pH-dependent inhibitory effects of tris and lithium ion on intestinal brush-border sucrase

Tris and two of its hydroxylated amine analogs were examined in a metal-free, universal n-butylamine buffer, for their interaction with intestinal brush border sucrase. Our recent three-proton-families model (Vasseur, van Melle, Frangne and Alvarado (1988) Biochem. J., 251, 667-675) has provided the sucrase pK values necessary to interpret the present work. At pH 5.2, 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol (PM) causes activation whereas Tris has a concentration-dependent biphasic effect, first causing activation, then fully competitive inhibition. The amine species causing activation is the protonated, cationic form. The difference between the two amines is related to the fact that Tris has a much lower pKa value than PM (respectively, 8.2 and 9.8). Even at pH 5.2, Tris (but not PM) exists as a significant proportion of the free base which, by inhibiting the enzyme fully competitively, overshadows the activating effect of the cationic, protonated amine. Above pH 6.8, both Tris and PM act as fully competitive inhibitors. These inhibitions increase monotonically between pH 6.5 and 8.0 but, above pH 8, inhibition by 2.5 mM Tris tends to diminish whereas inhibition by 40 mM PM increases abruptly to be essentially complete at pH 9.3 and above. As pH increases from 7.6 to 9.0, the apparent affinity of the free amine bases decreases whereas that of the cationic, protonated amines, increases. In this way, the protonated amines replace their corresponding free bases as the most potent inhibitors at high pH. The pH-dependent inhibition by 300 mM Li+ is essentially complete at pH 8, independent of the presence or absence of either 2.5 mM Tris or 40 mM PM. Even at pH 7.6, an excess (300 mM) of Li+ causes significant increases in the apparent Ki value of each Tris, PD (2-amino-2-methyl-1-3-propanediol) and PM, suggesting the possibility of a relation between the effects of Li+ and those of the hydroxylated amines which in fact are mutually exclusive inhibitors. The inhibitory results are interpreted in terms of a mechanistic model in which the free bases bind at two distinct sites in the enzyme's active center. Binding at the glucosyl sub-site occurs through the amine's free hydroxyl groups. This positioning facilitates the interaction between the lone electron pair of the deprotonated amino group with a proton donor in the enzyme's active center, characterized by a pK0 around 8.1. When this same group deprotonates, then the protonated amines acting as proton donors replace the free bases as the species giving fully competitive inhibition of sucrase.

Intestinal absorption of macromolecules and epithelial cell surface glycosylation in suckling rats nursed on mothers fed low-protein diet-I

The effect of feeding 8% protein (low-protein; LP) diet to lactating rats has been studied on the absorption of macromolecules and the glycosylation of enterocytes in suckling animals. The absorption of 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin, gamma-globulin and alpha-lactalbumin was 24-314% more in pups nursed on mothers fed LP diet compared to the pair-fed controls. The observed enhancement in protein absorption was associated with a significant increase in the binding of these proteins to microvillus membranes (MVM). The sialic acid content of brush borders was unaltered but the fucose level was augmented (p less than 0.01) in pups nursed on rats fed LP diet. The binding of 125I-labelled wheat germ agglutinin and Ulex europeus agglutinin I to MVM was in agreement to the data on sialic acid and fucose levels of the membranes. The binding of peanut agglutinin to MVM was 30% low in pups from LP-diet-fed animals. The incorporation of (14C) D-mannose into MVM was essentially unaffected but that of (14C) N-acetylglucosamine was reduced in pups reared on mothers given LP diet. These findings suggest that the quality of maternal nutrition affects the absorption of macromolecules and the glycosylation in developing rat intestine.

Kinetic properties of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and leucine-amino-peptidase in developing rat intestine: effect of hormones

Administration of cortisone and thyroxine produced adult-type increase in the activities of soluble and membrane-bound gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GTP) in suckling rat intestine. Membrane-bound enzyme activity remained unaltered while the soluble enzyme activity was reduced (27%) in insulin-injected pups. Kinetic analysis revealed that the observed changes in the enzyme levels were a consequence of altered Vmax with no change in apparent Km. A 2-fold increase in the Km value was observed in adult gamma-GTP activity compared to that of suckling animals. Membrane-bound and soluble gamma-GTP yielded similar values of the Ea (9.7-13.1 kcal/mole) but exhibited apparent differences in heat stability in the control and hormone-injected groups. Leucine-amino peptidase(LAP) activity was reduced to adult levels in insulin-treated suckling animals. Thyroxine- and cortisone-treatment did not affect soluble activity but significantly (P less than 0.001) augmented the membrane-bound LAP levels. This increase was due to enhanced (54-82%) Vmax with no change in Km. The observed decrease in LAP activity in response to insulin was due to reduced Vmax. There was no change in Ea (8-11.6 kcal/mole) except the value was raised to 19.1 kcal/mole in cortisone-injected pups. Both the soluble and membrane-bound LAP activities were quite resistant to heat inactivation upto 30 min at 60 degrees C except in weanling rats. Thus, the kinetic behaviour of normally developed and precociously induced gamma-GTP and LAP is essentially similar but there are apparent differences in the mode of action of insulin, cortisone and thyroxine in affecting the development of these enzymes.

