Structural basis of human erythrocyte glucose transporter function: pH effects on intrinsic fluorescence

Hexose transporter GLUT1 harbors several distinct regulatory binding sites for flavones and tyrphostins

The facilitative hexose transporter GLUT1 activity is blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibitors that include natural products such as flavones and isoflavones and synthetic compounds such as tyrphostins, molecules that are structurally unrelated to the transported substrates [Vera, et al. (2001) Biochemistry, 40, 777-790]. Here we analyzed the interaction of GLUT1 with quercetin (a flavone), genistein (an isoflavone), and tyrphostin A47 and B46 to evaluate if they share one common or have several binding sites on the protein. Kinetic assays showed that genistein, quercetin, and tyrphostin B46 behave as competitive inhibitors of equilibrium exchange and zero-trans uptake transport and noncompetitive inhibitors of net sugar exit out of human red cells, suggesting that they interact with the external surface of the GLUT1 molecule. In contrast, tyrphostin A47 was a competitive inhibitor of equilibrium exchange and zero-trans exit transport and a noncompetitive inhibitor of net sugar entry into red cells, suggesting that it interacts with the cytoplasmic surface of the transporter. Genistein protected GLUT1 against iodide-elicited fluorescence quenching and also decreased the affinity of d-glucose for its external binding site, while quercetin and tyrphostins B46 and A47 promoted fluorescence quenching and did not affect the external d-glucose binding site. These findings are explained by a carrier that presents at least three binding sites for tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in which (i) genistein interacts with the transporter in a conformation that binds glucose on the external surface (outward-facing conformation), in a site which overlaps with the external binding site for d-glucose, (ii) quercetin and tyrphostin B46 interact with the GLUT1 conformation which binds glucose by the internal side of the membrane (inward-facing conformation), but to a site accessible from the external surface of the protein, and (iii) the binding site for tyrphostin A47 is accessible from the inner surface of GLUT1 by binding to the inward-facing conformation of the transporter. These data provide groundwork for a molecular understanding of how the tyrosine kinase inhibitors directly affect glucose transport in animal cells.

Ligand-modulation of the stability of the glucose transporter GLUT 1

The glucose transporter GLUT 1 was isolated from human erythrocytes and reconstituted into endogenous membrane lipids. Results from thermal denaturation studies, using differential scanning calorimetry, indicate that the thermal denaturation temperature of GLUT 1 is significantly lower in the presence of ATP. The lowering of this transition temperature is very dependent on pH. At more acidic pH, ATP has a greater effect of lowering the thermal denaturation temperature of the protein. For example, with 4.8 mM ATP, the denaturation endotherm is lowered by over 10 degrees at pH 4.3, whereas at pH 7.4, ATP does not alter this transition temperature. However, a change in pH alone, in the absence of ATP, has very little effect on the denaturation temperature. Both glucose and salt partially reverse the lowering of the temperature of thermal denaturation caused by ATP. Studies of acrylamide quenching of the Trp residues of GLUT 1 indicate that at neutral pH, ATP increases the Stern-Volmer quenching constant, while glucose lowers it. The results indicate that ATP binds to GLUT 1 and destabilizes the native structure, leading to a lowering of the thermal denaturation temperature and an increase in acrylamide quenching. The effects of ATP are reversed in part by glucose and are also partly electrostatic in nature.

Purification and characterization of human erythrocyte glucose transporter in decylmaltoside detergent solution

The facilitative glucose transporter from human erythrocyte membrane, Glut1, was purified by a novel method. The nonionic detergent decylmaltoside was selected for solubilization on the basis of its efficiency to extract Glut1 from the erythrocyte membrane and its ability to maintain the protein in a monodisperse state. A positive, anion-exchange chromatography protocol produced a Glut1 preparation of 95% purity with little copurified lipid. This protein preparation exhibited cytochalasin B binding in detergent solution, as measured by tryptophan fluorescence quenching. The transporter existed as a monomer in decylmaltoside, with a Stokes radius of 50 A and a molecular mass of 147 kDa for the protein-detergent complex. We screened detergent, pH, additive, and lipid and have found conditions to maintain Glut1 monodispersity for 8 days at 25 degrees C or over 5 weeks at 4 degrees C. This Glut1 preparation represents the best available material for two- and three-dimensional crystallization trials of the human glucose transporter protein.

