Cotransport systems in the brush border membrane of the human placenta

The cotransport systems present in the brush border membrane of the human placental syncytiotrophoblast are reviewed. Attention is focused on the systems that are powered by the electrochemical gradient of Na+ (for example, for neutral amino acids but not for glucose), and on recently described systems in which K+ flux is coupled to C1- flux or to that for Na+ and C1-. These systems are similar to those found in other tissues and may be significant for net trans-placental transport and its control, as well as for the regulation of placental trophoblast volume.

Functional and molecular characterization of a peptide transporter in the rat PC12 neuroendocrine cell line

We have studied functional properties of peptide transport in the pheochromocytoma neuroendocrine cell line from rat. The neutral peptide D-Phe-L-Ala (resistant to hydrolysis) is a good substrate for uptake into these cells. Transport is substantially inhibited by diethylpyrocarbonate pretreatment and is stimulated by external acidification. It is sodium-independent and, unexpectedly, insensitive to membrane potential. Peptide uptake is inhibited by a wide variety of other di- and tripeptides but not by amino acids. The neuropeptide kyotorphin (opioid dipeptide (L-Tyr-L-Arg)) inhibits uptake of labelled peptide and trans-stimulates efflux showing that it is a transported substrate. These findings are discussed in relation to the molecular basis and physiological role of this transport system.

Tryptophan degradation by human placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase regulates lymphocyte proliferation

1. The physiological importance of human placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.42), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in tryptophan metabolism, in regulating feto-maternal immunology has been studied. 2. Concentrations were measured in placental villous explant conditioned media of 14 amino acids that are known to be required for lymphocyte proliferation. In the absence of interferon-gamma only tryptophan and threonine were significantly lowered; in the presence of interferon-gamma (known to stimulate indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) tryptophan but not threonine depletion was much greater. 3. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation determined by measuring thymidine incorporation into DNA following culture in the medium previously conditioned by culture of villous explants was markedly reduced when placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase was stimulated with interferon-gamma. Inhibition of placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by 1-methyl-tryptophan prevented inhibition of thymidine incorporation. Supplementation of the conditioned medium with tryptophan but no other amino acid completely reversed the inhibition of thymidine incorporation. 4. Flow cytometric analysis showed that CD4-positive T lymphocyte division was specifically suppressed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated tryptophan depletion. This inhibition of T cell proliferation was due to arrest of cell cycle progression. 5. To study the mechanism of tryptophan sensing we examined the ability of 11 L-tryptophan analogues to support lymphocyte proliferation. Only L-tryptophan methyl and ethyl esters were able to stimulate proliferation in tryptophan-free media. Since both of these molecules are readily degraded to tryptophan by intracellular esterases this suggests that the tryptophan sensor is intracellular. 6. Our results show that mechanisms are present in the human placenta which are able to regulate cellular proliferation of the maternal immune system. This mechanism is dependent both on placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated tryptophan degradation and on tryptophan sensing systems within lymphocytes.

Use of human gametes obtained from anonymous donors for the production of human embryonic stem cell lines

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the use of donated gametes for the production of human embryonic stem cell lines.

DESIGN

Basic research study.

SETTING

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program at an academic institution.

PATIENT(S)

Consenting oocyte and sperm donors.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Oocytes were aspirated from oocyte donors (n = 12) and inseminated with frozen-thawed donor (n = 2) sperm followed by culture of embryos to day 5 or 6 in sequential media. The inner cell masses of expanded blastocysts were isolated using immunosurgery and cultured for 4-11 days on irradiated primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (PMEFs). Viable cell colonies were passed every 7-10 days onto fresh PMEFs in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (0.1 microg/mL) and evaluated for appropriate cell surface markers.

RESULT(S)

Immunosurgery of 40 blastocysts resulted in the culture of 18 inner cell masses, which have produced three cell lines. One of these cell lines has been shown to stain positive for alkaline phosphatase and stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4 and negative for SSEA-1, express telomerase activity, and produce hCG when allowed to differentiate.

CONCLUSION(S)

These findings demonstrate that the future production of human embryonic stem cell lines for therapeutic use is possible with the use of donated gametes. Many ethical issues were considered before the initiation of this study, and it was our goal to ensure that both oocyte and sperm donors understood the nature and purpose of the research before their participating in the study.

Evaluation of the meiotic spindle apparatus in metaphase II human oocytes following cytoplasmic donation

PURPOSE

To determine if the removal of cytoplasm from metaphase II human donor oocytes damages the meiotic spindle apparatus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cryopreservation of metaphase II human oocytes was performed using a fast-freeze, fast-thaw protocol. Upon thaw, oocytes were incubated for 3-4 h and then used for cytoplasmic donation (test oocytes). Oocytes thawed but not used for donation served as controls. Test and control oocytes were fixed using a microtubule-stabilizing buffer. Tubulin was localized using antitubulin monoclonal antibody. Chromosomes were identified by counterstaining with DAPI.

RESULTS

Forty-four oocytes had cytoplasm removed (test group) while 12 were not used for the procedure (controls). Twenty-three oocytes survived the donation procedure. Rates of normal spindle structure for the control and test groups were 21/23 (91.3%) and 12/12 (100%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The removal of cytoplasm from a metaphase II human donor oocyte does not appear to significantly increase the damage to chromosome alignment or to the spindle structure.

L-arginine effects on Na+ transport in M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells--a cationic amino acid absorbing epithelium

The effect of L-arginine on transepithelial ion transport was examined in cultured M-1 mouse renal cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells using continuous short circuit current (Isc) measurements in HCO3-/CO2 buffered solution. Steady state Isc averaged 73.8 +/- 3.2 microA/cm2 (n = 126) and was reduced by 94 +/- 0.6% (n = 16) by the apical addition of 100 microM amiloride. This confirms that the predominant electrogenic ion transport in M-1 cells is Na+ absorption via the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Experiments using the cationic amino acid L-lysine (radiolabeled) as a stable arginine analogue show that the combined activity of an apical system y+ and a basal amino acid transport system y+L are responsible for most cationic amino acid transport across M-1 cells. Together they generate net absorptive cationic amino acid flux. Application of L-arginine (10 mM) either apically or basolaterally induced a transient peak increase in Isc averaging 36.6 +/- 5.4 microA/cm2 (n = 19) and 32.0 +/- 7.2 microA/cm2 (n = 8), respectively. The response was preserved in the absence of bath Cl- (n = 4), but was abolished either in the absence of apical Na+ (n = 4) or by apical addition of 100 microM amiloride (n = 6). L-lysine, which cannot serve as a precursor of NO, caused a response similar to that of L-arginine (n = 4); neither L-NMMA (100 microM; n = 3) nor L-NAME (1 mM; n = 4) (both NO-synthase inhibitors) affected the Isc response to L-arginine. The effects of arginine or lysine were replicated by alkalinization that mimicked the transient alkalinization of the bath solution upon addition of these amino acids. We conclude that in M-1 cells L-arginine stimulates Na+ absorption via a pH-dependent, but NO-independent mechanism. The observed net cationic amino acid absorption will counteract passive cationic amino acid leak into the CCD in the presence of electrogenic Na+ transport, consistent with reports of stimulated expression of Na+ and cationic amino acid transporters by aldosterone.

