Two-compartment behavior during transport of folate compounds in L1210 cell plasma membrane vesicles

Toxoplasma gondii is capable of exogenous folate transport. A likely expansion of the BT1 family of transmembrane proteins

Folates are key elements in eukaryotic biosynthetic processes. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii possesses the enzymes necessary for de novo folate synthesis and has been suggested to lack alternative mechanisms for folate acquisition. In this paper, we present a different view by providing evidence that Toxoplasma is capable of salvaging exogenous folates. By monitoring uptake of radiolabeled folates by parasites in axenic conditions, our studies revealed a common folate transporter that has a high affinity for folic acid. Transport of this compound across the parasite plasma membrane is rapid, biphasic, temperature dependent, bi-directional, concentration dependent and specific. In addition, morphological evidence demonstrates that fluorescent methotrexate, a folate analog, is internalized by Toxoplasma and shows localization reminiscent to the mitochondrion. The presence of putative folate transporter genes in the Toxoplasma genome, which are homologous to the BT1 family of proteins, suggests that Toxoplasma may encode proteins involved in folate transport. Interestingly, genome analysis suggests that the BT1 family of proteins exists not only in Toxoplasma, but in other Apicomplexan parasites as well. Altogether, our results not only have implications for current therapeutic regimens against T. gondii, but they also allude that the folate transport mechanism may represent a novel Apicomplexan target for the development of new drugs.

Carrier-mediated transport of folate compounds in L1210 cells. Initial rate kinetics and extent of duality of entry routes for folic acid and diastereomers of 5-methyltetrahydrohomofolate in the presence of physiological anions

Comparison of the kinetic parameters for influx of highly purified [3H]folic acid versus [3H]methotrexate in L1210 cells under anionic buffer conditions showed a marked discordancy. In addition, the kinetics for influx of [3H]folic acid were unchanged in variant L1210 cells defective in [3H]methotrexate transport. In these variant cells, the Vmax for methotrexate was reduced 17-fold and the Km was increased 3-fold. The results show that [3H]folic acid influx is mediated by a system which has a low affinity, but a 20-fold higher capacity, for folate compounds than the classical high-affinity system mediating [3H]methotrexate influx. Since the latter system also exhibits very low affinity for [3H]folic acid, it would not be expected to contribute significantly to the total influx of [3H]folic acid. The high-capacity system for [3H]folic acid influx is different from that believed to mediate pterin influx in L1210 cells since it was not inhibited by adenine, a potent inhibitor of pterin influx. However, exposure of cells to [3H]folic acid in a nonanionic buffer resulted in marked stimulation of initial influx, and a fraction of influx under these conditions was inhibited by methotrexate. These results suggest that anions modulate the extent of multiplicity of [3H]folic acid influx by their known effects on the high-affinity, reduced folate/methotrexate system. The diastereomers, at carbon 6, of [14C]5-methyltetrahydrohomofolate shared both transport systems. The influx Km for the natural diastereomer was one-half that of the unnatural form for both transport systems. Both diastereomers showed a much greater differential in affinity between the two transport systems than did [3H]folic acid. Our results suggest that an analog which could be effectively transported by the low-affinity/high-capacity route may be useful in the treatment of tumors resistant to methotrexate due to a defective high-affinity/low capacity influx system. We also found that incubation of L1210 cells with [3H]folic acid or the natural diastereomer [14C]5-methyltetrahydrohomofolate for 10 min resulted in the formation of a nonexchangeable fraction of radioactivity amounting to 20-40% of the total accumulation. This non-exchangeable fraction may be explained by the accumulation of metabolites other than polyglutamates. Preloading of cells with methotrexate prior to incubation with [3H]folic acid prevented the accumulation of radioactivity as a nonexchangeable fraction.

Markedly altered membrane transport and intracellular binding of vincristine in multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster cells selected for resistance to vinca alkaloids

Studies of a multidrug-resistant variant (DC-3F/VCRd-5L) of Chinese hamster lung cells selected for resistance to vinca alkaloids revealed marked alterations in transport and intracellular binding of [3H]vincristine compared to parental DC-3F cells. Influx of [3H]vincristine in DC-3F cells appears to be an equilibrating, but mediated, process. Although saturation kinetics for [3H]vincristine influx were not demonstrated, an extremely high temperature-dependence (Q10 27-37 degrees C = 5-6) and trans-inhibition of influx following preloading of cells with nonradioactive vincristine argue in favor of a carrier-mediated process. Efflux of [3H]vincristine from parental cells conformed to first-order kinetics (t1/2 37 degrees = 3.6 +/- 0.4) and exhibited a lower temperature-dependence (Q10 27-37 degrees C = 3-3.5) than influx. In variant vs. parental cells, influx of [3H]vincristine was reduced 24-fold and efflux was increased two-fold, accounting for the large (approximately 48-fold) reduction in steady-state level of exchangeable drug accumulating in variant cells. Otherwise, transport of [3H]vincristine in these cells showed characteristics similar to parental DC-3F cells. Also, the rate and amount of intracellular binding of [3H]vincristine in variant cells was almost 40-fold lower than in parental cells. These alterations in influx and efflux of [3H]vincristine and its intracellular binding appear to account, at least to a major extent, for the high level of resistance (2,750-fold) of this variant to vinca alkaloids. In contrast, cross-resistance of this variant to daunomycin (178-fold) could be explained only minimally by a transport alteration. Only a two-fold increase in efflux of [3H]daunomycin was demonstrated in variant vs. parental cells along with some decrease in intracellular binding. Influx of [3H]daunomycin was unaltered. In view of these results, we conclude that these two agents most likely do not share the same route for entry in these cells but might share the same efflux route.

