Amino Acid Transport and stimulation by substrates in the absence of a Na2+ electrochemical potential gradient

Hepatocellular uptake of peptides by bile acid transporters: relationship of carrier-mediated transport of linear peptides with renin-inhibiting activity to multispecific bile acid carriers

The uptake of a linear peptide with renin-inhibiting activity (code number EMD 51921) was characterized in isolated rat liver cells. Isolated hepatocytes take up EMD 51921 in a time-, concentration-, energy- and temperature-dependent manner. Transport of the peptide follows mixed-type kinetics. Diffusion occurs at a rate of 8.123 x 10(-6) cm/sec at 6 degrees C. For the saturable part of uptake, a Km of 2.0 microM and a Vmax of 160 pmol/mg per min were calculated. Various substrate analogues inhibit the uptake of EMD 51921. Absence of oxygen or decreased cellular ATP content (e.g., by metabolic inhibitors or xylulose) blocks hepatocellular uptake of EMD 51921. Temperatures above 20 degrees C accelerate the uptake. The activation energy was calculated to be 58.3 kJ/mol. The apparently active uptake of EMD 51921 was not sodium dependent. The membrane potential is a driving force for the accumulation of EMD 51921. Mutual competitive transport inhibition of EMD 51921, cholate and taurocholate is indicative of a common transport system. Benzamidotaurocholate and a cyclosomatostatin analog 008, not phalloidin and iodipamide, however, considerably decrease the uptake of EMD 51921. AS 30D ascites hepatoma cells, unable to accumulate bile acids and certain cyclopeptides, also fail to transport EMD 51921. BSP, a foreign substrate of the bilirubin carrier, noncompetitively inhibits the transport of EMD 51921. The inhibition of the uptake of EMD 51921 by rifampicin, a further substrate of the bilirubin carrier, is mixed: competitive at high EMD 51921 concentrations and uncompetitive at low EMD 51921 concentrations. The uptake of rifampicin into isolated rat liver cells, however, is not influenced by EMD 51921. Substrates of the transport systems for cations, amino acids, long chain fatty acids and hexoses did not influence the transport of EMD 51921.

Altered sensitivity of system A amino acid transport to ouabain in normal and transformed C3H-10T1/2 cells during the cell cycle

Quiescent C3H-10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts that have not undergone any type of stress have a relatively low rate of 2-aminoisobutyrate (Aib) uptake by means of system A, which is primarily energized by the transmembrane Na+ chemical gradient potential. System A activity in these cells is not sensitive to ouabain or proton ionophores. In contrast, methylcholanthrene-transformed and confluent C3H-10T1/2 cells treated with 0.4 mM ouabain for 16-20 hr utilize the membrane potential generated by the Na+, K+-ATPase pump to drive Aib transport by means of system A as shown by the sensitivity of transport activity to ouabain and proton ionophores. Since glucose is present during the assay, the proton ionophores do not affect the availability of ATP, as indicated by the undiminished uptake of 86Rb+ by the Na+, K+-ATPase pump. As cells progress through the G1 phase of the cell cycle, they show an increased system A activity prior to entry into the S phase, which is also dependent on the electrogenicity of the Na+, K+-ATPase pump. There appears to be in all these cases a qualitative shift in the bioenergetic mechanism for the uptake of Aib as well as a marked quantitative increase in Aib uptake. The high activity after ouabain treatment was sustained in the transformed cells after removal of the ouabain, whereas in the confluent 10T1/2 cells the rate of uptake decayed rapidly, suggesting a difference in the mode of regulation. We conclude that transformed cells and normal cells in late G1 or under stress make use of the membrane potential generated by the Na+, K+-ATPase pump to drive amino acid uptake by means of system A.

