Some characteristics of Na/K-ATPase from rat intestinal basal lateral membranes

Inhibitory effects of choleretic hydroxyacetophenones on ileal bile acid transport in rats

The effects of the choleretic and cholesterol lowering compound, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THA) and its analog, 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHA), on ileal bile acid absorption were investigated in rats. THA inhibited taurocholate (TC) uptake into ileal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV), showing a maximum inhibition of 50%, whereas DHA completely inhibited TC uptake into ileal BBMV. THA exhibited competitive inhibition with a Ki of 9.88 mM, while DHA showed non-competitive inhibition with a Ki of 7.65 mM. Both total and ouabain-sensitive basolateral membrane (BLM) Na+-K+-ATPase activities, which are essential for maintenance of the Na+-gradient for bile acid transport, were inhibited by THA and DHA in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of BLM ATPase was uncompetitive with a Ki of 10.1 and 5.0 mM for THA and DHA, respectively. Administration of THA or DHA (400 micromol/kg) twice a day, to hypercholesterolemic rats for 3 weeks caused similar and marked reductions in plasma cholesterol to 60% of the cholesterol-fed controls. The data suggest that the inhibitory actions of THA and DHA on two essential components of ileal bile acid recycling to liver could, in part, contribute to the cholesterol lowering effect of the hydroxyacetophenone compounds. These effects on decreasing bile acid recycling, in combination with their potent choleretic effect, accelerating biliary excretion of bile acids, are responsible for the effective cholesterol lowering capacities of these compounds.

Dye coupling in the corneal endothelium: effects of ouabain and extracellular calcium removal

The effects of ouabain and extracellular calcium removal on gap junctional coupling of isolated rabbit corneal endothelium was examined using a modified dye-spread technique. This technique is a modification of a microelectrode procedure that now utilizes patch electrodes connected to a current-clamp circuit for dye iontophoresis and a shuttering system in the excitation light path to reduce phototoxic effects in the monolayer. It was found that a significant degree of junctional uncoupling occurred after 45 min of exposure to ouabain, quantified as a reduction in the effective diffusion coefficient of injected Lucifer yellow CH: 1.74 x 10(-7) cm2/s (control) versus 0.43 x 10(-7) cm2/s (ouabain-treated). It was also determined that no gap junctional uncoupling occurs after extended exposure (up to 3.5 h) to a calcium-free extracellular environment.

Quantification of Ca(2+)-ATPases in porcine duodenum. Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 deficiency

Previous studies have identified a calmodulin-stimulated ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump as the major Ca2+ efflux pathway in enterocytes. Here, we developed methods to quantify the number of Ca2+ pumps in basolateral and intracellular membranes from porcine duodenum. By the use of a pig strain with a genetic defect in renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase, we were able to investigate the influence of 1,25(OH)2D3-deficiency on the number of Ca(2+)-ATPases in porcine duodenum. The amount of Ca(2+)-ATPase in isolated basolateral membranes was 5.5 +/- 0.7 micrograms/mg protein, while the Vmax of ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport into inside-out resealed basolateral membrane vesicles was 2.6 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg protein per min. From these data we estimated roughly about 95 x 10(3) plasma membrane Ca2+ pump sites per enterocyte. In addition, the amount of intracellular Ca(2+)-ATPase in microsomal fractions was 0.41 +/- 0.02 microgram/mg protein. Comparison of these parameters between control and rachitic animals showed that Ca2+ pump capacities in both basolateral membranes and microsomal fractions of porcine duodenum are not influenced by 1,25(OH)2D3-deficiency. In conclusion, stimulatory effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on intestinal Ca2+ transport most likely result from specific effects on apical influx and facilitation of cytosolic Ca2+ diffusion by Ca(2+)-binding proteins and not from an increase in Ca2+ pumping capacity in basolateral membranes.

Na,K-ATPase and the development of Na+ transport in rat distal colon

Na,K-ATPase function was studied in order to evaluate the mechanism of increased colonic Na+ transport during early postnatal development. The maximum Na(+)-pumping activity that was represented by the equivalent short-circuit current after addition of nystatin (ISCN) did not change during postnatal life or after adrenalectomy performed in 16-day-old rats. ISCN was entirely inhibited by ouabain; the inhibitory constant was 0.1 mM in 10-day-old (young) and 0.4 mM in 90-day-old (adult) rats. The affinity of the Na,K pump for Na+ was higher in young (11 mM) than in adult animals (19 mM). The Na,K-ATPase activity (measured after unmasking of latent activity by treatment with sodium dodecylsulfate) increased during development and was also not influenced by adrenalectomy of 16-day-old rats. The inhibitory constant for ouabain (KI) was not changed during development (0.1-0.3 mM). Specific [3H]ouabain binding to isolated colonocytes increased during development (19 and 82 pmol/mg protein), the dissociation constant (KD) was 8 and 21 microM in young and adult rats, respectively. The Na+ turnover rate per single Na,K pump, which was calculated from ISCN and estimated density of binding sites per cm2 of tissue was 500 in adult and 6400 Na+/min.site in young rats. These data indicate that they very high Na+ transport during early postnatal life reflects an elevated turnover rate and increased affinity for Na+ of a single isoform of the Na,K pump. The development of Na+ extrusion across the basolateral membrane is not directly regulated by corticosteroids.

