On the molecular mechanism of facilitated oxygen diffusion by haemoglobin and myoglobin.
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The mechanism of release mediated by the human dopamine and norepinephrine transporter (DAT and NET, respectively) was studied by a superfusion technique in human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably transfected with the respective transporter cDNA and loaded with the metabolically inert substrate [(3)H]1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. Release was induced by amphetamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine or by lowering the sodium or chloride concentration in the superfusion buffer (iso-osmotic replacement by lithium and isethionate, respectively). Efflux of [(3)H]1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium was analyzed at 30-s time resolution. In both transporters, release induced by the substrates amphetamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine followed the same time course as release induced by the removal of chloride and was faster than that caused by the removal of sodium. In the presence of low sodium (DAT: 10 mM; NET: 5 mM) none of the substrates was able to induce release from either type of cell, but adding back sodium to control conditions promptly restored the releasing action. In the presence of low chloride (DAT: 3 mM; NET: 2 mM), however, amphetamine as well as the catecholamines stimulated release from both types of cell. In contrast with the ion dependence of release observed in superfusion experiments, uptake initial rates of substrates at concentrations used in release experiments were the same or even higher at low sodium than at low chloride. The results indicate a decisive role of extracellular sodium for carrier-mediated release unrelated to the sodium-dependent uptake of the releasing substrate, and suggest a release mechanism different from simple exchange diffusion considering only the amines as substrates.
The calcium flux through an aqueous compartment was determined using a flow-through dialysis cell in which two dialysis membranes isolated the aqueous compartment. Addition of the intestinal vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (CaBP) significantly enhanced the calcium flux at near physiological calcium concentrations (1 X 10(-6) M). Bovine serum albumin had no effect on the calcium flux. CaBP appears to be one of a class of low molecular weight, soluble binding proteins that enhance ligand diffusion.
The system of renal Ca transport in the rat is modeled in terms of two classes of processes: a nonsaturable flux that predominates in the proximal tubule, and an active, vitamin D-dependent flux with major expression in the distal convoluted tubule. There transport is against an electrochemical gradient, with much of the efflux probably mediated by the Ca/Mg-ATPase. Calculations of the rate of free Ca diffusion in tubular cells indicate that an unaided flux would be only one-seventy-seventh of that found experimentally. It is suggested that the vitamin D-induced renal calcium binding protein, CaBPr, Mr approximately 28,000, in raising total cellular calcium by three orders of magnitude, increases the transcellular Ca flux and thus the free intracellular Ca ion concentration at the basolateral pole, allowing the Ca/Mg-ATPase to function near its maximum. Analysis of the rate of nonsaturable Ca flux throughout the kidney tubule suggests a paracellular pathway via bulk flow, following water that is driven osmotically. Evaluation of whole animal data in terms of these two classes of calcium fluxes indicates that our model is consistent with experimental observations and assigns a functional role to active calcium transport.
Oxygen transport from capillaries to exercising skeletal muscle is studied by use of a Krogh-type cylinder model. The goal is to predict oxygen consumption under conditions of high demand, on the basis of a consideration of transport processes occurring at the microvascular level. Effects of the decline in oxygen content of blood flowing along capillaries, intravascular resistance to oxygen diffusion, and myoglobin-facilitated diffusion are included. Parameter values are based on human skeletal muscle. The dependence of oxygen consumption on oxygen demand, perfusion, and capillary density are examined. When demand is moderate, the tissue is well oxygenated and consumption is slightly less than demand. When demand is high, capillary oxygen content declines rapidly with axial distance and radial oxygen transport is limited by diffusion resistance within the capillary and the tissue. Under these conditions, much of the tissue is hypoxic, consumption is substantially less than demand, and consumption is strongly dependent on capillary density. Predicted consumption rates are comparable with experimentally observed maximal rates of oxygen consumption.
