Transport systems for polyamines in the established renal cell line LLC-PK. Polarized expression of an Na(+)-dependent transporter.

We present evidence for the existence of an Na(+)-dependent transporter and an Na(+)-independent transporter for polyamines in LLC-PK1 cells. Both transporters could be discriminated by their sensitivity to inhibitors, particularly rho-chloromercuriphenyl sulphate and various polycationic molecules. By using cell monolayers grown on a permeable filter support, we have found that the Na(+)-dependent polyamine uptake occurred preferentially from the basolateral side. The Na(+)-independent uptake, on the other hand, occurred to the same extent from either the apical or the basolateral side.     

Polyamine transport systems in the LLC-PK1 renal epithelial established cell line

LLC-PK1 cells were brought to a quiescent state by treatment with DL-2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of L-ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). The inhibition of ODC, which is the key enzyme for polyamine synthesis, strongly reduced the cellular content of putrescine and spermidine. The cells resumed DNA-synthesis followed by mitosis when exogenous putrescine was added. DFMO treatment strongly stimulated the putrescine uptake capability. A kinetic analysis of the initial uptake rates revealed a saturable Na+-dependent and a saturable Na+-independent pathway on top of non-saturable diffusion. The stimulation by DFMO was exclusively due to an effect on the Vmax values of the saturable pathways. The Na+-dependent transporter had a higher affinity for putrescine (apparent Km = 4.7 +/- 0.7 microM) than the Na+-independent transporter (apparent Km = 29.8 +/- 3.5 microM). As a consequence, although the latter transporter had a higher Vmax, the Na+-dependent transport was more important at a physiological putrescine concentration. Putrescine uptake by both transporters was inhibited with similar relative affinities by spermidine, spermine as well as by the antileukemic agent, methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), but not by amino acids. The activity of the Na+-dependent transporter was very much dependent on SH-group reagents, whereas the Na+-independent transporter was not affected. Both transporters were inhibited by metabolic inhibitors and by ionophores but the Na+-dependent transporter was affected to a greater extent. For both transporters there was a down-regulation in response to exogenous putrescine. This suggests that the polyamine transporters in LLC-PK1 are adaptively regulated and may contribute to the regulation of the cellular polyamine level and cellular proliferation.     

Na(+)-dependent, active and Na(+)-independent, facilitated transport of formycin B in mouse spleen lymphocytes

Na(+)-dependent, active and Na(+)-independent facilitated nucleoside transport were characterized in mouse spleen cells using rapid kinetic techniques and formycin B, a metabolically inert analog of inosine, as substrate. The Michaelis-Menten constants for formycin B transport by the two transporters were about 30 and 400 microM, respectively. The first-order rate constant for Na(+)-dependent transport was about 4-times higher than that for facilitated formycin B transport. The Na(+)-dependent carrier is specific for uridine and purine nucleosides and accumulates formycin B concentratively in an unmodified form. Concentrative accumulation was inhibited by ATP depletion and gramicidin and ouabain treatment of the cells. Our data indicate a single Na(+)-binding site on the Na(+)-dependent nucleoside carrier and a Michaelis-Menten constant for Na+ of about 10 mM. This transporter was not significantly inhibited by dipyridamole and nitrobenzylthioinosine, inhibitors of the facilitated transporter. The Na(+)-independent, facilitated nucleoside transporter of spleen cells exhibits properties comparable to those of the carriers present in mammalian cells in general. The B lymphocytes remaining after depletion of spleen cell populations of T lymphocytes by incubation with a combination of T-cell specific monoclonal antibodies plus complement exhibited about the same activities of active and facilitated nucleoside transport as the original suspension.     

Evidence for the existence of distinct transporters for the polyamines putrescine and spermidine in B16 melanoma cells

