Development of intestinal brush border membrane proteins in the rat

Interactions of dextransucrase purified from Streptococcus mutans 890 with plant polyphenols

Plant polyphenols have been extensively studied for their chemopreventive properties for human health. Dextransucrase plays an essential role in synthesizing exopolysaccharides from its exclusive substrate sucrose in Streptococcus mutans. In the present study, the effect of polyphenols gallic acid and tannic acid was investigated on the dextransucrase activity. The enzyme was purified by ethanol precipitation followed by column chromatography by Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography, followed by PEG-400 treatment. The purified enzyme exhibited 52 fold enrichment with 17.5% yield and specific activity of 3.54 Units/mg protein. On SDS-PAGE enzyme protein gave a single band with a molecular weight of 160 kDa. Dextransucrase activity was inhibited 80–90% by 0.04 mM tannic acid (TA) or 0.4 mM gallic acid (GA) suggesting that tannic acid has 10- fold more inhibitory potential than gallic acid on the activity of dextransucrase. CD/ORD studies revealed modifications in the tertiary structure of enzyme protein in presence of tannic acid and gallic acid, which were further confirmed by fluorescence spectra of the protein in presence of tannic acid. These results suggest that inhibition of dextransucrase activity in S. mutans by polyphenols may have potential applications in the prevention and control of dental caries.

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Dextransuccrase an important enzyme of S. mutans is involved in the metabolism of sucrose.

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Purified enzyme is inhibited (80-90%) by plant polyphenols. Observed inhibition is due to change in teritary structure.

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S. mutans is an important cariogenic agent.

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Plant polyphenols are good anticariogenic agents.

The Secretion and Action of Brush Border Enzymes in the Mammalian Small Intestine

Microvilli are conventionally regarded as an extension of the small intestinal absorptive surface, but they are also, as latterly discovered, a launching pad for brush border digestive enzymes. Recent work has demonstrated that motor elements of the microvillus cytoskeleton operate to displace the apical membrane toward the apex of the microvillus, where it vesiculates and is shed into the periapical space. Catalytically active brush border digestive enzymes remain incorporated within the membranes of these vesicles, which shifts the site of BB digestion from the surface of the enterocyte to the periapical space. This process enables nutrient hydrolysis to occur adjacent to the membrane in a pre-absorptive step. The characterization of BB digestive enzymes is influenced by the way in which these enzymes are anchored to the apical membranes of microvilli, their subsequent shedding in membrane vesicles, and their differing susceptibilities to cleavage from the component membranes. In addition, the presence of active intracellular components of these enzymes complicates their quantitative assay and the elucidation of their dynamics. This review summarizes the ontogeny and regulation of BB digestive enzymes and what is known of their kinetics and their action in the peripheral and axial regions of the small intestinal lumen.

Ontogeny, growth and development of the small intestine: Understanding pediatric gastroenterology

Throughout our lifetime, the intestine changes. Some alterations in its form and function may be genetically determined, and some are the result of adaptation to diet, temperature, or stress. The critical period programming of the intestine can be modified, such as from subtle differences in the types and ratios of n3:m6 fatty acids in the diet of the pregnant mother, or in the diet of the weanlings. This early forced adaptation may persist in later life, such as the unwanted increased intestinal absorption of sugars, fatty acids and cholesterol. Thus, the ontogeny, early growth and development of the intestine is important for the adult gastroenterologist to appreciate, because of the potential for these early life events to affect the responsiveness of the intestine to physiological or pathological challenges in later life.

Oral polyamine administration modifies the ontogeny of hexose transporter gene expression in the postnatal rat intestine

Gastrointestinal mucosal polyamines influence enterocyte proliferation and differentiation during small intestinal maturation in the rat. Studies in postnatal rats have shown that ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) protein and mRNA peak before the maximal expression of brush-border membrane (BBM) sucrase-isomaltase (SI) and the sugar transporters sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2). This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the oral administration of spermidine in postnatal rats upregulates the expression of ODC, thereby enhancing the expression of SI and SGLT1 in the brush-border membrane as well as basolateral membrane-facilitative GLUT2 and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Northern and Western blot analyses were performed with antibodies and cDNA probes specific for SI, SGLT1, GLUT2, alpha(1)- and beta(1)-subunits of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and ODC. Postnatal rats fed 6 mumol spermidine daily for 3 days from days 7 to 9 were killed either on postnatal day 10 (Sp10) or day 13 following a 3-day washout period (Sp13). Sp10 rats showed a precocious increase in the abundance of mRNAs for SI, SGLT1, and GLUT2 and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and alpha(1)- and beta(1)-isoform gene expression compared with controls. ODC activity and protein and mRNA abundance were also increased in Sp10 animals. The increased expression of these genes was not sustained in Sp13 rats, suggesting that these effects were transient. Thus, 3 days of oral polyamine administration induces the precocious maturation of glucose transporters in the postnatal rat small intestine, which may be mediated by alterations in ODC expression.