Characterisation of L-tryptophan transporters in human placenta: a comparison of brush border and basal membrane vesicles

The mechanisms responsible for L-tryptophan transport at both the maternal- and fetal-facing surfaces of the term placenta have been determined in isolated membrane vesicles as part of a study on placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the L-tryptophan-catabolising enzyme recently shown to regulate feto-maternal immunology. Brush border vesicle uptake of L-tryptophan is substantially into an osmotically active space. It is sodium independent and N-ethylmaleimide sensitive. Uptake of L-tryptophan, which is markedly stereospecific, has a Km of 26.3 microM and Vmax of 1.72 pmol (mg protein)(-1) s(-1) and is completely abolished by the L-system-specific substrate 2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH). These findings are in keeping with L-tryptophan transport being exclusively via system L (induced by the heterodimeric heavy chain of CD98 and system L-amino acid transporter-1 (LAT-1)). 1-Methyl-tryptophan (which is a known competitive inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) is a competitive inhibitor of L-tryptophan flux through this transport system (Ki = 113 microM). Basal membrane transport of L-tryptophan is more complex. Uptake is slower than at the brush border and although, as in the brush border, uptake is sodium independent, it is less sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide. There is clear evidence that two systems contribute to basal membrane transport since BCH is (in sodium-free media) only a partial inhibitor whereas L-histidine and L-cysteine are fully effective. The simplest explanation of these and other findings is that the basal membrane possesses two systems, one of which is similar to that induced by the heavy chain of CD98 and system L-amino acid transporter-2 (LAT-2). The other appears to be system y+L since in the presence of BCH inhibition by L-leucine but not by L-lysine is sodium dependent. These findings suggest the existence of non-identical carrier-mediated transport systems for L-tryptophan in brush border and basal membranes. This asymmetry may explain net transplacental transfer of this amino acid.

The role of L-tryptophan transport in L-tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in human placental explants

The physiological importance of L-tryptophan transport for placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated degradation of L-tryptophan has been studied using human placental chorionic villous explants. L-Tryptophan influx into villous explants is supported exclusively by transport system L and is substantially inhibited by the L-system-specific substrate 2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) and also by 1-methyl-tryptophan which is also an inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. L-Tryptophan influx is enhanced 2.3-fold following in vitro culture of the villous explant. Interferon-gamma, which increases villous explant indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression, has no effect on L-tryptophan influx. In explants both BCH and 1-methyl-tryptophan inhibit indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated L-tryptophan degradation. This also applies when L-tryptophan degradation has been stimulated by interferon-gamma. These findings show transport of L-tryptophan into the trophoblast to be a rate-limiting step for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated L-tryptophan degradation and therefore for the normal physiology of mammalian pregnancy.

Modified amino acids and peptides as substrates for the intestinal peptide transporter PepT1

The binding affinities of a number of amino-acid and peptide derivatives by the mammalian intestinal peptide transporter PepT1 were investigated, using the Xenopus laevis expression system. A series of blocked amino acids, namely N-acetyl-Phe (Ac-Phe), phe-amide (Phe-NH2), N-acetyl-Phe-amide (Ac-Phe-NH2) and the parent compound Phe, was compared for efficacy in inhibiting the uptake of the peptide [3H]-D-Phe-L-Gln. In an equivalent set of experiments, the blocked peptides Ac-Phe-Tyr, Phe-Tyr-NH2 and Ac-Phe-Tyr-NH2 were compared with the parent compound Phe-Tyr. Comparing amino acids and derivatives, only Ac-Phe was an effective inhibitor of peptide uptake (Ki = 1.81+/- 0.37 mM). Ac-Phe-NH2 had a very weak interaction with PepT1 (Ki = 16.8+/-5.64 mM); neither Phe nor Phe-NH2 interacted with PepT1 with measurable affinity. With the dipeptide and derivatives, unsurprisingly the highest affinity interaction was with Phe-Tyr (Ki = 0.10+/-0.04 mM). The blocked C-terminal peptide Phe-Tyr-NH2 also interacted with PepT1 with a relatively high affinity (Ki = 0.94+/-0.38 mM). Both Ac-Phe-Tyr and Ac-Phe-Tyr-NH2 interacted weakly with PepT1 (Ki = 8.41+/-0.11 and 9.97+/-4.01 mM, respectively). The results suggest that the N-terminus is the primary binding site for both dipeptides and tripeptides. Additional experiments with four stereoisomers of Ala-Ala-Ala support this conclusion, and lead us to propose that a histidine residue is involved in binding the C-terminus of dipeptides. In addition, a substrate binding model for PepT1 is proposed.

Structure and function of eukaryotic peptide transporters

The cotransport of protons and peptides is now recognised as a major route by which dietary nitrogen is absorbed from the intestine, and filtered protein reabsorbed in the kidney. Recently, molecular biology has had a very substantial impact on the study of peptide transport, and here we review the molecular and functional information available within the framework of physiology. To this end we consider not only the mammalian peptide transporters and their tissue distribution and regulation but also those from other species (including Caenorhabditis elegans) which make up the proton-dependent oligopeptide transport superfamily. In addition, understanding the binding requirements for transported substrates may allow future design and targeted tissue delivery of peptide and peptidomimetic drugs. Finally, we aim to highlight some of the less well understood areas of peptide transport, in the hope that it will stimulate further research into this challenging yet exciting topic.

Modulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by interferon-gamma in human placental chorionic villi

The effect of interferon-gamma on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, a tryptophan catabolizing enzyme, was studied in cultured human placental chorionic villi. The activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase was markedly stimulated by interferon-gamma in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Interferon-alpha and interferon-beta also showed a slight stimulatory effect on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity. The level of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase mRNA expression (determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) was also enhanced by interferon-gamma. Interleukin-4 showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on interferon-gamma-induced stimulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and mRNA expression.