Effect of various doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate on intestinal functions in rats

The dose relationship between medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a long acting contraceptive, and rat intestinal digestive and absorptive functions has been investigated. The study revealed that the activities of brush border sucrase, lactase and leucine aminopeptidase were stimulated only at high doses, viz 70 mg/kg (180 mumol/kg) body weight and above, whereas the activity of alkaline phosphate was depressed at comparatively low dose (17.5 mg/kg; 45 mumol/kg body weight). This decrease was found to be significant (p less than 0.001) at all the doses tested. The inhibition in the intestinal uptake of calcium paralleled the decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity. Relatively high amount of MPA (140 mg/kg; 360 mumol/kg) was required to augment the uptake of glucose and amino acid. The results obtained do not indicate a close relationship between the dose of the drug and the extent of alteration in the rat intestinal digestive and absorptive functions. The study appears to confirm the association between brush border enzymes activities and uptake of nutrients in rat intestine.

Fucose and sialic acid contents of intestinal microvillus membranes from different animal species

Fucose and sialic acid contents of intestinal microvillus membranes isolated from different animal species have been analysed. Expressed on protein basis, brush borders from fish contained considerably high amounts of sialic acid (298 +/- 16 nmole/mg protein), while rat, goat, sheep and guinea pig membranes showed 41-61 nmole/mg protein. Pig, frog, monkey rabbit and chicken membranes exhibited low levels of sialic acid (10-13 nmole/mg protein). Fucose content of the brush borders was quite high (203-212 nmole/mg protein) in frog and fish intestines. It was least in rabbit (54 +/- 3) and of intermediate levels (80-122 nmole/mg protein) in various other animal species analysed. Fucose to sialic acid molar ratio was less than 1 in fish microvillus membranes. In all other animal species, the ratio was however, greater than one and ranged between 1.65 and 15.20.

pH-dependent glycine uptake in the presence and absence of sodium ions from rat small intestine

Intestinal uptake of glycine in rats was stimulated 15-20% in the presence of 120 mM Na at pH 6.0 and below but around neutral pH, the amino acid uptake was augmented to 60% compared to that in the Na-free medium. Glycine uptake was 30% more at pH 5.5 compared to that at pH 7.3 in the absence of Na. Kinetic analysis revealed a decrease in Kt for glycine uptake (9.62 mM) at pH 5.5 compared to that at pH 7.3 (Kt = 16.67 mM) with no change in maximal velocity (1.51 mumole/10 min/g tissue) in Na-free buffer. Addition of -SH group reacting reagents to the incubation medium produced 36-58% inhibition of glycine uptake in the presence of Na. However, in absence of Na, inhibition of the order of 21-35% and 8-23% was observed at pH 5.5 and 7.0, respectively. These findings suggest that glycine uptake in rat intestine is influenced by pH and -SH groups are implicated in the process(es).

Changes in sialic acid and fucose contents of enterocytes across the crypt-villus axis in developing rat intestine

Alterations in sialic acid and fucose contents of different populations of epithelial cells have been studied in suckling and adult rat intestine. The progression of cells from crypt base to villus tip is associated with an increase in sialic acid and a decrease in fucose levels of the cells in adult rats. In suckling pups, sialic acid is uniformly distributed along the length of villi, and fucose is richly (P less than 0.01) present in cryptic cells compared to that at the villus tip. Adult-type changes in sialylation and fucosylation of enterocytes across the crypt-villus axis were precociously produced by cortisone administration to suckling pups. Thyroxine treatment was less effective in influencing the glycosylation process in rat intestine.