Monomeric state and ligand binding of recombinant GABA transporter from Escherichia coli

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter from Escherichia coli was homologously overexpressed and purified to homogeneity with a yield of 1.0 mg per liter culture. The purification procedure consists of a cobalt affinity column, proteolytic cleavage of His- and myc-tags, and size-exclusion chromatography. The purified transporter exists as a monomer in FOS-Choline 12 detergent, with a Stokes radius of 45 A for the protein-detergent complex. In detergent solution the protein binds substrates, as indicated by tryptophan fluorescence quenching. Its dissociation constants (K(d)) for GABA, muscimol and nipecotic acid are 13.8, 13.3 and 27.9 microM, respectively. This protein preparation provides ideal starting materials for future biochemical, biophysical and structural studies of the GABA transporter.

Adenosine and adenosine triphosphate modulate the substrate binding affinity of glucose transporter GLUT1 in vitro

Evidence indicates that a large portion of the facilitative glucose transporter isoform GLUT1 in certain animal cells is kept inactive and activated in response to acute metabolic stresses. A reversible interaction of a certain inhibitor molecule with GLUT1 protein has been implicated in this process. In an effort to identify this putative GLUT1 inhibitor molecule, we studied here the effects of adenosine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the binding of D-glucose to GLUT1 by assessing their abilities to displace cytochalasin B (CB), using purified GLUT1 in vesicles. At pH 7.4, adenosine competitively inhibited CB binding to GLUT1 and also reduced the substrate binding affinity by more than an order of magnitude, both with an apparent dissociation constant (K(D)) of 3.0 mM. ATP had no effect on CB and D-glucose binding to GLUT1, but reduced adenosine binding affinity to GLUT1 by 2-fold with a K(D) of 30 mM. At pH 3.6, however, ATP inhibited the CB binding nearly competitively, and increased the substrate binding affinity by 4--5-fold, both with an apparent K(D) of 1.22 mM. These findings clearly demonstrate that adenosine and ATP interact with GLUT1 in vitro and modulate its substrate binding affinity. They also suggest that adenosine and ATP may regulate GLUT1 intrinsic activity in certain cells where adenosine reduces the substrate-binding affinity while ATP increases the substrate-binding affinity by interfering with the adenosine effect and/or by enhancing the substrate-binding affinity at an acidic compartment.

The abnormality of glucose transporter in the erythrocyte membrane of Chinese type 2 diabetic patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by impaired glucose uptake. With a photometric method of recording the erythrocyte suspension absorption during the course of glucose transport across the membranes, we observed that the initial rate of glucose zero-trans entry was decreased significantly in 30 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients as compared to 25 healthy controls. The rate of glucose infinite-cis efflux exhibited no difference between the patients and controls. The measurement of temperature dependence of glucose transport showed that the activation energy for glucose entry was increased in diabetic patients. The inhibitory constant of glucose entry by cytochalasin B (CB) in patients was similar to that of the controls. However, we found that the inhibitory constant was increased significantly in the patient erythrocytes after phloretin treatment. After the erythrocytes were made into stripped white ghosts, the fluorescence quenching experiment was performed. Glucose, CB and phloretin can quench the fluorescence of tryptophan residues in the glucose transporter 1, GLUT1. The abnormality of fluorescence quenching in the erythrocyte membranes of patients was observed. The transfer tendency of tryptophan residues from the hydrophilic environment to the hydrophobic environment was decreased in patient ghosts as binding with glucose, and the opposite tendency appeared as CB and phloretin instead of glucose. We conclude that the decreased in glucose entry in the erythrocyte membranes of diabetic patients was due to the GLUT1 change in structure - mostly the outer domain of the glucose transporter.

