Different molecular sizes for Na(+)-dependent phosphonoformic acid binding and phosphate transport in renal brush border membrane vesicles

We compared several features of Na(+)-dependent phosphono[14C]formic acid (PFA) binding and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles. From kinetic analyses, we estimated an apparent Km for PFA binding of 0.86 mM, an order of magnitude greater than that for phosphate and the high-affinity phosphate transport system. A hyperbolic Na(+)-saturation curve for PFA binding and a sigmoidal Na(+)-saturation curve for phosphate transport were demonstrated; based on these data, we estimated stoichiometries of 1:1 for Na+/PFA and 2:1 for Na+/phosphate. By radiation inactivation analysis, target sizes for brush border membrane protein(s) mediating Na(+)-dependent PFA binding and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport corresponded to molecular masses of 555 +/- 32 kDa and 205 +/- 36 kDa, respectively. Similar analysis of the phosphate-inhibitable component of Na(+)-dependent PFA binding gave a target size of 130 +/- 28 kDa. We also demonstrated that phosphate deprivation, which elicits a 2.6-fold increase in brush border membrane Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport, had no effect on either Na(+)-dependent PFA binding or on the target size for PFA binding. However, phosphate deprivation appeared to increase the target size for phosphate transport (from 255 +/- 32 to 335 +/- 75 kDa (P less than 0.01]. In summary, we present evidence for several differences between Na(+)-dependent PFA binding and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles and suggest that PFA may not interact exclusively with the proteins mediating Na(+)-phosphate co-transport.     

Specificity of the Na+-dependent monocarboxylic acid transport pathway in rabbit renal brush border membranes

The substrate specificity of a Na+-dependent transport pathway for L-lactate was studied in rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles. Jmax for L-lactate transport was unaffected by the presence of a fixed concentration of two different short-chain monocarboxylic acids, while the apparent Kt(Ka) for L-lactate increased, and this is compatible with competitive inhibition. The inhibitor constants ("Ki"'s) for the transport pathway for the two solutes examined closely corresponded to the respective "Ki"'s derived from a Dixon plot. A broad range of compounds were then tested as potential inhibitors of L-lactate transport, and the "Ki"'s thereby derived yielded specific information regarding optimal substrate recognition by the carrier. A single carboxyl group is an absolute requirement for recognition, and preference is given to 3 to 6 C chain molecules. Addition of ketone, hydroxyl and, particularly, amine groups at any carbon position, diminishes substrate-carrier interaction. Intramolecular forces, notably the inductive effects of halogens, may play a role in enhancing substrate-carrier interaction; however, no correlation was found between pKa and "Ki" for the substrates examined. We conclude that a separate monocarboxylic acid transport pathway, discrete from either the D-glucose, alpha or beta neutral amino-acid, or dicarboxylic acid carriers, exists in the renal brush border, and this handles a broad range of monocarboxylates.     

Quantitation of the Na(+)-Pi cotransporter in renal cortical brush border membranes. [14C]phosphonoformic acid as a useful probe to determine the density and its change in response to parathyroid hormone.

To determine the density of Na(+)-Pi symporters in brush border membranes (BBM) from rat renal cortex, [14C] phosphonoformic acid [( 14C] PFA), a competitive inhibitor of Na(+)-Pi cotransport, was employed as a probe. The [14C]PFA binding was measured in BBM vesicles (BBMV) under equilibrated conditions (extra-vesicular Na+, K+, and H+ = intravesicular Na+, K+, and H+) to avoid modulatory effects of these solutes. BBMV were preincubated in media without or with addition of molar excess of Pi (greater than 20 times) to determine the Pi-protectable PFA-binding sites, and then [14C] PFA binding was determined. Only the [14C]PFA binding in the presence of Na+ displaceable by an excess of Pi was saturated and was independent of intravesicular volume of BBMV. This value denoted as "Pi-protectable Na(+)-[14C]PFA binding," was analyzed by Scatchard plot showing BmaxPFA = 375 +/- 129 pmol of PFA/mg protein, KDPFA = 158 +/- 18 microM; the Hill coefficient was congruent to 1. For Na(+)-dependent binding of [3H]phlorizin, in the same BBMV, Bmax = 310 +/- 37 pmol/mg protein and KD V 2.2 +/- 0.5 microM. BBMV prepared from cortex of thyroparathyroidectomized rats infused with phosphaturic doses of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were compared with vehicle-infused controls. Administration of PTH resulted in decrease of BmaxPFA (-38%) and of Na(+)-gradient-dependent uptake of 32Pi (-35%), but KDPFA was not changed. Neither BmaxPhl and KDPhl for Na(+)-phlorizin binding, nor the Na(+)-gradient-dependent uptake of [3H]D-glucose differed between PTH-treated and control rats. We conclude: (a) measurement of Pi-protectable Na(+)-[14C]PFA binding determines numbers and affinity of Na(+)-Pi symporters in renal BBMV; (b) the affinity of PFA for Na(+)-Pi symporter is similar to apparent affinity for Pi (KmPi), as determined from measurements of Na(+)-gradient-dependent 32Pi uptake by BBMV; (c) both Na(+)-Pi symporter and [Na+]D-glucose symporters are present within renal BBM in a similar range of density; (d) PTH decreases the number of Na(+)-Pi cotransporters in BBMV commensurate with the parallel decrease of Na(+)-gradient-dependent Pi transport, whereas the affinity of Na(+)-Pi symporters for Pi is not changed. These observations support the hypothesis that PTH decreases capacity for Na(+)-dependent Pi reabsorption by internalization of Na(+)-Pi symporters in BBM of renal proximal tubules.     

