The singular effect of an internal K+ gradient (K+i greater than K+o) on the Na+ gradient (Na+o greater than NA+i)-dependent transport of L-glutamate in renal brush border membrane vesicles

Kinetic characterization of Zinc transport process and its inhibition by Cadmium in isolated rat renal basolateral membrane vesicles: In vitro and In vivo studies

We firstly characterized zinc uptake phenomenon across basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMVs) isolated from normal rat kidney. The process was found to be time, temperature, and substrate concentration dependent, and displayed saturability. Zn(2+) uptake was competitively inhibited in the presence of 2 mM Cd with Ki of 3.9 mM. Zinc uptake was also inhibited in the presence of sulfhydryl reacting compound suggesting involvement of [-]SH groups in the transport process. Further, to elucidate the effect of in vivo Cd on zinc transport in BLMVs, Cd nephrotoxicity was induced by subcutaneous administration of CdCl(2) at dose of 0.6 mg/kg/d for 5 days in a week for 12 weeks. An indolent renal failure developed in Cd exposed rats was accompanied with a significantly high urinary excretion of Cd(2+), Zn(2+) and proteins. The histopathology and electron microscopy of kidneys of Cd exposed rats documented changes of proximal tubular degeneration. Notably, Cd content in renal cortex of Cd exposed rats was 215 microg/g tissue that was higher than the critical concentration of Cd in kidneys which was associated with significantly higher Zn and metallothionein (MT) contents. Zinc uptake in BLMVs isolated from kidneys of Cd exposed rats was significantly reduced. Further, kinetic studies revealed that decrease in zinc uptake synchronized with decrease in maximal velocity (V(max)) and increase in affinity constant which is suggestive of decreased number of active zinc transporters. Furthermore, conformational modulation of Zn transporter in BLM was further supported by observed variation in transition temperature for zinc transport in BLMVs isolated from Cd-exposed kidney.

Sodium-coupled amino acid transport in renal tubule

Amino acids are reabsorbed from the tubular lumen by a saturable, carrier-mediated, concentrative transport mechanism driven by a Na+ electrochemical gradient across the luminal membrane. This process is followed by efflux mainly via carrier-mediated, Na+-independent facilitated diffusion across the basolateral membrane. Individual amino acids may have two or more Na+-dependent transport systems with different kinetic characteristics along the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule, thereby enabling very efficient amino acid reabsorption. Dual Na+-coupled transport pathways for some amino acids located in both the luminal and the peritubular membranes may operate in concert to provide the tubular epithelial cell with essential nutrients. One or more Na+ ions, H+, Cl- and in the case of acidic amino acids, K+ ion, may be involved in the translocation of the carrier complex. For most amino acids this process is electrogenic positive, favored by a negative cell interior. At least seven distinct, but largely interacting, Na+-dependent amino acid transport systems have been identified in the brush border membrane. A diet-induced adaptation in Na+-coupled taurine transport and acidosis-induced adaptive response in Na+-dependent glutamine transport are expressed at the luminal and the basolateral membrane surfaces, respectively. The aminoaciduria of early life may be related to a rapid dissipation of the Na+ electrochemical gradient necessary for amino acid reabsorption.

Kinetics and localization of tubular resorption of "acidic" amino acids. A microperfusion and free flow micropuncture study in rat kidney

The unidirectional resorption rates of L-glutamate (initial concentrations of 0.07, 0.66, 2.0 or 20.0 mmol X 1(-1)), D-glutamate (0.66 mmol X 1(-1) in the presence or absence of 20 mmol X 1(-1) L-glutamate), and of L-aspartate (0.073, 0.3, 0.66, 2.0 or 5.0 mmol X 1(-1)) were determined in the rat proximal convolution. L-Glutamate resorption was saturable. A permeability coefficient (P) of less than or equal to 20 microns2 X S-1, and a maximum resorption rate (Jmax) of 0.15 +/- 0.015 (SEM) nmol X S-1 X m-1 at a Km of 0.17 +/- 0.025 (SEM) mmol X 1(-1) was obtained for L-glutamate. For L-aspartate, Jmax was 0.13 +/- 0.005 at a Km of 0.1 +/- 0.013. A free flow glutamate concentration profile along the proximal convolution was (I) predicted from these constants and (II) actually measured by means of free flow micropuncture. The data agree very well and show that more than 90% of the filtered load is resorbed within the first third of the proximal convolution. The late proximal and early distal free flow recoveries of L-glutamate amounted to 5.3 +/- 1.7% (SEM) and 6.6 +/- 1.4% of the filtered load, respectively. In contrast to this, unidirectional resorption during the microperfusion of the same tubule section was high: fractional resorption amounted to ca. 96% at 2 mmol X 1(-1) initial L-glutamate. It fell to 35 or 33% respectively if the initial L-glutamate concentration was 20 mmol X 1(-1) or if the resorption of 0.66 mmol X 1(-1) D-glutamate in presence of 20 mmol X 1(-1) L-glutamate was measured. The fractional excretion of endogenous L-glutamate in the final urine amounted to 0.13 +/- 0.012% of the filtered load. It is concluded that L-glutamate and L-aspartate are quickly resorbed in early parts of the proximal convolution (low Km). Saturation already occurs when there is a small increase in the filtered load (low Jmax). The nephron section between the late proximal and early distal nephron sites also reabsorbs "acidic" amino acids. Normally, however, the back leak cancels this out, and net flux becomes zero. Deep nephrons seem to handle amino acids somewhat differently than superficial nephrons do.

L-glutamate transport in renal plasma membrane vesicles

This review describes the uptake of L-glutamate by well-characterized preparations of renal brush border (liminal) and baso-lateral membrane vesicles derived from the plasma membrane of the polar proximal tubular cell. L-glutamate is taken up against its concentration gradient, from both sides, by co-transport systems in which the movement of the amino acid into the cell is coupled to the influx of Na+ and efflux of K+ down their respective electrochemical gradients. The presence of these ion gradient-energized systems, specific for L-glutamate, may account for the exceedingly high intracellular concentration of their metabolically important amino acid in the renal tubule.

Sodium gradient- and sodium plus potassium gradient-dependent L-glutamate uptake in renal basolateral membrane vesicles

A membrane preparation enriched in the basolateral segment of the plasma membrane was isolated from the rat renal cortex by a procedure that included separation of particulates on a self-generating Percoll gradient. The uptake of L-glutamate by the basolateral membrane vesicles was studied. A Na+ gradient (Na+]o greater than [Na+]i) stimulated the uptake of L-glutamate and provided the driving force for the uphill transport of the acidic amino acid, suggesting a Na+-L-glutamate cotransport system in the basolateral membrane. A K+ gradient ([K+]i greater than [K+]o) increased the uptake additionally. This effect was specific for K+(Rb+). The action of the K+ gradient in enhancing the uptake of L-glutamate had an absolute requirement for Na+. In the presence of Na+, but in the absence of a Na+ gradient. i.e., [Na+]o = [Na+]i, the K+ gradient also energized the concentrative uptake of L-glutamate. This effect of the K+ gradient was not attributable to an alteration in membrane potential. The finding of a concentrative uptake system for L-glutamate energized by both Na+ ([Na+]o greater than [Na+]i and K+ ([K+]o) gradients in the basolateral membrane, combined with previous reports of an ion gradient-dependent uphill transport system for this amino acid in the brush border membrane, suggests a mechanism by which L-glutamate is accumulated intracellularly in the renal proximal tubule to extraordinarily high concentrations.