Development of intestinal alkaline sphingomyelinase in rat fetus and newborn rat

Sphingomyelin metabolism is a novel signal transduction pathway related to cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Alkaline sphingomyelinase (alk-SMase) is specifically present in the intestinal tract of many species. The enzyme is important in digestion of dietary sphingomyelin. Milk is the only exogenous source of sphingomyelin for an infant, and digestion of milk sphingomyelin may be important for development of intestinal mucosa. It is unknown whether alk-SMase is present before birth and whether it changes after birth and during the suckling period. We studied activities, expression, and distribution of alk-SMase in rat fetus and newborn. The changes of acid and neutral SMase as well as alkaline phosphatase were analyzed for comparison. Little activity of alk-SMase was identified up to gestation day 20, but increased 10 times during the following 2 d. After birth, the activity continued to increase during the following 4 wk. Western blot using IgY antibody against rat alk-SMase failed to identify the enzyme at gestation day 20 but clearly showed the protein at day 22. The distribution pattern of the enzyme along the intestinal tract in fetus was largely the same as in adult animals, but became more pronounced after birth. Short-term weaning had no effect on alk-SMase activity. The activities of acid and neutral SMase were high at gestation day 20 and decreased significantly before birth. The changes of alk-SMase also differed from those of alkaline phosphatase, another brush border enzyme. Thus, we conclude that alk-SMase is rapidly expressed during the last days of gestation and that the newborn rat acquires the ability to digest milk sphingomyelin early in life.

Suckling induces rapid intestinal growth and changes in brush border digestive functions of newborn pigs

The interplay between suckling, intestinal growth and brush-border membrane functions is critical during the perinatal period. The present study investigates changes in intestinal dimensions, activities of four brush border membrane hydrolases (lactase, sucrase, maltase and aminooligopeptidase) and rates of sugar and amino acid uptake by intact tissues and brush border membrane vesicles during the first 24 h of suckling. Total intestinal weight, mucosal weight and protein content increased 58%, 80% and 126% (P < 0.05) during the first 6 h of suckling; length and surface area did not increase. Total mucosal DNA content was 4.6-fold higher at 24 h after birth, with the rate of increase differing among intestinal regions. Hydrolytic capacities of the entire small intestine increased, more so for homogenates than for brush border membrane vesicles, and more for lactase relative to the other hydrolases studied. Rates of nutrient transport declined, especially for brush border membrane vesicles, for proximal and mid-intestine relative to distal intestine, and for glucose relative to galactose and amino acids. We conclude that 1) changes in brush border membrane digestive functions coincide with rapid intestinal growth, with postnatal patterns varying among hydrolases, transporters and regions; 2) insertion into the brush border membrane, not synthesis, limits the postnatal increase of hydrolase activity; and 3) despite declines in specific activity, hydrolytic and glucose transport capacities of the entire intestine remained stable or increased, and exceeded estimated dietary loads because of intestinal growth.

Effects of a single dose of orally-administered spermine on the intestinal development of unweaned rats

Investigations were undertaken to obtain information on the mechanism by which orally administered spermine induces postnatal maturation in the rat intestine. Suckling rats ingested one dose of spermine (8 mumol) then were sacrificed at different intervals. -A. Proximal and distal parts of the intestine were homogenised. -B. A modification of the Wieser's technique was used to isolate cell fractions from the proximal mucosa. Wet weight and length of intestine; protein content, DNA amount, disaccharidase activity, polyamine amounts in intestinal and cellular extracts were measured. Spermine ingestion induced two phases of events: first, a cellular desquamation then a new cell differentiation. In the isolated epithelial cells, two and four hours after spermine ingestion, modifications in lactase and maltase specific activity were recorded, as were variations in spermine, spermidine and putrescine content. These observations clarify the cellular and molecular events of the intestinal development occurring after spermine ingestion and open new research perspectives.

Developmental changes in intestinal glycosylation: nutrition-dependent multi-factor regulation of the fucosylation pathway at weaning time

Developmental changes in the fucoglycoproteins of the intestinal brush-border membranes were determined by lectin affinoblotting after electrophoresis. Whereas only two alpha(1-6)-fucoglycoproteins were detected in brush-border membranes from suckling rats, a large number of N-fucoglycoproteins with alpha(1-2)- and/or alpha(1-6)-linked fucose residues were detected in rat membranes after weaning. Dietary manipulations at weaning time were used to investigate the effect of nutritional factors in the development of fucosylation in the small intestine of prolonged-nursed rats fed with milk (a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet) compared to rats weaned normally with a standard high-carbohydrate diet. The fucose content of the mucosa glycoproteins was lower in 22-day-old prolonged-nursed rats than in 22-day-old rats weaned normally with the standard diet. The appearance of fucoglycoproteins in the brush-border membranes, which was delayed by prolonged nursing, was accompanied by a concomitant delay in the increase of intestinal fucosyl-transferase activity and in the decrease of GDP-fucose substrate breakdown. The developmental decrease in the activity of the inhibitory protein which regulates the fucosyl-transferase activity was also delayed by prolonged nursing. The intestinal fucosylation of brush-border membrane glycoproteins (which include many digestive enzymes) displayed ontogenic changes on which were superimposed dietary influences at the time of weaning. The complete maturation of the brush-border membrane glycoproteins, and particularly their terminal fucosylation, is a developmental event which thus seems to be strongly influenced by the manipulation of nutritional factors during the weaning period.

Development and hormonal modulation of postnatal expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase mRNA species and their encoded isoenzymes