The uptake of intracellular putrescine and spermidine was examined in B16 melanoma cells. It was found that difluoromethylornithine preferentially induced putrescine transport (28-fold) compared to that for spermidine (3.5-fold). Putrescine uptake was partially Na+ dependent, whereas spermidine uptake was not. Inhibition studies with the two polyamines showed that putrescine was a poor competitive inhibitor of spermidine uptake, exhibiting a Ki of 69-75 microM, whereas the estimated Km for putrescine uptake was only 5.36 microM. By contrast, spermidine inhibition of putrescine transport produced a non-linear Eadie-Scatchard plot suggesting that putrescine was taken up by a spermidine-sensitive and a spermidine-insensitive process. The estimated spermidine Ki for inhibition of the spermidine-sensitive process was 0.125 microM. Using a series of polypyridinium quaternary salts to inhibit transport, no correlation between inhibition of putrescine uptake and inhibition of spermidine uptake was seen. Finally, the photoaffinity label, 1,12-di(N5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl)spermine selectively inactivated the putrescine transporter(s) without affecting spermidine uptake. From these observations, it was concluded that multiple polyamine transporters are present on B16 melanoma cells and that separate, distinct transporter(s) account for the uptake of putrescine and spermidine in this cell-line following induction with difluoromethylornithine. The present of different transporters for the two polyamines indicates that expression of uptake activity for putrescine and spermidine may be under separate cellular control.     

Chinese hamster ovary mRNA-dependent, Na(+)-independent L-leucine transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

In freshly prepared uninjected folliculated oocytes, Na(+)-independent leucine uptake is mediated predominantly by a system L-like transport system. Removal of follicular cells, however, results in an irreversible loss of this transport activity. When total poly(A)+ mRNA derived from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was injected into prophase-arrested stage V or VI Xenopus laevis oocytes, enhanced expression of Na(+)-independent leucine transport was observed. The injected mRNAs associated with increased levels of leucine uptake were between 2 and 3 kb in length. The newly expressed leucine transport activity exhibited important differences from the known characteristics of system L, which is the dominant Na(+)-independent leucine transporter in CHO cells as well as in freshly isolated folliculated oocytes. The CHO mRNA-dependent leucine uptake in oocytes was highly sensitive to the cationic amino acids lysine, arginine, and and ornithine (> 95% inhibition). As with the leucine uptake, an enhanced lysine uptake was also observed in size-fractionated CHO mRNA-injected oocytes. The uptakes of leucine and lysine were mutually inhibitable, suggesting that the newly expressed transporter was responsible for uptakes of both leucine and lysine. The inhibition of uptake of lysine by leucine was Na+ independent, thus clearly distinguishing it from the previously reported endogenous system y+ activity. Furthermore, the high sensitivity to tryptophan of the CHO mRNA-dependent leucine transport was in sharp contrast to the properties of the recently cloned leucine transport-associated gene from rat kidney tissue, although leucine transport from both sources was sensitive to cationic amino acids. Our results suggest that there may be a family of leucine transporters operative in different tissues and possibly under different conditions.     

Nucleoside transport in L1210 murine leukemia cells. Evidence for three transporters

L1210 murine leukemia cells have two nucleoside transport activities that differ in their sensitivity to nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR). This study re-examines NBMPR-insensitive nucleoside transport in these cells and finds that it is mediated by two components, one Na(+)-dependent and the other Na(+)-independent. A mutant selected previously for loss of NBMPR-insensitive transport lacks only the Na(+)-independent activity. When NBMPR is used to block efflux via the NBMPR-sensitive transporter, uptake of formycin B (a nonmetabolized analog of inosine) is concentrative in both the parental and mutant cells, but the intracellular concentration of the nucleoside is 5-fold lower in the parental cells. Decreased accumulation of formycin B in the parental cells is due to efflux of the nucleoside via the NBMPR-insensitive, Na(+)-independent transporter that the mutant lacks. The Na(+)-dependent transporter appears to accept most purine, but not pyrimidine, nucleosides as substrates. Two exceptions are uridine, a good substrate, and 7-deazaadenosine, a poor substrate. In contrast, all of the nucleosides tested are substrates for the Na(+)-independent transporter. We conclude that L1210 cells have three distinct nucleoside transporters and that the specificity of the Na(+)-dependent transporter is similar to that of one of the two Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transporters seen in mouse intestinal epithelial cells.     

Characterization of putrescine- and spermidine-transport systems of a rat pancreatic acinar tumoral cell line (AR4-2J).

Polyamines are polycationic molecules essential for cell growth and differentiation. Recent work has focused on cell polyamine-transport systems as a way to regulate intracellular polyamine levels. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of two different active transporters for putrescine and spermidine in a rat tumoral cell line (AR4-2J). The first has a Km of 3.1 microM and a Vmax of 3.7 pmol/15 min per micrograms of DNA for putrescine and the second a Km of 0.42 microM and a Vmax of 4.7 pmol/15 min per micrograms of DNA for spermidine. Competition studies performed between the polyamines confirm the difference between these two carriers; one has an equal affinity for the three main polyamines, and the other has a lower affinity for putrescine. Amino acids do not share this transport system, which is Na(+)-independent. Choline chloride inhibits selectively and in a dose-responsive manner the uptake of putrescine without affecting that of spermidine. These data demonstrate that AR4-2J cells possess two polyamine transporters; one is specific for aminopropyl groups (spermidine and spermine), and the other is choline-sensitive, but cannot discriminate between aminobutyl (putrescine) and aminopropyl groups.     

