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Microtubule-dependent vesicle transport: modulation of channel and transporter activity in liver and kidney.

Microtubule-based vesicle transport driven by kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein motor proteins facilitates several membrane-trafficking steps including elements of endocytosis and exocytosis in many different cell types. Most early studies on the role of microtubule-dependent vesicle transport in membrane trafficking focused either on neurons or on simple cell lines. More recently, other work has considered the role of microtubule-based vesicle transport in other physiological systems, including kidney and liver. Investigation of the role of microtubule-based vesicle transport in membrane trafficking in cells of the kidney and liver suggests a major role for microtubule-based vesicle transport in the rapid and directed movement of ion channels and transporters to and from the apical plasma membranes, events essential for kidney and liver function and homeostasis. This review discusses the evidence supporting a role for microtubule-based vesicle transport and the motor proteins, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein, in different aspects of membrane trafficking in cells of the kidney and liver, with emphasis on those functions such as maintenance of ion channel and transporter composition in apical membranes that are specialized functions of these organs. Evidence that defects in microtubule-based transport contribute to diseases of the kidney and liver is also discussed.

Animals↗

Regulation of glucose transporter-specific mRNA levels in rat adipose cells with fasting and refeeding. Implications for in vivo control of glucose transporter number.

Fasting in the rat is associated with a rapid and progressive decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in adipose cells, which is not only restored to normal, but increased transiently to supranormal levels by refeeding. The mechanisms for these changes in glucose transport activity appear to involve alterations in both glucose transporter number and intrinsic activity (glucose turnover number). In this study, we use the human hepatoma Hep G2 glucose transporter complementary DNA clone to examine the molecular basis for these alterations. Extractable RNA per adipose cell is decreased 35% with 3 d of fasting and increased to 182% of control with 6 d of refeeding after 2 d of fasting. This parallels changes in adipose cell intracellular water, so that total RNA/water space remains relatively constant. When the changes in total RNA/cell are taken into account, Northern and slot blot analyses with quantitative densitometry reveal a 36% decrease in specific glucose transporter mRNA level in cells from the fasted rats. The mRNA level in cells from the fasted/refed rats is restored to normal. These observations correlate closely with previous measurements of glucose transporter number in adipose cell membrane fractions using cytochalasin B binding and Western blotting. The levels of specific mRNAs for tubulin and actin on a per cell basis show similar but more dramatic changes and mRNAs encoding several differentiation-dependent adipose cell proteins are also significantly affected. Thus, the levels of mRNA for multiple adipose cell genes are affected by fasting and refeeding. In particular, this demonstrates that in vivo metabolic alterations can influence the level of a glucose transporter mRNA in adipose cells. This may have implications for the regulation of glucose transporter number and glucose transport activity.

Adipose Tissue↗

Role of two recently cloned rat liver GSH transporters in the ubiquitous transport of GSH in mammalian cells.

Recently our laboratory has cloned both the rat canalicular and sinusoidal GSH transporters (RcGshT and RsGshT, respectively; Yi, J., S. Lu, J. Fernandez-Checa, and N. Kaplowitz. 1994. J. Clin. Invest. 93:1841-1845; and 1995. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92:1495-1499). The current work characterized GSH transport and the expression of these two GSH transporters in various mammalian cell lines. The average cell GSH levels (nmol/10(6) cells) were 25, 22, 32, 13, and 13 in HepG2, HeLa, CaCo-2, MDCK, and Cos-1 cells, respectively. GSH efflux was temperature dependent and averaged 0.018, 0.018, 0.012, 0.007, and 0.019 nmol/10(6) cells/min from HepG2, HeLa, CaCo-2, MDCK, and Cos-1 cells, respectively. Dithiothreitol (DTT), which stimulates rat sinusoidal GSH efflux, stimulated GSH efflux only in HepG2 and HeLa cells which was partially reversed by subsequent cystine treatment. GSH uptake (1 mM plus 35S-GSH) was temperature dependent, linear up to 45 min, and Na+-independent with average rates of 1.12, 0.91, 0.45, and 0.45 nmol/10(6) cells/30 min for HepG2, HeLa, CaCo-2, MDCK, and Cos-1 cells, respectively. BSP-GSH (2mM), which cis-inhibits sinusoidal GSH uptake in rat liver and HepG2 cells, inhibited GSH uptake only in HeLa cells. mRNA and polypeptide of RcGshT are expressed in all cells whereas those of RsGshT are expressed only in HepG2 and HeLa cells. In conclusion, bidirectional GSH transport, mediated by the "canalicular" GSH transporter, is ubiquitous in mammalian cells. Sinusoidal GSH transporter expression is more restricted, being present in HepG2 and HeLa cells. DTT and BSP-GSH affect GSH transport only in cells expressing the sinusoidal transporter confirming their selective action on this transporter.