The binding of cyclic AMP to renal brush border membranes.

The binding of cyclic AMP to the proximal tubule luminal (brush border) membrane isolated from the rabbit renal cortex was studied. The rate of binding was dependent on temperature; at 37 degrees equilibrium was attained in 45 min, whereas at 0 degrees 120 min was required. The final levels of binding were identical. The binding of 3H-cyclic AMP was reversed by dilution or addition of unlabeled cyclic nucleotide. Debinding was markedly temperature sensitive. Binding was only partially saturable with respect to cyclic AMP concentration, apparently with more than one binding site. The cyclic AMP bound to the membrane was recovered unchanged. When bound to the membrane cyclic AMP was resistant to hydrolysis by endogenous membrane or exogenously added phosphodiesterase. The binding to the membranes was relatively specific for cyclic AMP, although other cyclic purine nucleotides inhibited, cyclic IMP greater than dibutyryl cyclic AMP greater than cyclic GMP. The renal membranes did bind cyclic GMP, but this binding was relatively non-specific. Hormones and drugs, that mediate cyclic AMP generation or renal function, as well as other compounds common to the proximal tubule were without significant effect on cyclic AMP binding. Binding was inhibited by sulfhydryl reacting agents and this inhibition could be blocked and partially reversed by mercaptoethanol.     

Structural state of the Na+/D-glucose cotransporter in calf kidney brush-border membranes. Target size analysis of Na+-dependent phlorizin binding and Na+-dependent D-glucose transport

Target sizes of the renal sodium-D-glucose cotransport system in brush-border membranes of calf kidney cortex were estimated by radiation inactivation. In brush-border vesicles irradiated at -50 degrees C with 1.5 MeV electron beams, sodium-dependent phlorizin binding, and Na+-dependent D-glucose tracer exchange decreased exponentially with increasing doses of radiation (0.4-4.4 Mrad). Inactivation of phlorizin binding was due to a reduction in the number of high-affinity phlorizin binding sites but not in their affinity. The molecular weight of the Na+-dependent phlorizin binding unit was estimated to be 230 000 +/- 38 000. From the tracer exchange experiments a molecular weight of 345 000 +/- 24 500 was calculated for the D-glucose transport unit. The validity of these target size measurements was established by concomitant measurements of two brush-border enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, whose target sizes were found to be 68 570 +/- 2670 and 73 500 +/- 2270, respectively. These findings provide further evidence for the assumption that the sodium-D-glucose cotransport system is a multimeric structure, in which distinct complexes are responsible for phlorizin binding and D-glucose translocation.     

Characterization of bile acid binding to rat intestinal brush border membranes

Summary Studies were performed to characterize the binding¹ of bile acids to intestinal brush border membranes. Total¹⁴C-taurodeoxycholate binding was: 1) similar for brush borders prepared from jejunum and ileum, 2) linear with respect to monomer concentration, 3) uninhibited by a structural analog, and 4) not depressed by boiling or trypsin. A linear relationship existed between binding and the number of hydrogen bonds formed by a bile acid and the slope of the line corresponded to F of 300 cal/mol. The binding of bile acids to the 105,000×g supernatant fraction of sonicated brush borders was similar to the binding of phospholipid liposomes using gel chromatography. These data suggest that: 1) the kinetics and characteristics of binding of bile acid to ileal brush borders do not reflect the kinetics and characteristics of active ileal transport previously obtained in whole tissue preparations, but instead reflect the kinetics and characteristics of passive jejunal transport; 2) a determinant of binding is hydrogen bonding with water; 3) isolated intact brush borders are relatively polar membranes; and 4) binding to solubilized brush borders may represent partitioning between the aqueous phase and membrane lipid.Part of this work was presented at the National Meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research, May 2, 1976, Atlantic City, New Jersey.     

