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EmrE, a multidrug transporter from Escherichia coli, transports monovalent and divalent substrates with the same stoichiometry.

Multidrug transporters recognize and transport substrates with apparently little common structural features. At times these substrates are neutral, negatively, or positively charged, and only limited information is available as to how these proteins deal with the energetic consequences of transport of substrates with different charges. Multidrug transporters and drug-specific efflux systems are responsible for clinically significant resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in pathogenic bacteria, fungi, parasites, and human cancer cells. Understanding how these efflux systems handle different substrates may also have practical implications in the development of strategies to overcome the resistance mechanisms mediated by these proteins. Here, we compare transport of monovalent and divalent substrates by EmrE, a multidrug transporter from Escherichia coli, in intact cells and in proteoliposomes reconstituted with the purified protein. The results demonstrated that whereas the transport of monovalent substrates involves charge movement (i.e. electrogenic), the transport of divalent substrate does not (i.e. electroneutral). Together with previous results, these findings suggest that an EmrE dimer exchanges two protons per substrate molecule during each transport cycle. In intact cells, under conditions where the only driving force is the electrical potential, EmrE confers resistance to monovalent substrates but not to divalent ones. In the presence of proton gradients, resistance to both types of substrates is detected. The finding that under some conditions EmrE does not remove certain types of drugs points out the importance of an in-depth understanding of mechanisms of action of multidrug transporters to devise strategies for coping with the problem of multidrug resistance.

Acriflavine↗

Amino acid transport by prosthecae of Asticcacaulis biprosthecum: evidence for a broad-range transport system.

Prosthecae purified from cells of Asticcaulis biprosthecum possess active transport systems that transport all 20 amino acids tested. Using ascorbate-reduced phenazine methosulphate in the presence of oxygen, all 20 amino acids are accumulated against a concentration gradient by isolated prosthecae. Results of experiments testing the inhibition of transport of one amino acid by another, and of experiments testing the exchange of exogenous amino acids with those preloaded in prosthecae, along with characteristics of mutants defective in amino acid transport, suggest the presence in prosthecae of three amino acid transport systems. One, the general or G system, transports at least 18 of the 20 amino acids tested. Another system, referred to as the proline or P system, transports seven amino acids (including proline) that are also transported by the G system. The third system transports only glutamate and aspartate, and is referred to as the acidic amino acid transport system or A system.

Amino Acids↗

Characterization of phosphoenolpyruvate transport across the erythrocyte membrane. Evidence for involvement of band 3 in the transport system.

Phosphoenolpyruvate was found to be transported across the erythrocyte membrane by a carrier-mediated transport system. The transport of phosphoenolpyruvate was competitively inhibited by inorganic phosphate (Ki = 24 mM) and pyridoxal 5-phosphate (Ki = 0.2 mM), whereas the transport was noncompetitively inhibited by L(+)-lactate (Ki = 37 mM). Specific inhibitors for the inorganic anion transport system such as 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid strongly inhibited the phosphoenolpyruvate transport. The transport was irreversibly inhibited by treating erythrocytes with pyridoxal 5-phosphate and NaBH4. Transport activities of phosphoenolpyruvate and inorganic phosphate in the treated cells were similarly inhibited by pyridoxal 5-phosphate depending on its concentrations. 4,4'-Dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid protected both transport activities against the pyridoxal 5-phosphate/NaBH4 treatment. The major integral membrane protein, band 3, was preferentially labelled by treating erythrocytes with pyridoxal 5-phosphate and NaB[3H]H4. The radioactive incorporation into band 3 was confirmed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combining isoelectric focusing in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension. Taken together, these results suggest that band 3 mediates the transport of phosphoenolpyruvate as well as inorganic phosphate.

Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte↗

Heterogeneity of amino acid transport in horse erythrocytes: a detailed kinetic analysis of inherited transport variation.