A pH-dependent stabilization of an active site loop observed from low and high pH crystal structures of mutant monomeric glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase at 1.8 to 1.9 A

A mutation in the dimer interface of Escherichia coli glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GarTfase) disrupts the observed pH-dependent association of the wild-type enzyme, but has no observable effect on the enzyme activity. Here, we assess whether a pH effect on the enzyme's conformation is sufficient by itself to explain the pH-dependence of the GarTfase reaction. A pH-dependent conformational change is observed between two high-resolution crystal structures of the Glu70Ala mutant GarTfase at pH 3.5 (1.8 A) and 7.5 (1.9 A). Residues 110 to 131 in GarTfase undergo a transformation from a disordered loop at pH 3.5, where the enzyme is inactive, to an ordered loop-helix structure at pH 7.5, where the enzyme is active. The ordering of this flexible loop-helix has a direct effect on catalytic residues in the active site, binding of the folate cofactor and shielding of the active site from solvent. A main-chain carbonyl oxygen atom from Tyr115 in the ordered loop forms a hydrogen bond with His108, and thereby provides electronic and structural stabilization of this key active site residue. Kinetic data indicate that the pKa of His108 is in fact raised to 9. 2. The loop movement can be correlated with elevation of the His pKa, but with further stabilization, probably from Asp144, after the binding of folate cofactor. Leu118, also in the loop, becomes positioned near the p-amino benzoic acid binding site, providing additional hydrophobic interactions with the cofactor 10-formyl tetrahydrofolate. Thus, the pH-dependence of the enzyme activity appears to arise from local active site rearrangements and not from differences due to monomer-dimer association.

A single mutation disrupts the pH-dependent dimerization of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase

Monomeric GART reversibly associates into a dimeric form as a function of decreasing solution pH. The transition is consistent with a three-proton transfer reaction with an apparent pKa near 7. We now report that a single mutation, which replaces a glutamic acid at position 70 in the dimer interface with alanine (E70A), disrupts the pH-dependent dimerization of GART based on dynamic light scattering and gel filtration studies. A comparison of data obtained from UV-absorbance difference spectroscopy for both the wild-type and mutant forms of GART indicates that a tyrosine residue(s) undergoes a change in solvent exposure over the pH range 6.55 to 8.19. A conformational change in tertiary structure that accompanies dimerization accounts for 60% of the observed optical difference, while the remaining 40% can be attributed to a pH-dependent process unrelated to dimerization. In addition, fluorescence studies of the mutant protein indicate that a pH-dependent change in tryptophan fluorescence exhibited by the wild-type protein is unrelated to quaternary structural changes and is likely a result of simple fluorescence quenching by nearby protonated histidine side-chains. Taken together, our results indicate that a single amino acid change at the dimer interface is sufficient to interrupt the highly specific, pH-dependent assembly reaction of GART, although pH-dependent conformational changes present in the wild-type protein also occur in E70A GART. This work is a first application of structure-based site-directed mutagenesis to the analysis of this pH-dependent assembly reaction.

Asparagine 394 in putative helix 11 of the galactose-H+ symport protein (GalP) from Escherichia coli is associated with the internal binding site for cytochalasin B and sugar

