H-carnitine preloaded enterocytes was also Na+-independent, and trans-stimulated by L-carnitine, D-carnitine, gamma-butyrobetaine, acetylcarnitine, TEA, and betaine. Both, uptake and efflux of L-carnitine were inhibited by verapamil and unaffected by either extracellular pH or palmitoyl-L-carnitine. RT-PCR with specific primers for the mouse OCTN3 transporter revealed the existence of OCTN3 mRNA in mouse intestine, which was confirmed by in situ hybridization studies. Immunohystochemical analysis showed that OCTN3 protein was mainly associated with the basolateral membrane of rat and chicken enterocytes, whereas OCTN2 was detected at the apical membrane. In conclusion, the results demonstrate for the first time that (i) mammalian small intestine expresses OCTN3 mRNA along the villus and (ii) that OCTN3 protein is located in the basolateral membrane. They also suggest that OCTN3 could mediate the passive, Na+ and pH-independent L-carnitine transport activity measured in the three experimental conditions.     

Sites and regulation of carnitine biosynthesis in mammals

Although the pathway of carnitine biosynthesis in mammals is known, the location of active synthesis of carnitine and regulation of the pathway have not been clearly defined. Studies in several laboratories have shown that the enzymes that collectively convert epsilon-N-trimethyllysine (epsilon-N-TML) to gamma-butyrobetaine are found in all tissues studied in rats and humans, but distribution of the final enzyme of the pathway, gamma-butyrobetaine, 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase (gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase) is variable from one species to another. Evidence from studies in rats and humans indicates that uptake and metabolism of epsilon-N-TML by the kidney is necessary for carnitine biosynthesis from circulating epsilon-N-TML. Limited data now available suggest that some of the intracellularly derived epsilon-N-TML is metabolized to gamma-butyrobetaine and carnitine in the tissue of origin, and some is released into the circulation. epsilon-N-TML in mammals is apparently derived from lysine residues in proteins, which are methylated and later released by protein hydrolysis. This source probably provides sufficient substrate for carnitine biosynthesis. Carnitine biosynthesis from epsilon-N-TML is not regulated by end-product feedback mechanisms. Hepatic gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase activity in rats and humans is developmentally regulated, and is increased by dietary L-thyroxine in adult rats. No other mechanisms for regulation of carnitine biosynthesis have been identified.     

Transport of sugars in chick-embryo fibroblasts. Evidence for a low-affinity system and a high-affinity system for glucose transport.

The rate of D-glucose uptake by cells that had been deprived of sugar for 18-24h was consistently observed to be 15-20 times higher than that in control cells maintained for the same length of time in medium containing glucose. This increased rate of glucose transport by sugar-starved cells was due to a 3-5-fold increase in the Vmax. value of a low-affinity system (Km 1 mM) combined with an increase in the Vmax of a separate high-affinity system (Km 0.05-0.2 mM). The high-affinity system, which was most characteristic of starved cells, was particularly sensitive to low concentrations of the thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide; 50% inhibition of uptake occurred at approx. 0.01 mM-N-ethylmaleimide. In contrast with the high-affinity system, the low-affinity system of either the fed cells or the starved cells was unaffected by N-ethylmaleimide. In addition to the increases in the rate of D-glucose transport, cells deprived of sugar had increased rates of transport of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose. No measurable high-affinity transport system could be demonstrated for the transport of 3-O-methylgucose, and N-ethylmaleimide did not alter the initial rate. Thus the transport of 3-O-methyglucose by both fed and starved cells was exclusively by the N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive low-affinity system. The low-affinity system also appeared to be the primary means for the transport of 2-deoxyglucose by fed and starved cells. However, some of the transport of 2-deoxyglucose by starved cells was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, suggesting that 2-deoxyglucose may also be transported by a high-affinity system. The results of experiments that measured transport kinetics strongly suggest that glucose can be transported by a least two separate systems, and 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose by one. Support for these interpretations comes from the analysis of the effects of N-ethylmaleimide and cycloheximide as well as from the results of competition experiments. The uptake of glucose is quite different from that of 2-deoxyglucose and 3-O-methylglucose. The net result of sugar starvation serves to emphasize these differences. The apparent de-repression of the transport systems studied presents an interesting basis for further studies of the regulation of transport in a variety of cells.     