N-terminal amino acid sequence, immunohistochemical localization and tissue distribution of a plasma membrane protein (Prot17) of rat enterocytes

Prot17, a protein of the basolateral membrane of rat small intestine with a mol.wt. of 17 kDa, can be isolated using a previously described method (Schiechl 1988). It occurs in the membrane as an oligomer with a mol.wt. of 90 kDa. In the present study a polyclonal antibody specific for Prot17 was used to explore by immunohistochemical techniques the tissue distribution of Prot17 and its ultrastructural localization within the cells. Furthermore the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal part of this molecule up to position 17 could be analyzed. The results are summarized as follows: Prot17 is a membrane anchored protein. Its partial amino acid sequence suggests that it is neither identical nor related to other known proteins. Immunofluorescence studies revealed, that it occurs only in epithelial cells. It is mainly found in the absorptive and goblet cells of the intestine and the acinar cells of the pancreas. Smaller quantities are found also in the bile duct epithelium of the liver, in the proximal tubule cells of the kidney and in the cells of the respiratory epithelium. Ultrastructural localization of Prot17 was possible in the intestinal epithelium and pancreas acinar cells. In both cell types it was found in the basolateral and microvillous membrane. In pancreas, Prot17 was also detected in the membrane of the zymogen granules. In the absorptive cells of the intestine Prot17 was found in both the membrane and the contents of subluminal vesicles. Furthermore, in apical granules of secretory cells of the respiratory epithelium binding of Prot17 specific antibody was found in the granular content, the membrane being negative.

Identification and isolation of the phosphorylated intermediate of the calcium pump in rat intestinal basolateral membranes

Transport of Ca2+ by the ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump has been demonstrated previously in rat intestinal basolateral-membrane vesicles. To identify the Ca2+-pump protein, duodenal basolateral membranes were phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence of Ca2+ and La3+, under conditions conducive for maximal formation of the phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+ pump. Four major phosphoprotein bands were seen on autoradiograms of acidic SDS/polyacrylamide gels; the properties of a phosphoprotein (pp) at 130 kDa (pp130) were consistent with those expected for the plasma-membrane Ca2+ pump. This phosphoprotein was markedly enhanced by La3+, exhibited the characteristics of an acyl-phosphate bond, was preferentially phosphorylated from ATP and inhibited by micromolar concentrations of vanadate. Another phosphoprotein of 115 kDa possibly represented the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump or a fragment of pp130. Other phosphoproteins of 75 and 95 kDa were predominantly expressions of alkaline phosphatase. Formation of pp130 was highest in duodenal basolateral-membrane preparations when compared with those of jejunum and ileum or other subcellular fractions. A similar correlation between Ca2+-pump activity and pp130 formation was not found in membranes from villus-tip and crypt cells or in vitamin D-deficient animals. pp130 was isolated as a single phosphoprotein by calmodulin-affinity chromatography. We conclude that pp130 represents the phosphorylated intermediate of the rat intestinal basolateral-membrane Ca2+ pump, which can be separated from other phosphoproteins using its properties as a calmodulin-binding protein.

Ion permeability of rabbit intestinal brush border membrane vesicles

The ion permeability of rabbit jejunal brush border membrane vesicles was studied by measuring unidirectional fluxes with radioactive tracers and bi-ionic diffusion potentials with the potential-sensitive fluorescent dye, diS-C3-(5). Tracer measurements provide estimates of the absolute magnitudes of permeability coefficients, while fluorescence measurements provide estimates of relative and absolute ion permeabilities. The magnitudes of the permeability coefficients for Na+, K+, Rb+, and Br- were approximately 5 nanoliters/(mg protein X sec) or 10(-5) cm/sec as determined by radioactive tracer measurements. The apparent selectivity sequence, relative to Na+, as determined by bi-ionic potential measurements was: F-, isethionate, gluconate, choline (less than 0.1) less than Na+(1.0) less than Cl-(1.5) = NO-3(1.5) less than Br-(2.3) less than K+(2.4) less than Rb+(2.5) less than Cs+(2.6) less than Li+(3.9) less than NH+4(12) less than I-(40). The origin of this selectivity sequence and its relationship to the ion permeability of the brush border membrane in the intact epithelium are discussed.

The distribution of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase along the villus crypt-axis in the rabbit small intestine

The migration of intestinal epithelial cells from the crypts to the tips of villi is associated with progressive cell differentiation. The changes in Na+-pump levels during migration have been measured in epithelial cells isolated from rabbit small intestine. A significant proportion of ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the cell homogenates was latent but could be unmasked by detergent treatment. Highest detergent activation was observed in villus cells. The distribution of pumping sites was also assessed by measuring ouabain binding to intact cells. The kinetics of specific binding was consistent with the interaction of the cardiac glycoside with a single population of binding sites with an apparent Kd of around 10(-7) M. Both enzyme assay and ouabain-binding measurements suggest that a 2-3-fold increase in the number of Na+-pumping sites accompanies cell differentiation in rabbit jejunal epithelium. This increase in pumping capacity might be an adaptation of the cells to their absorptive function.

Organic and inorganic solute transport in renal and intestinal membrane vesicles preserved in liquid nitrogen

The transport of organic solutes (sugars, amino acids, and metabolic intermediates) and inorganic solutes (Na+/H+ exchange and Na+-SO = 4 cotransport) in renal brush border and in intestinal brush border and basal lateral membrane vesicles is preserved when the vesicles are stored in liquid nitrogen. The preservation allows comparisons among transport systems of renal and intestinal cells obtained from the same animal.

Transport properties of intestinal basolateral membranes

Techniques for the isolation and study of basolateral membrane vesicles from the intestinal epithelium have afforded new insights into the mechanisms of intestinal absorption. First, we have confirmed the hypothesis that the second stage of glucose transport involves facilitated diffusion. Second, we have shown that the major system for translocation of neutral amino acids across the basolateral membrane is the classical "L" system. Third, we have established that basolateral membranes contain sodium-dependent transport systems that may be useful in the supply of essential amino acids to the epithelium from the blood. And, finally, our studies of the basolateral (Na + K)-ATPase have clarified the role of this enzyme in sodium absorption.