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B Stieger

Publications and source records attributed to B Stieger.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

In situ localization of the hepatocytic Na+/Taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide in rat liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp) has recently been cloned from rat liver. The aim of this study was to directly characterize the native Ntcp on the protein level and study its in situ distribution in rat liver. METHODS: A rabbit antiserum was raised against a fusion protein containing the maltose-binding protein and the C terminus of Ntcp. Native Ntcp was localized in situ by immunofluorescent techniques. Expression of Ntcp was directly correlated with taurocholate uptake measurements in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. RESULTS: Native Ntcp showed an apparent molecular weight of 51,000. After deglycosylation of isolated basolateral rat liver plasma membranes, the apparent molecular weight of Ntcp decreased to 33,500. In intact rat liver, Ntcp was selectively localized at the basolateral surface domain of hepatocytes. In short-term cultured hepatocytes, a positive surface immunoreaction was only obtained in detergent-permeabilized cell cultures. In stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, the surface expression of immunopositive Ntcp was associated with Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake activity. CONCLUSIONS: Native Ntcp represents a glycoprotein of the basolateral hepatocyte plasma membrane with its C-terminal end facing the intracellular compartment. Furthermore, surface expression of Ntcp is a prerequisite for Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake to occur, thus providing further proof for its bile acid transport function in rat liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effect of obstructive cholestasis on membrane traffic and domain-specific expression of plasma membrane proteins in rat liver parenchymal cells.

We investigated the effect of bile duct ligation and its release on membrane traffic and plasma membrane protein distribution in rat hepatocytes. Immunofluorescence studies with monoclonal antibodies against six domain-specific surface antigens revealed that bile duct ligation leads to an accumulation of pericanalicular vesicles containing canalicular antigens. All apical antigens could be demonstrated in the basolateral plasma membrane, whereas only one out of three basolateral antigens redistributed to the canalicular plasma membrane. After release of bile duct ligation, the accumulated pericanalicular vesicles disappeared within minutes, whereas the plasma membrane polarity was not restored within 1 hr. Monitoring secretion of polymeric IgA and horseradish peroxidase into bile demonstrated that bile duct ligation also inhibits the transcytotic vesicle pathway and severely impairs the function of tight junctions. In contrast, bile duct ligation appears not to affect the endoplasmic reticulum to basolateral membrane traffic as assessed by determination of newly synthesized albumin and transferrin in serum nor does it influence receptor mediated endocytosis at the basolateral plasma membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Expression and characterization of a functional rat liver Na+ bile acid cotransport system in COS-7 cells.

A cDNA for the rat liver sodium-dependent bile acid cotransporter was expressed in COS-7 cells to study the functional properties of the translated protein in a mammalian cell line. A 1.2-kb insert was ligated into a pMAMneo vector and transiently transfected using electroporation. After optimal conditions were established, the transiently transfected COS cells were screened with fluorescent-conjugated labeled bile acids for evidence of expression of the cotransporter after 48 h. The uptake of [3H]taurocholate ([3H]TC) was then determined in cells transfected with or without the bile acid insert. Progressive uptake of [3H]TC (0.45 microM) was observed for 30 min in the presence of sodium. In contrast, no uptake of [3H]TC was observed in the absence of sodium, in nontransfected COS cells, or in COS cells transfected with the empty plasmid. Kinetic studies revealed a Michaelis constant (Km) of 29 microM, essentially identical to the Km of this cotransporter described in intact rat hepatocytes and membrane vesicles. Uptake of [3H]TC (5.0 microM) at 5 min (n = 3-6) was inhibited by 100 microM taurochenodeoxycholic acid (81%), tauroursodeoxycholic acid (77%), cholic acid (55%), chenodeoxycholic acid (74%), and ursodeoxycholic acid (56%) but not by 100 microM taurodehydrocholate, 1 mM probenecid, or 100 microM bilirubin. In contrast, bumetanide (500 microM) inhibited [3H]TC uptake by 52%. These studies indicate that the isolated cDNA codes for a physiological bile acid transporter present in rat hepatocytes and that posttranslational factors present in mammalian cells may not be as important in defining properties of this cotransport system.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Apical and basolateral parathyroid hormone receptors in rat renal cortical membranes.