Cationic amino acid transport through system y+L in erythrocytes of patients with lysinuric protein intolerance

We test the hypothesis that lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI), a rare autosomal recessive defect of cationic amino acid transport, results from the absence of the recently described y+L amino acid transporter. We compare fluxes of lysine (1 microM) into erythrocytes of normal subjects with those of patients homozygous for the LPI mutation. No significant differences in fluxes through system y+L in normal or LPI cells were found, excluding the possibility that system y+L cannot be expressed in patients with LPI. Reasons for supposing that there may be tissue-specific processing of two recently described genes encoding the y+L transporter are discussed. Polymerase chain reaction measurement of expression of these two genes in an erythroleukemic cell line suggests that alternatively there may be an as-yet-unidentified additional member of this gene family.

Heterodimeric amino acid transporters: expression of heavy but not light chains of CD98 correlates with induction of amino acid transport systems in human placental trophoblast

1. Activity of amino acid transport and relative abundance of mRNAs encoding related transporters have been studied in parallel either before or following in vitro culture of explants of human placental chorionic villi. 2. Amino acid transport activities through systems L (1.9-fold), y+L (2.6-fold) and y+ (3.2-fold) were markedly enhanced following culture for 48 h. 3. Relative mRNA abundance (determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) for the heavy chain of CD98 surface antigen and for the cationic amino acid transporter-1 were similarly stimulated (2.8-fold and 2.6-fold, respectively). In contrast, none of the mRNA levels for light chains of CD98 (system L-amino acid transporter-1, system L-amino acid transporter-2, system y+L-amino acid transporter-1 and system y+L-amino acid transporter-2) studied nor for the cationic amino acid transporter-2B were altered.

How to Make Drugs Orally Active: A Substrate Template for Peptide Transporter PepT1

By building key structural features into hydrophilic drugs, they can be recognized by the PepT1 transporter system of the small intestine and rendered orally active. The model shown provides, for the first time, a 3D template for all known substrates of PepT1.

Human placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase: cellular localization and characterization of an enzyme preventing fetal rejection

In order to test the hypothesis (Munn, Zhou, Attwood, Bondarev, Conway, Marshall, Brown, Mellor, Science 281 (1998) 1191-1193) that localized placental tryptophan catabolism prevents immune rejection of the mammalian fetus, the cellular localization and characteristics of human placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.42) were studied. The localization of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase activity was determined quantitatively using cell fractionation by differential and discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. Enzyme activity was looked for in isolated brush border microvillous plasma membranes of placental syncytiotrophoblast. We found that this membrane preparation (which showed a 32.4-fold purification from the starting homogenate with reference to the activity of a membrane marker enzyme, alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1)) was strongly negatively enriched with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (which showed a one twenty-fifth decrease in its specific activity). Placental indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase is thus not expressed in the maternal facing brush border membrane of syncytiotrophoblast. 1-Methyl-DL-tryptophan which was used by Munn et al. as a key experimental tool for inhibiting indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in the murine model showed a competitive inhibition of human placental indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase with L-tryptophan. The hypothesis, based on experiments performed in mouse, may therefore be applicable to avoidance of immune rejection of the fetus in human pregnancy.

Preferential recognition of zwitterionic dipeptides as transportable substrates by the high-affinity peptide transporter PEPT2

We investigated the interaction of rat PEPT2, a high-affinity peptide transporter, with neutral, anionic, and cationic dipeptides using electrophysiological approaches as well as tracer uptake methods. D-Phe-L-Gln (neutral), D-Phe-L-Glu (anionic), and D-Phe-L-Lys (cationic) were used as representative, non-hydrolyzable, dipeptides. All three dipeptides induced H+-dependent inward currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes heterologously expressing rat PEPT2. The H+:peptide stoichiometry was 1:1 in each case. A simultaneous measurement of radiolabeled dipeptide influx and charge transfer in the same oocyte indicated a transfer of one net positive charge into the oocyte per transfer of one peptide molecule irrespective of the charged nature of the peptide. We conclude that the zwitterionic peptides are preferentially recognized by PEPT2 as transportable substrates and that the proton/peptide stoichiometry is 1 for the transport process.

A novel role for carbonic anhydrase: cytoplasmic pH gradient dissipation in mouse small intestinal enterocytes

1. The spatial and temporal distribution of intracellular H+ ions in response to activation of a proton-coupled dipeptide transporter localized at the apical pole of mouse small intestinal isolated enterocytes was investigated using intracellular carboxy-SNARF-1 fluorescence in combination with whole-cell microspectrofluorimetry or confocal microscopy. 2. In Hepes-buffered Tyrode solution, application of the dipeptide Phe-Ala (10 mM) to a single enterocyte reduced pHi locally in the apical submembranous space. After a short delay (8 s), a fall of pHi occurred more slowly at the basal pole. 3. In the presence of CO2/HCO3--buffered Tyrode solution, the apical and basal rates of acidification were not significantly different and the time delay was reduced to 1 s or less. 4. Following application of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide (100 microM) in the presence of CO2/HCO3- buffer, addition of Phe-Ala once again produced a localized apical acidification that took 5 s to reach the basal pole. Basal acidification was slower than at the apical pole. 5. We conclude that acid influx due to proton-coupled dipeptide transport can lead to intracellular pH gradients and that intracellular carbonic anhydrase activity, by facilitating cytoplasmic H+ mobility, limits their magnitude and duration.

4-aminomethylbenzoic acid is a non-translocated competitive inhibitor of the epithelial peptide transporter PepT1

1. 4-Aminomethylbenzoic acid, a molecule which mimics the special configuration of a dipeptide, competitively inhibits peptide influx in both Xenopus Laevis oocytes expressing rabbit PepT1 and through PepT1 in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles. 2. This molecule is not translocated through PepT1 as measured both by direct HPLC analysis in PepT1-exp ressing oocytes and indirectly by its failure to trans-stimulate labelle d peptide efflux through PepT1 in oocytes and in renal membrane vessicle s. 3. However 4-aminiomethylbenzoic acid does reverse trans-stimulation through expressed PepT1 of labelled peptid efflux induced by unlabelled peptide. Quantitatively this reversal is compatible with 4-aminomethyl benzoic acid competitively binding to the external surface of PepT1. 4. 4-Aminomethylbenzoic acid (the first molecule discovered to be a non-translocated competitive inhibitor of proton-coupled oligopeptide transport) and its derivatives may thus be particularly useful as experimental tools.