Interaction between anions and the reduced folate/methotrexate transport system in L1210 cell plasma membrane vesicles: directional symmetry and anion specificity for differential mobility of loaded and unloaded carrier

The effect of various anions on the mediated influx and efflux of [3H]methotrexate by L1210 cell plasma membrane vesicles in a HEPES buffer system was studied. Our results show that flux is stimulated to the same extent in either direction when SO4, Pi, or folate compounds (1,L5-CHO-folate-H4, methotrexate), but not Cl- was present in the opposite compartment. This implies the property of directional symmetry, a condition in which differential mobility of loaded and unloaded carriers occurs in both directions. We also observed a similarity in the specificity of the interaction between various anions and carrier in each orientation of the membrane, in the order, Cl- much less than Pi approximately equal to SO2-4 much less than methotrexate less than 1,L5-CHO-folate-H4. Also, the absolute differential in mobility of loaded and unloaded carrier (assumed from the extent of transstimulation obtained) varied substantially among the anions examined. No stimulation was obtained with Cl-, and stimulation was twofold with Pi, SO2-4 and methotrexate and fourfold with 1,L5-CHO-folate-H4. Transstimulation of flux from either external or internal compartment only occurred when a positive gradient of total anions was maintained in the opposite compartment. Also, no stimulation occurred when the same equivalence of two different anions are present in opposing compartments. The concentration of anions required to transstimulate [3H]methotrexate influx was increased four- to 10-fold when vesicles were equilibrated in 145 mM NaCl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of metabolic deprivation on methotrexate transport in L1210 leukemia cells: further evidence for separate influx and efflux systems with different energetic requirements

Measurements of methotrexate transport in L1210 cells in the presence and absence of D-glucose reveal that both influx and efflux are depressed in the absence of D-glucose, whereas the steady-state accumulation of drug is enhanced. The reason for the increase in steady state is that the relative decline in efflux is greater than the decline in influx. Analysis of the concentration dependence of steady-state methotrexate accumulation in D-glucose-deprived cells indicates a linear relationship consistent with a one-carrier active transport model. Similar data in nondeprived cells is highly nonlinear and strongly supports the postulate that under physiological conditions influx and efflux of methotrexate are mediated by separate carrier systems. These results indicate that the efflux system, preferentially transporting methotrexate under normal conditions, cannot operate in the absence of D-glucose, whereas the influx system is only partially inhibited under conditions of glucose deprivation.

Relationships between carrier-mediated transport of folate compounds by L1210 leukemia cells: evidence for multiplicity of entry routes with different kinetic properties expressed in plasma membrane vesicles

Various independent kinetic criteria for indicating multiplicity of carrier-mediated entry of folate compounds into L1210 cell plasma membrane vesicles are studied. We find a marked inconsistency between values for influx Km and Ki in reciprocal experiments measuring competition between various folate compounds as well as inconsistent effects of transloading shown for 5-formyltetrahydrofolate influx, but not folic acid influx. These results argue strongly against a one-carrier model for transport of folate compounds. The most straightforward interpretation of our data is that two distinct transport systems mediate entry of folate compounds in L1210 plasma membrane vesicles. If a two-carrier model is correct, then our data indicate that one of the carriers has low capacity and high affinity for folate coenzymes and methotrexate. This system is apparently negligible as a transport route for folic acid. Transtimulation of initial influx by substrates of the low capacity system is obtained following transloading with coenzymes but not by transloading with folic acid. Our data indicate that the second folate transport system postulated by the two-carrier model has a low affinity for all the folate compounds studied. Nevertheless, the putative second system is significant, especially for folic acid transport, because it has a much higher capacity than the first transport system. In contrast to the first system, transloading with any of the folate compounds studied had no effect on initial influx mediated by the second folate transport system. The two systems are also differentially inhibited by pCMBS, DIDS and SITS and the influx Vmax for the high-affinity/low-capacity system was altered in a vesicle preparation derived from a methotrexate resistant L1210 cell line.