Brush border (BBM) and basolateral membranes (BLM) of rat renal cortical cells separated by free flow electrophoresis revealed two distinct peaks of BBM-specific leucine aminopeptidase and Na+/K(+)-ATPase for BLM. PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptors were identified in BBM and BLM. Specific binding of 125 pM [125I]chicken [Tyr36]-PTHrP-(1-36)amide [chPTHrP-(1-36)] to individual fractions of membranes separated by free flow electrophoresis overlapped with the leucine aminopeptidase and Na+/K(+)-ATPase profiles. Binding to pooled BBM was 53 +/- 5% (mean +/- SEM) of that to BLM (P < 0.01). In BBM and BLM, half-maximal inhibition of binding was obtained with 0.4-0.9 nM chPTHrP-(1-36) and 0.2-0.6 nM rat PTH-(1-34). Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S; 100 microM) lowered chPTHrP-(1-36) binding to 50% of control levels, and half-maximal inhibition of binding was obtained with 480 and 8 nM GTP gamma S in BBM and BLM, respectively. Cross-linking of the PTH/PTHrP receptors with [125I]chPTHrP-(1-36) modified with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate revealed indistinguishable doublets of 83 and 73 kilodaltons in both BBM and BLM. Adenylyl cyclase was stimulated 6- and 10-fold by chPTHrP-(1-36) and GTP gamma S, respectively, in BLM and 1.3- and 1.9-fold in BBM. In conclusion, PTH receptors were recognized in both the basolateral and brush border membranes. Different receptor coupling to G-proteins and minimal cAMP stimulation in BBM provide evidence for PTH/PTHrP receptor isotypes and/or different postreceptor activation in BBM and BLM.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1994

Functional characterization of the basolateral rat liver organic anion transporting polypeptide.

To characterize the transport functions of a recently cloned basolateral organic anion transporting polypeptide of rat hepatocytes we performed further kinetic transport and substrate cis-inhibition studies in organic anion-transporting polypeptide-cRNA injected Xenopus laevis oocytes. The studies demonstrate saturable Na(+)-independent sulfobromophthalein (Michaelis-Menten constant, 1.5 mumol/L) and taurocholate (Michaelis-Menten constant, 50 mumol/L) uptake by organic anion-transporting polypeptide. Sulfobromophthalein uptake was inhibited by the following organic anions: 0.01 mmol/L bilirubin (43%), 0.1 mmol/L indocyanine green (81%), 0.1 mmol/L 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS; 52%) and 1 mmol/L probenecid (74%). Competitive inhibition was shown for indocyanine green (inhibition constant about 1.3 mumol/L). Sulfobromophthalein and taurocholate uptakes were also inhibited by cholate, chenodeoxycholate, deoxycholate and ursodeoxycholate, as well as their glycine and taurine conjugates. Organic anion-transporting polypeptide also mediated uptake of glycocholate, tauroursodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate. No cis-inhibition of sulfobromophthalein uptake was seen in the presence of ATP, para-aminohippuric acid, bumetanide, digitoxin, reduced glutathione, leukotriene C4, nicotinic acid, ouabain, oxalate, rifampicin, succinate or sulfate. Furthermore, radioactively labeled para-aminohippuric acid, alpha-ketoglutarate and reduced glutathione were not taken up by organic anion-transporting polypeptide in cRNA-injected frog oocytes. These data confirm that organic anion-transporting polypeptide represents a novel hepatocellular organic anion uptake system that can mediate Na(+)-independent transport of monovalent (e.g., bile acids) and divalent (e.g., sulfobromophthalein and indocyanine green) cholephilic organic anions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Evidence for the presence of a phosphatidylcholine translocator in isolated rat liver canalicular plasma membrane vesicles.