Proton-coupled oligopeptide transport by rat renal cortical brush border membrane vesicles: a functional analysis using ACE inhibitors to determine the isoform of the transporter

We demonstrate that the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors enalapril and captopril inhibit the transport of D-Phe-L-Gln into PepT1-expressing Xenopus oocytes and into rat renal cortical brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV). The kinetics of inhibition are competitive. Enalapril and captopril are not substrates for PepT2 (Boll et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93 (1996) 284-289). Therefore we conclude that in rat renal cortical BBMV this neutral dipeptide is transported via PepT1.

Peptide aminonitrogen transport by the lactating rat mammary gland

Recent studies have shown that the lactating mammary gland is able to utilize plasma-derived dipeptides for milk protein synthesis. However, it was not clear whether the peptides were hydrolysed followed by uptake of the constituent amino acids or were taken up intact. In view of this, we have designed experiments to investigate (a) whether the lactating rat mammary gland is capable of transporting hydrolysis-resistant dipeptides and (b) whether or not mammary cells are able to hydrolyse peptides, including glutathione, extracellularly. The uptake of the hydrolysis-resistant dipeptides D-[3H]Phe-L-Gln and D-[3H]Phe-L-Glu by the perfused rat mammary gland was low. Concomitant addition of L-Leu-L-Ala (50 mM) had no effect on the clearance of either labelled dipeptide suggesting that the small, albeit significant, uptake of the dipeptides is not via a high affinity peptide transporter (PepT1/PepT2). All anionic dipeptides tested (L-Glu-L-Ala, L-Asp-L-Ala, L-Ala-L-Asp, L-Asp-Gly, Gly-L-Asp and Gly-L-Glu) with the exception of D-Phe-L-Glu were able to trans-accelerate the efflux of labelled D-aspartate from preloaded rat mammary tissue (explants and perfused mammary gland). It appears that these peptides were being hydrolysed extracellularly followed by the uptake of free anionic amino acids via the mammary tissue high affinity, Na+-dependent anionic amino acid carrier operating in the exchange mode. Glutathione was able to trans-accelerate D-aspartate efflux from lactating rat mammary tissue in a fashion which was sensitive to the peptidase inhibitor acivicin. This suggests that gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase hydrolyses glutathione to produce L-glutamate which is subsequently transported via the high-affinity anionic amino acid carrier. Hydrolysis of peptides followed by uptake of the constituent amino acids may provide an important source of amino acids for milk protein synthesis.

Transporters for cationic amino acids in animal cells: discovery, structure, and function

The structure and function of the four cationic amino acid transporters identified in animal cells are discussed. The systems differ in specificity, cation dependence, and physiological role. One of them, system y+, is selective for cationic amino acids, whereas the others (B[0,+], b[0,+], and y+ L) also accept neutral amino acids. In recent years, cDNA clones related to these activities have been isolated. Thus two families of proteins have been identified: 1) CAT or cationic amino acid transporters and 2) BAT or broad-scope transport proteins. In the CAT family, three genes encode for four different isoforms [CAT-1, CAT-2A, CAT-2(B) and CAT-3]; these are approximately 70-kDa proteins with multiple transmembrane segments (12-14), and despite their structural similarity, they differ in tissue distribution, kinetics, and regulatory properties. System y+ is the expression of the activity of CAT transporters. The BAT family includes two isoforms (rBAT and 4F2hc); these are 59- to 78-kDa proteins with one to four membrane-spanning segments, and it has been proposed that these proteins act as transport regulators. The expression of rBAT and 4F2hc induces system b[0,+] and system y+ L activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes, respectively. The roles of these transporters in nutrition, endocrinology, nitric oxide biology, and immunology, as well as in the genetic diseases cystinuria and lysinuric protein intolerance, are reviewed. Experimental strategies, which can be used in the kinetic characterization of coexpressed transporters, are also discussed.

Sodium-dependent and -independent choline uptake by type II epithelial cells from rat lung

The uptake of 3H-labeled choline by a suspension of isolated type II epithelial cells from rat lung has been studied in a Ringer medium. Uptake was linear for 4 min at both 0.1 microM and 5.0 microM medium choline; at 5 microM, only 10% of the label was recovered in a lipid fraction. Further experiments were conducted at the low concentration (0.1 microM), permitting characterization of the properties of high-affinity systems. Three fractions of choline uptake were detected: (i) a sodium-dependent system that was totally inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (HC-3); (ii) a sodium-independent uptake, when Na+ was replaced by Li+, K+ or Mg2+, inhibited by HC-3; (iii) a residual portion persisting in the absence of Na+ and unaffected by HC-3. Choline uptake was sigmoidally related to the medium Na+ concentration. Kinetic properties of the uptake of 0.1 microM 3H-choline in the presence and absence of medium Na+ were examined in two ways. (a) Inhibition by increasing concentrations of unlabeled choline (0.5-100 microM) was consistent with the presence of two Michaelis-Menten-type systems in the presence of Na+; a Na(+)-dependent portion (a mean of 0.52 of the total) had a K(m) for choline of 1.5 microM while K(m) in the absence of Na+ (Li+ substituting) was 18.6 microM. (b) Inhibition by HC-3 (0.3-300 microM) gave Ki values of 1.7 microM and 5.0 microM HC-3 for the Na(+)-dependent and -independent fractions. The apparent K(m) of the Na(+)-dependent uptake is lower than that reported previously for lung-derived cells and is in the range of the K(m) values reported for high-affinity, Na(+)-dependent choline uptake by neuronal cells.

Peptide mimics as substrates for the intestinal peptide transporter

4-Aminophenylacetic acid (4-APAA), a peptide mimic lacking a peptide bond, has been shown to interact with a proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter using a number of different experimental approaches. In addition to inhibiting transport of labeled peptides, these studies show that 4-APAA is itself translocated. 4-APAA transport across the rat intact intestine was stimulated 18-fold by luminal acidification (to pH 6.8) as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); in enterocytes isolated from mouse small intestine the intracellular pH was reduced on application of 4-APAA, as shown fluorimetrically with the pH indicator carboxy-SNARF; 4-APAA trans-stimulated radiolabeled peptide transport in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from rat renal cortex; and in Xenopus oocytes expressing PepT1, 4-APAA produced trans-stimulation of radiolabeled peptide efflux, and as determined by HPLC, was a substrate for translocation by this transporter. These results with 4-APAA show for the first time that the presence of a peptide bond is not a requirement for rapid translocation through the proton-linked oligopeptide transporter (PepT1). Further investigation will be needed to determine the minimal structural requirements for a molecule to be a substrate for this transporter.