In the rat, intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity in the duodenum, but not jejunum, increases on day 22-24 after birth and exhibits higher activity hydrolysing phenyl phosphate (PhP) than beta-glycerophosphate (beta GP) [Moog and Yeh (1973) Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 44B, 657-666]. The mechanism underlying these developmental changes remains unknown. To define possible mechanisms, we have measured IAP activity and mRNA levels, and analysed IAP mRNA species and isoenzymes on postnatal days 12, 18, 24 and 32. Duodenal IAP activity and mRNA content were identical on postnatal days 12 and 18, but were 7-fold and 3-fold higher on day 24, respectively than on day 18. The increased IAP activity exhibited a high PhP/beta GP ratio and was accompanied by initial appearance of the 3.0 kb mRNA and 90 kDa isoenzyme. On day 32, duodenal IAP activity did not increase over the levels on day 24, whereas mRNA levels doubled. The lack of enzyme increase might be related in part to increased apical release, as luminal IAP activity increased from 2% of total mucosal IAP on days 12 and 18 to 7% and 14% on days 24 and 32 respectively. In the jejunum, IAP activity decreased postnatally, but mRNA content was unaltered; only the 2.7 kb mRNA and 65 kDa IAP isoenzyme were present. Administration of cortisone or cortisone+thyroxine induced simultaneous appearance of the duodenal 3.0 kb mRNA and 90 kDa isoenzyme with an increased PhP/beta GP ratio. Thus postnatal increase in duodenal IAP activity is related to the expression of a 90 kDa PhP-preferring isoenzyme encoded by the 3.0 kb mRNA. The low-PhP/beta GP-ratio 65 kDa isoenzyme is expressed in the duodenum and in the jejunum and is encoded by the 2.7 kb mRNA.

Regional differences in the appearance of adult-type glycosphingolipids in the small intestine of inbred rats at weaning time

The small intestine of 15- to 33-day-old rats was cut into four segments: duodenum, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, and ileum. Neutral glycosphingolipids and gangliosides were purified from each segment and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography in order to study the developmental appearance of adult-type glycolipids at each level of the small intestine. Type 1 A-6 glycolipid was first detected in the ileum at 15 days and subsequently in the jejunum and duodenum at 19 days of age. N-Glycolylneuraminic acid was expressed first in the ileum at 17 days, then in the proximal jejunum at 21 days, but only after 29 days in the duodenum. In each region, 6-8 days were required between first detection and full expression of N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The presence of 2-hydroxylated fatty acids in glucosylceramide was found first in the ileum at 19 days, 2-3 days before appearing in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. A period of 2-3 days was necessary to reach full adult-type level of 2-hydroxylated fatty acids in glucosylceramide. These results show that adult-type glycolipids appear earlier in the distal than in the proximal region of the rat small intestine, and that different glycolipids appear at different times and at different rates. The finding that the biochemical differentiation of the whole small intestine expands over a period of 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the region and the glycolipid, before being fully completed indicates that, in addition to the time lag observed between the distal and the proximal region, the new cells arising from the crypt of Lieberkhün after 15 days of age are not at once fully differentiated.

Maturational changes in terminal glycosylation of small intestinal microvillar proteins in the rat

Studies were performed to identify rat intestinal microvillar proteins which undergo changes in terminal glycosylation during postnatal development. Pulse-labeling with [3H]fucose or N-[3H]acetylgalactosamine showed significantly higher incorporation into purified microvillar membranes of weanling than suckling rats. In contrast, the incorporation of [3H]sialic acid after pulse-labeling with N-[3H]acetylmanosamine was higher in suckling rats. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed these developmental differences in radioactive sugar incorporation to involve mainly proteins above Mr 90,000. 125I-labeled peanut lectin autoradiography revealed an Mr greater than 330,000 binding protein in suckling rats. Neuraminidase treatment of the membranes revealed the presence of sialyl-substituted sites in this protein in suckling, weaning and weanling animals, but the unmasking of sites decreased with advancing maturation. 125I-labeled Ulex europeus I autoradiography showed marked increases in binding of this lectin to Mr 66,000, 92,000, 130,000, 150,000 and greater than 330,000 proteins from weaning to weanling periods. Similar age-related increases in soybean lectin binding to Mr 130,000-150,000, and greater than 330,000 proteins were demonstrated by affinity chromatography. The Mr values of the major lectin-binding proteins were close to those reported for several hydrolases (trehalase, alkaline phosphatase, sucrase-isomaltase and glucoamylase). Comparison of the Coomassie blue-stained electrophoretograms from each age-group against the corresponding autoradiograms of lection-binding proteins led us to conclude that, while the content of these proteins in the membrane achieve their mature levels at or before weaning, their terminal glycosylation (desialylation, fucosylation, N-acetylgalactosamination) is not fully established until later development.

Common characteristics for Na+-dependent sugar transport in Caco-2 cells and human fetal colon

The recent demonstration that the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 was susceptible to spontaneous enterocytic differentiation led us to consider the question as to whether Caco-2 cells would exhibit sodium-coupled transport of sugars. This problem was investigated using isotopic tracer flux measurements of the nonmetabolizable sugar analog alpha-methylglucoside (AMG). AMG accumulation in confluent monolayers was inhibited to the same extent by sodium replacement, 200 microM phlorizin, 1 mM phloretin, and 25 mM D-glucose, but was not inhibited further in the presence of both phlorizin and phloretin. Kinetic studies were compatible with the presence of both a simple diffusive process and a single, Na+-dependent, phlorizin- and phloretin-sensitive AMG transport system. These results also ruled out any interaction between AMG and a Na+-independent, phloretin-sensitive, facilitated diffusion pathway. The brush-border membrane localization of the Na+-dependent system was inferred from the observations that its functional differentiation was synchronous with the development of brush-border membrane enzyme activities and that phlorizin and phloretin addition 1 hr after initiating sugar transport produced immediate inhibition of AMG uptake as compared to ouabain. Finally, it was shown that brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from the human fetal colonic mucosa do possess a Na+-dependent transport pathway(s) for D-glucose which was inhibited by AMG and both phlorizin and phloretin. Caco-2 cells thus appear as a valuable cell culture model to study the mechanisms involved in the differentiation and regulation of intestinal transport functions.