Sodium-induced conformation changes in membrane transport proteins

In the presence of KCl, tryptic digestion of vesicles derived from pigeon erythrocyte membranes inactivates sodium-dependent uptake of alanine by the vesicles, whereas digestion in the presence of NaCl does not. Extensive degradation of vesicle proteins occurs under both conditions. Similarly, the extent of inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide of the sodium-dependent influxes of both glycine and alanine into human erythrocytes is greater when the cells are exposed to the thiol reagent in the presence of KCl than when NaCl is used. These observations are interpreted as providing evidence for sodium-induced conformation changes in these transport proteins.     

CaiT of Escherichia coli,a new transporter catalyzing L-carnitine/gamma -butyrobetaine exchange

l-Carnitine is essential for beta-oxidation of fatty acids in mitochondria. Bacterial metabolic pathways are used for the production of this medically important compound. Here, we report the first detailed functional characterization of the caiT gene product, a putative transport protein whose function is required for l-carnitine conversion in Escherichia coli. The caiT gene was overexpressed in E. coli, and the gene product was purified by affinity chromatography and reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Functional analyses with intact cells and proteoliposomes demonstrated that CaiT is able to catalyze the exchange of l-carnitine for gamma-butyrobetaine, the excreted end product of l-carnitine conversion in E. coli, and related betaines. Electrochemical ion gradients did not significantly stimulate l-carnitine uptake. Analysis of l-carnitine counterflow yielded an apparent external K(m) of 105 microm and a turnover number of 5.5 s(-1). Contrary to related proteins, CaiT activity was not modulated by osmotic stress. l-Carnitine binding to CaiT increased the protein fluorescence and caused a red shift in the emission maximum, an observation explained by ligand-induced conformational alterations. The fluorescence effect was specific for betaine structures, for which the distance between trimethylammonium and carboxyl groups proved to be crucial for affinity. Taken together, the results suggest that CaiT functions as an exchanger (antiporter) for l-carnitine and gamma-butyrobetaine according to the substrate/product antiport principle.     

Saccharose and sorbitol transporters from plasmalemma membrane vesicles of peach tree leaves

The mechanisms of saccharose and sorbitol transport in Prunus persica leaves were investigated in plasma membrane vesicles purified by aqueous 2-phase partitioning and equilibrated in pH 7.5 buffer containing K+. The imposition of an artificial proton motive force energized an active uptake of both saccharose and sorbitol. The maximum uptake rate of saccharose was 2.5 times higher than that of sorbitol. Saccharose and sorbitol uptake exhibited saturation kinetics suggesting they were carrier-mediated. Apparent Km for the saccharose and the sorbitol uptake were 0.36 and 0.67 mM, respectively. Active absorption of saccharose was completely inhibited by a non-permeant thiol reagent, PCMBS, contrary to sorbitol absorption. These results suggested that saccharose and sorbitol were transported at least by two different carriers. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Uptake of glycine betaine and its analogues by bacteroids of Rhizobium meliloti

Bacteroids isolated from alfalfa nodules induced by Rhizobium meliloti 102F34 transported glycine betaine at a constant rate for up to 30 min. Addition of sodium salts greatly increased the uptake activity, whereas other salts or non-electrolytes had less effect. The apparent Km for glycine betaine uptake was 8.3 microM and V was about 0.84 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1 in the presence of 200 mM-NaCl which gave maximum stimulation of the transport. Supplementing bacteroid suspensions with various energy-yielding substrates, or ATP, did not increase glycine betaine uptake rates. The uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), and the respiratory inhibitor potassium cyanide strongly inhibited glycine betaine uptake, but arsenate was totally inactive. Glycine betaine transport showed considerable structural specificity: choline, proline betaine, gamma-butyrobetaine and trigonelline did not competitively inhibit the system, although choline and proline betaine were transported by bacteroids. Both a high-affinity activity and a low-affinity activity were found for choline uptake. These osmoprotective compounds might have a significant role in the maintenance of nitrogenase activity in bacteroids subjected to salt stress.     