Energetic mechanism of system A amino acid transport in normal and transformed mouse fibroblasts

Ouabain treatment (0.4 mM) of normal and transformed C3H-10T1/2 cells caused a progressive increase in 2-aminoisobutyrate (AIB) transport reaching a maximum after 16 to 18 h exposure. There was a virtually complete blockage of this stimulated rate when 3 microM cycloheximide (CHX) was added together with ouabain at T = 0. In the transformed cell, addition of CHX after 14 h had no effect; in the normal cell, it inhibited (ca. 50%) the final AIB transport rate achieved after 24 h. The t1/2 for reaching maximal activity (insensitive to CHX exposure) was thus shifted from 8 h in the transformed cell to 15 h in the normal cell. Since the rate of achieving maximal activity in the absence of CHX was about the same in the two cells, the shift in t1/2 in the presence of CHX suggests that the rate of degradation is more rapid in the normal cell. Following ouabain treatment, the apparent Km for Na+ was decreased in both cells. The Km returned to the basal level 1 h after ouabain removal in the normal cell, but remained low in the transformed cell during this time period. The stimulation of AIB transport following ouabain removal was largely abolished by a proton ionophore (1799), a lipophilic cation (tetraphenyl-phosphonium), or ouabain. These results suggest that, under the conditions of ouabain stress, there is a switch in the bioenergetic mechanism. The Na+/K+ pump and System A transporter appear to be linked and the membrane potential generated by the Na+/K+ pump activity becomes a major driving force for AIB uptake.

Some novel aspects of the relationship between the amino acid gradient and the sodium electrochemical gradient in mouse ascites tumour cells

Accumulation of 2-aminoisobutyrate by mouse ascites tumour cells was studied in circumstances where nigericin reversed the normal direction of the Na+ concentration gradient. The membrane potential (delta psi) was assayed using oxonol V as a voltage-sensitive probe. The amino acid gradient (delta mu A) that formed did not significantly exceed the likely magnitude of the Na+ electrochemical gradient when this was in the range 2-6 kJ mol-1. When delta-Na mu increased up to 11 kJ mol-1, delta mu A was almost constant at 7-8 kJ mol-1. The observations indicate that when delta psi is large changes in cellular [Na+] in the range 16-80 mM scarcely affect delta mu A.

Ionic dependence of amino-acid transport in the exocrine pancreatic epithelium: calcium dependence of insulin action

Rapid unidirectional transport (15 sec) of L-serine and 2-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB) was studied in the isolated perfused rat pancreas using a dual-tracer dilution technique. Time-course experiments in the presence of normal cation gradients revealed a time-dependent transstimulation of L-serine influx and transinhibition of MeAIB influx. Transport of the model nonmetabolized System A analog MeAIB was Na+ dependent and significantly inhibited during perfusion with 1 mM ouabain. Although transport of L-serine was largely Na+ independent, ouabain caused a time-dependent inhibition of transport. Influx of both amino acids appeared to be inhibited by the ionophore monensin but unaffected by a lowered extracellular potassium concentration. Removal of extracellular calcium had no effect on influx of the natural substrate L-serine, whereas stimulation of transport by exogenous insulin (100 microU/ml) was entirely dependent upon extracellular calcium and unaffected by ouabain. Paradoxically, exogenous insulin had no effect on the time-course of MeAIB influx. The characteristics of L-serine influx described in earlier studies together with our present findings suggest that insulin may modulate the activity of System asc in the exocrine pancreatic epithelium by a calcium-dependent mechanism.

Differential effects of transmembrane potential on two Na+-dependent transport systems for neutral amino acids

The effects of changes of membrane potential on amino acid transport through systems A, ASC and L was investigated in the Ehrlich cell and the human erythrocyte. Changes of membrane potential were produced by incubating cells whose K+ permeability had been increased, either by valinomycin or by activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels, in medium containing different K+ concentrations. The changes in membrane potential were followed by measuring the distribution ratio reached by lipophilic indicators. Transport through Na+-dependent system A was sensitive to the membrane potential, the rate of amino acid uptake increasing 2.2-3.1-times for each 60 mV-hyperpolarization. The Na+-dependent system ASC was insensitive to membrane potential. The Na+-independent system L was not directly affected by membrane potential, but the steady-state accumulation of system L substrates was increased by hyperpolarization.