The galactose-H+ symport protein (GalP) of Escherichia coli is very similar to the human glucose transport protein, GLUT1, and both contain a highly conserved Asn residue in predicted helix 11 that is different in a cytochalasin B-resistant member of this sugar transport family (XylE). The role of the Asn394 residue (which is predicted to be in putative trans-membrane alpha-helix 11) in the structure/activity relationship of the D-galactose-H+ symporter (GalP) was therefore assessed by measuring the interaction of sugar substrates and the inhibitory antibiotics, cytochalasin B, and forskolin with the wild-type and Asn394 --> Gln mutant proteins. Steady-state fluorescence quenching experiments show that the mutant protein binds cytochalasin B with a Kd 37-53-fold higher than the wild type. This low affinity binding was not detected with equilibrium binding or photolabeling experiments. In contrast, the mutant protein binds forskolin with a Kd similar to that of the wild type and is photolabeled by 3-125I-4-azido-phenethylamido-7-O-succinyl-desacetyl-forskolin. The mutant protein displays an increased amount of steady-state fluorescence quenching with the binding of forskolin, suggesting that the substitution of the Asn residue has altered the environment of a tryptophan, probably Trp395, in a conformationally active region of the protein. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements on the mutant protein provided association and dissociation rate constants (k2 and k-2), describing the initial interaction of cytochalasin B to the inward-facing binding site (Ti), that are decreased (9-fold) and increased (4.9-fold) compared with the wild type. This yielded a dissociation constant (K2) for cytochalasin B to the inward-facing binding site 44-fold higher than that of the wild type. The binding of forskolin gave values for k2 and k-2 3.9- and 3.6-fold lower, respectively, yielding a K2 value for Ti similar to that of the wild type. The low overall affinity (high Kd) of the mutant protein for cytochalasin B is due mainly to a disruption in binding to the Ti conformation. It is proposed that Asn394 forms either a direct binding interaction with cytochalasin B or is part of the immediate environment of the binding site and that Asn394 is in the immediate environment, but not part, of the forskolin binding site. The ability of the mutant protein to catalyze energized transport is only mildly impaired with 4.8- and 2.1-fold reduction in Vmax/Km values for D-galactose and D-glucose, respectively. In stark contrast, the overall Kd describing binding of D-galactose and D-glucose to the inward-facing conformation of the mutant and their subsequent translocation across the membrane is substantially increased (64-fold for D-galactose and 163.3-fold for D-glucose). These data indicate that Asn394 is associated with both the cytochalasin B and internal sugar binding sites. This conclusion is also supported by data showing that the sugar specificity of the mutant protein has been altered for D-xylose. This work powerfully illustrates how comparisons of the aligned amino acid sequences of homologous membrane proteins of unknown structure and characterization of their phenotypes can be used to map substrate and ligand binding sites.

Immobilization of human red cells in gel particles for chromatographic activity studies of the glucose transporter Glut1

Chromatography on a novel stationary phase, human red cells immobilized in a gel bed, was introduced for analysis of activities of the glucose transporter Glut1 in the cell membrane. A gel containing positively charged ligands was synthesized from derivatized acrylamide monomers. Red cells were immobilized in gel particles which were packed into a column tube for chromatographic analyses over periods of 10-15 days. D-Glucose was separated from L-glucose on a 1.1-ml bed with a retention volume difference of 0.23 ml, approximately equal to the total inner volume of immobilized intact cells and of ghosts probably formed from lysed cells during the immobilization. The separation was suppressed by the glucose-transport inhibitor cytochalasin B. The interactions between D-glucose, the transport inhibitor forskolin and Glut1 were analyzed by quantitative frontal affinity chromatography. The dissociation constants at room temperature were 6.8 mM for D-glucose binding and 1.8 microM for glucose-displaceable binding of forskolin, in good agreement with published values. The results suggest that chromatography on immobilized cells is a potentially useful tool for studies on cellular membrane functions.

Proton/solute cotransport in rat kidney brush-border membrane vesicles: relative importance to both D-glucose and peptide transport