The influence of luminal pH on transport of neutral and charged dipeptides by rat small intestine, in vitro

Four hydrolysis-resistant dipeptides (D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine, D-phenylalanyl-L-glutamine, D-phenylalanyl-L-glutamate and D-phenylalanyl-L-lysine) were synthesized to investigate the effects of net charge on transmural dipeptide transport by isolated jejunal loops of rat small intestine. At a luminal pH of 7.4 and a concentration of 1 mM the two dipeptides with a net charge of -1 and +1 were transported at substantially slower rates (18 +/- 1.3 and 8.4 +/- 1.3 nmol min(-1)(g dry wt.)(-1), respectively) than neutral D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine and D-phenylalanyl-L-glutamine (87 +/- 0.2 and 197 +/- 14 nmol min(-1)(g dry wt.)(-1), respectively). We investigated the effects of luminal pH on dipeptide transport by varying the NaHCO3 content of Krebs Ringer perfusate equilibrated with 95% 02/5% CO2. The pH changes did not affect water transport, but serosal glucose appearance increased significantly at pH 6.8. Transmural transport of D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine and D-phenylalanyl-L-glutamine at pH 6.8 was stimulated (P < 0.01) by 61% and 49%, respectively, whereas the lower pH increased the rate for negatively charged D-phenylalanyl-L-glutamate by 306% (P < 0.01) and decreased that for positively charged D-phenylalanyl-L-lysine by 46% (P < 0.05). Increasing luminal pH to 8.0 inhibited D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine transport by 60%, whereas D-phenylalanyl-L-lysine transport was 60% faster.

Stoichiometry and pH dependence of the rabbit proton-dependent oligopeptide transporter PepT1

1. The intestinal H(+)-coupled peptide transporter PepT1, displays a broad substrate specificity and accepts most charged and neutral di- and tripeptides. To study the proton-to-peptide stoichiometry and the dependence of the kinetic parameters on extracellular pH (pHo), rabbit PepT1 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and used for uptake studies of radiolabelled neutral and charged dipeptides, voltage-clamp analysis and intracellular pH measurements. 2. PepT1 did not display the substrate-gated anion conductances that have been found to be characteristic of members of the Na(+)- and H(+)-coupled high-affinity glutamate transporter family. In conjunction with previous data on the ion dependence of PepT1, it can therefore be concluded that peptide-evoked charge fluxes of PepT1 are entirely due to H+ movement. 3. Neutral, acidic and basic dipeptides induced intracellular acidification. The rate of acidification, the initial rates of the uptake of radiolabelled peptides and the associated charge fluxes gave proton-substrate coupling ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:1 for neutral, acidic and basic dipeptides, respectively. 4. Maximal transport of the neutral and charged dipeptides Gly-Leu, Gly-Glu, Gly-Lys and Ala-Lys occurred at pHo 5.5, 5.2, 6.2 and 5.8, respectively. The Imax values were relatively pHo independent but the apparent affinity (Km(app) values for these peptides were shown to be highly pHo dependent. 5. Our data show that at physiological pH (pHo 5.5-6.0) PepT1 prefers neutral and acidic peptides. The shift in transport maximum for the acidic peptide Gly-Glu to a lower pH value suggests that acidic dipeptides are transported in the protonated form. The shift in the transport maxima of the basic dipeptides to higher pH values may involve titration of a side-chain on the transporter molecule (e.g. protonation of a histidine group). These considerations have led us to propose a model for coupled transport of neutral, acidic and basic dipeptides.

Divalent cation and ionic strength effects on Vinca alkaloid-induced tubulin self-association

We present here a systematic study of ionic strength and divalent cation effects on Vinca alkaloid-induced tubulin spiral formation. We used sedimentation velocity experiments and quantitative fitting of weight-average sedimentation coefficients versus free drug concentrations to obtain thermodynamic parameters under various solution conditions. The addition of 50-150 mM NaCl to our standard buffer (10 mM piperazine-N,N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), 1 mM Mg, 50 microM GDP or GTP, pH 6.9) enhances overall vinblastine- or vincristine-induced tubulin self-association. As demonstrated in previous studies, GDP enhances overall self-association more than GTP, although in the presence of salt, GDP enhancement is reduced. For example, in 150 mM NaCl, GDP enhancement is 0.24 kcal/mol for vinblastine and 0.36 kcal/mol for vincristine versus an average enhancement of 0.87 (+/- 0.34) kcal/mol for the same drugs in the absence of salt. Wyman linkage analysis of experiments with vinblastine or vincristine over a range of NaCl concentrations showed a twofold increase in the change in NaCl bound to drug-induced spirals in the presence of GTP compared to GDP. These data indicate that GDP enhancement of Vinca alkaloid-induced tubulin self-association is due in part to electrostatic inhibition in the GTP state. In the absence of NaCl, we found that vinblastine and 1 mM Mn2+ or Ca2+ causes immediate condensation of tubulin. The predominant aggregates observed by electron microscopy are large sheets. This effect was not found with 1 mM Mg2+. At 100 microM cation concentrations (Mn2+, Mg2+, or Ca2+), GDP enhances vinblastine-induced spiral formation by 0.55 (+/- 0.26) kcal/mol. This effect is found only in K2, the association of liganded heterodimers at the ends of growing spirals. There is no GDP enhancement of K1, the binding of drug to heterodimer, although K1 is dependent upon the divalent cation concentration. NaCl diminishes tubulin condensation, probably by inhibiting lateral association, and allows an investigation of higher divalent cation concentrations. In the presence of 150 mM NaCl plus 1 mM divalent cations (Mn2+, Mg2+, or Ca2+) GDP enhances vinblastine-induced spiral formation by 0.35 (+/- 0.21) kcal/mol. Relaxation times determined by stopped-flow light scattering experiments in the presence of 150 mM NaCl and vincristine are severalfold longer than those in the presence of vinblastine, consistent with a mechanism involving the redistribution of longer polymers. Unlike previous results in the absence of NaCl, relaxation times in the presence of NaCl are only weekly protein concentration dependent, suggesting the absence of annealing or an additional rate-limiting step in the mechanism.

Both the H13 gene product and 4F2 antigen are involved in the induction of system y+ cationic amino-acid transport following activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM)

Prior transfection with antisense oligonucleotides to the H13 and 4F2 hc genes, singly or in combination, was found to inhibit phytohaemagglutinin-induced activation of cationic amino-acid transport system y+ in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mostly circulating lymphocytes). These effects on system y+ function or expression mean that 4F2 hc cannot only be the molecular basis of system y+L (Fei, Y.-J., Prasad, P.D., Leibach, F.H. and Ganapathy, V. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 8744-8751).