Inhibition of D-glucose uptake by isatin in rat intestine: effect of harmaline and various sulfhydryl reagents

The effect of isatin (indole-2,3-dione) on D-glucose uptake has been studied in rat intestine. Isatin at 6 mM concentration significantly inhibited both the sugar uptake and transmural (mucosal to serosal side) transport in the intestine. The suppression of glucose uptake by isatin was irreversible. Similar to the action of various SH-group-reacting agents, isatin inhibited the sugar uptake, presumably by binding to membrane sulfhydryl groups through a covalent linkage. Isatin-induced reduction in glucose uptake was unaffected by pH (between 5.5 and 8.4) and by DTT addition to incubation medium. Inhibition of sugar uptake by isatin and harmaline was additive in nature; this suggested that these compounds interact at different sites on the microvillus membrane surface.

Effect of hormone administration on the sialylation and fucosylation of intestinal microvillus membranes of suckling rats

Cortisone, thyroxine, epidermal growth factor, or insulin were administered to 8-day-old rats for 4 days. In comparison to saline-injected controls, cortisone treatment: 1) lowered the sialic acid and raised the fucose content of the intestinal microvillus membranes, 2) increased [3H]fucose incorporation into these membranes, and 3) decreased the membrane binding of 125I-wheat germ agglutinin, while increasing the binding of 125I-ulex europeus agglutinin I and 125I-peanut agglutinin. Thyroxine treatment had similar effects on fucose content and 125I-ulex europeus agglutinin I binding, but did not alter [3H] fucose incorporation or sialic acid content. At the doses used, epidermal growth factor and insulin had no significant effects. The effect of cortisone treatment on sialic acid and fucose was commensurate with a 5- to 6-day acceleration of postnatal intestinal maturation. The changes in lectin binding, however, suggested qualitative differences between developmental and cortisone-induced membrane glycosylation. In addition, this study demonstrates significant quantitative and qualitative differences in the response of intestinal glycosylation to pharmacologic doses of the four hormones.

Differential toxicity of RCAII (ricin) on rabbit intestinal epithelium in relation to postnatal maturation

The purpose of this work was to assess the toxic lectin ricin (RCAII) as a probe for the study of intestinal permeability in the developing small bowel. Jejunal explants from suckling and adult rabbits were exposed to varying dosages of RCAII for 30 min at 25 degrees C and then cultured in toxin-free medium. The RCAII dose required to inhibit protein synthesis during 6 h of culture increased from 0.1 microgram/ml in 4-day-old rabbits to 25 micrograms/ml in weanling rabbits. RCAII cytotoxicity was almost completely blocked by 0.1 M lactulose in all age groups. The kinetics of 125I-RCAII binding to purified microvillus membranes were determined by incubating a fixed concentration of membrane protein (30 micrograms) with increasing concentrations of labeled lectin (2-18 micrograms/ml). Binding attained saturation with adult but not with suckling animal membranes. The latter yielded a curvilinear relationship in Scatchard plots, suggesting either several classes of binding sites or negative cooperativity. RCAII binding was confined to the delipidated fraction of the membranes and decreased by 42% from 6 days old to adult age. The extreme sensitivity of colostral epithelium to RCAII is probably related to the high level of endocytosis exhibited by the immature membrane of suckling rabbits. The development of increasing resistance to the toxin, and associated decrease in binding, might be related to disappearance of saccharide sites in productive surface receptors occurring in the developmental course of intestinal glycosylation.

Postnatal changes in biosynthesis of microvillus membrane glycans of rat small intestine: I. Evidence of a developmental shift from terminal sialylation to fucosylation

We present evidence of a change from sialylation to fucosylation of intestinal microvillus membrane oligosaccharides during postnatal development in the rat. The initial high sialic acid to fucose molar ratio in native and delipidated membranes was completely reversed after weaning. The specific binding of 125I-labeled wheat germ agglutinin to neuraminidase-sensitive sites in the native and delipidated membranes decreased markedly from early suckling to weaning ages. The binding of 125I-labeled Ulex europeus agglutinin I showed an age-related pattern opposite to that of wheat germ agglutinin. The changes in membrane reactivities to these lectins were entirely consistent with the existence of a developmentally-controlled shift from terminal sialyl to fucosyl substitutions among various glycoconjugate classes. This could play a key role on the functional transformation experienced by the intestinal epithelium of suckling rats.