Developmental pattern of alkaline phosphatase in soluble and particulate fractions of rat skull cap and femur

Alkaline phosphatase is detected in both soluble and particulate fractions of rat bone. The concentration of alkaline phosphatase in the particulate fraction of rat skull cap bone and femur is high during the peak period of calcification of these bones suggesting the possibility of using it as a marker for the rate of bone calcification.

Maltase-glucoamylase and trehalase in the rabbit small intestine and kidney brush border membranes during postnatal development, the effects of hydrocortisone

Kidney and intestinal brush border membranes were isolated from 14-day-old rabbits and papaïn solubilized maltase-glucoamylase was purified to almost homogeneity from both membranes. Maltase-glucoamylase from kidney and intestine have the same molecular weight (669,000 daltons by AcA 22 gel filtration) and the same Km (4 mM, for maltose). Tris (Ki = 12.5 mM, for maltose) is a non-competitive inhibitor for both enzymes. In intestine, maltase and glucoamylase have low activity during the first two postnatal weeks and then undergo a sharp increase during the next 2 weeks. In contrast, for trehalase, adult levels are reached about 6 days after birth. Hydrocortisone injection to 10 days rabbits causes precocious increases in the specific activities of trehalase (3.6 x), maltase (5.2 x) and glucoamylase (7.4 x). Conversely, kidney maltase, glucoamylase and trehalase activities rise gradually from birth, reaching adult levels by the end of the third week. Administration of hydrocortisone to suckling rabbit does not affect either trehalase or maltase and glucoamylase in kidney brush border membrane.

Pre- and postnatal development of differentiated functions in rat intestinal epithelial cells

A panel of monoclonal antibodies to intestinal cell surface components has been used to compare the expression of differentiation-specific antigens in the epithelial cells of fetal, suckling, and adult rat small intestine. Indirect immunofluorescence staining, and immunopurification of detergent-solubilized membrane proteins, followed by single- and two-dimensional slab gel electrophoretic analysis, have demonstrated that fetal intestinal cells (at day 21 of gestation) express most differentiation-specific markers typical of adult absorptive villus cells. A marked heterogeneity in antigen expression was observed among different villus cell populations in suckling rat intestine, and three cell surface components were identified which are exclusively present during this period of intestinal development. Striking changes in the patterns of antigen expression in crypt and villus cells, and variations in the apparent isoelectric points for most luminal membrane components, were associated with the maturation of the intestinal mucosa at weaning. These changes could not be prematurely induced by cortisone injection in newborn rats, suggesting that factors other than glucocorticoids are responsible for the postnatal development of the intestinal epithelium. These results suggest that basic differences in biological properties and regulatory mechanisms exist among intestinal epithelial cells at different stages of pre- and postnatal maturation.

Rat intestinal brush border membrane trehalase: some properties of the purified enzyme

Rat intestinal brush border trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28) solubilized by Triton X-100 or Emulphogen BC 720 has been purified almost to homogeneity in a five steps procedure including DEAE cellulose, Sephadex G-200, preparative flat bed electrofocusing and hydroxylapatite. The apparent molecular weight was estimated to be about 65,500 daltons by mannitol density gradient ultracentrifugation. The optimum pH of the enzyme was between 5.5 and 5.7 in phosphate, maleate or citrate buffers. The apparent Km for trehalose was found to be 10 mM in maleate buffer pH 6.0. The isoelectric point was 4.9. Tris, P-aminophenylglucoside, sucrose and maltose are fully competitive inhibitors with Kis of 2.2, 1.8, 7.7 and 170 mM, respectively. The inhibition by Phloridzin appeared to be of the mixed type with a Ki of 1.7 mM. Trehalase is heat stable up to 50 degrees C and the activation energy is 10.96 kcal/mol. Schiff's staining on polyacrylamide gel and interaction with Con-A-Sepharose indicate that rat trehalase is a glycoprotein.

Effect of dexamethasone on the fetal mouse small intestine in organ culture

The formation of intestinal villi (organogenesis phase) may be studied in organ culture with a completely synthetic medium in 15-day fetal mouse duodenal explants. However, in these explants absorptive cells remained poorly differentiated with all the hormones studied except with epidermal growth factor. In order to elucidate the role of hormones and other factors on the maturation of absorptive cells (maturation phase) in the fetal rodent in organ culture, we have taken the explants after the organogenesis phase. We have studied different culture conditions and have found that 17-day mouse duodenal explants can be cultured during 48 hours with Leibovitz L-15 medium in a 95% O2-5% CO2 atmosphere provided that the explants are relatively large (5 X 2 mm). With this method, dexamethasone (Dx) has been shown to have a direct effect on the maturation of the fetal duodenal mucosa. The addition of Dx (300 ng/ml) to the completely synthetic medium 1) improves the morphology of the explants, 2) induces a significant increase in maltase activity in the tissues, and 3) reduces significantly the labeling index of the duodenal explants after 48 hours of culture. Direct action of Dx on the duodenal mucosa is shown for the first time in organ culture using a completely synthetic medium. This method will permit us to study the effects of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the regulation of enzymatic maturation in fetal small intestine.