Effects of perturbation of the Na+ electrochemical gradient on influx and efflux of alanine in isolated rat hepatocytes

Transmembrane alanine transport was studied in hepatocytes isolated from 48-h fasted rats. Aminooxyacetate was used to render alanine nonmetabolizable. Gramicidin D eliminated the transmembrane Na+ electrochemical gradient. At 135 mM Na+ and 0.1 mM alanine gramicidin D decreased the steady-state intracellular-to-extracellular alanine distribution ratio from 20.2 to 0.9. The underlying kinetic changes appeared to be a decrease in alanine influx to one-third of the control value and an increase in the rate constant of alanine efflux by a factor of 9. Analogous changes were observed when the Na+ gradient was decreased by ouabain. The inhibitory effect of gramicidin D on alanine influx was confined to the Na+-dependent, saturable component which showed a prominent increase in the apparent Km for alanine and a small decrease in the apparent Vmax. The effect of gramicidin D on alanine efflux was related to the increased cytosolic Na+ concentration: the rate constant of alanine efflux was increased by cytosolic Na+ with half-maximal stimulation at 30 mM; voltage-sensitive alanine efflux could not be demonstrated.

Sodium cotransport systems and the membrane potential difference

Studies with membrane vesicles and with whole cell preparations have shown clearly that the electrochemical gradient of Na+ acting across the cell membrane is closely coupled to the influx and efflux of amino acids or carbohydrates through their cellular pumps. It has been less clear (1) just how tightly solute flow is coupled to that of Na+ in stoichiometrical terms and (2) whether coupling is tight enough to account for the maximum solute gradients that the systems form in vivo. Recent work with ionophores, including nigericin, has revealed circumstances in preparations of mouse ascites-tumor cells where if the sodium gradient hypothesis is correct, electrogenic ion pumping must be supposed to maintain membrane potentials of the order of 80 mV negative. We have used a new fluorescence assay based on an oxonol dye in a search for potentials of that magnitude. Their possible origin is discussed.

Effect of ouabain on amino acid uptake by mouse ascites-tumour cells in the presence of nigericin

Mouse ascites-tumour cells oxidizing lactate, in a modified Ringer solution, concentrated 2-aminoisobutyrate, L-methionine or 2-(methylamino)isobutyrate about 20-fold from a 0.4 mM solution in the presence of 2-3 micrograms of nigericin/mg cellular dry wt. The ionophore increased cellular [Na+] to almost 100 mM when extracellular [Na+] was about 45 mM. Either valinomycin or the two mitochondrial inhibitors oligomycin and antimycin acting together each markedly lowered the extent to which the tumour cells concentrated amino acid, from the above factor of about 20 to roughly 2-fold. Ouabain (1 mM) had a similar effect, and further raised cellular [Na+]. The sodium pump appeared to be closely involved in amino acid uptake under these conditions.

Bleomycin control of transplasma membrane redox activity and proton movement in HeLa cells

Bleomycin, tallysomycin A, tallysomycin S10b and copper-bleomycin have been tested for their capacity to inhibit the transplasma membrane electron transport and associated proton release by HeLa cells. Transplasma membrane redox activity is measured using reduction of external ferricyanide by the cells. At 75 micrograms/ml bleomycin, tallysomycin A and tallysomycin S10b gave a maximum of 65% inhibition of the ferricyanide reduction rate; half-maximum inhibition was observed at 30 micrograms/ml. The copper-bleomycin complex was slightly more effective as an inhibitor with half-maximum inhibition at 20 micrograms/ml. Survival of cells after 1 hr of drug treatment was 50% at 25 micrograms/ml for bleomycin and copper-bleomycin and at 75 micrograms/ml for tallysomycin A. Tallysomycin A and tallysomycin S10b gave 75 to 83% inhibition of ferricyanide-induced proton extrusion, respectively at 50 micrograms/ml, whereas bleomycin and copper-bleomycin appeared to be slightly less effective with 50 to 60% inhibition, respectively, at 50 micrograms/ml. In all aspects studied, which included transplasma membrane ferricyanide reduction, ferricyanide-induced proton release, and cell survival, there were significant effects by these compounds on HeLa cells in the range of 25-50 micrograms/ml.