Intestinal transport of manganese from human milk, bovine milk and infant formula in rats

The transport of manganese from extrinsically labeled human milk, bovine milk and infant formula was studied by the everted intestinal sac method. Tissue/mucosal flux data indicated that transport of manganese into the intestinal tissue was significantly greater with bovine milk and formula than from human milk. Similarly, the total flux of manganese from the mucosal to serosal surface was less when human milk was used. Smaller molecular weight manganese binding ligands isolated from the milk samples enhanced the mucosal to tissue movement of manganese as contrasted to the higher molecular weight manganese binding ligands. Most significantly the data suggest that the transport and uptake of manganese is less in the presence of human milk and its isolated manganese fractions than it is in bovine milk or infant formula.

Effect of dietary thiamin deficiency on intestinal functions in rats

The effect of dietary thiamin deficiency has been studied on intestinal functions and chemical composition of brush border membranes in rats. Intestinal uptake of glucose, glycine, alanine, and leucine was significantly stimulated in thiamin deficiency compared to pair-fed control group. Studies with glucose and glycine revealed that stimulation of the absorption process occurs only in the presence of Na+ but not in its absence. Km measured in the presence of 140 mM Na+ for glucose and glycine uptakes was reduced by 56 and 41%, respectively, but Vmax remained unaltered in vitamin deficiency. There was no change in these parameters in Na+-free medium (Km = 31.3 and 23.3 mM; Vmax = 17.2 to 19.7 and 13.5 to 16.4 mumol/10 min/g wet tissue, respectively) under these conditions. The activities of brush border sucrase, lactase, maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase were reduced by 42 to 66% in thiamin deficiency, compared to pair-fed controls. Kinetic studies with sucrase and alkaline phosphatase evinced that a decrease in Vmax (61 and 64%, respectively) with no change in Km (33.8 and 4.3 mM, respectively) was responsible for observed impairment in the enzyme activities in thiamin deficiency. Microvillus membrane proteins expressed on dry membrane basis were reduced by 20% in thiamin-deficient intestine. There was no difference in membrane sialic acid, cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides fractions under these conditions. It is suggested that thinning of the microvillus membrane may be implicated in observed aberrations of intestinal functions in thiamin-deprived animals.

Effect of pyridoxine deficiency on intestinal absorption of calcium and oxalate: chemical composition of brush border membranes in rats

[U-14C]oxalic acid and 45Ca uptake was measured in control and vitamin B6-deficient rats. Calcium and oxalate uptake rates were significantly increased from the intestine of vitamin B6-deficient rats as compared to pair-fed controls. Oxalate uptake in pair-fed control rats follows a passive diffusion. In pyridoxine-deficient rats, the oxalate uptake increases nonlinearly as the oxalate concentration in the incubation medium increased, indicating a two-component system--a saturable sodium-independent uptake and a linear nonsaturable passive-diffusion component. The brush border membrane composition reveals that membrane sialic acid, cholesterol, and protein contents were markedly reduced. These aberrations in the chemical composition of brush border membrane may be responsible for the enhanced oxalic acid uptake in vitamin B6-deficient rats.

Postnatal changes in lectin binding to microvillus membranes from rat intestine

The intestinal microvillus membrane of suckling rats has a large number of unsubstituted and sialyl-substituted sites for 125I-labeled peanut agglutinin in glycopeptides, indicating that the membrane surface is rich in beta, D-Gal(1 leads to 3)D-GalNAc residues. The membrane loses all the unsubstituted and about half of the sialyl-substituted PNA-reactive sites during weaning. Simultaneously, there occur increases in the bindings of 125I-labeled soybean lectin and 125I-Ricinus communis toxin to unsubstituted sites in glycopeptides. This indicates appearance of new terminal nonreducing D-GalNAc and D-Gal in glycopeptides in the mature membranes. The developmental loss of PNA reactive sites from the microvillus membrane in rat intestine is probably related to D-GalNAc substitution in O-glycans of mucin-type glycoproteins, and to steric hindrance arising in the course of glycosylation.

Effect of a single oral dose of endosulfan on intestinal uptake of nutrients and on brush-border enzymes in rats

The effect of a single oral dose of endosulfan (5 mg/kg body weight) on the uptake of certain nutrients and brush-border enzymes has been studied in rat intestine. The uptake of glucose and alanine was elevated but that of leucine was decreased in endosulfan-fed rats. There was no change in the uptake of phenylalanine and lysine in insecticide-fed rats. The activities of brush-border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase were considerably increased while the activity of Na+ K+ ATPase was reduced in endosulfan-exposed animals. The leucine aminopeptidase activity was unaffected in pesticide-treated rats. There was a significant decrease in cellular LDH and GOT activities with no change in GPT activity. Neither was there a considerable increase in the cellular glucose-6-phosphatase activity (P less than 0.01) in the pesticide-fed rats. These results suggest that endosulfan toxicity induces certain functional changes in the intestine.