1. Thoroughbred horses were divisible into five distinct amino acid transport subgroups on the basis of their erythrocyte permeability to L-alanine, measured uptake rates ranging from 5 to 625 mumol l cells-1 h-1 (0.2 mM-extracellular L-alanine, 37 degrees C). 2. Erythrocytes from animals belonging to the lowest L-alanine permeability subgroup (5-15 mumol l cells-1 h-1) (transport-deficient type) exhibited slow nonsaturable transport of this amino acid. In contrast, cells from horses of the four transport-positive subgroups possessed additional high-affinity (apparent L-alanine Km (Michaelis constant) congruent to 0.3 mM) and/or low-affinity (apparent L-alanine Km congruent to 13 mM) Na+-independent transport routes selective for L-neutral amino acids of intermediate size. The two transporters, designated systems asc1 and asc2, respectively, also possessed a significant affinity for dibasic amino acids. 3. Amino acid transport activity in horse erythrocytes behaved as if controlled by three co-dominant alleles (s, h and l), where s is a silent allele, and h and l code for the functional presence of systems asc1 and asc2, respectively. 4. At physiological temperature, system asc1 operated preferentially in an exchange mode. In contrast, system asc2 did not participate in exchange reactions at 37 degrees C, but did exhibit significant trans-acceleration at 25 degrees C. 5. Reduction of the incubation temperature also resulted in dramatic decreases in apparent Km and Vmax for L-alanine uptake by system asc2, whereas the effects of temperature on system asc1 were much less marked. At 5 degrees C the two transporters exhibited equivalent kinetic constants for L-alanine influx. L-Alanine uptake by transport-deficient cells was relatively insensitive to temperature. Influx by this route may represent the ground-state permeability of the lipid bilayer. 6. The effects of low temperature on system asc2 suggest a preferential impairment of the mobility of the unloaded carrier relative to that of the loaded transporter. Similarly, the different kinetic properties of systems asc1 and asc2 at physiological temperature are attributed to a difference in the mobilities of the empty carriers, this difference being minimized at 5 degrees C.

Alanine↗

Comparative and functional genomic analysis of prokaryotic nickel and cobalt uptake transporters: evidence for a novel group of ATP-binding cassette transporters.

The transition metals nickel and cobalt, essential components of many enzymes, are taken up by specific transport systems of several different types. We integrated in silico and in vivo methods for the analysis of various protein families containing both nickel and cobalt transport systems in prokaryotes. For functional annotation of genes, we used two comparative genomic approaches: identification of regulatory signals and analysis of the genomic positions of genes encoding candidate nickel/cobalt transporters. The nickel-responsive repressor NikR regulates many nickel uptake systems, though the NikR-binding signal is divergent in various taxonomic groups of bacteria and archaea. B(12) riboswitches regulate most of the candidate cobalt transporters in bacteria. The nickel/cobalt transporter genes are often colocalized with genes for nickel-dependent or coenzyme B(12) biosynthesis enzymes. Nickel/cobalt transporters of different families, including the previously known NiCoT, UreH, and HupE/UreJ families of secondary systems and the NikABCDE ABC-type transporters, showed a mosaic distribution in prokaryotic genomes. In silico analyses identified CbiMNQO and NikMNQO as the most widespread groups of microbial transporters for cobalt and nickel ions. These unusual uptake systems contain an ABC protein (CbiO or NikO) but lack an extracytoplasmic solute-binding protein. Experimental analysis confirmed metal transport activity for three members of this family and demonstrated significant activity for a basic module (CbiMN) of the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium transporter.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Neutral amino acid transport mediated by ortholog of imino acid transporter SIT1/SLC6A20 in opossum kidney cells.