Functional regulation of Na+-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2 by S-nitrosothiols and nitric oxide in Caco-2 cells

We describe the regulation mechanisms of the Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2 via nitric oxide (NO) in the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2. Exposure of Caco-2 cells to S-nitrosothiol, such as S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) and S-nitrosoglutathione, and the NO-donor, NOC12, concentration- and time-dependently increased Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake. Kinetic analyses indicated that SNAP increases the maximal velocity (V(max)) of Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake in Caco-2 cells without affecting the Michaelis-Menten constant (K(t)). The stimulatory effect was partially eliminated by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Increased Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake by SNAP was partially abolished by the NO scavengers, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide sodium salt (carboxy-PTIO) and N-(dithiocarboxy)sarcosine disodium salts (DTCS), as well as the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium. RT-PCR revealed that Caco-2 cells expressed the Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2, but not the other Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transporters ATB(0,+) and B(0)AT1. These results suggested that functional up-regulation of ASCT2 by SNAP might be partially associated with an increase in the density of transporter protein via de novo synthesis.     

Histamine prevents polyamine accumulation in mouse C57.1 mast cell cultures.

The effects of histamine on polyamine uptake and metabolism was studied in a mouse mast cell line (C57.1), as a cell model in which both biogenic amines are important for maintaining cell function and viability. Results obtained after incubations with exogenous histamine indicated that histamine prevents polyamine accumulation by affecting polyamine uptake. A plasma membrane transport system for polyamines has been also studied in mast cells. It seems to be a Na(+)-dependent uptake with high affinity for both spermine and spermidine and lower affinity for putrescine and agmatine. Polyamine uptake was reduced in both cells treated with exogenous histamine and histamine-preloaded cells. However, ornithine decarboxylase activity and cell proliferation were not affected by histamine. Incubation with histamine enhanced the spermidine/spermine acetyl transferase induction caused by N(1)-ethyl-N(11)-[(cyclopropyl)methyl]-4,8-diazaundecane, suggesting that polyamine acetylation could be another mechanism by which histamine prevents polyamine accumulation in C57.1 mast cells.     

Characterisation and cloning of a Na(+)-dependent broad-specificity neutral amino acid transporter from NBL-1 cells: a novel member of the ASC/B(0) transporter family

Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transport into the bovine renal epithelial cell line NBL-1 is catalysed by a broad-specificity transporter originally termed System B(0). This transporter is shown to differ in specificity from the B(0) transporter cloned from JAR cells [J. Biol. Chem. 271 (1996) 18657] in that it interacts much more strongly with phenylalanine. Using probes designed to conserved transmembrane regions of the ASC/B(0) transporter family we have isolated a cDNA encoding the NBL-1 cell System B(0) transporter. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes the clone catalysed Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake which was inhibited by glutamine, leucine and phenylalanine. However, the clone did not catalyse Na(+)-dependent phenylalanine transport, again as in NBL-1 cells. The clone encoded a protein of 539 amino acids; the predicted transmembrane domains were almost identical in sequence to those of the other members of the B(0)/ASC transporter family. Comparison of the sequences of NBL-1 and JAR cell transporters showed some differences near the N-terminus, C-terminus and in the loop between helices 3 and 4. The NBL-1 B(0) transporter is not the same as the renal brush border membrane transporter since it does not transport phenylalanine. Differences in specificity in this protein family arise from relatively small differences in amino acid sequence.     