Biosynthesis and transport of glycoproteins in the small intestinal epithelium of rats. I. Developmental change and effect of hypophysectomy

The biosynthesis and intracellular transport of glycoproteins in duodenal absorptive cells of intact rats at 6 and 24 days and hypophysectomized rats at 24 days of age were studied after 20 min intralumenal pulse-labeling of D-[3H]galactose, L-[3H]fucose, or D-[3H]mannose. Autoradiographic studies showed that the incorporation of sugars increased significantly in intact rats between 6 and 24 days. When rats were hypophysectomized at 6 days of age, the intestinal epithelium at 24 days incorporated D-[3H]galactose at a level significantly lower than that of intact rats at 24 days. Hypophysectomy also interfered with the developmental increase in D-[3H]mannose, but not in L-[3H]fucose, incorporation. Biochemical study indicated that the radioactivity in the lipid-free acid-precipitable glycoproteins in the intestine of 24-day-old intact rats at 20 min after D-[3H]galactose injection was 129% and 97% higher than that in 6-day-old rats and in 24-day-old hypophysectomized rats, respectively. The patterns of intracellular transport of newly synthesized galactosylated or fucosylated glycoproteins in all animal groups were similar; the labeled glycoproteins were initially present in the Golgi and were transported through the smooth endoplasmic reticulum to either the lateral membrane or the brush-border membrane within 60 min after the injection of labeled sugars. The proportion of labeled glycoproteins that migrated to the brush-border membrane, however, increased about twofold in the intact rats between 6 and 24 days of age at 60-240 min after D-[3H]galactose injection. Hypophysectomy interfered with developmental increase in the transport of glycoproteins from the apical cytoplasm to the brush-border membrane. It was concluded that the incorporation of monosaccharide precursors into glycoproteins and the proportion of newly synthesized galactosylated or fucosylated glycoproteins transported to the brush-border membrane increase during postnatal development. The developmental changes are regulated, at least partially, by the pituitary gland.

Comparative study of some intestinal brush border membrane enzymes during perinatal development of the mouse

Intestinal brush border membrane (bbm) fractions have been isolated from fetal and neonatal mice. The existence of discordant developmental patterns of intestinal enzymatic activity derived from total homogenate and bbm fraction was confirmed. It originates chiefly from two phenomena: (a) variations in the state of purity of brush border fractions, and (b) loss of brush border membrane enzyme activities in supernatant that increases with age. The phenomenon of solubility for glucoamylase and alkaline phosphatase is already present two days before birth.

Distribution and biosynthesis of aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV in rat small intestine

The regional, cellular and subcellular distribution patterns of aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV were examined in rat small intestine. Aminopeptidase N of brush border membrane had maximal activity in the upper and middle intestine, while dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV had a more uniform distribution profile with relatively high activity in the ileum. Along the villus and crypt cell gradient, the activity of both enzymes was maximally expressed in the mid-villus cells. However there was substantial dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV activity in the crypt cells. Both enzymes were primarily associated with brush border membranes in all segments, however, in the proximal intestine, a significant amount of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV activity was associated with the cytosol fraction. The cytosol and brush border membrane forms of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV were immunologically identical and had the same electrophoretic mobility on disc gels. In contrast, the soluble and brush border membrane-bound forms of aminopeptidase N were immunologically distinct. When the total amount of aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV was determined by competitive radioimmunoassay, there were no regional or cellular differences in specific activity (enzyme activity/mg of enzyme protein) of either enzyme in brush border membrane and homogenate. The specific activity of both enzymes in a purified Golgi membrane fraction as measured by radioimmunoassay was about half that of the brush border membrane fraction. These results suggest that (1) aminopeptidase N and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV have different regional, cellular and subcellular distribution patterns; (2) there are enzymatically inactive forms of both enzymes present in a constant proportion to active molecules and that (3) a two-fold activation of precursor enzyme forms occurs during transfer from the Golgi membranes to the brush border membranes.

Development of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier. Evidence for structural differences in microvillus membranes from newborn and adult rabbits

Electron spin resonance (ESR) and spin label methods with 5-doxylstearic acid as a probe were used to investigate the structure of microvillus membrane from the small intestine of adult and newborn rabbits. The spin label in microvillus membrane of newborns appeared to be in a more disordered environment than spin label in microvillus membrane of adult animals in the temperature range from 4 to 56 degrees C. In addition, a temperature transition at 39.6 +/- 0.3 degrees C was observed in the temperature dependence of the hyperfine splitting parameter for microvillus membrane from adult animals whereas a linear temperature dependence of the hyperfine splitting parameter was found for microvillus membrane from newborns. Cholera toxin was used as an external stimulus to test for the structural response in these two membrane preparations. Cholera toxin at 6 pM caused a decrease in the hyperfine splitting parameter at temperatures below 40 degrees C and a shift in the temperature break from 39.6 degrees C to 30.7 degrees C in microvillus membrane from adults. Using microvillus membrane from newborns, the temperature dependence of the hyperfine splitting parameter remained linear with a cholera toxin stimulus and the disordering effect of cholera toxin was only observed below 30 degrees C. These studies suggested that microvillus membrane from newborns were inherently more disordered than microvillus membrane from adult animals and that this difference in membrane organization might in part account for the increased attachment and penetration of macromolecules noted during the perinatal period.

Thyroxine-stimulated synthesis of microvillus membrane glycoproteins during culture of chick embryonic duodenum

The effect of thyroxine on biosynthesis of microvillus membrane glycoproteins has been investigated in organ culture of 18-day-old chick embryonic duodenum. Explants incorporate [3H]leucine and [3H]glucosamine continuously, and overall incorporation is enhanced by 10 nM thyroxine during 48 h of labeling; this increase in radioactivity is associated with vesicles released from the microvilli. Light microscope autoradiography, pulse labeling of brush border fragments, and pulse chase experiments reveal that [3H]glucosamine is incorporated into brush border at an increasing rate during culture, and that newly synthesized glycoproteins are discharged into the medium along with brush border enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and maltase). These results suggest that thyroxine stimulates biosynthesis of microvillus membrane glycoproteins, in addition to stimulating vesiculation of the membrane. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 3H-labeled vesicles and brush border fragments show that [3H]leucine and [3H]glucosamine are incorporated into proteins of high molecular weight. Two protein bands are identified as alkaline phosphatase and maltase. Thyroxine stimulates glycosylation of these enzymes, but does not change protein patterns. Radioactivity assay of alkaline phosphatase- and maltase-active gel slices suggests that thyroxine stimulation of these enzyme activities during culture is not correlated with de novo synthesis of these proteins.