A model for the kinetics of neutral and anionic dipeptide-proton cotransport by the apical membrane of rat kidney cortex

1. Kinetics of influx (mediated through peptide-proton cotransport) of two labelled dipeptides has been studied in apical membrane vesicles isolated from rat renal cortex. The substrates (neutral D-Phe-L-Ala and anionic D-Phe-L-Glu) have previously been shown to be transported through a single system but with different stoichiometry of proton coupling. 2. The initial rate of influx of both peptides was determined under a set of defined conditions allowing extravesicular pH, intravesicular pH, transmembrane pH and membrane potential (Em) to be varied systemically and independently. From this data the kinetic constants K(m) and Vmax were derived for each condition. Very substantial effects of pH, pH gradient and membrane potential were found; there were consistent quantitative differences when the substrates were compared. 3. Efflux of the two peptides from preloaded vesicles was also determined. At pH 5.5 (intra- and extravesicular), but not at pH 7.4, the rate constants for efflux of the two peptides were similar and addition to the extravesicular medium of unlabelled D-Phe-L-Glu (but not D-Phe-L-Ala) trans-stimulated efflux of both peptides to a similar extent; the extent of this trans-stimulation was insensitive to alterations in membrane potential. 4. A model based on a combination of classical carrier theory (the carrier being negatively charged) and of two sequential protonation steps (both to external sites predicted to be in the membrane electrical field) is described. Qualitatively this adequately accounts for all the observations made and allows for the dependence of the stoichiometry of proton-peptide coupling on the net charge carried by the substrate. Quantitatively a 50-fold greater rate of reorientation of the free carrier when unprotonated is predicted to be responsible for the coupling of proton and peptide transport. 5. Our results and the model are discussed with respect to the recently elucidated primary structure of mammalian peptide transporters.

The effect of coculture on the postfertilization development of in vitro-matured monkey oocytes

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the developmental potential of embryos resulting from in vivo- and in vitro-matured monkey oocytes could be increased through the use of a coculture system.

DESIGN

Randomized prospective comparison of embryos resulting from either in vitro- or in vivo-matured oocytes cocultured with Vero cells or cultured in medium alone (control).

SETTING

Basic research laboratory.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

In vitro embryo development to the blastocyst stage and blastocyst hatching.

RESULTS

No significant difference in development was noted between coculture and control groups with embryos resulting from in vivo-matured oocytes. However, coculture was found to improve significantly the development of monkey embryos resulting from in vitro-matured oocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that primate embryos resulting from in vitro-matured and in vitro-fertilized oocytes differ in their culture requirement when compared with embryos resulting from in vivo-matured oocytes.

Placental tyrosine transport and maternal phenylketonuria

Brush border and basal plasma membrane vesicles prepared from normal human placental syncytiotrophoblast have been used to study L-tyrosine transport across placenta in an attempt to investigate the aetiology of the fetal damage found in maternal phenylketonuria. The results suggest that competition for transport with a grossly raised L-phenylalanine concentration at the basal surface of the trophoblast is responsible for the suppressed delivery of L-tyrosine to the fetus across the placenta.

Transport of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors through cationic amino acid carriers in human erythrocytes

The interaction of arginine analogues, which are known to inhibit nitric oxide synthase, with two cationic amino acid transporters of human erythrocytes (systems y+ and y+L) was studied. Arginine and relevant analogues [NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA); NG-monomethyl-D-arginine (D-NMMA) and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG)] were found to inhibit labeled lysine influx into intact erythrocytes. As expected, the pattern of inhibition reflected the contribution of the two distinct transport systems. All analogues showed a higher affinity for system y+L than for system y+. The half-saturation (inhibition) constants estimated for systems y+ and y+L (+/- SEM) were (microM): L-arginine, 55.7 +/- 5.4 and 2.4 +/- 0.1; L-NMMA, 151 +/- 13 and 7.5 +/- 0.5; D-NMMA, 2660 +/- 404 and 269 +/- 25; L-NOARG, 9414 +/- 169 and 594 +/- 35. The transport properties of the analogues were investigated using an assay based on the trans-stimulation of lysine efflux. The addition of saturating concentrations of unlabeled analogues to the external medium stimulated efflux of labeled lysine through systems y+L and y+, showing that the analogues can enter the cell through these pathways.

Substrate-charge dependence of stoichiometry shows membrane potential is the driving force for proton-peptide cotransport in rat renal cortex

The proton dependence of the transport of three labelled, hydrolysis-resistant synthetic dipeptides carrying a net charge of -1, 0 or +1 has been investigated in a brush border membrane vesicle preparation obtained from rat renal cortex. Cross-inhibition studies are consistent with the transport of all peptides studied being through a single system. The extent and time course of uptake in response to an inwardly directed electrochemical gradient of protons differed for each peptide. For the cationic peptide D-Phe-L-Lys this gradient did not stimulate the initial rate of uptake, while for the neutral dipeptide D-Phe-L-Ala and the anionic peptide D-Phe-L-Glu stimulation was observed. However, the effect on D-Phe-L-Glu was more marked than that on D-Phe-L-Ala and the proton activation differed for these two peptides. The calculated Hill coefficients for the two proton-dependent peptides were 1.14 +/- 0.16 and 2.15 +/- 0.10 for D-Phe-L-Ala and D-Phe-L-Glu, respectively, providing evidence that the stoichiometry of proton:peptide cotransport is different for each peptide (0:1, 1:1 and 2:1 for D-Phe-L-Lys, D-Phe-L-Ala and D-Phe-L-Glu respectively); studies on energetics are compatible with this conclusion. The physiological and molecular implications of this model are discussed, as are the applicability of the conclusions to secondary active transport systems more generally.

Dipeptide transport characteristics of the apical membrane of rat lung type II pneumocytes

The transport of a hydrolysis-resistant dipeptide, D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine (D-Phe-L-Ala), has been studied by high-performance liquid chromatography in rat lung epithelial cells and apical membrane vesicles. Time-dependent uptake of D-Phe-L-Ala into isolated type II pneumocytes was shown. Uptake was saturable, and Michaelis-Menten kinetics were fitted to the data and gave an apparent Michaelis constant (Km) of 3.4 mM and a maximum velocity (Vmax) of 7.0 nmol.mg protein-1.min-1. However, known peptide transport inhibitors unexpectedly increased intracellular D-Phe-L-Ala concentration when initial rates of peptide uptake were studied. Apical (brush-border) membrane vesicles prepared from rat lung also showed time- and concentration-dependent influx of D-Phe-L-Ala (apparent Km 2.0 mM, Vmax 0.53 nmol.mg protein-1.min-1). Influx of this neutral dipeptide into the vesicles was shown to be both electrogenic and stimulated by an inwardly directed proton gradient. Influx was inhibitable by mercuric chloride and by the amino acid residue modifying compounds N-acetylimidazole and diethylpyrocarbonate. These findings strongly suggest the presence of a proton-coupled peptide transport protein in the apical surface of the type II cell. This transporter may play a role in lung homeostasis.