Most neutral l-amino acid acids are transported actively across the luminal brush-border membrane of small intestine and kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells by a Na(+) cotransport system named B(0) that has been recently molecularly identified (B(0)AT1, SLC6A19). We show here that the opossum kidney-derived cell line OK also displays a Na(+)-dependent B(0)-type neutral l-amino acid transport, although with a slightly differing substrate selectivity. We tested the hypothesis that one of the two B(0)AT1-related transporters, SLC6A18 (ortholog of orphan transporter XT2) or SLC6A20 (ortholog of the recently identified mammalian imino acid transporter SIT1), mediates this transport. Anti-sense RNA to OK SIT1 (oSIT1) but not to OK XT2 (oXT2) inhibited Na(+)-dependent neutral amino acid transport induced by OK mRNA injected in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Furthermore, inhibition of oSIT1 gene expression in OK cells by transfection of siRNA and expression of shRNA selectively reduced the Na(+)-dependent uptake of neutral l-amino acids. Finally, expression of OK cell oSIT1 cRNA in X. laevis oocytes induced besides the transport of the l-imino acid l-Pro also that of neutral l-amino acids. Taken together, the data indicate that in OK cells SIT1 (SLC6A20) is not only an apical imino acid transporter but also plays a major role as Na(+)-dependent neutral l-amino acid transporter. A similar double role could be envisaged for SIT1 in mammalian kidney proximal tubule and small intestine.

Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral↗

Organic anion transport in choroid plexus from wild-type and organic anion transporter 3 (Slc22a8)-null mice.

The choroid plexus actively transports endogenous, xenobiotic, and therapeutic compounds from cerebrospinal fluid to blood, thereby limiting their exposure to the central nervous system (CNS). Establishing the mechanisms responsible for this transport is critical to our understanding of basic choroid plexus physiology and will likely impact drug targeting to the CNS. We recently generated an organic anion transporter 3- (Oat3)-null mouse, which exhibited loss of PAH, estrone sulfate, and taurocholate transport in kidney and of fluorescein (FL) transport in choroid plexus. Here, we measured the uptake of four Oat3 substrates by choroid plexus from wild-type and Oat3-null mice to establish 1) the contribution of Oat3 to the apical uptake of each substrate and 2) the Na dependence of transport by Oat3 in the intact tissue. Mediated transport of PAH and FL was essentially abolished in tissue from Oat3-null mice. In contrast, only a 33% reduction in estrone sulfate uptake was observed in tissue from Oat3-null mice and, surprisingly, no reduction in taurocholate uptake could be detected. For PAH, FL, and estrone sulfate, all Oat3-mediated transport was Na dependent. However, estrone sulfate and taurocholate also exhibited additional mediated and Na-dependent components of uptake that were not attributed to Oat3, demonstrating the complexity of organic anion transport in this tissue and the need for further examination of expressed transporters and their energetics.

Animals↗

Skeletal muscle plasma membrane glucose transport and glucose transporters after exercise.

Recent reports have shown that immediately after an acute bout of exercise the glucose transport system of rat skeletal muscle plasma membranes is characterized by an increase in both glucose transporter number and intrinsic activity. To determine the duration of the exercise response we examined the time course of these changes after completion of a single bout of exercise. Male rats were exercised on a treadmill for 1 h (20 m/min, 10% grade) or allowed to remain sedentary. Rats were killed either immediately or 0.5 or 2 h after exercise, and red gastrocnemius muscle was used for the preparation of plasma membranes. Plasma membrane glucose transporter number was elevated 1.8- and 1.6-fold immediately and 30 min after exercise, although facilitated D-glucose transport in plasma membrane vesicles was elevated 4- and 1.8-fold immediately and 30 min after exercise, respectively. By 2 h after exercise both glucose transporter number and transport activity had returned to nonexercised control values. Additional experiments measuring glucose uptake in perfused hindquarter muscle produced similar results. We conclude that the reversal of the increase in glucose uptake by hindquarter skeletal muscle after exercise is correlated with a reversal of the increase in the glucose transporter number and activity in the plasma membrane. The time course of the transport-to-transporter ratio suggests that the intrinsic activity response reverses more rapidly than that involving transporter number.