Effect of a single oral dose of pp'DDT on the absorption of nutrients in vitro and on brush border enzymes in rat intestine

The effect of a single oral dose of pp'DDT (100 mg/kg body wt.) has been studied on the intestinal uptake of certain nutrients and on brush border enzymes in rats. Intestinal uptake of leucine, and phenylalanine was considerably increased but there was no change in the absorption of glucose and alanine in DDT fed rats, compared to controls. The activities of brush border sucrase, alkaline phosphatase and Na+, K+-ATPase were significantly depressed in pesticide treated animals, but leucine aminopeptidase levels remained unaffected under these conditions. Analysis of the chemical composition of the microvillus membranes revealed a considerable enhancement in total lipids, phospholipids and triglyceride contents of the membranes in DDT exposed rats, but membrane protein, sialic acid and cholesterol fractions did not record any change. 1-14C-acetate incorporation into various lipid classes was studied to explain the observed increase in membrane lipids in DDT exposed animals.

Alterations in intestinal function in response to thyroxine and cortisone administration in undernourished rats

Imposition of undernutrition during the suckling period considerably enhanced the intestinal uptake of D-glucose and glycine compared to a control group. Brush border sucrase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were drastically reduced while lactase and leucine amino peptidase levels were significantly elevated at weaning in nutritionally deprived pups as compared to control animals. Cortisone administration to undernourished rats depressed the uptake of D-glucose but stimulated that of glycine. Thyroxine treatment to undernourished animals reduced the uptake of glucose but had no effect on glycine absorption. Brush border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities were stimulated in cortisone- or thyroxine-injected undernourished rats but lactase activity was depressed under these conditions. Leucine aminopeptidase activity remained unaffected in cortisone- or thyroxine-administered undernourished pups.

Alterations in the activities of intestinal enzymes in vitamin-C-deficient guinea pigs

The effect of vitamin C deficiency on various enzymes of the intestinal epithelium has been studied in guinea pigs. Brush border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities were considerably enhanced (p less than 0.001), but leucine aminopeptidase levels were reduced in scorbutic animals compared to the control group. There was essentially no change in the activity of maltase under these conditions. Kinetic studies with sucrase and alkaline phosphatase in control and scorbutic animals revealed that augmentation of the enzyme activities in scurvy is due to enhanced enzyme contents. Lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase and Mg+2 ATPase also exhibited reduced activities in the intestine of vitamin-C-deficient animals. Observed alterations in the activities of intestinal enzymes in scurvy were restored to control levels upon feeding of vitamin C to scorbutic guinea pigs.

Transport studies and enzyme assays in mice infected with human Giardia lamblia

It is well established that Giardia infection causes malabsorption. However, the precise mechanism of such a malabsorption is not known. To investigate this, transport studies, using the tissue accumulation technique, were carried out in mice infected with G. lamblia obtained from human stools. There was a significant fall in the transport of D-glucose, L-alanine and glycine in the infected animals compared with the controls. Kinetics of the D-glucose and glycine transport system were examined by measuring the tissue uptake in the presence of different concentrations of the substrate. For glucose, the affinity constant (Km) for the transport site was the same (4 . 37mM) in normal and infected animals but the maximal transport rate (V max) was considerably reduced in infected animals (158 . 7 mu moles/hr/g tissue) compared with (357 . 1 microgram moles/hr/g tissue) in controls. Results with glycine were similar; the Km was similar in control and infected animals (5 . 7 mM) whereas the V max was reduced in infected animals (27 . 02 microgram moles/hr/g tissue) compared with controls (45 . 5 micrograms moles/hr/g tissue). Analysis of the intestinal enzymes showed a significant decrease in the levels of brush border sucrase, lactase and alkaline phosphatase in infected animals; the cellular enzymes, LDH, GOT and GPT remained unaffected. The observed aberrations in the transport functions and brush border enzymes suggest that G. lamblia causes malabsorption by damaging the epithelial membrane of the enterocyte.

Acute dieldrin toxicity: effect on the uptake of glucose and leucine and on brush border enzymes in monkey intestine

Administration of a single oral dose of dieldrin (20 mg/kg body wt.) to rhesus monkeys considerably elevated the uptake of glucose and the activities of brush border sucrase, lactase, maltase and alkaline phosphatase in intestine compared to control animals. Leucine uptake and leucine amino peptidase activity was significantly depressed in pesticide-treated animals. Kinetic studies with brush border sucrase revealed that augmentation of enzyme activity in pesticide-fed animals was due to an increase in the disaccharidase content.