We have determined the relative importance of the transmembrane proton electrochemical gradient to the transport of D-[14C]glucose and [14C]glycylsarcosine (gly-sar) in rat kidney brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from superficial renal cortex. Electrogenic [14C]gly-sar transport was first optimised by imposing a pH gradient (pHo = 5.7, pHi = 8.4) and an interior negative p.d. (using outwardly directed K+ gradient plus valinomycin). Under identical conditions (pHo = 5.7, pHi = 8.4), an acceleration of initial D-[14C]glucose (at 100 microM) transport by 2.0 +/- 0.7-fold was observed compared to no proton gradient (pHo = 8.4, pHi = 8.4). This increase was due primarily to an effect of external protons, since acidic conditions (pHo = pHi = 5.7) also resulted in acceleration of D-glucose influx (2-fold). The increase in D-glucose transport in the presence of external acidity was reduced by the uncoupler FCCP, even in the absence of a proton gradient. Furthermore, the increased D-glucose transport with external acidity in the presence of a proton gradient was insensitive to a K+ gradient-driven diffusion potential in the presence of valinomycin. In no instance was an overshoot accumulation of D-[14C]glucose observed in H+ gradient conditions. H(+)-stimulated D-[14C]glucose transport showed a linear dependence on D-glucose concentration up to 20 mM D-glucose, unlike electrogenic Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transport, whose Km was 1.77 +/- 0.35 mM. In contrast, the initial rate of [14C]gly-sar (100 microM) transport by the renal H+/di-tripeptide transporter was accelerated 15.7 +/- 3.3-fold and stimulated a marked overshoot of 5.1 +/- 0.4-fold over equilibrium values. Conversely, the electrogenic, Na+/glucose transporter could be readily demonstrated, whilst [14C]gly-sar transport could not be energised by an inward Na+ gradient. The absence of electrogenic D-glucose transport in H+ gradient conditions is clear evidence against H+/glucose cotransport in Na(+)-free conditions mediated by SGLT2 (sodium-glucose transporter, renal cortex). Furthermore, since a proton gradient does not increase brush-border membrane D-glucose uptake in Na(+)-rich media, it is unlikely that in vivo renal D-glucose transport mediated via SGLT2 may be energised by the transmembrane proton gradient.

The role of tryptophans 371 and 395 in the binding of antibiotics and the transport of sugars by the D-galactose-H+ symport protein (GalP) from Escherichia coli

The interactions between the D-galactose-H+ symporter (GalP) from Escherichia coli and the inhibitory antibiotics, cytochalasin B and forskolin, and the substrates, D-galactose and H+, have been investigated for the wild-type protein and the mutants Trp-371-->Phe and Trp-395-->Phe, so that the roles of these residues in the structure-activity relationship could be assessed. Neither mutation prevented photolabeling by either [4-3H]cytochalasin B or by 3-[125I]iodo-4-azidophenethyl-amido-7-O-succinyldesacetylforskolin ([125I]APS-forskolin). However, measurements of protein fluorescence show that both residues are in structural domains, the conformations of which are perturbed by the binding of cytochalasin B or forskolin. Moreover, both mutations cause a substantial decrease in the affinity of the inward-facing site of the GalP protein for cytochalasin B, 10- and 43-fold, respectively, but have little effect upon the affinity of this site for forskolin, 0.8- and 2.6-fold reductions, respectively. Both these mutations change the equilibrium between the putative outward- (T1) and inward-facing (T2) conformations, so that the inward-facing form is more favored. They also stabilize a different conformational state, "T3-antibiotic," in which the initial interactions between the protein and antibiotics are tightened. Overall, this has the effect of compensating for the reduction in affinity for cytochalasin B, so that the respective overall Kd values are 0.74- and 3.5-fold that of the wild type, while causing a slight increase, 1.5- and 3.2-fold, respectively, in affinity of the mutants for forskolin. The Trp-371-->Phe mutation causes a 15-fold reduction in the affinity of the inward-facing site for D-galactose, suggesting that this residue forms part of the sugar binding site. In contrast, the Trp-395-->Phe mutation has no effect upon the affinity of the inward-facing site for D-galactose. These effects may be related to the reduction in galactose-H+ symport activity only in the Trp-371-->Phe mutant, although it still effects active transport to the same extent as the Trp395-->Phe mutant. However, there is a 10-20-fold increase in the Km values for energized transport of D-galactose for both mutants.