In the present study we used the water-soluble short chain phosphatidylcholine analogue L-alpha-dibutyryl-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (diC4PC) to investigate the mechanism involved in the canalicular secretion of phospholipids in rat liver. Uptake of 14C-labeled di-C4PC was studied in isolated microsomes as well as in basolateral (sinusoidal) and canalicular plasma membrane vesicles. Saturable uptake of diC4PC into an osmotically active space was observed in microsomes and canalicular membrane vesicles. In contrast, diC4PC uptake into basolateral membrane vesicles could be accounted for by cross-contamination with endoplasmic reticulum and canalicular membrane vesicles. Whereas the Km values for diC4PC uptake (37 degrees C) were similar in microsomes (7.4 +/- 2.6 mM) and canalicular membrane vesicles (8.2 +/- 2.0 mM), the Vmax values were approximately 2-fold higher in canalicular membrane vesicles (29.6 +/- 2.7 nmol/mg of protein x min) than in microsomes (16.7 +/- 2.1 nmol/mg of protein x min). Furthermore, Pronase treatment of the membrane vesicles reduced diC4PC uptake by 34-54% in both subfractions, whereas the D-[14C]glucose-accessible water space was only reduced by approximately 20%. These data provide direct evidence for the presence of a protein-mediated phosphatidylcholine translocating activity in the canalicular membrane of rat hepatocytes. This canalicular "flippase" has kinetic properties similar to those described previously in microsomes and provides a potential pathway for the translocation of bile salt dissolvable biliary phospholipids to the exoplasmic leaflet of the canalicular membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Phylogenic and ontogenic expression of hepatocellular bile acid transport.

The phylogenic and ontogenic expression of mRNA for the Na+/bile acid cotransporter was determined by Northern analysis utilizing a full-length cDNA probe recently cloned from rat liver. mRNA was detected in several mammalian species, including rat, mouse, and man, but could not be found in livers from nonmammalian species, including chicken, turtle, frog, and small skate. When expression of the bile acid transporter in developing rat liver was studied, mRNA was detected between 18 and 21 days of gestation, at the time when Na(+)-dependent bile acid transport is first detected. Two hepatoma cell lines (HTC and HepG2), the latter of which is known to have lost the Na+/bile acid cotransport system, also did not express mRNA for this transporter. Finally, when mRNA from the lower vertebrate (the small skate) was injected into Xenopus oocytes, only a sodium-independent, chloride-dependent transport system for bile acids was expressed, confirming the integrity of the mRNA and consistent with prior functional studies of bile acid transport in this species. These findings establish that the Na+/bile acid cotransport mRNA is first transcribed in mammalian species, a process that is recapitulated late during mammalian fetal development in rat liver, and that this mRNA is lost in dedifferentiated hepatocytes. In contrast, the mRNA for a multispecific Na+/independent organic anion transport system is transcribed earlier in vertebrate evolution.

Aging↗
PubMed1993

Ethinylestradiol treatment induces multiple canalicular membrane transport alterations in rat liver.

We investigated the effects of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol treatment of rats on various transport functions in isolated basolateral and canalicular liver plasma membrane vesicles. Both membrane subfractions were purified to a similar degree from control and cholestatic livers. Although moderate membrane lipid alterations were predominantly observed in basolateral vesicles, no change in basolateral Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity was found. Furthermore, while Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake was decreased by approximately 40% in basolateral vesicles, the maximal velocity of ATP-dependent taurocholate transport was decreased by 63% in canalicular membranes. In contrast, only minimal changes or no changes at all were observed for electrogenic taurocholate transport in "cholestatic" canalicular membranes and total microsomes, respectively. However, canalicular vesicles from cholestatic livers also exhibited marked reductions in ATP-dependent transport of S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione and in Na(+)-dependent uptake of adenosine, while in the same vesicles HCO3-/SO4- exchange and Na+/glycine cotransport activities were markedly stimulated. These data show that in addition to the previously demonstrated sinusoidal transport abnormalities ethinylestradiol-induced cholestasis is also associated with multiple canalicular membrane transport alterations in rat liver. Hence, functional transport alterations at both polar surface domains might ultimately be responsible for the inhibitory effects of estrogens on the organic anion excretory capacity and on bile formation in rat liver.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1993