Effectors of amino acid transport processes in animal cell membranes

Various effectors, which act upon ion gradients, protein synthesis, membrane components or cellular functional groups, have been employed to provide insights into the nature of amino acid-membrane transport processes in animal cells. Such effectors, for example, include ions, hormones, metabolites and various organic reagents and their judicious use has allowed the following list of conclusions. Sodium ion has been found to stimulate amino acid transport in a wide variety of cell systems, although depending on the tissue and/or substrate, this ion may have no effect on such transport, or even inhibit it. Amino acid transport can be stimulated in some cell systems by other ions such as K+, Li+, H+ or Cl-. Both H+ and K+ have been found to be inhibitory in other systems. Amino acid transport is dependent in many cell systems upon an inwardly directed Na+ gradient and is stimulated by a membrane potential (negative cell interior). In some cell systems an inwardly directed Cl- and H+ gradient or an outwardly directed K+ gradient can energize transport. Structurally dissimilar effectors such as ouabain, Clostridium enterotoxin, aspirin and amiloride inhibit amino acid transport presumably through dissipation of the Na+ gradient. Inhibition by certain sugars or metabolic intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle may compete with the substrate for the energy of the Na+ gradient or interact with the substrate at the carrier level either allosterically or at a common site. Stimulation of transport by other sugars or intermediates may result from their catabolism to furnish energy for transport. Insulin and glucagon stimulate transport of amino acids in a variety of cell systems by a mechanism which involves protein synthesis. Microtubules may be involved in the regulation of transport by insulin or glucagon. Some reports also suggest that insulin has a direct effect on membranes. In addition, a number of growth hormones and factors have stimulatory effects on amino acid transport which are also mediated by protein synthesis. Steroid hormones have been noted to enhance or diminish transport of amino acids depending on the nature of the hormone. These agents appear to function at the level of protein synthesis. While stimulation may involve increased carrier synthesis, inhibition probably involves synthesis of a labile protein which either decreases the rate of synthesis or increases the rate of degradation of a component of the transport system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Driving forces in hepatocellular uptake of phalloidin and cholate

Active uptake of phalloidin and cholate in isolated rat liver cells depends upon both Na+ gradient and membrane potential. Omission of Na+ or inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase diminished both phalloidin and cholate uptake. Dissipation of the sodium, potassium or proton gradient by monensin, nigericin, gramicidin and valinomycin blocked phalloidin uptake and also caused reduction of cholate transport. Chelation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ by EGTA or incubation of liver cells with NH4Cl neither influenced phalloidin nor cholate uptake. Hyperpolarization of liver cells by the lipophilic anions NO3- or SCN- enhanced phalloidin but reduced cholate uptake. Depolarization induced by a reversed K+ gradient reduced both kinds of transport. The results indicate that sodium ions and the membrane potential are driving forces for phalloidin and cholate uptake in hepatocytes.

Plasma membrane potential of Lettré cells does not depend on cation gradients but on pumps

The plasma membrane potential of Lettré cells has been determined with the optical indicator oxonol-V and found to be -57 mV at 37 degrees C (range -20 to -80 mV depending on the physiological condition of the cells). Increasing extracellular K+ does not depolarize cells: even in the presence of 155 mM K+ the potential is -41 mV; membrane potential is also insensitive to the chemical gradient of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ or Cl-. Ouabain depolarizes the cells; H+ efflux from cells is stimulated by extracellular Na+. We propose that in Lettré cells the plasma membrane potential is generated by electrogenic cation pumps. The balancing fluxes of Na+ and K+ are mainly through electroneutral cation exchanges (Na+/K+ and Na+/H+) and the magnitude of the potential is limited by organic anion leaks. Such a mechanism may operate in other biological membranes also.