Animals↗

The extracellular pH dependency of transport activity by human oligopeptide transporter 1 (hPEPT1) expressed stably in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells: a reason for the bell-shaped activity versus pH.

Human oligopeptide transporter (hPEPT1) translocates di/tri-peptide by coupling to movement of proton down the electrochemical gradient. This transporter has the characteristics that the pH-profile of neutral dipeptide transport shows a bell-shaped curve with an optimal pH of 5.5. In the present study, we examined the reason for the decrease in the acidic region with hPEPT1-transfected CHO cells stably oeverexpressing hPEPT1 (CHO/hPEPT1). The pH profile of the transport activity vs. pH was measured in the presence of nigericin/monensin. Under this condition, the inwardly directed proton concentration gradient was dissipated while the membrane potential remained. As pH increased the activity increased, and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation with a single pKa was fitted well to the activity curve. The pKa value was estimated to be 6.7+/-0.2. This value strongly suggests that there is a key amino acid residue, which is involved in pH regulation of transport activity. To identify the key amino acid residue, we examined the effects of various chemical modifications on pH-profile of the transport activity. Modification of carboxyl groups or hydroxyl groups had no significant influence on the pH-profile, whereas a chemical modification of histidine residue with diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) completely abolished the transport activity in CHO/hPEPT1 cells. On the other hand, this abolishment was almost prevented by the presence of 10 mM Gly-Sar. This protection was observed only in the presence of the substrate of hPEPT1, indicating that the histidine residue is located at the substrate recognition site. The pH-profile of the transport activity in CHO/hPEPT1 cells treated with DEPC in the presence of 10 mM Gly-Sar also showed a bell-shape similar to that in non-treated CHO/hPEPT1 cells. These data stressed that the histidine residue located at or near the substrate binding site is involved in the pH regulation of transport activity.

Algorithms↗

Deoxycytidine transport in the presence of a cytidine deaminase inhibitor and the transport of uracil in Escherichia coli B.

Tetrahydrouridine, a cytidine deaminase inhibitor, prevents periplasmic degradation of deoxycytidine by Escherichia coli B. It does not inhibit deoxycytidine transport and therefore allows an accurate determination of deoxycytidine transport. Data obtained using tetrahydrouridine show that deoxycytidine is transported in E. coli B as the intact nucleoside by an active transport process, with a K-m of 6 times 10-minus 6 M. Cytidine and deoxyadenosine inhibit transport competitively, whereas guanosine has no effect on transport. Arsenate or KCN greatly reduces transport. In a mutant resistant to the nucleoside antibiotic, showdomycin, the active transport of deoxycytidine is lost, and residual slow uptake occurs by passive diffusion. Uracil is accumulated in E. coli B by an active transport process with a K-m of 5 times 10-minus 7 M.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗

Regionalized perinatal transport systems: association with changes in location of birth, neonatal transport, and survival of very low birth weight deliveries.

Changes in both the location of very low birth weight births and in the number of infants selected for transport were chosen for the evaluation of regionalized perinatal care and its effectiveness in the Lowcountry Perinatal catchment area. The four-year period reviewed was characterized by the initiation of a well-defined regionalized perinatal transport program at the Medical University of South Carolina. In conjunction with this increased availability of transport, there was a statistically significant (p less than 0.02) increase in the number of VLBW neonates transported to MUSC after being delivered in community hospitals. This increase was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of infants referred for transport within the first hour of life. Among those neonates referred within the first four hours of life, survival was inversely proportional to the infant's age when the transport team arrived, suggesting that a rapid response by the neonatal transport team was associated with a significantly increased VLBW infant survival. Among all transported infants, in-utero continues to be the most efficacious means of transport for VLBW infants and that delivery of VLBW infants at regional medical centers continues to result in the most optimal survival.

Catchment Area, Health↗

Exercise induces recruitment of the "insulin-responsive glucose transporter". Evidence for distinct intracellular insulin- and exercise-recruitable transporter pools in skeletal muscle.