Parallel decrease of Na(+)-taurocholate cotransport and its encoding mRNA in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the progressive loss of Na(+)-dependent bile salt uptake in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. A specific cDNA probe was used to quantitate the levels of mRNA encoding the Na(+)-taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide at various culture times. Hepatocytes were cultured on collagen in the presence of insulin (10(-7) mol/L), dexamethasone (10(-7) mol/L) and 10% fetal calf serum for up to 72 hr. During this time period the dissociation constant of Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake remained stable (19 to 39 mumol/L), whereas the maximum velocity values decreased from 100% at 3 hr to 55%, 22% and 4% at 24, 48 and 72 hr, respectively. Concomitantly the levels of the Na(+)-taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide mRNA also decreased from 100% at 3 hr to 41%, 24% and 4% at the later time points. In contrast, Northern hybridization with complementary DNA probes for three common housekeeping gene products revealed a 1.8- to 3.4-fold increase in the levels of mRNA encoding the alpha-subunit of the Na+K(+)-ATPase, beta-actin and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. These data indicate that the loss of Na(+)-dependent bile salt uptake in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes is caused by decreased levels of its specific mRNA. Hence the studies further confirm that without specific measures (primary) cultured rat hepatocytes reverse their liver-specific phenotype to a more fetal pattern of gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

ATP-dependent bile-salt transport in canalicular rat liver plasma-membrane vesicles.

The present study identifies and characterizes a novel ATP-dependent bile-salt transport system in isolated canalicular rat liver plasma-membrane (cLPM) vesicles. ATP (1-5 mM) stimulated taurocholate uptake into cLPM vesicles between 6- and 8-fold above equilibrium uptake values (overshoot) and above values for incubations in the absence of ATP. The ATP-dependent portion of taurocholate uptake was 2-fold higher in the presence of equilibrated KNO3 as compared with potassium gluconate, indicating that the stimulatory effect of ATP was not due to the generation of an intravesicular positive membrane potential. Saturation kinetics revealed a very high affinity (Km approximately 2.1 microM) of the system for taurocholate. The system could only minimally be stimulated by nucleotides other than ATP. Furthermore, it was preferentially inhibited by conjugated univalent bile salts. Further strong inhibitory effects were observed with valinomycin, oligomycin, 4,4'-di-isothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene disulphonate, sulphobromophthalein, leukotriene C4 and N-ethylmaleimide, whereas nigericin, vanadate, GSH, GSSG and daunomycin exerted only weak inhibitory effects or none at all. These results indicate the presence of a high-affinity primary ATP-dependent bile-salt transport system in cLPM vesicles. This transport system might be regulated in vivo by the number of carriers present at the perspective transport site(s), which, in addition to the canalicular membrane, might also include pericanalicular membrane vesicles.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

5'nucleotidase is sorted to the apical domain of hepatocytes via an indirect route.

In hepatocytes, all newly synthesized plasma membrane (PM) proteins so far studied arrive first at the basolateral domain; apically destined proteins are subsequently endocytosed and sorted to the apical domain via transcytosis. A mechanism for the sorting of newly synthesized glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked proteins has been proposed whereby they associate in lipid microdomains in the trans-Golgi network and then arrive at the apical domain directly. Such a mechanism poses a potential exception to the hepatocyte rule. We have used pulse-chase techniques in conjunction with subcellular fractionation to compare the trafficking of 5' nucleotidase (5NT), an endogenous GPI-anchored protein of hepatocytes, with two transmembrane proteins. Using a one-step fractionation technique to separate a highly enriched fraction of Golgi-derived membranes from ER and PM, we find that both 5NT and the polymeric IgA receptor (pIgAR) traverse the ER and Golgi apparatus with high efficiency. Using a method that resolves PM vesicles derived from the apical and basolateral domains, we find that 5NT first appears at the basolateral domain as early as 30 min of chase. However the subsequent redistribution to the apical domain requires > 3.5 h of chase to reach steady state. This rate of transcytosis is much slower than that observed for dipeptidylpeptidase IV, an apical protein anchored via a single transmembrane domain. We propose that the slow rate of transcytosis is related to the fact that GPI-linked proteins are excluded from clathrin-coated pits/vesicles, and instead must be endocytosed via a slower nonclathrin pathway.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1991

Functional expression cloning and characterization of the hepatocyte Na+/bile acid cotransport system.