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Our previous in vitro studies have disclosed that the thin ascending limb of Henle (tALH) possesses some unique membrane characteristics. In those studies we failed to demonstrated active transport of sodium chloride by the tALH, although it was shown that the isotopic permeability to sodium and chloride was unusually high. However, we did not examine the mechanisms by which the apparent high permeation of sodium chloride occurs. Thus the purpose of the present studies was to elucidate the mechanism of sodium chloride transport across the isolated tALH of the rabbit by conducting four different types of studies: (1) comparison of the observed chloride and sodium flux ratios to those predicted by Ussing's equation under imposed salt concentration gradients; (2) kinetic evaluation of chloride and sodium fluxes; (3) examination of the effect of bromide on the kinetics of chloride transport; and (4) experiments to test for the existence of exchange diffusion of chloride. In the first set of studies the predicted and the theoretical flux ratios of sodium were identical in those experiments in which sodium chloride was added either to the perfusate or to the bath. However, the observed chloride flux ratio, lumen-to-bath/bath-to-lumen, was significantly lower than that predicted from Ussing's equation when 100 mM sodium chloride was added to the bath. In the second set of experiments the apparent isotopic permeability for sodium and for chloride was measured under varying perfusate and bath NaCl concentrations. There was no statistical change in the apparent sodium permeability coefficient when the NaCl concentration was raised by varying increments from 85.5 to 309.5 mM. However, permeation of 36Cl decrease significantly with an increase in Cl from 73.6 to 598.6 mM. These events could be explained by a two component chloride transport process consisting of simple diffusion and a saturable facilitated diffusion process with a Vmax = 3.71 neq mm-1 min-1. In the third set of studies it was shown that bromide inhibits transport of chloride and that the magnitude of inhibition is dependent on chloride concentrations. The fourth set of studies ruled out the existence of exchange diffusion. In conclusion, these studies indicate that sodium transport across tALH is by simple passive diffusion, while chloride transport across tALH involves at least two mechanisms: (1) simple passive diffusion; and (2) a specific membrane interaction process (carrier-mediated) which is competitively inhibited by bromide.
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BACKGROUND: Vasoconstriction has been an obstacle to clinical development of Hb-based O2 carriers. It is proposed that this limitation can be overcome by increasing molecular size and oxygen affinity. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Surface-modified Hb (MP4) was designed, whose properties are consistent with the theory that cell-free Hb engages autoregulatory vasoconstrictive responses to Hb diffusion in the plasma space ("facilitated diffusion"). Human Hb was modified by reaction first with 2-iminothiolane to add sulfhydryl groups and then with monofunctional maleimide- activated 5-kDa PEG. RESULTS: MP4 was found to have a molecular weight of 90 kDa, a molecular radius increased relative to native Hb (9.3 +/- 1.4 vs. 3.2 nm), high oxygen affinity (p50 approximately 5-6 mmHg), and a Bohr effect approximately half that of native human Hb (-0.24Deltalogp50/DeltapH). At 4.2 g per dL in Ringer's lactate, its viscosity was 2.5 cP, and its oncotic pressure was 50 mmHg. The t50 of 14C-MP4 in rats was approximately 24 hours. No significant elevation in mean arterial pressure was observed. CONCLUSION: MP4 appears to be free of a pressor effect, a major limitation to the development of a safe and effective RBC substitutes in the past.
The cryosensitivity of mammalian embryos depends on the stage of development. Because permeability to water and cryoprotectants plays an important role in cryopreservation, it is plausible that the permeability is involved in the difference in the tolerance to cryopreservation among embryos at different developmental stages. In this study, we examined the permeability to water and glycerol of mouse oocytes and embryos, and tried to deduce the pathway for the movement of water and glycerol. The water permeability (L(P), microm min(-1) atm(-1)) of oocytes and four-cell embryos at 25 degrees C was low (0.63-0.70) and its Arrhenius activation energy (E(a), kcal/mol) was high (11.6-12.3), which implies that the water permeates through the plasma membrane by simple diffusion. On the other hand, the L(p) of morulae and blastocysts was quite high (3.6-4.5) and its E(a) was quite low (5.1-6.3), which implies that the water moves through water channels. Aquaporin inhibitors, phloretin and p-(chloromercuri) benzene-sulfonate, reduced the L(p) of morulae significantly but not that of oocytes. By immunocytochemical analysis, aquaporin 3, which transports not only water but also glycerol, was detected in the morulae but not in the oocytes. Accordingly, the glycerol permeability (P(GLY), x 10(-3) cm/min) of oocytes was also low (0.01) and its E(a) was remarkably high (41.6), whereas P(GLY) of morulae was quite high (4.63) and its E(a) was low (10.0). Aquaporin inhibitors reduced the P(GLY) of morulae significantly. In conclusion, water and glycerol appear to move across the plasma membrane mainly by simple diffusion in oocytes but by facilitated diffusion through water channel(s) including aquaporin 3 in morulae.
Zymomonas mobilis is known to transport glucose by a facilitated diffusion process. A putative glucose facilitator gene (glf), closely related to a large family of glucose transporters, is located in a cluster of genes that code for enzymes of glucose metabolism. The Z. mobilis glf gene is able to complement glucose transport in an Escherichia coli strain that is defective in native glucose transport and glucokinase. In this study, the recombinant E. coli was shown to be capable of influx counterflow when preloaded with glucose and had an apparent Km for glucose of approximately 1.1-2.9 mM, consistent with the function of Glf as a low-affinity glucose facilitator. The ability of glucokinase mutants expressing glf to transport glucose made it clear that glucokinase activity was not required for Glf-dependent glucose transport. The possibility that glucokinase can interact with Glf to improve the affinity for glucose was not supported since expression of the Z. mobilis glucokinase gene, in addition to glf, did not affect the Km of Glf for glucose in recombinant E. coli. The inability of various sugars to compete with glucose during glucose transport by recombinant E. coli expressing glf indicated that Glf is specific for glucose. While the results of fructose transport assays did not completely rule out the possibility of very low affinity for fructose, the apparent specificity of Glf for glucose makes it possible that Z. mobilis utilizes a different transporter(s) for fructose.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) in one cerebral hemisphere of rabbit was damaged by the ipsilateral infusion of hypertonic (3 Molar) urea into the carotid artery. Using the indicator diffusion technique, the clearance of the glycine (by simple diffusion) and phenylalanine molecule (by facilitated diffusion) was enhanced in the urea infused cerebral hemisphere. The experimental methodology is a nondestructive and sensitive method for evaluating the integrity of the BBB.