Substrate-induced up-regulation of Na(+)-dependent glutamate transport activity

Sodium-dependent transporters regulate extracellular glutamate in the CNS. Recent studies suggest that the activity of several different neurotransmitter transporters can be rapidly regulated by a variety of mechanisms. In the present study, we report that pre-incubation of primary 'astrocyte-poor' neuronal cultures with glutamate (100 microM) for 30 min nearly doubled the V(max) for Na(+)-dependent accumulation of L-[(3)H]-glutamate, but had no effect on Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]-glycine transport. Pre-incubation with glutamate also increased the net uptake of non-radioactive glutamate, providing evidence that the increase in accumulation of L-[(3)H]-glutamate was not related to an increase in intracellular glutamate and a subsequent increase in exchange of intracellular non-radioactive glutamate for extracellular radioactive glutamate. The glutamate receptor agonists, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate, quisqualate, and (1 S, 3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid did not mimic the effect of pre-incubation with glutamate and the glutamate-induced increase was not blocked by receptor antagonists. However, compounds known to interact with the transporters, including L-aspartate, D-aspartate, L-(-)-threo-3-hydroxyaspartate (L-THA) and L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (L-trans-PDC), caused variable increases in transport activity and attenuated the increase induced by glutamate, suggesting that the increase is related to the interaction of glutamate with the transporters. Several studies were attempted to define the mechanism of this regulation. We found no evidence for increases in transporter synthesis or cell surface expression. Inhibitors of signaling molecules known to regulate other neurotransmitter transporters had no effect on this stimulation. Using a variety of cultures, evidence is provided to suggest that this substrate-induced up-regulation of glutamate transport is specific for the GLT-1 and GLAST subtypes and does not influence transport mediated by EAAC1. These studies suggest that the interaction of glutamate with some of the subtypes of glutamate transporters causes an increase in transport activity. Conceivably, this phenomenon provides an endogenous mechanism to increase the clearance of glutamate during periods of prolonged elevations in extracellular glutamate.     

Electrogenicity of Na(+)-coupled bile acid transporters.

The Na(+)-bile acid cotransporters NTCP and ASBT are largely responsible for the Na(+)-dependent bile acid uptake in hepatocytes and intestinal epithelial cells, respectively. This review discusses the experimental methods available for demonstrating electrogenicity and examines the accumulating evidence that coupled transport by each of these bile acid transporters is electrogenic. The evidence includes measurements of transport-associated currents by patch clamp electrophysiological techniques, as well as direct measurement of fluorescent bile acid transport rates in whole cell patch clamped, voltage clamped cells. The results support a Na+:bile acid coupling stoichiometry of 2:1.     

The regulation of Na(+)-dependent anionic amino acid transport by the rat mammary gland.

The regulation of anionic amino acid transport, using radiolabelled D-aspartate as a tracer, by rat mammary tissue explants has been examined. Na(+)-dependent D-aspartate uptake by mammary tissue increased between late pregnancy and early lactation and again at peak lactation but thereafter declined during late lactation. In contrast, the Na(+)-independent component of D-aspartate uptake by mammary explants did not change significantly with the physiological state of the donor animals. Premature weaning of rats during peak lactation markedly decreased Na(+)-dependent D-aspartate uptake by mammary tissue. In addition, premature weaning also reduced the effect of reversing the trans-membrane Na(+)-gradient on the fractional loss of D-aspartate from mammary tissue explants. Unilateral weaning of rats during peak lactation revealed that milk accumulation per se reduced the Na(+)-dependent moiety of D-aspartate uptake by mammary tissue suggesting that the transport of anionic amino acids is regulated to match supply with demand. Treating lactating rats with bromocryptine reduced D-aspartate uptake by mammary tissue explants suggesting that the transport of anionic amino acids by the rat mammary gland is regulated by prolactin.     

Role of specific acidic lipids on the reconstitution of Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport in proteoliposomes derived from Ehrlich cell plasma membranes

The effect of acidic phospholipids on the activity of a Na(+)-dependent amino acid transporter (A system) from Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membranes was examined. Plasma membranes were solubilized in cholate/urea and reconstituted with Ba2(+)-precipitated asolectin (soybean phospholipid free of anionic phospholipids) replenished with different acidic phospholipids. In the absence of added acidic phospholipids, transport activity was very low. However, three acidic lipids [cardiolipin greater than phosphatidic acid (PA) greater than phosphatidylinositol] were capable of restoring transport activity (in the order given) to proteoliposomes made from Ba2(+)-precipitated asolectin, while other acidic phospholipids (phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol) were much less active in this respect. For restoration of optimal activity, PA containing at least one unsaturated fatty acyl moiety, particularly in the beta position, was required. PA containing only saturated fatty acids in the beta and gamma positions was largely inactive. No difference in restoration of function was observed on varying the saturated fatty acyl chain length in PA from 10 carbons to 18 carbons. The specific effects of PA on the A-system transporter were not shared by the Na(+)-independent amino acid exchange system (L system) or the glucose transport system. Treatment with poly(ethylene glycol) 8000 was shown to reduce the nonspecific permeability of the reconstituted proteoliposomes and to enhance Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport.     