Cyclosporin binding to a protein component of the renal Na(+)-D-glucose cotransporter

The immunosuppressive and nephrotoxic agent cyclosporin binds to a renal polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 75,000 which has been identified as a component of the renal Na(+)-D-glucose cotransporter (Neeb, M., Kunz, U., and Koepsell, H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10718-10729). The same Mr 75,000 polypeptide was covalently labeled with the D-glucose analog 10-N-(bromoacetyl)amino-1-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and with the cyclosporin analog N epsilon-(diazotrifluoroethyl)benzyl-D-Lys8- cyclosporin (CSDZ). CSDZ labeling was decreased when the brush-border membrane proteins were incubated with monoclonal antibodies against the Na(+)-D-glucose cotransporter. In the presence of 145 mM Na+, CSDZ labeling was decreased by D-glucose (1 microM, 1 mM, or 100 mM) and by phlorizin (100 or 500 microM). In the absence of Na+, CSDZ labeling was distinctly increased by 50 microM phlorizin and was slightly increased by 1 mM D-glucose, whereas CSDZ labeling was decreased by 50 microM phloretin and by 500 microM phlorizin. Furthermore, Na(+)-dependent high affinity phlorizin binding to the Na(+)-D-glucose cotransporter was competitively inhibited by cyclosporin A (Ki = 0.04 microM) while Na(+)-D-glucose cotransport was not influenced. The data suggest that a part of the cyclosporin binding domain on the Na(+)-D-glucose cotransporter is identical to the phloretin binding domain of the high affinity phlorizin binding site. While phloretin or the phloretin moiety of phlorizin may directly displace cyclosporin, interaction of D-glucose or of the D-glucose moiety of phlorizin with the transporter may alter the conformation of the cyclosporin binding site and this conformational change may be modulated by Na+.     

Identification of P-glycoprotein in renal brush border membranes

A monoclonal antibody (C219) that recognizes the P-glycoprotein (Mr = 170,000) in plasma membranes of multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines was used to assay renal brush border membrane (BBM) and basolateral membrane (BLM) fractions for the presence of a cross-reactive polypeptide. The C219 antibody bound to a 155,000 dalton protein in immunoblots of rat BBM but not BLM proteins resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The corresponding human kidney BBM and dog kidney BBM proteins had molecular weights of 170,000 and 160,000 respectively. The glycoprotein nature of the renal protein was shown by its sensitivity to N-glycanase treatment which reduced the apparent molecular weight of the dog protein to 120,000. In addition, dog P-glycoprotein could be bound to and eluted from immobilized wheat germ agglutinin. The molecular weight, antibody crossreactivity, glycosidase sensitivity and lectin binding show that this protein is a normal kidney analogue of the P-glycoprotein induced in multidrug resistant cell lines.     

Partial purification of the Na+-dependentd-glucose transport system from renal brush border membranes

Summary A membrane extract enriched with the Na⁺-dependentd-glucose transport system was obtained by differential cholate solubilization of rat renal brush border membranes in the presence of 120mm Na⁺ ions. Sodium ions were essential in stabilizing the transport system during cholate treatment. This membrane extract was further purified with respect to its Na⁺-coupledd-glucose transport activity and protein content by the use of asolectin-equilibrated hydroxylapatite. The reconstituted proteoliposomes prepared from this purified fraction showed a transient accumulation ofd-glucose in response to a Na⁺ gradient. The observed rate of Na⁺-coupledd-glucose uptake by the proteoliposomes represented about a sevenfold increase as compared to that of the reconstituted system derived from an initial 1.2% cholate extract of the membranes. Other Na⁺-coupled transport systems such asl-alanine, -ketoglutarate and phosphate were not detected in these reconstituted proteoliposomes.     