Glucose transporter function is controlled by transporter oligomeric structure. A single, intramolecular disulfide promotes GLUT1 tetramerization

The human erythrocyte glucose transporter is an allosteric complex of four GLUT1 proteins whose structure and substrate binding properties are stabilized by reductant-sensitive, noncovalent subunit interactions [Hebert, D. N., & Carruthers, A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 23829-23838]. In the present study, we use biochemical and molecular approaches to isolate specific determinants of transporter oligomeric structure and transport function. When unfolded in denaturant, each subunit (GLUT1 protein) of the transporter complex exposes two sulfhydryl groups. Four additional thiol groups are accessible following subunit exposure to reductant. Assays of subunit disulfide bridge content suggest that two inaccessible sulfhydryl groups form an internal disulfide bridge. Differential alkylation/peptide mapping/N-terminal sequence analyses show that a GLUT1 carboxyl-terminal peptide (residues 232-492) contains three inaccessible sulfhydryl groups and that an N-terminal GLUT1 peptide (residues 147-261/299) contains two accessible thiols. The carboxyl-terminal peptide most likely contains the intramolecular disulfide bridge since neither its yield nor its electrophoretic mobility is altered by addition of reductant. Each GLUT1 cysteine was changed to serine by oligonucleotide-directed, in vitro mutagenesis. The resulting transport proteins were expressed in CHO cells and screened by immunofluorescence microscopy for their ability to expose tetrameric GLUT1-specific epitopes. Serine substitution at cysteine residues 133, 201, 207, and 429 does not inhibit exposure of tetrameric GLUT1-specific epitopes. Serine substitution at cysteines 347 or 421 prevents exposure of tetrameric GLUT1-specific epitopes. Hydrodynamic analysis of GLUT1/GLUT4 chimeras expressed in and subsequently solubilized from CHO cells indicates that GLUT1 residues 1-199 promote chimera dimerization and permit GLUT1/chimera heterotetramerization. This GLUT1 N-terminal domain is insufficient for chimera tetramerization which additionally requires GLUT1 residues 200-463. Extracellular reductants (dithiothreitol, beta-mercaptoethanol, or glutathione) reduce erythrocyte 3-O-methylglucose uptake by up to 15-fold. This noncompetitive inhibition of sugar uptake is reversed by the cell-impermeant, oxidized glutathione. Reductant is without effect on sugar exit from erythrocytes. Dithiothreitol doubles the cytochalasin B binding capacity of erythrocyte-resident glucose transporter, abolishes allosteric interactions between substrate binding sites on adjacent subunits, and occludes tetrameric GLUT1-specific GLUT1 epitopes in situ. CHO cell-resident GLUT1 structure and transport function are similarly affected by extracellular reductant. We conclude that each subunit of the glucose transporter contains an extracellular disulfide bridge (Cys347 and Cys421) that stabilizes transporter oligomeric structure and thereby accelerates transport function.

Rapid substrate translocation by the multisubunit, erythroid glucose transporter requires subunit associations but not cooperative ligand binding

The human erythroid glucose transporter is a GLUT1 homotetramer whose structure and function are stabilized by noncovalent, cooperative subunit interactions. The present study demonstrates that exofacial tryptic digestion of GLUT1 abolishes cooperative interactions between substrate binding sites on adjacent subunits under circumstances where subunit associations and high catalytic turnover are maintained. Extracellular trypsin produces rapid, quantitative cleavage of the human red cell-resident sugar transport protein, GLUT1. One major carboxyl-terminal peptide of M(r)(app) 25,000 is detected by immunoblot analysis. Endofacial tryptic digestion of GLUT1 results in the complete loss of GLUT1 carboxyl-terminal structure. GLUT1-mediated erythrocyte sugar uptake, transport inhibition by cytochalasin B, and GLUT1 oligomeric structure are unaffected by exofacial GLUT1 proteolysis. In contrast, the cytochalasin B binding capacity of GLUT1 and the Kd(app) for cytochalasin B binding to the transporter are doubled following exofacial tryptic digestion of GLUT1. Photoaffinity labeling experiments show that increased cytochalasin B binding results from increased ligand binding to the 25 kDa carboxyl-terminal GLUT1 peptide. Proteolysis abolishes allosteric interactions between sugar import (maltose binding) and sugar export (cytochalasin B binding) sites that normally exist on adjacent subunits within the transporter complex, but interact with negative cooperativity. Following exofacial proteolysis, these sites become mutually exclusive. Dithiothreitol disrupts GLUT1 quaternary structure, inhibits 3-O-methylglucose transport, and abolishes cooperative interactions between sugar import and export sites in control cells. Studies with reconstituted purified GLUT1 confirm that the action of trypsin on cytochalasin B binding is direct, show that proteolysis increases the apparent affinity of the sugar efflux site for transported sugars, and suggest that the membrane bilayer stabilizes GLUT1 noncovalent structure and catalytic function following GLUT1 proteolysis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GLUT1 does not require an intact polypeptide backbone for catalytic function. They show that the multisite sugar transporter mechanism is converted to a simple ping-pong carrier mechanism following exofacial GLUT1 proteolysis. They reveal that subunit cooperativity can be lost under circumstances where cohesive structural interactions between transporter subunits are maintained. They also refute the hypothesis [Hebert, D. N., & Carruthers, A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 23829-23838] that rapid substrate translocation by the multisubunit erythroid glucose transporter requires cooperative interactions between subunit ligand binding sites.

