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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Calcium transport into the vacuole of oat roots. Characterization of H+/Ca2+ exchange activity

Calcium (Ca2+) is sequestered into vacuoles of oat root cells through a H+/Ca2+ antiport system that is driven by the proton-motive force of the tonoplast H+-translocating ATPase. The antiport has been characterized directly by imposing a pH gradient in tonoplast-enriched vesicles. The pH gradient was imposed by diluting K+-loaded vesicles into a K+-free medium. Nigericin induced a K+/H+ exchange resulting in a pH gradient of 2 (acid inside). The pH gradient was capable of driving 45Ca2+ accumulation. Ca2+ uptake was tightly coupled to H+ loss as increasing Ca2+ levels progressively dissipated the steady state pH gradient. Ca2+ uptake displayed saturation kinetics with a Km(app) for Ca2+ of 10 microM. The relative affinity of the antiporter for transport of divalent cations was Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+ greater than Mg2+. La3+ or Mn2+ blocked Ca2+ uptake possibly by occupying the Ca2+-binding site. Ruthenium red (I50 = 40 microM) and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (I50 = 3 microM) specifically inhibited the H+/Ca2+ antiporter. When driven by pH jumps, the H+/Ca2+ exchange generated a membrane potential, interior positive, as shown by [14C]SCN accumulation. Furthermore, Ca2+ uptake was stimulated by an imposed negative membrane potential. The results support a simple model of one Ca2+ taken up per H+ lost. The exchange transport can be reversed, as a Ca2+ gradient (Ca2+in greater than Ca2+out) was effective in forming a pH gradient (acid inside). We suggest that the H+/Ca2+ exchange normally transports Ca2+ into the vacuole; however, under certain conditions, Ca2+ may be released into the cytoplasm via this antiporter.     

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.     

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.     

Characteristics of tetraethylammonium transport in rabbit renal plasma-membrane vesicles.

Transport of [14C]tetraethylammonium (TEA), an organic cation, was studied in brush-border (BBMV) and basolateral (BLMV) membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit kidney cortex. In BBMV, the presence of an outwardly directed H+ gradient induced a marked stimulation of TEA uptake against its concentration gradient (overshoot phenomenon), whereas a valinomycin-induced inside-negative potential had no effect on TEA uptake. In BLMV, TEA uptake was significantly stimulated by the presence of an outwardly directed H+ gradient and by an inside-negative potential, but the effect of H+ gradient was absent when the vesicles were chemically 'voltage clamped'. In BBMV, internal H+ stimulated TEA uptake in a non-competitive manner by binding at a site with apparent pKa of 6.87. External H+ inhibited TEA uptake through a direct interaction with the putative H+/organic-cation exchanger at a site with apparent pKa of 6.78. Changing external pH while maintaining the pH gradient constant produced a result similar to that obtained by changing external pH alone. Increasing external H+ showed a mixed-type inhibition of TEA uptake. These results suggest that in the rabbit TEA transport across the basolateral membranes is driven by an inside-negative potential and that transport across the brush-border membrane is driven by a H+ gradient via an electroneutral H+/TEA antiport system.     

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.     

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.     

A proton gradient, not a sodium gradient, is the driving force for active transport of lactate in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

An inward-directed H+ gradient markedly stimulated lactate uptake in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles, and uphill transport against a concentration gradient could be demonstrated under these conditions. Uptake of lactate was many-fold greater in the presence of a H+ gradient than in the presence of a Na+ gradient. Moreover, there was no evidence for uphill transport of lactate in the presence of a Na+ gradient. The H+-gradient-dependent stimulation of lactate uptake was not due to the effect of a H+-diffusion potential. The uptake process in the presence of a H+ gradient was saturable [Kt (concn. giving half-maximal transport) for lactate 12.7 +/- 4.5 mM] and was inhibited by many monocarboxylates. It is concluded that a H+ gradient, not a Na+ gradient, is the driving force for active transport of lactate in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.     

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 μM) 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.     