Restricted mobility and endocytosis of anionic sites on newborn rat jejunal brush border membranes

The distribution and mobility of anionic sites on the microvillous surface of newborn rat jejunal absorptive cells were studied using polycationic ferritin (PCF) as a visual probe and were compared with anionic sites previously described for adult jejunum. Segments from 5- to 26-day-old rats were incubated in PCF for 5 minutes either before or after fixation for electron microscopy. From days 5 to 20, anionic sites were distributed diffusely along the lengths of the microvilli and did not show random translational mobility. In contrast, microvilli examined from animals at weaning (2l to 26 days) resembled those from adults in which most binding sites were capable of lateral mobility and were induced by PCF to culster into discrete patches. The diffuse pattern was altered by cortisone administration, paralleling a premature reduction in the endocytic apparatus of the cell. The difference in mobility of anionic sites with age coincides with differences in absorptive function. Evidence is presented showing that in the neonate binding of PCF to the microvilli was followed with time by endocytosis into an apical system of tubules for intracellular transport, incorporation into coated vesicles, and release through the lateral cell surface. The results suggest that endocytosis is accomplished by a mechanism that includes a directionally controlled movement for the selective internalization of PCF binding sites from the membranes of the microvilli to those of the tubular cytoplasmic channels.

Turnover of mouse intestinal brush border membrane proteins and enzymes in organ culture. A direct evaluation from studies on the evolution of enzyme activities during the culture

The turnover of mouse intestinal brush border membrane enzymes has been studied by kinetic analysis of the evolution of enzyme activities during organ culture. By comparing the results obtained in these studies with the predictions from a mathematical model of enzyme synthesis and degradation in organ cultures, it has been possible to reach the following conclusions: (1) There is no degradation of brush border membrane enzymes during culture and the rate of synthesis of each enzyme is directly measurable from the kinetics of total enzyme accumulation (tissue + media). (2) Brush border membrane enzymes are released in culture media by two complementary processes. The first one involves a differential solubilization of enzymes but its exact nature cannot be exactly stated. The second one involves a microvesiculation of brush border membranes, the importance of which in vivo is seen in the possible conciliation between urinary membrane synthesis and heterogeneous turnover of membrane components.

Independent biosynthesis of soluble and membrane-bound alkaline phosphatases in the suckling rat ileum

Enzymically active intestinal alkaline phosphatase exists in both soluble and membrane-bound forms in the suckling rat. Antiserum prepared against purified soluble alkaline phosphatase (anti-AlP) was shown to be monospecific when assessed by Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis and immunoelectrophoresis. The two forms of alkaline phosphatase were antigenically identical and possessed similar affinities for anti-AlP. To study the biosynthesis of the two forms, 14-day-old rats were injected intraperitoneally with [(3)H]leucine. The labelling kinetics of alkaline phosphatase, extracted from supernatant and brush-border membrane fractions with anti-AlP, was followed over 20h. Incorporation of [(3)H]leucine into membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase was rapid, reaching a plateau at 6h. The soluble enzyme showed slower incorporation of label and maximal radioactivity was not reached until 12h after labelling, a lag of 6h behind the membrane-bound enzyme. Soluble alkaline phosphatase could not have been a precursor of the membrane form, as there was no early peak of radioactivity in the soluble form. To determine if the soluble enzyme was irreversibly derived from the membrane enzyme, a newly developed technique of labelling brush-border membrane proteins in vivo by intraluminal injection of diazotized [(125)I]iodosulphanilic acid was used. The appearance of (125)I in soluble and membrane alkaline phosphatase was then monitored over a 7h period, encompassing the lag between maximal leucine labelling of the two forms. The results failed to show either a proportional transfer of radioactivity from membrane to soluble alkaline phosphatase or an absolute increase in radioactivity of the soluble form during degradation of brush-border alkaline phosphatase. Therefore there does not appear to be a serial precursor/product relationship between the soluble and membrane-bound forms of suckling-rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase.

Labelling of intestinal brush border membrane proteins in vivo using diazotised[125I]iodosulfanilic acid

Membrane proteins of the intestinal brush border were labelled in vivo by intraluminal injection of diazotised [125I]iodosulfanilic acid, a highly polar molecule. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of brush border membranes labelled in this manner showed 20 protein bands, 11 of which contained significant radioactivity. The most heavily labelled proteins had molecular weights greater than 150000, indicating that they were the most exposed to the intestinal lumen. Little radioactivity was detected in proteins with molecular weights of less than 94000. The majority of these smaller proteins were likely to have been brush border core proteins. The evidence that diazotised [125I]iodosulfanilic acid bound primarily to brush border membrane proteins when administered in this way, was: (a) the specific activity of brush border proteins was up to 3-fold greater than that of total cell particulate proteins (pelleted by 27000 x g from mucosal homogenates); (b) principal peaks in the gel radioactivity profile of total cell particulate proteins corresponded to the most heavily labelled proteins of the isolated brush border membrane; and (c) brush border core proteins showed minimal radioactivity in vivo, but considerably higher radioactivity when brush border membranes were labelled in vitro. A small amount of label was absorbed across the intestinal mucosa. However, secondary labelling of brush border proteins by this absorbed label was minimal, since the specific activity of brush border proteins in jejunum adjacent to the labelled loop was only 0.22% of the level for those proteins in the labelled segment. Since this technique did not affect the cellular morphology, enzyme activity or biochemical integrity of the membrane, it should prove useful as a means of accurately studying in vivo turnover rates of brush border membrane proteins.