Multifunctional transporter models: lessons from the transport of water, sugars, and ring compounds by GLUTs

Facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) have recently been shown to be multifunctional, transporting substrates other than sugars, such as water and ring compounds as large as nitrobenzene-diazol-aminoglucose. Other membrane proteins, including transporters and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, have also revealed a finite permeability to water. We compare the alpha-helical and beta-barrel models for the structure of GLUTs, discuss recent evidence, and argue that a beta-barrel fold explains it better. We show a model for GLUTs consisting of a relatively rigid beta-barrel translocation unit ("channel") of diameter ample enough to allow permeation of the above substrates (approximately 20 A) but gated shut by mobile loops at both ends. Such gates would open only after aromatic interactions would lead to binding of the ring substrates for GLUTs; water would, however, traverse crevices in the closed gates. Using the insights gained from GLUTs, we propose that other transporters may share with GLUTs the motif of a beta-barrel channel and would be permeable to water due to the presence of such channels together with similarly behaving gates.

Re-examination of hexose exchanges using rat erythrocytes: evidence inconsistent with a one-site sequential exchange model, but consistent with a two-site simultaneous exchange model

(1). The kinetic parameters of zero-trans net uptake and infinite-trans uptake of 3-O-methyl-D-glucoside, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-mannose into rat red cells at 24 degrees C were measured after taking account of the linear diffusion components of flux. (2). Zero-trans exists of 3-O-methyl-D-glucoside and D-mannose from rat cells were also measured. (3). After correction for linear flux via non-specific routes, the Vmax of zero-trans uptake of 3-O-methyl-D-glucoside was significantly higher, (1.25 +/- 0.06 mumol (10 min)-1 (ml cell water)-1) than the corresponding parameters of mannose or 2-deoxy-D-glucose, (0.33 +/- 0.01 and 0.39 +/- 0.01 mumol(10 min)-1 (ml cell water)-1, respectively; P < 0.001). (4). After correction for linear flux via non-specific uptake routes, the Vmax of zero-trans exit of 3-O-methyl-D-glucoside is significantly higher (1.70 +/- 0.1 mumol (10 min)-1 (ml cell water)-1) than the corresponding value for mannose exit flux, (1.10 +/- 0.1 mumol (10 min)-1 (ml cell water)-1; P < 0.001). (5). The acceleration ratio, i.e., the ratio of infinite-trans influx Vmax/zero-trans influx Vmax of mannose by mannose (9.12 +/- 0.03) is significantly higher than that of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose by 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (2.77 +/- 0.14)(P < 0.001). (6). The one-site simple carrier model of glucose transport in which sugar exchange is viewed as a sequential process, predicts that the acceleration ratio of the more rapidly moving sugar 3-O-methyl-D-glucose by 3-O-methyl-D-glucose should be greater than that of the slower sugar, mannose by mannose. Hence, the observed findings are inconsistent with the one-site model, but confirm the earlier disputed studies of Miller, D.M. (1968; Biophys. J. 8, 1329-1338). (7). A two-site model, in which sugar exchange is considered as a simultaneous process, predicts that the acceleration ratio of mannose influx by mannose should be higher than for 3-O-methyl-D-glucose by 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. The data are, therefore, consistent with a two-site model.