Methods for the regulatory assessment of the bioaccumulation potential of organic chemicals are founded on empirical measurements and mechanistic models of dietary absorption and biomagnification. This study includes a review of the current state of knowledge regarding mechanisms and models of intestinal absorption and biomagnification of organic chemicals in organisms of aquatic and terrestrial food chains and also includes a discussion of the implications of these models for assessing the bioaccumulation potential of organic chemicals. Four mechanistic models, including biomass conversion, digestion or gastrointestinal magnification, micelle-mediated diffusion, and fat-flush diffusion, are evaluated. The models contain many similarities and represent an evolution in understanding of chemical bioaccumulation processes. An important difference between the biomagnification models is whether intestinal absorption of an ingested contaminant occurs solely via passive molecular diffusion through serial resistances or via facilitated diffusion that incorporates an additional advective transport mechanism in parallel (i.e., molecular ferrying within gastrointestinal micelles). This difference has an effect on the selection of physicochemical properties that best anticipate the bioaccumulative potential of commercial chemicals in aquatic and terrestrial food chains. Current regulatory initiatives utilizing Kow threshold criteria to assess chemical bioaccumulation potential are shown to be unable to identify certain bioaccumulative substances in air-breathing animals. We urge further research on dietary absorption and biomagnification of organic chemicals to develop better models for assessing the bioaccumulative nature of organic chemicals.
Transmission of energetic signals to membrane sensors, such as the ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel, is vital for cellular adaptation to stress. Yet, cell compartmentation implies diffusional hindrances that hamper direct reception of cytosolic energetic signals. With high intracellular ATP levels, KATP channels may sense not bulk cytosolic, but rather local submembrane nucleotide concentrations set by membrane ATPases and phosphotransfer enzymes. Here, we analyzed the role of adenylate kinase and creatine kinase phosphotransfer reactions in energetic signal transmission over the strong diffusional barrier in the submembrane compartment, and translation of such signals into a nucleotide response detectable by KATP channels. Facilitated diffusion provided by creatine kinase and adenylate kinase phosphotransfer dissipated nucleotide gradients imposed by membrane ATPases, and shunted diffusional restrictions. Energetic signals, simulated as deviation of bulk ATP from its basal level, were amplified into an augmented nucleotide response in the submembrane space due to failure under stress of creatine kinase to facilitate nucleotide diffusion. Tuning of creatine kinase-dependent amplification of the nucleotide response was provided by adenylate kinase capable of adjusting the ATP/ADP ratio in the submembrane compartment securing adequate KATP channel response in accord with cellular metabolic demand. Thus, complementation between creatine kinase and adenylate kinase systems, here predicted by modeling and further supported experimentally, provides a mechanistic basis for metabolic sensor function governed by alterations in intracellular phosphotransfer fluxes.
Preimplantation mouse embryos utilize pyruvate preferentially during the early cleavage stages before switching to glucose at around the time of compaction. This switch in substrate preference has been studied using a non-invasive ultramicrofluorometric analytical technique on single mouse embryos. On the basis of transport kinetic studies and inhibition by phloretin, cytochalasin B and sugar analogues, a component of glucose uptake by mouse blastocysts was found to be mediated by facilitated diffusion. The Jmax and Kt of this facilitated component were 3.53 pmol embryo-1 h-1 and 0.14 mM, respectively. At physiological concentrations of glucose, the facilitated component accounts for around 75% of glucose uptake. Glucose uptake by blastocysts was found to be insensitive to insulin, added at a range of concentrations. There was no evidence for glucose active transport. The carrier-mediated component of glucose entry was detectable from the 2-cell stage onwards. Pyruvate uptake was also mediated by a carrier throughout development. In the absence of glucose in the incubation medium, the characteristic decline in pyruvate uptake does not occur. The data are consistent with a role for embryonic cell transport in regulating glucose utilization prior to compaction, but do not exclude the involvement of metabolic factors, such as the allosteric regulation of the enzymes hexokinase and phosphofructokinase.