Evidence for tripeptide-proton symport in renal brush border membrane vesicles. Studies in a novel rat strain with a genetic absence of dipeptidyl peptidase IV

We have investigated the transport characteristics of L-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-alanine in renal brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from Japan Fisher 344 rats. This particular rat strain genetically lacks dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Owing to the absence of this enzyme, the tripeptide was found to be completely resistant to hydrolysis by the renal brush-border membrane vesicles. Uptake of the tripeptide into these membrane vesicles in the presence of an inwardly directed Na+ gradient was slightly greater than in the presence of a K+ gradient, but there was no evidence for active transport. On the contrary, uptake was very rapid in the presence of an inside-alkaline transmembrane pH gradient, and accumulation of the tripeptide inside the vesicles against a concentration gradient could be demonstrated under these conditions. The uptake was drastically reduced by dissipation of the pH gradient. The uptake was stimulated by an inside-negative membrane potential and inhibited by an inside-positive membrane potential. Moreover, the uptake was greater in voltage-clamped membrane vesicles than in control vesicles. Many di- and tripeptides inhibited this pH gradient-stimulated uptake of Phe-Pro-Ala. The apparent dissociation constant for the tripeptide was 48 microM. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of the intravesicular content at the peak of the overshoot revealed that the tripeptide was transported across the membrane almost entirely in the intact form. These data provide the first direct evidence for the presence of an electrogenic tripeptide-proton symport in renal brush-border membranes.     

pH sensitivity of H+/organic cation antiport system in rat renal brush-border membranes

We examined the pH sensitivity of the H+/organic cation antiport system in brush-border membranes isolated from rat renal cortex. The uptake of tetraethylammonium, a typical organic cation, in the absence of an H+ gradient had a marked pH dependence with an optimum pH of 7.0, while the uptake of p-aminohippurate, an organic anion, and D-glucose was almost consistent in the pH range of 6.0-8.0. The decreased tetraethylammonium uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles, suspended in an acidic pH buffer or an alkaline pH buffer, was completely recovered by subsequent treatment of the vesicles with a pH 7.0 buffer. The pH sensitivity of tetraethylammonium uptake was not changed in the presence of either carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, a protonophore, or valinomycin (voltage-clamped condition). Kinetic parameters of tetraethylammonium uptake were changed in a pH-dependent manner, although Eadie-Hofstee plots of tetraethylammonium uptake were linear in the pH range of 6.0-8.0, indicating the existence of one mode of transport system at various pH values. At an acidic pH, the Km was increased without any change in Vmax value, compared with the values at pH 7.0. On the other hand, at an alkaline pH, the Vmax was decreased without a change in Km value. These results suggest that the H+/organic cation antiport system in renal brush-border membranes is very sensitive to pH (optimum pH of 7.0), in contrast to organic anion and D-glucose transport systems, and that pH is an important factor to regulate the activity of the H+/organic cation antiport system, as well as H+ gradient (a driving force).     

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.     

pH-sensitive transport of Fe2+ across purified brush-border membrane from mouse intestine

Recent studies of Fe2+ uptake by mouse proximal intestine brush-border membrane vesicles revealed low-affinity, NaCl-sensitive and high-affinity, NaCl-insensitive, components of uptake (Simpson, R.J. and Peters, T.J. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 814, 381-388). In this study, the former component is demonstrated to show a strong pH dependence with an optimum of pH 6.8-6.9. Studies at pH 6.5, where the low affinity component is inhibited by more than 25-fold compared with pH 7.2, suggest that the pH-sensitive component represents transport across the brush-border membrane followed by intravesicular binding. Cholate extracts of brush-border membrane vesicles contain pH- and NaCl-sensitive Fe2+ binding moieties which may be involved in the transfer of Fe2+ across the intestinal brush-border membrane and subsequent binding inside the vesicles. Fe2+ uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles from the duodenum of hypoxic mice is higher than uptake by vesicles from control-fed animals, suggesting the existence of a regulable brush-border membrane Fe2+ carrier.     

Inhibitory effect of diethyl pyrocarbonate on the H+/organic cation antiport system in rat renal brush-border membranes

We examined the effect of diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC), a histidine-specific reagent, on the H+/organic cation antiport system in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from the rat renal cortex. Pretreatment of membrane vesicles with DEPC resulted in the inhibition of tetraethylammonium transport. This inhibition was reversed by subsequent treatment with hydroxylamine, but not with dithiotreitol. In contrast, the uptake of p-aminohippurate, a typical organic anion, was not inhibited by DEPC pretreatment. In the absence of an H+ gradient, pretreatment with DEPC inhibited the uptake of tetraethylammonium at pH 6.0-7.0, but not at pH 7.5. The Vmax value of tetraethylammonium uptake at pH 7.0 was decreased without any change in the Km value, but the kinetic parameters at pH 7.5 were unchanged. Unlabeled tetraethylamonium did not protect against the inhibition by DEPC. These results suggest that histidine residues in the organic cation carrier are essential for transport at acidic and neutral pH values, but not at alkaline pH values, and that histidine residues play an important role as regulatory sites in the H+/organic cation antiport system rather than as binding sites for organic cations.     

