Both Na+ and Cl- gradients energize NaCl/L-glutamate cotransport in lobster hepatopancreatic brush border membrane vesicles

Cl- and membrane potential dependence of amino acid transport across the rat renal brush border membrane

The relative roles of the anion present and the membrane potential in the operation of each of the seven amino acid transport systems in the renal tubular brush border membrane were explored by manipulating transmembrane potential and chemical gradients across the membrane. The effect of various external anions with different permeabilities of the membrane and of valinomycin-generated K+ diffusion potential on Na+-coupled amino acid accumulation by rat renal brush border membrane vesicles was examined. Accumulation of all amino acids examined, except for cystine, was membrane potential dependent. The highest voltage dependence was observed for taurine (equivalent to glucose) and l-methionine. Addition of taurine uptake values obtained under each electrical gradient (inside negative) and a chemical gradient (100 mM NaCl out) condition yielded markedly lower values than under conditions where there was a combined electrochemical gradient. Cl- gradient rather than merely imposing a voltage gradient was a specific mediator of Na+-coupled transport of l-proline, taurine, l-glutamic acid, and glycine across the brush border membrane. Cl- gradient alone under Na+-equilibrated conditions could energize an overshoot of taurine accumulation by vesicles providing evidence that taurine is energetically activated by and coupled to Cl- transport. These data suggest that Na+-linked transport of most amino acids across the tubular luminal membrane is an electrogenic positive process and for proline, taurine, glutamic acid, and glycine, a Cl--requiring process. A negative intracellular potential combined with luminal chloride is required for optimal Na+-coupled transport of these amino acids across the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule. The coupling of Cl- to the transport of these osmoprotective amino acids may enhance their volume regulatory effect in kidney cells and other mammalian cells.

Ion transport processes of crustacean epithelial cells

Epithelial cells of the gut, antennal glands, integument, and gills of crustaceans regulate the movements of ions into and across these structures and thereby influence the concentrations of ions in the hemolymph. Specific transport proteins serving cations and anions are found on apical and basolateral cell membranes of epithelia in these tissues. In recent years, a considerable research effort has been directed at elucidating their physiological and molecular properties and relating these characteristics to the overall biology of the organisms. Efforts to describe ion transport in crustaceans have focused on the membrane transfer properties of Na+/H+ exchange, calcium uptake as it relates to the molt cycle, heavy metal sequestration and detoxification, and anion movements into and across epithelial cells. In addition to defining the properties and mechanisms of cation movements across specific cell borders, work over the past 5 yr has also centered on defining the molecular nature of certain transport proteins such as the Na+/H+ exchanger in gill and gut tissues. Monovalent anion transport proteins of the gills and gut have received attention as they relate to osmotic and ionic balance in euryhaline species. Divalent anion secretion events of the gut have been defined relative to potential roles they may have in hyporegulation of the blood and in hepatopancreatic detoxification events involving complexation with cationic metals.