Animals↗

Organic anion transport by basal-lateral membranes: effect of PAH and furosemide on each other's transport.

The transport of organic anions by the kidney has been shown to be a carrier-mediated process. In an effort to learn more about this process, and examine the potential for two organic anions to compete for the same carrier site, studies were done which involved the transport of p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) and furosemide by vesicles made from basal-lateral membranes of rabbit kidney proximal tubules. Basal-lateral membranes were prepared by differential and ultracentrifugation. The transport was measured by using radiolabelled (3H) organic anions. The transport of each molecule was inhibited by probenecid, indicating that the carrier-mediated process for organic anion transport was functional in these studies. The results indicate that transport of PAH can be inhibited by furosemide in a concentration-dependent manner. This may indicate competition for the same carrier site. Inhibition of furosemide transport by PAH was not significant, perhaps due to much variability in the data. This variability may be due to nonspecific binding of furosemide to the vesicle, higher affinity of furosemide than of PAH for the receptor, or to the presence of more transport carriers for furosemide than for PAH. Experiments were done to determine the extent of nonspecific binding of furosemide. The results show that nonspecific binding of furosemide is extensive, indicating that this may contribute to the differences seen in the inhibition of transport. The data suggest that PAH and furosemide are transported by a common carrier-mediated process in the proximal tubule of the rabbit kidney.

Aminohippuric Acids↗

Energetics of chloride secretion in canine tracheal epithelium. Comparison of the metabolic cost of chloride transport with the metabolic cost of sodium transport.

Canine tracheal epithelium secretes Cl and absorbs Na; the energy for both is derived from the activity of the basolateral membrane Na-K-ATPase. These properties allowed us to examine the energetics of Cl secretion by directly comparing the metabolic cost of Cl transport with the metabolic cost of Na transport. We measured the change in short-circuit current and O2 consumption rate that was produced by a variety of maneuvers that alter Na and/or Cl transport rate. The experimental interventions included the use of the secretagogue epinephrine, the Cl transport inhibitor bumetanide, the Na transport inhibitor amiloride, the Na-K-ATPase inhibitor ouabain, and ion substitutions. The O2 consumption rates required for Na and Cl transport were compared in each individual tissue. The results indicate that the oxygen cost of Cl transport is significantly less than the oxygen cost of Na transport: two to four Cl ions are transported for the same metabolic cost that is required to transport one Na ion. These findings suggest that the basolateral membrane Na-dependent Cl entry step couples the entry of more than one Cl ion to each Na ion.

Amiloride↗

Leucine transport in Escherichia coli. The resolution of multiple transport systems and their coupling to metabolic energy.

The multiple active transport systems mediating L-leucine accumulation in Escherichia coli strain 7 (K12) and ML 308-225 have been examined. In addition to the previously characterized osmotic shock-sensitive LS (L-leucine-specific) and LIV-I (L-leucine; L-isoleucine-, and L-valine-specific) activities, a third system (designated LIV-II) has been detected, confirming a report by Rahmanian et al. (RAHMANIAN, M., CLAUS, D.R., and OXENDER, D. L. (1973) J. Bacteriol. 116, 1258-1266). This third system transports L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine with a relatively low affinity (apparent transport Km equals 4 muM for L-leucine) and it is resistant to repression by cell growth on L-leucine. Exploitation of these properties and of the differential sensitivity of the three transport activities to inhibition by L-leucine analogues permits estimation of the contribution by each system to the total transport activity under varying conditions. Such experiments show that, unlike systems LS and LIV-I, system LIV-II is resistant to osmotic shock. The L-leucine, L-iosleucine, and L-valine transport activity in membrane vesicles from strain ML 308-225 has the properties of system LIV-II. Although the L-leucine transport activities in strains 7 and ML 308-225 are in all other respects similar, membrane vesicles from strain 7 do not transport L-leucine, L-isoleucine, or L-valine. L-leucine transport under various conditions of energy supply has been measured in strain ML 308-225 and the corresponding Mg-2+-ATP-ASE-DEFICIENT STRAIN, DL-54. These measurements support the view that the osmotic shock-sensitive LS and LIV-I activities depend on the synthesis of ATP, while the osmotic shock-resistant LIV-II activity depends on the energized membrane state generated by electron flow but not on ATP synthesis, per se. This conclusion is not supported by the inhibitory effects of the energy poisons arsenate and 2,4-dinitrophenol, but these compounds may have secondary chemical effects on the transport systems.