Molecular size of the Na+-H+ antiport in renal brush border membranes, as estimated by radiation inactivation

The radiation inactivation method was applied to brush border membrane vesicles from rat kidney, in order to estimate the molecular size of the Na+-H+ antiporter. Sodium influx (1mM) driven by an acid intravesicular pH was unaffected by the high osmolarity of the cryoprotective solution. Initial rate of influx was estimated by linear regression performed on the first 10 seconds of transport: 0.512 pmol/micrograms protein/s. There was no binding component involved. Incubation performed in the presence of 1 mM amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+-H+ antiport gave an initial rate of only 0.071 pmol/microgram/s, an 82% inhibition. Membrane vesicles were irradiated at -78 degrees C in a Gammacel Model 220. Sodium influx was reduced, as the dose of radiation increased, but the influx remained linear for the period of time (10s) during which the initial rate was estimated, indicating no alteration of the proton driving force during this time period. Amiloride-insensitive flux remained totally unaffected by the radiation dose, indicating that the passive permeability of the membrane towards sodium was unaffected. The amiloride-sensitive pathway presented a monoexponential profile of inactivation, allowing the molecular size to be estimated at 321 kDa. Based on DCCD-binding studies suggesting the molecular size of the monomer to be around 65 kDa for rat kidney, our results suggest that the functional transporter in the membrane to be a multimer.     

Energetics of the Na+-dependent transport of D-glucose in renal brush border membrane vesicles.

The energetics of the Na+-dependent transport of D-glucose into osmotically active membrane vesicles, derived from the brush borders of the rabbit renal proximal tubule, was studied by determining how alterations in the electrochemical potential of the membrane induced by anions, ionophores, and a proton conductor affect the uptake of the sugar. The imposition of a large NaCl gradient (medium is greater than vesicle) resulted in the transient uptake of D-glucose into brush border membranes against its concentration gradient. In the presence of Na+ salts of isethionate or sulfate, both relatively impermeable anions, there was no accumulation of D-glucose above the equilibrium value. With Na+ salts of two highly permeable lipophilic anions, NO3- and SCN-, the transient overshoot was enhanced relative to that with Cl-. With Na+ salts whose mode of membrane translocation is electroneutral, i.e. acetate, bicarbonate, and phosphate, no overshoot was found. These findings suggest that only anions which penetrate the brush border membrane and generate an electrochemical potential, negative on the inside, permit the uphill Na+-dependent transport of D-glucose.     

Interactions of [14C]phosphonoformic acid with renal cortical brush-border membranes. Relationship to the Na+-phosphate co-transporter

Since phosphonoformic acid (PFA) acts as a specific competitive inhibitor of Na+-Pi co-transport across renal brush-border membrane (BBM), we employed the [14C]PFA as a probe to determine the mechanism of its interaction with rat renal BBM. The binding of [14C]PFA to BBM vesicles (BBMV), with Na+ present in extravesicular medium (Na+o), was time- and temperature-dependent. The replacement of Na+o with other monovalent cations reduced the PFA binding by -80%. Cl- was the most effective accompanying monovalent anion as NaCl for maximum PFA binding. The Na+o increased the apparent affinity of BBMV for [14C]PFA binding, but it did not change the maximum binding capacity. The maximum [14C]PFA binding was achieved at Na+o approximately equal to 50 mM. The extent of Na+-dependent [14C]PFA binding correlated (r = 0.98; p less than 0.01) with percent inhibition by an equimolar dose of PFA of the (Na+o greater than Na+i)-dependent BBMV uptake of 32Pi. Intravesicular Na+ (Na+i) decreased [14C]PFA binding, on BBMV, and this inhibition by Na+i was dependent on the presence of Na+o. The increase in Na+i, at constant [Na+]o, decreased the Vmax, but not the Km, for [14C]PFA binding on BBMV. Bound [14C]PFA was displaced from BBMV by phosphonocarboxylic acids proportionally (r = 0.99; p less than 0.05) to their ability to inhibit (Na+o greater than Na+i)-gradient-dependent Pi transport, whereas other monophosphonates, diphosphonates, L-proline, or D-glucose did not influence the [14C]PFA binding. The Na+-dependent binding of [14C]PFA and of [3H]phlorizin by BBMV was 10 times higher than binding of these ligands to renal basolateral membranes and to mitochondria. [14C]PFA probably binds onto the same locus on the luminal surface of BBM, where Pi and Na+ form a ternary complex with the Na+-Pi co-transporter.     

Characterization of bile acid binding to rat intestinal brush border membranes.

