Temperature-dependent changes in activation energies of the transport systems for nucleosides, choline and deoxyglucose of cultured Novikoff rat hepatoma cells and effects of cytochalasin B and lipid solvents

Alcohols inhibit adipocyte basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and increase the membrane lipid fluidity

Benzyl alcohol and ethanol, at aqueous concentrations that cause local anesthesia of rat sciatic nerve, affect structural and functional properties of rat adipocytes. The data strongly suggest that structurally-intact membrane lipids are required for the proper cellular uptake of glucose and for the physiologic response of adipocytes to insulin. The structure of adipocyte membrane lipids was examined with the spin label method. Isolated adipocyte 'ghost' membranes were labeled with the 5-nitroxide stearate spin probe I(12,3). Order parameters that are sensitive to the fluidity of the lipid environment of the incorporated probe were calculated from ESR spectra of labeled membranes. Benzyl alcohol and ethanol dramatically increased the fluidity of the adipocyte ghost membrane, as indicated by decreases in the polarity-corrected order parameter S. This concentration-dependent fluidization commenced at approx. 10 mM benzyl alcohol and progressively increased at all higher concentrations tested (up to 107 mM). S decreased approx. 5.7% at 40 mM benzyl alcohol, a change in S comparable in magnitude to that induced by a 6 degrees C increase in the incubation temperature. Benzyl alcohol and ethanol inhibited basal glucose uptake in adipocytes and uptake maximally stimulated by insulin. Temperature-induced increases in membrane fluidity, detected with I(12,3), that closely paralleled the fluidity effects of alcohols were associated only with increases in basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The contention that the membrane lipid fluidity plays a role in insulin action needs further study.

Choline uptake in cultured human Y79 retinoblastoma cells: effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid compositional modifications

Choline uptake in Y79 human retinoblastoma cells occurs through two kinetically distinguishable processes. The high-affinity system shows little sodium or energy dependence, and it does not appear to be linked to acetyl CoA; choline O-acetyltransferase. When the cells are grown in a culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, the high-affinity system has a K'm= 2.16 +/- 0.13 microM and V'max = 27.0 +/- 2.9 pmol min-1 mg-1, whereas the low-affinity system has a k'm = 20.4 +/- 1.3 microM and V'max = 402 +/- 49 pmol min-1 mg-1. Under these conditions, the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the cell membranes is relatively low. When the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the microsomal membrane fraction was increased by supplementing the culture medium with linolenic or docosahexaenoic acids (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) or arachidonic acid (n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid), the K'm of the high-affinity choline transport system was reduced by 40--60%. The V'max also was reduced by 20--40%. Supplementation with oleic acid, the most prevalent monounsaturated fatty acid, did not affect either kinetic parameter. The results suggest that one functional effect of the high unsaturated fatty acid content of neural cell membranes is to facilitate the capacity of the high-affinity choline uptake system to transport low concentrations of choline. This effect appears to be specific for polyunsaturated fatty acids but not for a single type, for it is produced by members of both the n-3 and n-6 classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Effect of temperature on kinetics and symmetries of the hexose transporter of Novikoff rat hepatoma cells

We have used rapid kinetic techniques to measure the accumulation of radioactively labeled 3-O-methyl-D-glucose to transmembrane equilibrium in Novikoff cell suspensions as a function of temperature. Arrhenius plots of the maximum velocities of isotopic exchange and zero-trans entry were continuous between 6 and 39 degrees C (Ea = 15-19 kcal/mol). Equilibrium exchange and zero-trans entry of 3-O-methyl-glucose at six concentrations (1-30 mM) at 16, 27, and 35 degrees C conformed to appropriate integrated rate equations derived for a single transporter. The hexose transporter exhibited directional symmetry, but the loaded carrier moved about 2 times faster than the empty carrier at all three temperatures investigated. Thus, the differential mobilities of loaded and empty carrier are not affected by temperature in this range. The Michaelis--Menten constant for equilibrium exchange increased about 2-fold with increase in temperature between 16 and 35 degrees C.

Effects of temperature on L-leucine transport in toadfish liver in vivo

The effect of body temperature in the 4--30 degrees C range on L-leucine uptake by toadfish liver in vivo was examined by means of a single-injection pulse technique. The ratio of [14C]leucine to [3H]mannitol or [3H]inulin in blood leaving the liver was measured as a function of time after hepatic portal vein injection. Recoveries of the two isotopes in liver and [14C]leucine incorporation into protein were determined. The Q10 value for influx was 3.8, that for efflux 2.8. At all temperatures, the leucine influx was 8--10-times higher than its incorporation into protein. The directly energy-linked reactions appear to be the main site of increased temperature sensitivity at low temperatures.