Essential thrombocythemia with transition into acute leukemia

A 57-year-old black man with sustained platelet count of 2 million/mm3 and evidence of intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding was diagnosed as having essential thrombocythemia. Studies of bone marrow morphology, platelet aggregation, and other variables were confirmatory of the disease. The patient was treated briefly with low doses of Myleran for less than three weeks. He was then lost to follow-up study. Approximately 16 months later he reappeared complaining of recurrent nose bleeds. He was found to be pancytopenic and diagnosis of acute leukemia was made on the basis of bone marrow aspiration.

Intestinal brush border membrane structure and function: effect of early postnatal undernutrition

The effect of undernutrition during suckling has been investigated on the brush border enzymes and the intestinal uptake of D-glucose and glycine in rats at weaning. The brush border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities were drastically reduced, but lactase and leucine aminopeptidase levels were significantly elevated in the intestine of nutritionally deprived pups compared to controls. The uptake of D-glucose and glycine in undernourished rats was also augmented. The chemical composition of the brush border membrane analyzed in nutritionally deficient animals revealed an enhancement of the membrane protein, sialic acid, cholesterol, and phospholipids compared to the control group. [U-14C]D-Glucose incorporation into lipid constituents of the membrane suggested that the observed enhancement of the membrane lipids is the result of an increased synthesis in response to undernutrition.

Effect of vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs on intestinal functions and chemical composition of brush border membrane

The effect of vitamin C deficiency on the digestive and absorptive functions of the gut has been investigated in guinea pigs. The absorption of D-glucose was significantly elevated, but that of L-leucine, L-alanine and L-lysine considerably depressed in the intestine of scorbutic guinea pigs compared to controls. The intestinal transport of vitamin B12 was also diminished. Activities of sucrase and alkaline phosphatase on the brush border were enhanced, but that of leucine aminopeptidase markedly reduced in scorbutic animals compared to controls. Maltase activity was unaffected in vitamin C deficient animals. Chemical analysis of the brush borders isolated from scorbutic animals revealed a considerable decrease in membrane protein, total lipids, phospholipids, and free cholesterol contents compared to control animals. In vivo 2-(14)C-acetate incorporation into membrane lipids suggested that the observed decrease in lipid components of the scorbutic membranes is due to reduced synthesis. Administration of ascorbic acid to scorbutic animals ameliorated the intestinal aberrations observed in scurvy.

Effect of a single oral dose of malathion on D-glucose and glycine uptake and on brush border enzymes in rat intestine

The effect of a single oral dose of malathion (1 g/kg body wt.) on the digestive and absorptive functions of the intestinal epithelium has been investigated in rats. The absorption of glucose and glycine was considerably reduced (35%) inpesticide fed animals compared to controls. The activities of brush border sucrase, lactase, alkaline phosphatase, Mg2+-ATPase and lactate dehydrogenase were also significantly depressed in malathion exposed rats, but there was no change in the leucine aminopeptidase levels under these conditions. Mucosal DNA, RNA and protein contents remained unaltered in pesticide toxicity. These results suggest that malathion toxicity induces functional derangements of the intestine.

Quantitative analysis of the mixed activating effects of the alkali metal ions on intestinal brush-border sucrase at pH 5.2

The activation of rabbit brush-border sucrase by the alkali metal ions, Li+, Na+ and K+, was analyzed using the equations of the random-order allosteric model previously proposed for sucrase (Mahmood, A. and Alvarado, F. (1975) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 168, 585). The alkali metals have mixed activating effects in tert-butylamine buffers at pH 5.2, including: 1. Affinity-type activation, where the apparent Km decreases as a hyperbolic function of the metal concentration. 2. Capacity-type activation, where the apparent V increases with the metal concentration. These two effects were analyzed quantitatively: firstly, by using linear transformations that allowed us to solve each partial equation separately and secondly, by iteration of the general equation, which permits treating the mixed effects as a whole. Results are consistent with the interpretation that a single metal-binding (activator) site suffices to explain the simultaneous occurrence of the two types of kinetic effect. Nevertheless, complicating factors exist that may require the postulation of additional sites for monovalent cations. In particular, the tert-butylammonium ion appears to interface with the effects of the alkali metals, especially Li+.