Dipeptide transport and hydrolysis in rat small intestine, in vitro

A range of natural and mixed D-/L-stereoisomer phenylalanine dipeptides was used to investigate peptide uptake and hydrolysis by isolated rings of rat jejunum. Characterisation of dipeptide hydrolysis by the brush border fraction revealed apparent Km values in the 0.1-1.0 mM range which, except for the charged dipeptides, were significantly higher than those for hydrolysis by the cytosolic fraction. Uptake of L-/L-dipeptides into jejunal rings, which was followed by HPLC, was unaffected by the presence of peptidase inhibitors in the incubation medium although the absorbed peptides were completely hydrolysed in the cytosol; comparison of the effects of excess leucine on dipeptide uptake and on the uptake of the two constituent amino acids were also consistent with absorption of intact dipeptide followed by cytosolic hydrolysis. The uptake of hydrolysis-resistant mixed D-/L-dipeptides was also studied and confirmed that peptide uptake preceded hydrolysis; D-alanyl-L-phenylalanine accumulated within the rings to twice the medium concentration.

Active transport in the alveolar epithelium of the adult lung: vestigial or vital?

Active secretion by mammalian fetal pulmonary alveolar epithelium is well recognized, as is the role of the adult epithelium in the secretion of surfactant. Recent studies have demonstrated active absorption by adult epithelium involving two sodium-dependent pathways. This finding has focused attention on how poorly we understand both the disposition of alveolar liquid and the physiological role of surfactant. In this paper we review the evidence that the adult mammalian alveolar epithelium absorbs solutes by active transport, and we assess the physiological importance of the resulting liquid movements.

Dipeptide transport and hydrolysis in isolated loops of rat small intestine: effects of stereospecificity

1. Isolated jejunal loops of rat small intestine were perfused by a single pass of bicarbonate Krebs-Ringer solution containing either D- or L-phenylalanine or one of eight dipeptides formed from D- or L-alanine plus D- or L-phenylalanine. 2. At 0.5 mM L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine increased serosal phenylalanine appearance to forty times the control rate giving a value similar to that found with 0.5 mM free L-phenylalanine. No serosal dipeptide could be detected. 3. Perfusions with the two mixed dipeptides with N-terminal D-amino acids (D-alanyl-L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine) gave rise to the appearance of intact dipeptides in the serosal secretions although there were substantial differences in their rates of absorption and subsequent hydrolysis. 4. L-Alanyl-D-phenylalanine was absorbed from the lumen three to five times as fast as L-phenylalanyl-D-alanine. At 1 mM L-alanyl-D-phenylalanine transferred D-phenylalanine across the epithelial layer at more than seven times the rate found with the same concentration of the free D-amino acid. 5. Perfusions with D-alanyl-D-phenylalanine or D-phenylalanyl-D-alanine showed that these two dipeptides are poor substrates for both transport and hydrolysis by the rat small intestine. 6. Analysis of mucosal tissue extracts after perfusion with the two mixed dipeptides with N-terminal D-amino acids revealed that both dipeptides were accumulated within the mucosa and suggested that exit across the basolateral membrane was rate limiting for transepithelial dipeptide transport.

Effect of lung inflation on active and passive liquid clearance from in vivo rabbit lung

Active sodium transport contributes to liquid clearance from the alveoli. We hypothesized that the magnitude of active transport of alveolar liquid depends on the extent to which the alveolar epithelium is stretched and, consequently, on the degree of alveolar inflation. In a study on 38 adult rabbits, the left lung was filled in vivo with a solution of glucose (10 mmol/l) made isosmotic with plasma, using sodium chloride, and held at a constant airway pressure of 3, 6, or 9 cmH2O for 6 h. Alveolar liquid clearance was measured directly as a flow into a left main bronchial catheter. Control animals were compared with animals in which active epithelial sodium transport was inhibited by adding amiloride and phloridzin (both 1 mmol/l) to the instillate. At low inflation, active sodium transport reversed a secretion of liquid into the alveoli; at high inflation, active sodium transport made little or no contribution to transepithelial flow. Hydraulic conductance of the left lung was 1.57 microliters.min-1.cmH2O-1.kg body wt-1. The experiments suggest that pulmonary inflation renders active liquid clearance ineffective.

Membrane potential dependence of the kinetics of cationic amino acid transport systems in human placenta

1. Mediated influx of L-lysine into human placental brush-border membrane vesicles occurs through two systems, one of lower affinity but high capacity, the other of very high affinity but low capacity. These transporters have features characteristic of systems y+ (the classical system) and y+L (recently described in the erythrocyte), respectively. 2. In solutions containing sodium the entry of lysine through the high-affinity system (y+L) is inhibited by the neutral amino acids L-leucine, L-methionine and L-glutamine with comparable high affinity. The removal of sodium reduces the affinity but not the maximal extent of this inhibition. Leucine and methionine, but apparently not glutamine, inhibit lysine entry through system y+ with a much lower affinity. 3. The influx of lysine through system y+ changes markedly in response to alterations of membrane potential. In the presence of an inwardly directed negative diffusion potential created by an inwardly directed thiocyanate (SCN-) gradient, the influx of lysine through this route is accelerated; with an inwardly directed positive potassium diffusion potential, lysine influx through this route is reduced. The influx of lysine through system y+L is much less sensitive to such alterations of potential. 4. Analysis of the kinetic constants characterizing system y+ shows that with a change of potential from zero to negative (approximately -60 mV) the maximum velocity (Vmax) is roughly doubled and the half-saturation constant (Km) halved leading to a 4-fold increase in permeability. For system y+L smaller changes are seen and Km does not change; the resulting increase in y+L permeability is 1.5-fold. 5. These findings are discussed with respect both to the mechanism of membrane transport and placental epithelial function.