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the binding of cytochalasin B to sugar transporters

The kinetics of the binding of cytochalasin B to the proton-linked L-arabinose (AraE) and D-galactose (GalP) symporters from Escherichia coli and to the human erythrocyte glucose transporter (GLUT1) have been investigated by exploiting the changes in protein fluorescence that occur upon binding the ligand. Steady-state measurements yielded Kd values of 1.1, 1.9 and 0.14 microM for the AraE, GalP and GLUT1 proteins, respectively. The association and dissociation rate constants for the binding of cytochalasin B have been determined by stopped-flow spectroscopy. In each case, the apparent Kd was calculated from the corresponding rate constants, yielding values of 1.5, 0.4 and 1.6 microM for AraE, GalP and GLUT1, respectively. The differences between these apparent Kd values and those measured by fluorescence titration is interpreted in terms of the following three step mechanism where CB represents cytochalasin B: [formula: see text] The transporter is proposed to alternate between two different conformational forms (T1 and T2), with cytochalasin B binding only to the T2 conformation, to induce a further conformational transition of the transporter to the T3 form. The values for the overall dissociation constants show that the T1 conformation is favoured by AraE and GalP in the absence of ligands, but the T2 conformation is favoured by GLUT1. Thus, the binding of cytochalasin B to GLUT1 alters the equilibrium towards the T3(CB) conformational state, producing the observed tight binding, in contrast to the changes in the equilibrium observed with the binding of cytochalasin B to AraE and GalP. A thermodynamic analysis of these conformational transitions has been performed. The T1 and T2 conformations may represent transporter states in which the binding site is facing outwards and inwards, respectively.

Effects of pH on the activity of the human red cell glucose transporter Glut 1: transport retention chromatography of D-glucose and L-glucose on immobilized Glut 1 liposomes

The facilitative glucose transporter Glut 1 from human red cells was reconstituted into liposomes that were size-fractionated and immobilized in an octyl sulfide-Sephacryl S-1000 column. D-[14C]Glucose was eluted later than L-[3H]glucose from the Glut 1 liposome column (by delta V microliters), apparently because the D-glucose was transported through the liposomes. The corresponding difference with protein-free liposomes was delta V0. The Glut 1 transport retention chromatographic effect, delta VG = delta V - delta V0, 40-50 microliters at pH 7, was nearly constant at pH 6-10 (400 mM NaCl, 23 degrees C, internal liposome volume approximately 240 microliters) but decreased steeply below pH 5 to become zero at pH 3.6. The decrease corresponded to a pKa of approximately 4.4 and was partly reversible above pH 4.7. Similarly, glucose exchange by non-immobilized freeze-thawed proteoliposomes with Glut 1 slowed down drastically as the pH was lowered from pH 5.5 to 4; and octyl glucoside-solubilized Glut 1 lost half its activity in 15 min at pH 4.5 (low ionic strength, 2 degrees C) as shown by glucose exchange determinations at pH 7.2 The results suggest that Glut 1 is inactivated at low pH upon protonation of carboxylate groups of pKa approximately 4.4-4.8. It seems likely that carboxylate groups form hydrogen bonds to transported D-glucose.

The 12-transmembrane helix transporters

From the hydropathic profiles of their amino acid sequences many transport proteins are conceived to comprise 12-transmembrane alpha-helices. In only a few examples, however, is there genetical and/or biochemical evidence to support the 12-helix structure or illuminate the molecular mechanism of the transport process. A number of these transport proteins occur in evolutionarily related families, and sometimes superfamilies, indicating divergent evolution of the 12-helix structure. Other individual members or families of transport proteins are sufficiently different in amino acid sequence for their evolution to have taken place by convergence from independent ancestral origins.