Asymmetrical binding of phloretin to the glucose transport system of human erythrocytes

Summary The sidedness of phloretin binding to the glucose carrier has been determined by comparing the type of inhibition produced in zerotrans entry and zerotrans exit experiments. Initial rates of zerotrans entry were measured by the method of R.D. Taverna and R.G. Langdon (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 298:412–421, 1973), which involves pink ghosts loaded with glucose oxidase; this obviates the problem of rapid substrate accumulation inside the cells. With phloretin equilibrated across the membrane, the inhibition of entry was competitive, and the inhibition of exit noncompetitive. The experimental procedures were validated by showing that the inhibition by cytochalasin B, known to bind inside but not outside, was noncompetitive in entry and competitive in exit, as predicted. It was also demonstrated that even after pre-incubation of the cells with a relatively high concentration of phloretin, the phloretin adsorbed in the membrane did not significantly alter the rate of carrier reorientation. The results show that the outward-facing form of the glucose carrier, but not the inward-facing form, bears a phloretin binding site; thus phloretin, as well as cytochalasin B, is bound asymmetrically, phloretin outside and cytochalasin B inside.