Studies were performed to characterize the binding1 of bile acids to intestinal brush border membranes. Total 14C-taurodeoxycholate binding was: 1) similar for brush borders prepared from jejunum and ileum, 2) linear with respect to monomer concentration, 3) uninhibited by a structural analog, and 4) not depressed by boiling or trypsin. A linear relationship existed between binding and the number of hydrogen bonds formed by a bile acid and the slope of the line corresponded to delta deltaF of 300 cal/mol. The binding of bile acids to the 105,000 x g supernatant fraction of sonicated brush borders was similar to the binding of phospholipid liposomes using gel chromatography. These data suggest that: 1) the kinetics and characteristics of binding of bile acid to ileal brush borders do not reflect the kinetics and characteristics of active ileal transport previously obtained in whole tissue preparations, but instead reflect the kinetics and characteristics of passive jejunal transport; 2) a determinant of binding is hydrogen bonding with water; 3) isolated intact brush borders are relatively polar membranes; and 4) binding to solubilized brush borders may represent partitioning between the aqueous phase and membrane lipid.     

Renal brush border membranes from mice with X-linked hypophosphatemia: protein composition, phosphate binding capacity, and protein kinase activity

Phosphate uptake by brush-border membrane (BBM) vesicles prepared from hypophosphatemic mice (Hyp) is reduced by half relative to BBM vesicles from normal mice. To investigate this abnormality, we studied the protein composition of BBM, their capacity to bind inorganic phosphate, and their protein kinase activity with and without the addition of exogenous cAMP, in normal and Hyp mice. Gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of BBM proteins showed 27 bands which were identical in normal and Hyp mice. Incubation of the membranes with ortho[32P]phosphate at 0 degrees C revealed a phosphate binding protein with an apparent molecular weight (Mr) of 79000, which has been previously identified in rats as the monomer of alkaline phosphatase. In normal mice, the Scatchard plot of phosphate binding was not linear, suggesting heterogeneity of the binding sites with two major components. At high substrate concentrations, the affinity (K) was 1.42 mM and maximal binding (Bmax) was 83 pmol/mg protein. At low substrate concentrations, these values were 0.07 mM and 10.9 pmol/mg, respectively. In Hyp mice BBM, only one binding system was found with K and Bmax values of 0.38 mM and 53.8 pmol/mg. Incubation of the membranes with 25 microM[gamma-32P]ATP resulted in the phosphorylation of 11 proteins. The major band (Mr: 79000) corresponded to the inorganic phosphate binding protein, i.e., to the alkaline-phosphatase monomer. The 11 proteins showed maximal phosphorylation at pH 10. The protein of 79000 Mr showed a second peak of phosphorylation at pH 7.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification of a putative Na+/D-glucose cotransporter from pig kidney brush border membranes on a phlorizin affinity column

Phlorizin, a potent inhibitor of the Na+/D-glucose cotransporter, was derivatised to 3-aminophlorizin and subsequently coupled to Affi-Gel 15. Affinity chromatography of pig kidney brush border membranes solubilised in Triton X-100 allowed the purification of a 60 kDa protein on this resin. We consider this protein to be the Na+/D-glucose cotransporter, or part of it, for the following reasons: (i) binding of this protein to Affi-Gel 15 specifically requires phlorizin covalently attached to the resin and is lowered when phlorizin is replaced by phloretin; (ii) binding of the 60 kDa protein to a phlorizin affinity column requires the presence of Na+; (iii) polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies against the 60 kDa protein inhibit binding of phlorizin to brush border membranes from rabbit and pig kidney.     

Reconstitution of a partially purified Na+-dependent D-glucose transport system from rat jejunal brush border membranes

The Na+-dependent D-glucose transport system of rat jejunal brush border membranes was partially purified and reconstituted into functional proteoliposomes. Brush border membrane vesciles isolated from villous cells were first extracted with 0.3% cholate to remove extrinsic proteins and the insoluble residual pellet was reextracted with 1.2% cholate. The 1.2% cholate-extracted soluble fraction was then further purified by hydroxylapatite and Concanavalin A affinity chromatography in tandem. When the HLP-unadsorbed-ConA-unadsorbed fraction was reconstituted into proteoliposomes, it showed a characteristic Na+-coupled, phlorizin inhibitable, D-glucose transport activity that was 3 fold higher than that of the reconstituted proteoliposomes of the 1.2% cholate-extracted fraction. This partially purified fraction also displayed the simplest polypeptide composition pattern among all the membrane fractions analysed in SDS-polyacrylamide gels.     