Uptake of polyamines by the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and their effect on ornithine decarboxylase activity

Uptake of exogenous polyamines by the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and their effects on polyamine metabolism were investigated. Our data show that, in contrast to mammalian cells, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii does not contain short-living, high-affinity polyamine transporters whose cellular level is dependent on the polyamine concentration. However, exogenous polyamines affect polyamine metabolism in Chlamydomonas cells. Exogenous putrescine caused a slow increase of both putrescine and spermidine and, vice versa, exogenous spermidine also led to an increase of the intracellular levels of both spermidine and putrescine. No intracellular spermine was detected under any conditions. Exogenous spermine was taken up by the cells and caused a decrease in their putrescine and spermidine levels. As in other organisms, exogenous polyamines led to a decrease in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase, a key enzyme of polyamine synthesis. In contrast to mammalian cells, this polyamine-induced decrease in ornithine decarboxylase activity is not mediated by a polyamine-dependent degradation or inactivation, but exclusively due to a decreased synthesis of ornithine decarboxylase. Translation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA, but not overall protein biosynthesis is slowed by increased polyamine levels.     

Kinetic analysis of L-glutamine transport into porcine jejunal enterocyte brush-border membrane vesicles

L-Glutamine transport into porcine jejunal enterocyte brush border membrane vesicles was studied. Uptake was mediated by a Na(+)-dependent and a Na(+)-independent pathway as well as by diffusion. The initial rates of glutamine uptake over a range of concentrations is both Na(+)-gradient and Na(+)-free conditions were analyzed and kinetic parameters were obtained. Na(+)-dependent glutamine transport had a K(m) of 0.77 +/- 0.16 mM and a Jmax of 70.7 +/- 5.8 pmol mg protein-1 s-1; Na(+)-independent glutamine transport had a K(m) of 3.55 +/- 0.78 mM and a Jmax of 55.1 +/- 6.6 pmol mg protein-1 s-1. The non-saturable component measured with HgCl2-poisoned brush border membrane vesicles in the Na(+)-free condition contained passive diffusion and non-specific membrane binding and was defined to be apparent glutamine diffusion and the glutamine permeability coefficient (Kdiff) was estimated to be Kdiff = 3.78 +/- 0.06 pmol 1 mg protein-1 mmol-1 s-1. Results of inhibition experiments showed that Na(+)-dependent glutamine uptake occurred primarily through the brush border system-B degree transporters, whereas Na(+)-independent glutamine uptake occurred via the system-L transporters. Furthermore, the kinetics of L-leucine and L-cysteine inhibition of L-glutamine uptake demonstrated that neutral amino acids sharing the same brush border transporters can effectively inhibit each other in their transport.     

Characterization and chemical modification of the Na(+)-dependent bile-acid transport system in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit ileum.

The Na(+)-dependent uptake system for bile acids in the ileum from rabbit small intestine was characterized using brush-border membrane vesicles. The uptake of [3H]taurocholate into vesicles prepared from the terminal ileum showed an overshoot uptake in the presence of an inwardly-directed Na(+)-gradient ([Na+]out > [Na+]in), in contrast to vesicles prepared from the jejunum. The Na(+)-dependent [3H]taurocholate uptake was cis-inhibited by natural bile acid derivatives, whereas cholephilic organic compounds, such as phalloidin, bromosulphophthalein, bilirubin, indocyanine green or DIDS - all interfering with hepatic bile-acid uptake - did not show a significant inhibitory effect. Photoaffinity labeling of ileal membrane vesicles with 3,3-azo- and 7,7-azo-derivatives of taurocholate resulted in specific labeling of a membrane polypeptide with apparent molecular mass 90 kDa. Bile-acid derivatives inhibiting [3H]taurocholate uptake by ileal vesicles also inhibited labeling of the 90 kDa polypeptide, whereas compounds with no inhibitory effect on ileal bile-acid transport failed to show a significant effect on the labeling of the 90 kDa polypeptide. The involvement of functional amino-acid side-chains in Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake was investigated by chemical modification of ileal brush-border membrane vesicles with a variety of group-specific agents. It was found that (vicinal) thiol groups and amino groups are involved in active ileal bile-acid uptake, whereas carboxyl- and hydroxyl-containing amino acids, as well as tyrosine, histidine or arginine are not essential for Na(+)-dependent bile-acid transport activity. The irreversible inhibition of [3H]taurocholate transport by DTNB or NBD-chloride could be partially reversed by thiols like 2-mercaptoethanol or DTT. Furthermore, increasing concentrations of taurocholate during chemical modification with NBD-chloride were able to protect the ileal bile-acid transporter from inactivation. These findings suggest that a membrane polypeptide of apparent M(r) 90,000 is a component of the active Na(+)-dependent bile-acid reabsorption system in the terminal ileum from rabbit small intestine. Vicinal thiol groups and amino groups of the transport system are involved in Na(+)-dependent transport activity, whereas other functional amino acids are not essential for transport activity.     