The role of enzyme I in the unmasking of an essential thiol of the membrane-bound enzyme II of the phosphoenolpyruvate-glucose phosphotransferase system of Escherichia coli.

The membrane-bound component of the phosphotransferase system of Escherichia coli, responsible for the phosphorylative uptake of methyl-alpha-D-glucoside has an essential thiol group which becomes available to inactivation by thiol reagents in the presence of the phosphate-accepting sugar or when phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis is inhibited. The form resistant to the thiol reagent requires not only the absence of sugar and an intact phosphoenolpyruvate generating system, but also an intact system generating phosphorylated Hpr which is impaired by heating of a thermosensitive enzyme I mutant.     

Fluorescence-based detection of thiols in vitro and in vivo using dithiol probes

Thiols play a central role in maintaining biological homeostasis. Their levels can change dramatically in response to oxidative stress associated with toxic insults, bacterial infection, and disease. Therefore, a reagent that can monitor thiol levels both in vitro and in vivo would be useful for assays and as a biomarker. Such a reagent should (i) be selective for thiols, (ii) be able to penetrate cell walls, and (iii) have a low reduction potential so as not to create oxidative stress in a cell. We have developed such a fluorescent reagent (DSSA) based on a dithiol linker: (i) the use of a dithiol linker makes it selective for thiols; (ii) the use of fluorophores that populate neutral states at physiological pH improves cell wall penetration; and (iii) because of the reagent's low reduction potential (-0.60 V), it will not stress cells oxidatively. For example, 5 microM of reagent is responsive to changes in glutathione levels in the physiologically relevant range of 1 to 10mM, yet this would oxidize less than 1% of cellular glutathione. In Escherichia coli, decreased thiol levels were detected in cells deficient in glutathione synthesis. In zebrafish embryos, the DSSA reagent permitted detection of unusually high thiol levels in the zebrafish chorion.     

The effect of a cross-bridging thiol reagent on the catecholamine fluxes of adrenal medulla vesicles

The thiol groups of the vesicular protein of bovine adrenal medulla were allowed to react with the bifunctional thiol reagent bis-(N-maleimidomethyl) ether and with the monofunctional thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide, and the ATP-dependent and -independent catecholamine fluxes of the modified preparations were studied. 1. During the initial phase of the reaction bis-(N-maleimidomethyl) ether blocks twice as many thiol groups as does N-ethylmaleimide at equimolar concentrations. 2. Labelling of the bis-(N-maleimidomethyl) ether-protein compound with [(14)C]-cysteine shows that 70-80% of the blocked thiol groups are interconnected by the bifunctional thiol reagent. 3. At a low extent of reaction (1.5mol of thiol groups/10(6)g of protein) the catecholamine efflux is diminished. If more than 2mol of thiol groups/10(6)g of protein are blocked, the efflux is enhanced whichever thiol reagent is applied. 4. If 2-4mol of thiol groups/10(6)g of protein are blocked the inhibition of the catecholamine influx increases linearly with the proportion of the thiol groups blocked. 5. ATP protects the catecholamine influx and the adenosine triphosphatase activity against bis-(N-maleimidomethyl) ether poisoning somewhat less effectively than against N-ethylmaleimide poisoning.     

Involvement of thiol groups in the function of the dipeptide/proton cotransport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles

The role of thiol groups in H+-gradient-dependent dipeptide transport in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles was investigated using glycylsarcosine as the substrate. Treatment of the membrane vesicles with a thiol-group-reducing agent, dimercaptopropanol, stimulated Gly-Sar transport. On the other hand, treatment with thiol group oxidants such as 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), plumbagin and phenazine methosulfate inhibited Gly-Sar transport. These effects were irreversible, because washing the membranes after treatment failed to reverse the effects. Incubation of the membrane vesicles with phenylarsine oxide, a reagent which interacts specifically with vicinal dithiols, significantly inhibited Gly-Sar transport. In all cases, the stimulation or the inhibition of the dipeptide transport was primarily due to changes in the maximal velocity of the transport system, the apparent affinity constant remaining unaltered. These results demonstrate the involvement of one or more vicinal dithiol groups in the function of the renal dipeptide transport system and that these thiol groups must exist in reduced form to maintain maximal transport activity. In addition, these data indirectly suggest that a dithiol-disulfide interchange may play a role in the function of the renal dipeptide transport system.     