Establishment of regional differences in brush border enzymatic activities during the development of fetal mouse small intestine

In order to study the establishment of regional differences in brush border enzymic activities during the development of fetal mouse small intestine we have followed (1) the differentiation of microvilli by morphometry, and (2) the developmental pattern of three brush border enzymes (lactase, glucoamylase and alkaline phosphatase). From day 16 to day 19 of gestation, the height of duodenal microvilli increases 2.4 times on the absorptive cells located near the tip of the villi. During the same period in the upper half of the duodenal villi, the number of microvilli per square micrometer rises by a factor of 2.4 and the microvillous surface area increases by a factor of 5.2. The differentiation of ileal microvilli follows a similar pattern but they are always shorter and less numerous than those of the duodenum. Lactase activity appears at 18 days of gestation; the other two brush border enzymes are first detected at 16 days of gestation. Afterwards all three enzyme activities increase rapidly and a decreasing gradient of activity is established from the proximal to the distal segment of the small intestine. Hence, the structural development of the microvilli and the appearance of brush border enzyme activities occur simultaneously and a proximo-distal gradient is already established at 16 days of gestation.

"In situ"--measurements of protein contents in the brush border region along rat jejunal villi and their correlations with four enzyme activities

In order to quantify the amount of protein in the small intestinal brush border region at different villus sites, cryostat sections of adult rat jejunum were stained with Naphthol Yellow S, Dinitrofluorobenzene and Coomassie Brilliant Blue and the dye deposits were evaluated cytophotometrically. Judged by the absorbance spectra in the tissue sections and the increase in absorbance as a function of the optical pathway (section thickness), Naphthol Yellow S proved to be the most suitable quantitative protein stain. By continuously measuring the absorbance of this dye at lambda 440 nm rectangular to the villus in the longitudinal axis of the enterocytes, a peak was registered in the brush border region which clearly could be differentiated from the apical cytoplasm. The amount of protein in the brush border region was determined at six different positions equally distributed along the villus. In parallel four brush border enzymes (neutral alpha and beta-glucosidase, unspecific alkaline phosphatase and dipeptidylpeptidase IV) were quantified by the same measuring technique in the Vmax-range of their substrate hydrolysis at equivalent villus positions. Their activities were correlated to the amount of protein. The absorbance data both for protein and for enzyme activities were significantly influenced by the villus position. They revealed an increasing gradient from the basal to the apical villus. In an additional analysis of the breadth of the dye deposits at the different measuring positions on the villus, it was shown that this parameter also ran parallel with the absorbance values.

Endopeptidase of the brush border membrane of rat enterocyte. Separation from aminopeptidase and partial characterization

The brush border of the enterocytes of the rat was isolated by the method of differential centrifugation with CaCl2 according to Schmitz. This material was solubilized with papain, trypsin and Triton X-100. The greatest amount of membrane enzymes was released to the supernatant (105 000 X g) with the use of Triton X-100. The tritonized supernatant was treated in the next step by papain, bromelain, ficin and trypsin (individually or in combinations). After simultaneous proteolysis with papain and bromelain a partial separation of the aminopeptidase from the endopeptidase by Sephadex G-200 chromatography was observed. These two enzyme activities were distinctly separated by isoelectric focusing at pH 4--6. Two enzymatically active bands (RF 0.13 and 0.24) in the aminopeptidase fraction and one single active band (RF 0.16) in the endopeptidase fraction using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were found. Co-migrating proteins to all of these activities were detected. Endopeptidase activity splits 3-carboxypropionyltrialanin-4-nitroanilide (SucAla3NAp) in the position P2-P1. Liberated aminoacyl-NAP may be further split to generate chromogenic 4-nitroaniline through aminopeptidase activity. Endopeptidase of the brush border of the rat enterocytes is characterized by the following properties: 1) molecular mass 130000 +/- 15 000 dalton; 2) Km value (substrate: SucAla3NAp) 1.1 X 10(-3) M; 3) pI 5.23; 4) ph optimum 8.5; 5) 50% activity remains after 15 min of preincubation at 50 degrees C; 6) activity is strongly inhibited by EDTA, p-chloromercuribenzoate, Mn2 and Co2.

Simultaneous isolation of brush border and basolateral membrane from rabbit enterocytes. Presence of brush border hydrolases in the basolateral membrane of rabbit enterocytes

By a slight modification of the procedure described by Gratecos et al. (Gratecos, D., Knibiehler, M., Benoit, V. and Sémériva, M. (1978) Biochim. Biophpys. Acta 512, 508-524), the basolateral and brush border membranes of rabbit enterocytes have been purified concomitantly from the same aliquot of mucosa. The two types of membrane have been obtained with the same yield (15%) and enrichment of specific markers (18-fold). The presence in the basolateral membrane of hydrolases known to be specific of the brush border membrane has been confirmed by using immunological techniques.