Interaction of N1,N12-diacetylspermine with polyamine transport systems of polarized porcine renal cell line LLC-PK1

LLC-PK(1) cells grown on porous membrane filters were employed as a model system to explore the renal transport of polyamines. The polarity of LLC-PK(1) monolayers was confirmed by the exclusive appearance of a Na(+)-dependent alpha-methylglucoside transport system on the apical surface. The uptake of free polyamines from the basolateral side of monolayers was consistent with the existence of a single class of transport system, while the existence of two kinetically distinct polyamine transport systems with higher and lower affinities on apical membranes was suggested. The results of competition studies indicated that each of these transporters was able to interact with putrescine, spermidine and spermine. LLC-PK(1) cells incorporated monoacetylspermine from the apical surface of monolayers at about half the rate of spermine uptake. Monoacetylspermine inhibited spermidine uptake, indicating that free polyamine transport systems also recognized the monoacetylated derivative. In contrast, N(1),N(12)-diacetylspermine did not inhibit spermidine uptake, nor was it incorporated into the cells, indicating the absence of transport systems that recognize N(1),N(12)-diacetylspermine on the apical membranes of LLC-PK(1) cells. These results may be relevant as to our previous observation that the content of diacetylpolyamines in urine is relatively constant, and may explain the excellence of N(1),N(12)-diacetylspermine as a tumor marker.     

Characterization of nucleoside transport systems in cultured rat epididymal epithelium

The nucleoside transport systems in cultured epididymal epithelium were characterized and found to be similar between the proximal (caput and corpus) and distal (cauda) regions of the epididymis. Functional studies revealed that 70% of the total nucleoside uptake was Na(+) dependent, while 30% was Na(+) independent. The Na(+)-independent nucleoside transport was mediated by both the equilibrative nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive system (40%) and the NBMPR-insensitive system (60%), which was supported by a biphasic dose response to NBMPR inhibition. The Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]uridine uptake was selectively inhibited 80% by purine nucleosides, indicating that the purine nucleoside-selective N1 system is predominant. Since Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]guanosine uptake was inhibited by thymidine by 20% and Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]thymidine uptake was broadly inhibited by purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, this suggested the presence of the broadly selective N3 system accounting for 20% of Na(+)-dependent nucleoside uptake. Results of RT-PCR confirmed the presence of mRNA for equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) 1, ENT2, and concentrative nucleoside transporter (CNT) 2 and the absence of CNT1. It is suggested that the nucleoside transporters in epididymis may be important for sperm maturation by regulating the extracellular concentration of adenosine in epididymal plasma.     

AGP2 encodes the major permease for high affinity polyamine import in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Polyamines play essential functions in many aspects of cell biology. Plasma membrane transport systems for the specific uptake of polyamines exist in most eukaryotic cells but have been very recently identified at the molecular level only in the parasite Leishmania. We now report that the high affinity polyamine permease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is identical to Agp2p, a member of the yeast amino acid transporter family that was previously identified as a carnitine transporter. Deletion of AGP2 dramatically reduces the initial velocity of spermidine and putrescine uptake and confers strong resistance to the toxicity of exogenous polyamines, and transformation with an AGP2 expression vector restored polyamine transport in agp2delta mutants. Yeast mutants deficient in polyamine biosynthesis required >10-fold higher concentrations of exogenous putrescine to restore cell proliferation upon deletion of the AGP2 gene. Disruption of END3, a gene required for an early step of endocytosis, increased the abundance of Agp2p, an effect that was paralleled by a marked up-regulation of spermidine transport velocity. Thus, AGP2 encodes the first eukaryotic permease that preferentially uses spermidine over putrescine as a high affinity substrate and plays a central role in the uptake of polyamines in yeast.