Arsenates↗

Mammalian nitrobenzylthioinosine-sensitive nucleoside transport proteins. Immunological evidence that transporters differing in size and inhibitor specificity share sequence homology.

Polyclonal antibodies were raised against the nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive nucleoside transporter of human erythrocyte membranes. On Western blots of these membranes they labeled the broad "band 4.5" region (average apparent M(r) 55,000), which contains both the nucleoside and glucose transport proteins. However, they did not recognize the glucose transporter when this was prepared free of nucleoside transporter by expression from a cDNA clone. Their specificity for the nucleoside transporter was confirmed by the ability to immunoadsorb NBMPR- but not cytochalasin B-binding sites from a detergent-solubilized mixture of band 4.5 proteins. Although a large proportion of the antibodies recognized extracellular epitopes, these appeared to be located primarily on the polypeptide moiety of the glycoprotein, as demonstrated by the ability of the antibodies strongly to label the deglycosylated transporter (apparent M(r) 45,000) on Western blots. The antibodies were species-cross-reactive, recognizing nucleoside transporters from pig and rabbit erythrocytes and from rat liver. The pig protein is similar to the human transporter in its inhibitor sensitivity but is considerably larger (apparent M(r) 57,000 after deglycosylation). In contrast, the rat protein is similar in size to the human transporter (apparent M(r) 45,000 after deglycosylation) but much less sensitive to the inhibitors dilazep and dipyridamole. These findings indicate that despite their differences in size and inhibitor specificity, the NBMPR-sensitive nucleoside transporters of these mammalian species are related in amino acid sequence.

Affinity Labels↗

Alteration of folate analogue transport inward after induced maturation of HL-60 leukemia cells. Molecular properties of the transporter in an overproducing variant and evidence for down-regulation of its synthesis in maturating cells.

Studies are described examining further the decline in folate analogue influx mediated by the one-carbon reduced-folate transport system in HL-60 cells following induction of maturation by cytodifferentiation agents. To facilitate the investigation of the underlying basis of this phenomenon, we derived a variant (HL-60/LCV) with 4-5-fold elevated influx capacity (Vmax) for folate analogues. A commensurate increase in the putative transporter for this system was documented by affinity labeling of these cells with N-hydroxysuccinimide-[3H]aminopterin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the affinity labeled plasma membrane in HL-60/LCV cells delineated a protein peak at Mr = 75,000-80,000. This was substantially greater than the analogous transporter (Mr = 45,000-47,000) we had delineated (Yang, C.-H., Sirotnak, F.M., and Mines, L.S. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9703-9709) with the same methodology in the L1210 cell plasma membrane. In addition, the rate of translocation of the Mr = 75,000-80,000 transporter in HL-60 and HL-60/LCV cells was 2-fold lower than the rate of translocation determined for the Mr = 45,000-47,000 transporter in L1210 cells. During induced maturation of HL-60/LCV cells toward the granulocyte pathway, [3H]methotrexate (MTX) influx capacity and the amount of the affinity labeled transporter decreased rapidly in a parallel fashion. The decrease in [3H]MTX influx and in affinity labeling and in the amount of the Mr = 75,000-80,000 transporter was 5-fold following exposure to 210 mM dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) for 5 days during growth in culture. Moreover, during cycloheximide treatment, the decay in [3H]MTX influx at 37 degrees C and in amount of affinity labeled transporter was the same (t1/2 = 144-155 min) for both control and Me2SO-treated HL-60/LCV cells. These results, which reveal no difference in metabolic turnover for control and Me2SO-treated cells, suggest that the decline in folate analogue influx in HL-60/LCV influx cells is a very early event in the program of differentiation and probably occurs by down-regulation of synthesis of the transporter for the one-carbon reduced-folate transport system.