Successful maintenance of suckling rat ileum in organ culture

Ileum from rats 4, 9, 11, 12, and 15 days old can best be maintained for 24 hours in a system using Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution without fetal calf serum, at 25 degrees C and 21% O2. Suckling rat duodenum and jejunum were difficult to maintain well for 24 hours in this system or a variety of other systems that were tried. A temperature of 37 degrees C hastened deterioration of duodenum, jejunum or ileum. With ileum, 3H-thymidine and 14C-leucine were increasingly incorporated into DNA and protein over the 24-hour period. Light microscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, showed very good preservation of the ileum after 24 hours. The addition to the medium of hydrocortisone, 1 micron, and thyroxine, 0.01 micron, alone or in combination, did not change DNA or protein synthesis, or morphology, possibly because of the relatively short (24 hour) time period. Our organ culture system emphasizes the differences between suckling rat ileum and the rest of the intestine, and provides a new tool for evaluating, over a 24-hour period, the developing rat small intestine.

Sugar hydrolases of the infant rat intestine and their arrangement of the brush border membrane

Lactase and maltase, the predominant sugar hydrolases associated with the intestinal brush bordermembrane of the suckling rat, were purified essentially free of the other to near homogeneity (lactase at specific activity 23, maltase at specific activity 58), and their specific physiocochemical properties determined. Antisera prepared to each showed by immunodiffusion a single common precipitin line with pure enzyme and solubilized proteins of the brush border membrane. Brush border membranes were purified 26--35-fold from infant rat intestine. Membranes prepared from 10-day-old rats contained 32% protein, 43% lipid and 25% carbohydrate with lactase and maltase estimated to comprise in excess of 10% and 2%, respectively, of the membrane protein. Immunotitration curves of lactase and maltase showed equivalent antibody binding by the membrane-bound and free enzyme forms. Furthermore, antibody binding to one enzyme did not affect the immunotitration curve or the extractability (by papain or Triton X-100) of the other membrane-bound enzyme. It was concluded that the lactase and maltase molecules are attached singly on the external membrane surface in a spatially independent manner with their antigenic sites as freely available to antibody binding as exhibited by their papain-solubilized counterparts.

Sucrase and cellular development

The cellular changes that take place as the intestinal cell migrates from crypt to villus are morphologically and biochemically remarkable. It is fortunate that many of these phenomena can be delineated by following enzymic activities. Sucrase-isomaltase is a particularly fascinating enzyme complex because it is a marker of the differentiated cell. Sucrase is inducible with steroids and protected by the substrate sucrose. Purified enzyme can be used to stimulate production of specific antibodies in goats; these antibodies have been used as probes to locate enzymically active and inactive antigen in the cells of the crypt and villus respectively. Further examination of the enzyme has indicated a molecular weight of 200 000--350 000. These higher molecular weight components are located in the brush border of the enterocytes. Lower molecular weight subunits are antigenically active and are in the cytosol. It is assumed that these smaller components are enzymically inactive pre-combination subunits of the sucrase-isomaltase complex and that the sucrase-isomaltase of the brush border is an aggregate of these subunits. The California sea lion, which is deficient in intestinal sucrase activity, does have isomaltase activity. This finding supports the concept that there are different gene complexes for sucrase and for isomaltase.

Membrane digestion and nutrient assimilation in early development

Advances in the study of membrane digestion are described which relate to techniques for the separation of the apical glycocalyx and the study of the distribution of enzymes between the latter and the cell membrane. The regulatory properties of brush border enzymes have been demonstrated. Membrane digestion by pancreatic enzymes adsorbed on the mucosal surface and by enteric enzymes predominates in early development, whereas intraluminal digestion develops during the transition to definitive (adult) nutrition. Substrate and other, non-substrate factors are involved in the regulation of intraluminal and membrane digestion in ontogeny. The importance of lipid components of the diet for the maintenance of proximal-distal gradients of enzyme activity in the small intestine during the transition from milk to adult nutrition is discussed. At this period of development hydrocortisone affects both the synthesis of enzymes and their incorporation into the enterocyte membrane. The inducibility of different enzymes is not identical. The hypothesis has been proposed that stress is one of the factors inducing or repressing the synthesis of brush border enzymes. These effects are mediated through the hypothalamus, adrenals, hypophysis and thyroid. The experimental findings demonstrate that various stressors are responsible for the induction of sucrase, maltases, gamma-amylase, peptidases and alkaline phosphatase, and for the repression of lactase in suckling rats.

The differentiation and redifferentiation of the intestinal epithelium and its brush border membrane

This paper briefly reviews the progress of investigations during the past 30 years into the development of the intestinal epithelium, and surveys the directions in which research in this field is now advancing. Early studies showed that the differentiation of the epithelium is a discontinuous process, and also focused attention on the enzyme specialization of the brush border. The phases of differentiation were found to be under the control of the pituitary--adrenal system, with the outflow of glucocorticoids influencing both structural and biochemical aspects of enterocyte development in fetal and postnatal stages. More recent evidence has shown that thyroid hormones can also regulate epithelial differentiation, even in the absence of adrenocortical function. Organ culture is now becoming an important means of probing into the processes underlying overt differentiation, and methods for culturing pure populations of enterocytes are being perfected. Studies of developmental alterations in the constituents of the brush border membrane, and of synthesis and glycosylation of membrane constituents, are contributing to the development of an integrated account of the differentiation of this membrane, through which all nutrients must pass.

Amphibian intestinal brush border membranes-I. Isolation from Rana catesbeiana tadpole

1. Intestinal brush border membrane vesicles have been isolated form Rana catesbeiana tadpole. 2. Electron microscopy of brush border membrane vesicles demonstrates a fairly homogenous preparation of vesicles, some of them still containing electron dense material. 3. The dense vesicles probably comprise both microvillus core and membrane. 4. Negative staining of vesicles reveals the presence of knob-like structures (particles) covering the outer surface of the membrane. 5. The membranous fraction is characterized by a high specific activity of alkaline phosphatase, trehalase, glucoamylase, maltase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.