Molecular size of a Na(+)-dependent amino acid transporter in Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membranes estimated by radiation inactivation

Radiation inactivation was used to estimate the molecular size of a Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport system in Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membrane vesicles. Na(+)-dependent alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake was measured after membranes were irradiated at -78.5 degrees C in a cryoprotective medium. Twenty-five percent of the transport activity was lost at low radiation doses (less than 0.5 Mrad), suggesting the presence of a high molecular weight transport complex. The remaining activity (approximately 75% of total) decreased exponentially with increasing radiation dose, and a molecular size of 347 kDa was calculated for the latter carrier system. Vesicle permeability and intravesicular volume were measured to verify that losses in transport activity were due to a direct effect of radiation on the transporter and not through indirect effects on the structural integrity of membrane vesicles. Radiation doses 2-3-fold higher than those required to inactivate amino acid transport were needed to cause significant volume changes (greater than 15%). Vesicle permeability was unchanged by the irradiation. The structural integrity of plasma membrane vesicles was therefore maintained at radiation doses where there was a dramatic decrease in amino acid transport. The relationship between the fragmentation of a 120-130-kDa peptide, a putative component of the Na(+)-dependent amino acid carrier [McCormick, J. I., & Johnstone, R. M. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 7877-7881], and loss of transport activity in irradiated membranes was also examined. Peptide loss was quantitated by Western blot analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transport of p-aminohippuric acid, uric acid and glucose in highly purified rabbit renal brush border membranes.

A procedure for preparing highly purified brush border membranes from rabbit kidney cortex using differential and density gradient centrifugation is described. Brush border membranes prepared by this procedure were substantially free of basal-lateral membranes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear material as evidenced by an enrichment factor of less than 0.3 for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and DNA. Alkaline phosphatase was enriched ten fold indicating that the membranes were enriched at least 30 fold with respect to other cellular organelles. The yield of brush border membranes was 20%. Transport of D-glucose by the membranes was identical to that previously reported except that the Arrhenius plot for temperature dependence of transport was curvilinear (EA = 11.3--37.6 kcal/mol) rather than biphasic. Transport of p-aminohippuric acid and uric acid were increased by the presence of NaCl, either gradient or preequilibrated. However, no overshoot was obtained in the presence of a NaCl gradient, and KCl and LiCl also produced equivalent stimulation of transport suggesting a nonspecific ionic strength effect. Uptakes of p-aminohippuric acid and uric acid were not saturable, and were increased markedly by reducing the pH from 7.5 to 5.6. Probenecid (1 mM) reduced p-aminohippuric acid and uric acid (50 muM) uptake by 49% and 21%, respectively. We conclude that the uptake of uric acid and p-aminohippuric acid by renal brush border membranes of the rabbit occurs primarily by a simple solubility-diffusion mechanism.     

Substrate specificity of urate transporter in rat renal brush border membranes

To further demonstrate the substrate specificity of urate-anion exchanger in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles, the hydroxyl ion gradient-dependent [2-14C] urate uptake was studied by a rapid filtration technique. The [2-14C] urate uptake was more sensitive to unlabeled urate than to unlabeled xanthine and hypoxanthine. In addition, urate derivatives which are methylated at the positions 3 and 9 hardly inhibited the urate uptake. Because of the substrate specificity, the urate-anion exchanger in brush border membranes appears to selectively use urate as the endogenous substrate.     

The effect on amino acid transport of trypsin treatment of rat renal brush border membranes

Trypsin treatment of isolated rat renal brush border membrane vesicles which preferentially releases l-leucine aminopeptides (EC 3.4.11.2) decreases their ability to take up a variety of amino acids under Na⁺-gradient conditions. Such treatment did not alter the osmotic properties of the vesicles nor affect their fragility. A linear correlation could be demonstrated between the l-leucine aminopeptidase activity of the membranes and the initial rate of uptake of l-leucine and l-proline. Velocity of uptake-concentration dependence studies with these substrates indicate that the major effect of trypsinization is to decrease the maximum velocity (V_max1) of the low-K_m high-affinity system with little effect on the V_max2 of the high-K_m low-affinity transport process and no effect on the apparent Michaelis constants of either. Although the data indicate that l-leucine aminopeptidase activity and uptake of l-leucine and l-proline are affected in parallel, they should not be construed to imply a role of the enzyme in the transport process, especially in view of the global decrease in the uptake of various amino acids and sugars.