Isolation and reconstitution of the intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter

Aldosterone mediates the changes in hexose transport induced by low sodium intake in chicken distal intestine

1. In chickens, low Na+ diets markedly decrease the hexose transport in the rectal segment of the large intestine; transport in the ileum shows a lower, but significant reduction and transport in the jejunum is unaffected. These effects involve both apical (SGLT1) and basolateral (GLUT2) hexose transporters. 2. The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis (RAAS) in the epithelial response to Na+ intake was studied in chickens fed high-NaCl (HS) and low-NaCl (LS) diets. The V(max) of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside and D-glucose were determined in vesicles from the brush-border (BBMVs) and basolateral (BLMVs) membranes, respectively. The binding of phlorizin to BBMV and cytochalasin B to BLMV were used as indicators of the abundance of SGLT1 and GLUT2, respectively. 3. In HS-adapted chickens, the serum concentration of aldosterone (means +/- S.E.M.) was 35 +/- 5 pg ml(-1) (n = 6) and that of renin was 20 +/- 2 ng ml(-1) (n = 3). In LS-fed birds, these values were 166 +/- 12 pg ml(-1) (n = 6) and 122 +/- 5 ng ml(-1) (n = 3), respectively. Administration of captopril, the inhibitor of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), to LS-chickens lowered the aldosterone serum concentration without affecting the renin concentration. Captopril also prevented the reduction of apical and basolateral hexose transport in ileum and rectum characteristic of the intestinal response to LS adaptation. 4. Administration of the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone to LS-adapted chickens did not affect the serum concentrations of aldosterone, but prevented the effects of LS intake on hexose transport in both apical and basolateral membranes. This suggests that the effects of aldosterone are mediated by cytosolic mineralcorticoid receptors. 5. Administration of exogenous aldosterone to HS-fed birds induced hexose transport and binding properties typical of the LS-adapted animals. These findings support the view that aldosterone, besides its primary role in controlling intestinal Na+ absorption, can also modulate the expression of apical and basolateral glucose transporters in the chicken distal intestine.

Hexose transport in the apical and basolateral membranes of enterocytes in chickens adapted to high and low NaCl intakes

1. The effect of a low-NaCl diet (LS diet) on the properties of hexose transport across the brush-border and basolateral membranes of enterocytes from jejunum, ileum and rectum of the chicken was investigated. 2. In the brush-border membrane, LS adaptation had no effect on Km for alpha-methyl-D-glucoside while Vmax values were significantly reduced in the ileum and in the rectum. All Scatchard plots of specific [3H]phlorizin binding give a straight line, consistent with a single population of binding sites. Phlorizin binding vs. alpha-methyl-D-glucoside maximal transport rates showed a linear correlation. 3. In the basolateral membrane, the LS diet did not modify the Km for D-glucose but reduced the Vmax in the ileum and in the rectum. Scatchard plots of [3H]cytochalasin B binding support the view that there is a single transport system in this membrane. There was a linear correlation between cytochalasin B binding and D-glucose Vmax values. 4. The response of the chicken intestine to LS intake consists of a dramatic reduction in the number of glucose transporters in both apical and basolateral membranes of the rectum, an intermediate response in the ileum and no significant effects in the jejunum.

Increased sodium-dependent D-glucose transport in the jejunal brush-border membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rat

The current studies explore the effect of hypertension on D-glucose transport into jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, as a control group, were used. The purity of the BBMV from both groups of animals was validated by the finding that the specific activity of brush-border enzyme marker, sucrase, was severalfold greater in membrane vesicles compared with corresponding values in mucosal homogenate. D-glucose uptake was Na+ dependent in both groups of animals, with a transient increase in the intravesicular concentration of D-glucose. However, the initial rate and the magnitude of the accumulation of Na+-dependent D-glucose was significantly higher in SHR compared with WKY rats. In order to investigate the mechanism(s) for the increase in Na+-dependent D-glucose transport in SHR, several experiments were performed: (1) an experiment that indicated 22Na uptake, as an indicator for Na+ permeability, was similar between SHR and WKY rats, (2) kinetic studies that indicated that Vmax values of SHR were significantly greater that those of WKY rats. In contrast, similar Km values for glucose were found between SHR and WKY rats, (3) Na+-dependent phlorizin binding measurements that were not altered by hypertension and (4) a study of the brush-border membrane lipid composition that showed a significant increase in the free cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in SHR. We conclude that altered membrane cholesterol content and consequently altered lipid fluidity could be, at least in part, responsible for the observed increase in Na+-dependent D-glucose transport in SHR.

The use of modular nutrients in pediatrics

BACKGROUND

Nutrient modules are commonly used by pediatricians and dietitians. There is no readily available current literature to which those using nutrient modules can refer. Therefore, we review nutrient module composition, module use in pediatrics, and complications associated with the use of nutrient modules.

METHODS

Using an online database, Meduline, we searched the literature from 1996 through 1995.

RESULTS

Nutrient modules are single or multiple nutrients that can be combined with a diet to add nutrients or to change the composition of the diet. These nutrients exist as a food or as medically compounded elements of a diet but alone are not complete foods.

DISCUSSION

The addition of modules to a diet can alter the composition of a diet so that a single nutrient may become deficient and the diet cannot support normal growth and development. With use of nutrient modules, diets can be prepared to meet the specific needs of children with common or rare nutritional problems.