Relationship of muscle growth in vitro to sodium pump activity and transmembrane potential

Serum stimulates embryonic avian skeletal muscle growth in vitro and the growth-related processes of amino acid transport and protein synthesis. Serum also stimulates myotube Na pump activity (measured as ouabain-sensitive rubidium-86 uptake) for at least 2 h after serum addition. Serum-stimulated growth depends on this Na pump activity since ouabain added at the same time as serum totally inhibits the growth responses. The relationship of myotube growth, Na pump activity, and transmembrane potential was studied to determine whether serum-stimulated Na pump activation and growth are coupled by long-term membrane hyperpolarization. When myotube amino acid transport and protein synthesis are prestimulated by serum, ouabain was found to have little inhibitory effect, indicating that the already stimulated growth-related processes are not tightly coupled to continued Na pump activity. Serum-stimulated protein synthesis is tightly coupled to Na pump activity, but only during the first 5-10 min after serum addition. When myotube transmembrane potentials were measured using the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium, serum at concentrations that stimulate myotube growth and Na pump activity was found to have little effect on the cell's transmembrane potential. Furthermore, partial depolarization of the myotubes with 12- to 55-mM extracellular potassium does not prevent serum stimulation of myotube growth. Monensin was found to hyperpolarize the myotubes, but causes myotube atrophy. These results indicate that although Na pump activity is associated with initiation of serum-stimulated myotube growth, continued Na pump activity is not essential, and there is little relationship between myotube growth and the myotube's transmembrane potential.

Protein synthesis in cells infected with Semliki Forest virus is not controlled by intracellular cation changes

Treatment of BHK cells with 1 microM nigericin results in a 55% decrease in K+ and a 3.3-fold increase in intracellular Na+; protein synthesis under these conditions is depressed by 35%. In BHK cells infected with Semliki Forest virus (SFV), protein synthesis is depressed by 76% 6.5 h after infection; intracellular K+ is unchanged, and intracellular Na+ is increased 1.8-fold at this time. These results suggest that the increase in intracellular Na+ in SFV-infected BHK cells does not adequately account for the decrease in protein synthesis, and makes it likely that an increased Na+ concentration is a consequence, not a cause, of alterations in protein synthesis in virally-infected cells. No evidence was obtained for the purported [Alonso, M. A. and Carrasco, L. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 109, 535-540; (1981) Eur. J. Biochem. 118, 289-294; (1981) FEBS Lett. 127, 112-114] ability of 1 microM nigericin to permeabilize' cells.

AMP deaminase from the gill of the mullet Chelon labrosus R.: purification and effects of pH, phosphate and monovalent cations

The AMP deaminase from the gill of Chelon labrosus was purified about 250-fold by chromatography on cellulose-phosphate. At low and high substrate concentration, a sharp pH optimum was found between pH 6.7 and 6.9. The enzyme was found to be relatively insensitive to physiological concentrations of inorganic phosphate. Na+ and K+ were activators of gill AMP deaminase, Na+ being the most efficient. Effects of possible changes in the intracellular concentrations of these cations on enzyme activity are discussed.

Stimulation of Na+ -dependent amino acid uptake by activation of the Ca2+ -dependent K+ channel in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell

The activation of Ca2+ -dependent K+ channel by propranolol or by ascorbate-phenazine methosulphate stimulates Na+ -dependent transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid. This stimulation arises from a membrane hyperpolarization due to the specific increase of membrane K+ conductance. The same treatment does not modify the Na+ -independent uptake of the norbornane amino acid.