Cationic amino acid transport in human T lymphocytes is markedly increased in the CD45RA, CD8+ population after activation

Membrane transport of cationic amino acids is essential for cells which are actively metabolizing L-arginine or L-lysine. In human cells most of this transport occurs through y+, a transport system which is only now being characterized at the molecular level. We have previously shown that phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of peripheral blood E rosette positive (T) lymphocytes specifically activated lysine transport through system y+, whereas Staphlyococcus aureus Cowan A (SAC) stimulation of the E rosette negative fraction did not. We have now analysed this effect in PHA-activated CD4, CD8, CD45RO and CD45RA T-cell subsets. Both PHA-activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have increased lysine transport through y+, and in seven out of eight experiments, more activity was seen in the CD8+ fraction. In contrast, marked differences in y+ activity were seen between the PHA-activated CD45RO and CD45RA subsets. Thus in six experiments y+ activity was markedly increased in the CD45RA (naive T cell) population but not in the CD45RO (memory) cells. In one further experiment the activated CD45RO, CD4- population (enriched for CD45RA+, CD8+) was studied and y+ activity was shown to be maximal in this cell subset. Transport of arginine is essential for nitric oxide synthesis. Our findings therefore suggest that activated CD45RA, CD8+ T cells are capable of nitric oxide production.

Identification and properties of pathways for K+ transport in guinea-pig and rat alveolar epithelial type II cells

86Rb+ was used to study potassium uptake and efflux in type II pneumocytes freshly isolated from adult guinea-pig and rat lung. Both species exhibited a substantial ouabain-sensitive component of potassium influx. In rats, most of the ouabain-resistant influx was abolished by bumetanide and removal of extracellular chloride elicited no further effect. In contrast, only a proportion of the ouabain-insensitive uptake was inhibitable by bumetanide in guinea-pigs and this species showed an additional component of influx, which was chloride dependent and which was reduced by either the K(+)-H(+)-ATPase inhibitor, omeprazole, or by the stilbene derivative, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonate (DIDS). The chloride-dependent component was also apparent in efflux experiments in guinea-pigs, but was absent in rats. Ouabain-insensitive ATPase activity was assayed in highly purified apical membranes from guinea-pig type II pneumocytes. This activity was inhibitable by omeprazole (apparent inhibition constant, Ki, was approximately 40 microM), was potassium dependent (apparent activation constant, Ka, was approximately 200 microM) and was doubled by the addition of nigericin. While potassium transport in rat type II cells is adequately accounted for by Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransport, our data suggest the additional presence of K(+)-Cl- cotransport and K(+)-H(+)-ATPase in guinea-pig type II pneumocytes. A model of how alveolar subphase acidification may occur is proposed.

Tripeptide transport in rat lung

Transport of L-alanyl-D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine was investigated with an in situ vascular perfusion preparation of rat lung and brush border membrane vesicles prepared from type II pneumocytes. In the perfused lung 1 mM tripeptide was transported intact from the alveolar lumen to the vascular perfusate at a mean rate of 25.1 +/- 1.29 (3) nmol/min per g dry weight. D-Phenylalanine also appeared in the vascular perfusate at a rate of 21.9 +/- 1.74 (3) nmol/min per g dry weight indicating that 47% of the absorbed tripeptide was split during passage across the epithelial layer. No dipeptide could be detected in the vascular effluent during perfusions with tripeptide. Rapid L-alanyl-D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine uptake occurred with fresh apical membrane vesicles prepared from type II pneumocytes and this was abolished by treatment with 0.1% triton. The related tripeptide, D-alanyl-L-phenylalanyl-D-alanine, was taken up significantly more slowly by the vesicles. D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine and D-phenylalanyl-D-alanine, were also studied with the vascularly perfused preparation; the mixed dipeptide appeared in the vascular perfusate significantly faster than L-alanyl-D-phenylalanyl-L-alanine whereas D-phenylalanyl-D-alanine appeared more slowly and was not hydrolysed.

Cell surface receptor for ecotropic host-range mouse retroviruses: a cationic amino acid transporter

The cell surface receptor for ecotropic host-range murine leukemia viruses is a sodium-independent transporter for essential cationic acids. Our evidence strongly identifies this receptor as the transporter system y+, which was previously characterized by transport assays. Mutational analysis indicates that transporter activity is not necessary for viral reception. Infection of cells with ecotropic retroviruses causes only a partial down-modulation of receptor expression on cell surfaces.

Anion exchange in type II pneumocytes freshly isolated from adult guinea-pig lung

We have studied chloride influx and efflux in a highly purified preparation of type II cells freshly isolated from adult guinea-pig lung using 36Cl-. Chloride uptake was time-dependent, saturable (Km < 10 mM) and was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS; Ki approximately 80 microM). In the absence of external chloride (substituted by gluconate), 36Cl- uptake exhibited an overshoot above equilibrium. The rate of 36Cl- entry was strongly inhibited by addition of external nitrate; sulphate was a weaker inhibitor. 36Cl- efflux was stimulated by external bromide > bicarbonate > or = chloride > or = citrate; and was inhibited by propionate > acetate > oxalate. Although the "chloride channel blocker" 4-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoate (0.14 mM) caused an inhibition, 36Cl- influx did not appear to be electrogenic. These data are compatible with the existence of a substantial electroneutral anion-exchange pathway for chloride transport in freshly isolated adult type II pneumocytes.

Pathways for glucose transport in type II pneumocytes freshly isolated from adult guinea pig lung

Previous in vivo studies of sugar transport across the mature pulmonary epithelium have provided evidence for the existence of a specific phlorizin-inhibitable, sodium-dependent transport process for D-glucose, although no direct evidence for the cellular location of this transport system in fresh cells has been shown to date. With the use of elastase digestion and lectin agglutination, a pure preparation of type II alveolar epithelial cells was isolated from adult guinea pig lung. This preparation always contained >90% type II cells and typically showed approximately 85% cell viability 2-3 h after the isolation procedure had begun. At 37 degrees C, cells showed specific [3H]phlorizin binding that was attenuated by D-glucose and completely abolished by sodium replacement. Substantial accumulation of the hexose [14C]methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (14C-labeled AMG), a substrate specific for the sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter was found in the presence of extracellular sodium; this accumulation above equilibrium was abolished on removal of sodium, addition of phlorizin, or in the presence of a saturating concentration (69 mM) of D-glucose. The apparent inhibition constant (Ki) for glucose inhibition of AMG uptake was 0.4 mM and for phlorizin, 0.5 microM. The Hill plot of sodium activation of AMG uptake gave a coefficient of 2.8, suggesting cooperativeness between sodium and AMG transport. 3-O-[14C]methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG) transport was also blocked by phlorizin. Phloretin, in the presence of phlorizin, slowed the initial rate of entry but did not affect the equilibrium that was attained in the presence of phlorizin alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)