CONCLUSION

Health care providers who use nutrient modules must understand the importance of diet composition and the careful monitoring of pediatric patients.

Identification and partial characterization of the high-affinity choline carrier from rat brain striatum

[3H]Choline mustard aziridinium ion binds irreversibly to the sodium-coupled high-affinity choline transport protein in a sodium-dependent and hemicholinium-sensitive manner, and thus is a useful affinity ligand. In rat striatal synaptosomal membranes, it radiolabels two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 58 and 35 kDa. Based upon the use of two different experimental approaches, it appears that neither of these polypeptides is glycosylated.

Examination of the molecular mechanism of SH reagent-induced inhibition of the intestinal brush-border membrane Na+/phosphate cotransporter

SH residues on the rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane Na+/phosphate cotransporter were examined using a variety of SH specific reagents, proteolytic digestion and HPLC separation of SH-labeled cotransporter, and partial reaction assays. Of the seven SH-containing peptide fragments on the non-denatured non-reduced cotransporter six peptides were labeled: five SH-containing peptides were labeled with acrylodan or IAF (iodoacetamidofluorescein) and three peptides were labeled with IAEDANS. One SH-containing peptide was labeled with IAEDANS or fluorescein maleimide only. Selective SH labeling conditions employing acrylodan and IAEDANS were used to identify the environments of these SH-containing peptides in the native cotransporter. The nature of SH reagent-induced inhibition of Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake was examined using substrate-induced conformational changes, and substrate-induced changes in IAEDANS and acrylodan fluorescence of the SH-labeled Na+/phosphate cotransporter. The results indicate that five of the SH-labeled peptides sense the Na(+)-induced conformational change, three peptides sense the Na++ difluorophosphate-induced conformational change, and one peptide senses only the Na++ monofluorophosphate-induced conformational change. Five of the SH-labeled peptides are passive participants in the substrate-induced conformational changes with only SH 51 involved in cotransporter function. Alkylation of SH 51 resulted in a cotransporter conformation which differed from the substrate-mediated conformations and was characterized by increased monofluorophosphate sensitivity.

Effect of substrates and pH on the intestinal Na+/phosphate cotransporter: evidence for an intervesicular divalent phosphate allosteric regulatory site

Intervesicular divalent phosphate-induced inhibition of the intestinal brush-border membrane Na+/phosphate cotransporter was examined using Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake, substrate-induced tryptophan fluorescence quenching, and the apparent pKa values for substrate-induced conformational changes. In right-side-out (RSO) reconstituted proteoliposomes, only monovalent phosphate inhibited Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake in the absence of pre-equilibration. Addition of divalent phosphate to inside-out (ISO) proteoliposomes resulted in 80 +/- 5% inhibition of Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake in the absence of pre-equilibration. The nature of divalent phosphate-induced inhibition of cotransporter function was examined using cotransporter partial reaction assays based on substrate-induced conformational changes reported as changes in tryptophan fluorescence. Na+ but not K+ induced a quenching of tryptophan fluorescence with a K0.5 of 25 mM and an apparent Hill coefficient of 1.8. Monovalent phosphate (difluorophosphate) induced a further quenching of tryptophan fluorescence with a K0.5 of 53 microM. Divalent phosphate (monofluorophosphate) had no effect on tryptophan fluorescence, but inhibited the difluorophosphate-induced quenching of tryptophan fluorescence. The Na+ to Na++ divalent phosphate (monofluorophosphate) conformation and the Na+ to Na++ monovalent phosphate (difluorophosphate) conformations were compared using tryptophan quench reagents. These transitions had different apparent pKa values and different phenylglyoxal sensitivities consistent with monovalent phosphate and divalent phosphate interacting with the cotransporter at separate sites.

Functional reconstitution of the purified mannose phosphotransferase system of Escherichia coli into phospholipid vesicles

The mannose transporter complex acts by a mechanism which couples translocation with phosphorylation of the substrate. It consists of a hydrophilic subunit (IIABMan) and two transmembrane subunits (IICMan, IIDMan). The purified complex was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles by octyl glucoside dilution. Glucose export was measured with proteoliposomes which were loaded with radiolabeled glucose and to which purified IIABMan, cytoplasmic phosphorylcarrier proteins, and P-enolpyruvate were added from the outside. Vectorial transport was accompanied by stoichiometric phosphorylation of the transported sugar. Glucose added to the outside of the proteoliposomes was also phosphorylated rapidly but did not compete with vectorial export and phosphorylation of internal glucose. Glucose uptake was measured with proteoliposomes which were loaded with the cytoplasmic phosphoryl carrier proteins and P-enolpyruvate and to which glucose was added from the outside. Vectorial import and phosphorylation occurred with a higher specificity (Km 30 +/- 6 microM, kcat 401 +/- 32 pmol of Glc/micrograms of IICDMan/min) than nonvectorial phosphorylation (Km 201 +/- 43 microM, kcat 975 +/- 88 pmol of Glc/micrograms of IICDMan/min). A new plasmid pTSHIC9 for the controlled overexpression of the cytoplasmic phosphoryl carrier proteins, enzyme I, HPr, and IIAGlc, and a simplified procedure for the purification of these proteins are also described.