Modulation of serotonin uptake kinetics by ions and ion gradients in human placental brush-border membrane vesicles

The modulation of serotonin uptake kinetics by Na+, Cl-, H+, and K+ was investigated in brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from normal human term placentas. The presence of Na+ and Cl- in the external medium was mandatory for the function of the serotonin transporter. In both cases, the initial uptake rate of serotonin was a hyperbolic function of the ion concentration, indicating involvement of one Na+ and one Cl- per transport of one serotonin molecule. The apparent dissociation constant for Na+ and Cl- was 145 and 79 mM, respectively. The external Na+ increased the Vmax of the transporter and also increased the affinity of the transporter for serotonin. The external Cl- also showed similar effects on the Vmax and the Kt, but its effect on the Kt was small compared to that of Na+. The presence of an inside-acidic pH, with or without a transmembrane pH gradient, stimulated the NaCl-dependent serotonin uptake. The effect of internal [H+] on the transport function was to increase the Vmax and decrease the affinity of the transporter for serotonin. The presence of K+ inside the vesicles also greatly stimulated the initial rates of serotonin uptake, and the stimulation was greater at pH 7.5 than at pH 6.5. This stimulation was a hyperbolic function of the internal K+ concentration at both pH values, indicating involvement of one K+ per transport of one serotonin molecule. The apparent dissociation constant for K+ was 5.6 mM at pH 6.5 and 4.0 mM at pH 7.5. The effects of internal [K+] on the uptake kinetics were similar to those of internal [H+].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Proton-coupled organic cation transport in renal brush-border membrane vesicles

We had previously proposed that organic cations are transported across the brush-border membrane in the canine kidney by a H+ exchange (or antiport) system (Holohan, P.D. and Ross, C.R. (1981) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 216, 294-298). In the present report, we demonstrate that in brush-border membrane vesicles the transport of organic cations is chemically coupled to the countertransport of protons, by showing that the uphill or concentrative transport of a prototypic organic cation, N1-methylnicotinamide (NMN), is chemically coupled to the flow of protons down their chemical gradient. In a reciprocal manner, the concentrative transport of protons is coupled to the counterflow of organic cations down their concentration gradient. The transport of organic cations is monitored by measuring [3H]NMN while the transport of protons is monitored by measuring changes in acridine orange absorbance. The functional significance of the coupling is that a proton gradient lowers the Km and increases the Vmax for NMN transport.     

1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol-related Na+/D-glucose transport in brush-border membrane vesicles from embryonic chick jejunum. Modulation by triiodothyronine

1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, when present at and above 10 nM in an organ-culture system of embryonic chick jejunum, approximately doubled the rate of Na(+)-gradient-driven D-glucose uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles, but had no effect on Na(+)-independent D-glucose transfer. The sterol also had no effect on Na+ influx along an outside/inside Na+ gradient ([Na+]o = 100 mM; [Na+]i = 0 mM). This renders it unlikely that in embryonic intestine, calcitriol raises Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transport through changes in the electrochemical Na+ gradient. D-[U-14C]Glucose tracer exchange, measured under voltage-clamp condition at Na+/D-glucose equilibrium, revealed that addition of calcitriol to the culture medium approximately doubled the activity of the Na+/D-glucose transporter in the brush-border membrane. This was also reflected by an corresponding increase in the maximal velocity of the transfer process. Increased [3H]phlorizin binding after calcitriol treatment suggests that the steroid hormone activates Na+/D-glucose transport through increasing the number of carrier molecules in the brush-border membrane. 10 nM triiodothyronine, which by itself has no effect on Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transport, potentiated the effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol such that in the presence of both hormones, Na+/D-glucose-carrier activity was increased fourfold above control levels.