Liver parenchymal cells continuously extract high amounts of bile acids from portal blood plasma. This uptake process is mediated by a Na+/bile acid cotransport system. A cDNA encoding the rat liver bile acid uptake system has been isolated by expression cloning in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The cloned transporter is strictly sodium-dependent and can be inhibited by various non-bile-acid organic compounds. Sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed an open reading frame of 1086 nucleotides coding for a protein of 362 amino acids (calculated molecular mass 39 kDa) with five possible N-linked glycosylation sites and seven putative transmembrane domains. Translation experiments in vitro and in oocytes indicate that the transporter is indeed glycosylated and that its polypeptide backbone has an apparent molecular mass of 33-35 kDa. Northern blot analysis with the cloned probe revealed crossreactivity with mRNA species from rat kidney and intestine as well as from liver tissues of mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, and man.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Expression of the hepatocellular chloride-dependent sulfobromophthalein uptake system in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The expression of the basolateral chloride-activated organic anion uptake system of rat hepatocytes has been studied in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Injection of oocytes with rat liver poly(A)+RNA resulted in the functional expression of chloride-dependent sulfobromophthalein (BSP) uptake within 3-5 d. This expressed chloride-dependent BSP uptake system exhibited saturation kinetics (apparent Km approximately 6.2 microM) and efficiently extracted BSP from its binding sites on BSA. Furthermore, the chloride-activated portion of BSP uptake was inhibited by bilirubin (10 microM; inhibition 53%), 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS, 100 microM; 80%), taurocholate (100 microM; 80%), and cholate (200 microM; 95%). In contrast to results with total rat liver mRNA, injection of mRNA derived from the Na+/bile acid cotransporter cDNA (Hagenbuch, B., B. Stieger, M. Foguet, H. Lübbert, and P. J. Meier. 1991. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. In press.) had no effect on BSP uptake into oocytes. Size fractionation of total rat liver mRNA revealed that a 2.0- to 3.5-kb size-class mRNA was sufficient to express the hepatic chloride-dependent BSP uptake system. These data indicate that "expression cloning" in oocytes represents a promising approach to ultimately clone the cDNA coding for the hepatocyte high affinity, chloride-dependent organic anion uptake system. Furthermore, the results confirm that the Na+/bile acid cotransport system does not mediate BSP uptake.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Sphingomyelin synthesis in rat liver occurs predominantly at the cis and medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus.