Thymidine transport in cultured mammalian cells. Kinetic analysis, temperature dependence and specificity of the transport system

The transport of thymidine has been characterized kinetically and thermodynamically in Novikoff rat hepatoma cells grown in culture and, less extensively, in mouse L cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, P388 murine leukemia cells and HeLa cells. That the characterizations pertained to the transport system per se was ensured, (i) by employing recently developed methods for rapid sampling of cell/substrate mixtures in order to follow isotope movements within a few seconds after initial exposure of cells to substrate; (ii) by utilizing cells rendered, by genetic or chemical means, incapable of metabolizing thymidine; and (iii) by demonstrating conformity of the transport data to an integrated rate equation derived for a simple, carrier-mediated system. The results indicate that thymidine is transported into mammalian cells by a functionally symmetrical, non-concentrative system for which the carrier : substrate dissociation constant ranges from about 100 microM in Chinese hamster ovary cells, to 230 microM in Novikoff hepatoma cells. In all cell lines investigated, the velocity of transport was sufficient to nearly completely equilibrate low concentration of thymidine across the membrane membrane within 15 s. Temperature dependence of transport velocity and substrate : carrier dissociation were continuous (EA = 18.3 kcal/mol, delta H0' = 9.3 kcal/mol, respectively), and showed no evidence of abrupt transitions. Several natural and artificial nucleosides and nucleic acid bases inhibited influx of radiolabeled thymidine, apparently by competing with thymidine for the transport carrier.

pH and temperature dependence of adenosine uptake in human erythrocytes

Kinetic analysis of the saturable adenosine uptake in human erythrocytes suggests the existence of two saturable components, distinguished by different Km values (1.4 and 260 micron, respectively, at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C). Both components were abolished by p-nitrobenzylthioguanosine or dipyridamole. Total uptake was significantly higher at pH 8 than at pH 7 at adenosine concentrations above 2 micron. The increase in uptake at the higher pH was brought about mainly by an increase in the maximum rate of transport of the low-affinity uptake system. With rising temperature the Km and the V of both uptake components increased. No transition temperature was observed between 12 and 37 degrees C.

Cytochalasin B and the kinetics of inhibition of biological transport: a case of asymmetric binding to the glucose carrier

Cytochalasin B inhibits glucose transport in human erythrocytes by competing with glucose for the carrier on the inner surface of the cell membrane, but there is no cytochalasin site associated with the outware-facing form of the carrier. Such asymmetry may be demonstrated by zero trans exit and entry experiments, whereas Sen-Widdas exit experiments are not easily interpretable. The orientation of the transport system appears to be reversed in certain other cell types: chich embryo fibroblasts, Novikoff hepatoma cells and HeLa cells. Here the cytochalasin site is present in the external but not internal carrier form.

Effects of streptolysin O on transport of amino acids, nucleosides, and glucose analogs in mammalian cells

The transport of several amino acids, nucleosides, and glucose analogs was studies in HeLa cells treated with sublethal concentrations of streptolysin O. A differential effect of toxin on the various solutes tested was observed. The uptake of the neutral amino acids alanine, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, leucine, and phenylalanine was reduced by 60 about to 70%. Less inhibition of transport was observed with acidic and basic amino acids, and the uptake of nucleosides and glucose analogs was reduced by 20% or less. The decreased uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid could be explained by the inability of toxin-treated cells to retain this amino acid. The altered transport of phenylalanine and lysine, however, appeared to be due to decreased initial rates of uptake rather than to the loss of these amino acids from intracellular pools in toxin-treated cells. After treatment with sublethal concentrations of streptolysin O, the cells recovered their ability to transport and accumulate alpha-aminoisobutyric acid in about 4 h. The data suggest that the alterations in membrane transport observed in toxin-treated cells are due to an effect of streptolysin O on specific transport systems, rather than to the production of holes or pores in the membrane.

Involvement of membrane sulfhydryls in the activation and maintenance of nutrient transport in chick embryo fibroblasts

At 5 microgram/ml, insulin stimulates hexose, A-system amino acid, and nucleoside transport by serum-starved chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). This stimulation, although variable, is comparable to that induced by 4% serum. The sulfhydryl oxidants diamide (1-20 micrometer). hydrogen peroxide (500 micrometer), and methylene blue (50 micrometer) mimic the effect of insulin in CEF. PCMB-S,1 a sulfhydryl-reacting compound which penetrates the membrane slowly, has a complex effect on nutrient transport in serum- and glucose-starved CEF. Hexose uptake is inhibited by 0.1-1 mM PCMB-S in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, whereas A-system amino acid transport is inhibited maximally within 10 min of incubation and approaches control rates after 60 min. A differential sensitivity of CEF transport systems is also seen in cells exposed to membrane-impermeant glutathione-maleimide I, designated GS-Mal. At 2 mM GS-Mal reduces the rate of hexose uptake 80-100% in serum- and glucose-starved CEF; in contrast A-system amino acid uptake is unaffected. D-glucose, but not -L-glucose or cytochalasin B, protects against GS-Mal inhibition. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that sulfhydryl groups are involved in nutrient transport and that those sulfhydryls associated with the hexose transport system and essential for its function are located near the exofacial surface of the membrane in CEF.