Affinity Labels↗

Protein synthesis inhibitors activate glucose transport without increasing plasma membrane glucose transporters in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that hexose transport regulation may involve proteins with relatively rapid turnover rates. 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which exhibit 10-fold increases in hexose transport rates within 30 min of the addition of 100 nM insulin, were utilized. Exposure of these cells to 300 microM anisomycin or 500 microM cycloheximide caused a maximal, 7-fold increase in 2-deoxyglucose transport rate after 4-8 h. The effects due to either insulin (0.5 h) or anisomycin (5 h) on the kinetics of zero-trans 3-O-methyl[14C]glucose transport were similar, resulting in 2.5-3-fold increases in apparent Vmax values (control Vmax = 1.6 +/- 0.3 x 10(-7) mmol/s/10(6) cells) coupled with approximately 2-fold decreases in apparent Km values (control Km = 23 +/- 3.3 mM). Insulin elicited the expected increases in plasma membrane levels of HepG2/erythrocyte (GLUT1) and muscle/adipocyte (GLUT4) transporters (1.6- and 2.8-fold, respectively) as determined by protein immunoblotting. In contrast, neither total cellular contents nor plasma membrane levels of these two transporter isoforms were increased when 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with either anisomycin or cycloheximide. 3-[125I]Iodo-4-azidophenethylamido-7-O-succinyldeacetylforskoli n labeling of glucose transporters in plasma membrane fractions of similarly treated cells was also unaffected by these agents. Thus, a striking discrepancy was observed between the marked increase in cellular hexose transport rates due to these protein synthesis inhibitors and the unaltered amounts of glucose transporter proteins in the plasma membrane fraction. These data indicate that short-term protein synthesis inhibition in 3T3-L1 adipocytes leads to large increases in the intrinsic catalytic activity of one or both of the GLUT1 and GLUT4 transporter isoforms.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Nucleoside transport in L1210 murine leukemia cells. Evidence for three transporters.

L1210 murine leukemia cells have two nucleoside transport activities that differ in their sensitivity to nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR). This study re-examines NBMPR-insensitive nucleoside transport in these cells and finds that it is mediated by two components, one Na(+)-dependent and the other Na(+)-independent. A mutant selected previously for loss of NBMPR-insensitive transport lacks only the Na(+)-independent activity. When NBMPR is used to block efflux via the NBMPR-sensitive transporter, uptake of formycin B (a nonmetabolized analog of inosine) is concentrative in both the parental and mutant cells, but the intracellular concentration of the nucleoside is 5-fold lower in the parental cells. Decreased accumulation of formycin B in the parental cells is due to efflux of the nucleoside via the NBMPR-insensitive, Na(+)-independent transporter that the mutant lacks. The Na(+)-dependent transporter appears to accept most purine, but not pyrimidine, nucleosides as substrates. Two exceptions are uridine, a good substrate, and 7-deazaadenosine, a poor substrate. In contrast, all of the nucleosides tested are substrates for the Na(+)-independent transporter. We conclude that L1210 cells have three distinct nucleoside transporters and that the specificity of the Na(+)-dependent transporter is similar to that of one of the two Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transporters seen in mouse intestinal epithelial cells.

Affinity Labels↗

[Recent data on the regulation of glucose transport and glucose transporters in insulin-sensitive tissues].