The intracellular site of sphingomyelin (SM) synthesis was examined in subcellular fractions from rat liver using a radioactive ceramide analog N-([1-14C]hexanoyl)-D-erythro-sphingosine. This lipid readily transferred from a complex with bovine serum albumin to liver fractions without disrupting the membranes, and was metabolized to radioactive SM. To prevent degradation of the newly synthesized SM to ceramide, all experiments were performed in the presence of EDTA to minimize neutral sphingomyelinase activity and at neutral pH to minimize acid sphingomyelinase activity. An intact Golgi apparatus fraction gave an 85-98-fold enrichment of SM synthesis and a 58-83-fold enrichment of galactosyltransferase activity. Controlled trypsin digestion demonstrated that SM synthesis was localized to the lumen of intact Golgi apparatus vesicles. Although small amounts of SM synthesis were detected in plasma membrane and rough microsome fractions, after accounting for contamination by Golgi apparatus membranes, their combined activity contributed less than 13% of the total SM synthesis in rat liver. Subfractions of the Golgi apparatus were obtained and characterized by immunoblotting and biochemical assays using cis/medial (mannosidase II) and trans (sialyltransferase and galactosyltransferase) Golgi apparatus markers. The specific activity of SM synthesis was highest in enriched cis and medial fractions but far lower in a trans fraction. We conclude that SM synthesis in rat liver occurs predominantly in the cis and medial cisternae of the Golgi apparatus and not at the plasma membrane or endoplasmic reticulum as has been previously suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Expression of the hepatocyte Na+/bile acid cotransporter in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The expression of the basolateral Na+/bile acid (taurocholate) cotransport system of rat hepatocytes has been studied in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Injection of rat liver poly(A)+ RNA into the oocytes resulted in the functional expression of Na+ gradient stimulated taurocholate uptake within 3-5 days. This Na(+)-dependent portion of taurocholate uptake exhibited saturation kinetics (apparent Km approximately 91 microM) and could be inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene. Furthermore, the expressed taurocholate transport activity demonstrated similar substrate inhibition and stimulation by low concentrations of bovine serum albumin as the basolateral Na+/bile acid cotransport system previously characterized in intact liver, isolated hepatocytes, and isolated plasma membrane vesicles. Finally, a 1.5- to 3.0-kilobase size-class of mRNA could be identified that was sufficient to express the basolateral Na+/taurocholate uptake system in oocytes. These results demonstrate that "expression cloning" represents a promising approach to ultimately clone the gene and to further characterize the molecular properties of this important hepatocellular membrane transport system.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Endocytosis, recycling, and lysosomal delivery of brush border hydrolases in cultured human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2).

Lysosomes of intestinal epithelial cells in vivo and in culture display strong immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibodies against various brush border enzymes as visualized by immunoelectron microscopy. Novel subcellular fractionation procedures were developed to study, by the pulse-chase technique and by internalization assays, the pathway along which two microvillar hydrolases, sucrase-isomaltase and dipeptidylpeptidase IV, are transported to lysosomes in the differentiated colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2. 7-9% of metabolically labeled sucrase-isomaltase of dipeptidylpeptidase IV were present in lysosomes after 7-8 h of chase as intact complex-glycosylated molecules. Appearance of these enzymes in lysosomes was biphasic. Endocytosis studies with radioiodinated antienzyme monoclonal antibodies (monovalent antigen-binding fragments) and by means of cell surface iodination revealed only slow transport of the enzymes to lysosomes at a low level. However, both enzymes were internalized with different efficiencies and recycled to the cell surface via endosomes. These results suggest that in Caco-2 cells a significant amount of newly synthesized sucrase-isomaltase and dipeptidylpeptidase IV is directly imported into lysosomes bypassing the brush border membrane.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase and plasma membrane polarity of intestinal epithelial cells: presence of a brush border antigen in the distal large intestine that is immunologically related to beta subunit.

The previously produced monoclonal antibody IEC 1/48 against cultured rat intestinal crypt cells (Quaroni, A., and K. J. Isselbacher. 1981. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 67:1353-1362) was extensively characterized and found to be directed against the beta subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase as assessed by immunological and enzymatic criteria. Under nondenaturing conditions the antibody precipitated the alpha-beta enzyme complex (98,000 and 48,000 Mr). This probe, together with the monoclonal antibody C 62.4 against the alpha subunit (Kashgarian, M., D. Biemesderfer, M. Caplan, and B. Forbush. 1985. Kidney Int. 28:899-913), was used to localize (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in epithelial cells along the rat intestinal tract by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Both antibodies exclusively labeled the basolateral membrane of small intestine and proximal colon epithelial cells. However, in the distal colon, IEC 1/48, but not C 62.4, also labeled the brush border membrane. The cross-reacting beta-subunit-like antigen on the apical cell pole was tightly associated with isolated brush borders but was apparently devoid of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. Subcellular fractionation of colonocytes in conjunction with limited proteolysis and surface radioiodination of intestinal segments suggested that the cross-reacting antigen in the brush border may be very similar to the beta subunit. The results support the notion that in the small intestine and proximal colon the enzyme subunits are exclusively targeted to the basolateral membrane while in the distal colon nonassembled beta subunit or a beta-subunit-like protein is also transported to the apical cell pole.

Animals↗