Reconstitution and characterization of a sodium-stimulated active aminoisobutyric acid transport system derived from partially purified plasma membranes from mouse fibroblasts transformed by simian virus 40: comparison of reconstituted vesicles with native membrane vesicles

Growth-dependent regulation of system A in SV40-transformed fetal rat hepatocytes

Fetal RLA209-15 hepatocytes, transformed with a temperature-sensitive SV40 mutant, behave like fully differentiated cells at the growth-restrictive temperature of 40 degrees C. Conversely, incubation at the growth-permissive temperature of 33 degrees C results in a transformed phenotype characterized by rapid cell division and decreased production of liver-specific proteins. The results presented here demonstrate that the cells at 33 degrees C exhibited high rates of system A transport, but transfer to 40 degrees C reduced the activity greater than 50% within 24 h. This decline in transport was independent of cell density, although the basal rate of uptake was inversely proportional to cell density in rapidly dividing cells. Transfer of cells from 40 to 33 degrees C resulted in an enhancement of system A activity that was blocked by tunicamycin. Plasma membrane vesicles from cells maintained at either 33 or 40 degrees C retained uptake rates proportional to those in the intact cells; this difference in transport activity could also be demonstrated after detergent solubilization and reconstitution. Collectively, these data indicate that de novo synthesis of the system A carrier is regulated in conjunction with temperature-dependent cell growth in RLA209-15 hepatocytes.

Reconstitution of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

Different conditions were studied for optimal solubilization and reconstitution of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli. Several alpha- and beta-galactosides, known to be substrates for the melibiose carrier, were found to inhibit [3H]-melibiose uptake by proteoliposomes. In the presence of 10 mM Na+ the Km for melibiose counterflow was 0.42 mM. Melibiose and raffinose were good substrates for counterflow, while thiomethyl-beta-galactoside and p-nitrophenyl-alpha-galactoside were accumulated very poorly. Although the latter two sugars are known to be substrates for the carrier, they showed a very rapid rate of passive diffusion across the liposome membrane. The proton ionophore carbonylcyanidechlorophenylhydrazone had no effect on uptake, suggesting that a proton motive force is not essential for the counterflow phenomenon.

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)

Transport and metabolic effects of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

alpha-Aminoisobutyric acid is actively transported into yeast cells by the general amino acid transport system. The system exhibits a Km for alpha-aminoisobutyric acid of 270 microM, a Vmax of 24 nmol/min per mg cells (dry weight), and a pH optimum of 4.1-4.3. alpha-Aminoisobutyric acid is also transported by a minor system(s) with a Vmax of 1.7 nmol/min per mg cells. Transport occurs against a concentration gradient with the concentration ratio reaching over 1000:1 (in/out). The alpha-aminoisobutyric acid is not significantly metabolized or incorporated into protein after an 18 h incubation. alpha-Aminoisobutyric acid inhibits cell growth when a poor nitrogen source such as proline is provided but not with good nitrogen sources such as NH+4. During nitrogen starvation alpha-aminoisobutyric acid strongly inhibits the synthesis of the nitrogen catabolite repression sensitive enzyme, asparaginase II. Studies with a mutant yeast strain (GDH-CR) suggest that alpha-aminoisobutyric acid inhibition of asparaginase II synthesis occurs because alpha-aminoisobutyric acid is an effective inhibitor of protein synthesis in nitrogen starved cells.