This review concerns the acute and long-term regulation of glucose transport. In insulin-sensitive tissues, the acute effect of insulin on this process occurs mainly through the translocation of glucose transport proteins (glucose transporters) from an intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. Some other factors are also able to modify acutely glucose transport by the translocation mechanism. However, recent data are reported which indicate that in addition, modifications of the glucose transporters activity are involved. The long-term regulation of the glucose transport capacity has been less studied. In different types of cultured cells, a role of two factors, glucose and insulin, has been clearly shown. The availability of cDNA probes encoding for glucose transporters, has given the opportunity to study the molecular regulation of glucose transport. However, it appears that different sub-types of glucose transport proteins exist which might be regulated in a specific manner depending on the cell-type and the regulatory factor. The existence of an insulin-sensitive glucose transporter is strongly suggested. The regulation of this protein, which could be specifically involved in insulin resistant physiopathological situations, remains to be studied.

Adipose Tissue↗

Effect of glucocorticoids on hexose transport in rat adipocytes. Evidence for decreased transporters in the plasma membrane.

Glucocorticoids are known to rapidly inhibit glucose transport when added to isolated rat adipocytes. To determine whether this inhibition of transport persists following isolation of the plasma membranes, adipocytes were incubated in the absence or presence of a maximally inhibitory concentration of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, and plasma membrane vesicles were prepared. D-Glucose uptake into vesicles from steroid-treated cells was inhibited by an average of 40%. The ability of dexamethasone to inhibit transport depended upon pretreatment of cells with hormone prior to membrane isolation. Furthermore, the decreased rate of transport was prevented by the simultaneous addition to the cell of actinomycin D or cycloheximide with dexamethasone, indicating a requirement for RNA and protein synthesis. The effect of dexamethasone on glucose transport was further investigated using our recently developed cytochalasin B affinity-labeling protocol to identify the transporter on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. A peak of radioactivity having Mr = 54,000 was identified which exhibited the properties expected for the glucose transporter, in that label incorporation was prevented by D-glucose and unlabeled cytochalasin B, but not by D-sorbitol or unlabeled cytochalasins A, D, or E. Dexamethasone was found to cause a significant (average 33%) decrease in the amount of labeled transporter in the plasma membrane which was prevented by the simultaneous addition of actinomycin D with dexamethasone to the cells. A similar percentage decrease was not found in a microsomal membrane fraction nor in a total cellular membrane fraction. These results suggest that glucocorticoids may decrease glucose transport in rat adipocytes by selectively decreasing the number of transporters in the plasma membrane.

Adipose Tissue↗

Hexose transporter expression and function in mammalian spermatozoa: cellular localization and transport of hexoses and vitamin C.

We analyzed the expression of hexose transporters in human testis and in human, rat, and bull spermatozoa and studied the uptake of hexoses and vitamin C in bull spermatozoa. Immunocytochemical and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that adult human testis expressed the hexose transporters GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3, GLUT4, and GLUT5. Immunoblotting experiments demonstrated the presence of proteins of about 50-70 kD reactive with anti-GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3, and GLUT5 in membranes prepared from human spermatozoa, but no proteins reactive with GLUT4 antibodies were detected. Immunolocalization experiments confirmed the presence of GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3, GLUT5, and low levels of GLUT4 in human, rat, and bull spermatozoa. Each transporter isoform showed a typical subcellular localization in the head and the sperm tail. In the tail, GLUT3 and GLUT5 were present at the level of the middle piece in the three species examined, GLUT1 was present in the principal piece, and the localization of GLUT2 differed according of the species examined. Bull spermatozoa transported deoxyglucose, fructose, and the oxidized form of vitamin C, dehydroascorbic acid. Transport of deoxyglucose and dehydroascorbic acid was inhibited by cytochalasin B, indicating the direct participation of facilitative hexose transporters in the transport of both substrates by bull spermatozoa. Transport of fructose was not affected by cytochalasin B, which is consistent for an important role for GLUT5 in the transport of fructose in these cells. The data show that human, rat, and bull spermatozoa express several hexose transporter isoforms that allow for the efficient uptake of glucose, fructose, and dehydroascorbic acid by these cells.

Animals↗