Quantification of protein thiols and dithiols in the picomolar range using sodium borohydride and 4,4'-dithiodipyridine

Experimental determination of the number of thiols in a protein requires methodology that combines high sensitivity and reproducibility with low intrinsic thiol oxidation disposition. In detection of disulfide bonds, it is also necessary to efficiently reduce disulfides and to quantify the liberated thiols. Ellman's reagent (5,5'-dithiobis-[2-nitrobenzoic acid], DTNB) is the most widely used reagent for quantification of protein thiols, whereas dithiothreitol (DTT) is commonly used for disulfide reduction. DTNB suffers from a relatively low sensitivity, whereas DTT reduction is inconvenient because the reagent must be removed before thiol quantification. Furthermore, both reagents require a reaction pH > 7.0 where oxidation by ambient molecular oxygen is significant. Here we describe a quick and highly sensitive assay for protein thiol and dithiol quantification using the reducing agent sodium borohydride and the thiol reagent 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (4-DPS). Because borohydride is efficiently destroyed by the addition of acid, the complete reduction and quantification can be performed conveniently in one tube without desalting steps. Furthermore, the use of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the thiol quantification by 4-DPS reduces the detection limit to the picomolar range (equivalent to 1 microg of a 50-kDa protein containing 1 thiol) while at the same time maintaining low pH throughout the procedure.     

Cysteine-scanning mutagenesis reveals a highly amphipathic, pore-lining membrane-spanning helix in the glutamate transporter GltT

The carboxyl-terminal membrane-spanning segment 8 of the glutamate transporter GltT of Bacillus stearothermophilus was studied by cysteine-scanning mutagenesis. 21 single cysteine mutants were constructed in a stretch ranging from Gly-374 to Gln-404. Two mutants were not expressed, four were inactive, and two showed severely reduced glutamate transport activity. Cysteine mutations at the other positions were well tolerated. Only the two most amino- and carboxyl-terminal mutants (G374C, I375C, S399C, and Q404C) could be labeled with the large thiol reagent fluorescein maleimide, indicating unrestricted access and a location in a loop structure outside the membrane. The labeling pattern of these mutants using membrane- permeable and -impermeable thiol reagents showed that the N and C termini of the mutated stretch are located extra- and intracellularly, respectively. Thus, the location of the membrane-spanning segment was confined to a stretch of 23 residues between Gly-374 and Ser-399. Cysteine residues in three mutants in the central part of the segment (M381C, V388C, and N391C) could be labeled with the small and flexible reagent 2-aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate hydrobromide only, suggesting accessibility via a narrow aqueous pore. When the region was modeled as an alpha-helix, all positions at which cysteine mutations lead to inactive or severely impaired transporters cluster on one face of this helix. The inactive mutants showed neither proton motive force-driven uptake activity nor exchange activity nor glutamate binding. The results indicate that transmembrane segment 8 forms an amphipathic alpha-helix. The hydrophilic face of the helix lines an aqueous pore and contains many residues that are important for activity.     

Peptide uptake in germinating barley embryos involves a dithiol-dependent transport protein

An active transport system for small peptides occurs in the scutellar membrane of germinating barley and serves to move the products of partial hydrolysis of storage proteins from the endosperm into the growing embryo. Transport of peptides, but not amino acids or glucose, is inhibited by the thiol reagents, N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzene sulphonic acid (PCMBS). Peptide substrates protect against PCMBS inactivation. The dithiol-specific reagent, phenylarsine oxide (PAO) also inhibits. The reducing agent, dithiothreitol, reverses the inactivation caused by PCMBS and PAO. We conclude that the peptide transport system contains a redox-sensitive, dithiol-dependent protein.