Acute exercise, like insulin, increases D-glucose uptake into rat hind limb muscles. Here we examine the distribution of the muscle glucose transporters GLUT-4 and GLUT-1 in plasma membrane and intracellular membrane fractions of skeletal muscle prepared from control, exercised, and acutely insulin-treated rats. Immunoblotting with an anti-GLUT-4 polyclonal antibody showed that acute insulin treatment (by hind limb perfusion or in vivo injection) increased GLUT-4 transporters in a plasma membrane fraction and decreased them in an intracellular membrane fraction. Exercise also increased the GLUT-4 transporters in the plasma membrane, but in contrast to insulin, did not significantly decrease them in the intracellular fraction. Immunoblotting with anti-GLUT-1 antibody revealed that this transporter is largely localized in the plasma membrane. Neither insulin nor exercise significantly increased GLUT-1 transporters in the plasma membrane. The data show that GLUT-4 is an insulin-responsive glucose transporter in skeletal muscle and, furthermore, that GLUT-4 also responds to acute exercise. The results are consistent with recruitment of GLUT-4 glucose transporters to the plasma membrane from intracellular stores. Moreover, exercise-sensitive GLUT-4 transporters do not originate from the insulin-sensitive intracellular membrane fraction, suggesting the existence of distinct intracellular insulin- and exercise-recruitable GLUT-4 transporter pools.

Animals↗

Evidence for a close link between the thyroid hormone transport system and the aromatic amino acid transport system T in erythrocytes.

The transport of [125I]triiodothyronine ([125I]T3) and [3H]tryptophan ([3H]Trp) by washed rat erythrocytes was studied at 25 degrees C in the presence of leucine in order to block the neutral amino acid transport system L. Eadie-Hofstee plots of initial velocity data gave the following values of Km (micromolar) and Vmax (nanomole/min/10(8) cells): 0.122 +/- 0.007 and 0.140 +/- 0.021 for T3, and 558 +/- 28 and 17.4 +/- 2.3 for Trp (n = 5). The Trp transport system in rat erythrocytes is similar to the human erythrocyte aromatic amino acid-specific system T described by Rosenberg et al. (Rosenberg, R., Young, J. D., and Ellory, J. C. (1980) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 598, 375-384). Unlabeled aromatic amino acids (e.g. Trp, phenylalanine, tyrosine) competitively inhibited [125I]T3 uptake and unlabeled iodothyronine analogues (e.g. T3, D-T3, thyroxine, thyronine) competitively inhibited [3H]Trp uptake. The inhibition constants of these competitors measured with each labeled substrate were highly correlated. N-Ethylmaleimide irreversibly inhibited T3 and Trp transport and each substrate protected the transport system of the other from inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide. The Vmax of T3 and Trp transport by human erythrocytes were 500 and 120 times lower, respectively, than those of rat erythrocytes (0.30 and 126 pmol/min/10(8) cells, respectively). The T3 and Trp transport activities of sheep erythrocytes were undetectable. These results indicate that T3 and Trp either share a common multi-specific transport system or are transported by closely linked systems which interact in the erythrocyte membrane.

Animals↗

Toxic neurofilamentous axonopathies and fast anterograde axonal transport. I. The effects of single doses of acrylamide on the rate and capacity of transport.

Acrylamide (ACR) produces a neuropathy in the central and peripheral nervous systems characterized by neurofilament-containing swellings in the distal nerve and eventual dying-back degeneration of axons. The effects of a single exposure to ACR on the rate and quantity of protein transported in the rat sciatic nerve has been measured to determine whether fast axonal transport is compromised by this toxicant. Using the segmental analysis of radioactive label of proteins following 3H-leucine injections into the DRG, ACR (50-100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the rate of fast anterograde transport by 9.3 to 20.8% but, more importantly, reduced the quantity of transported protein by 42.4 to 51.3%. The non-neurotoxic analogue methylene bis-acrylamide did not significantly change either parameter. The reductions in transport were not due to general effects of the toxicant upon protein synthesis. Therefore, fast anterograde transport was significantly affected by a single exposure to ACR in the same magnitude as retrograde transport. Discovery of these dramatic changes was due to differences from previous studies in the time frame of study of transport in relation to toxicant injection and to measurements of the quantity of protein transported rather than only the rate. These changes may be significant in terms of the pathogenesis of distal nerve degeneration.

Acrylamides↗

Sodium-dependent nucleoside transport in mouse intestinal epithelial cells. Two transport systems with differing substrate specificities.

Nucleoside transport was examined in freshly isolated mouse intestinal epithelial cells. The uptake of formycin B, the C nucleoside analog of inosine, was concentrative and required extracellular sodium. The initial rate of sodium-dependent formycin B transport was saturable with a Km of 45 +/- 3 microM. The purine nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, and deoxyadenosine were all good inhibitors of sodium-dependent formycin B transport with 50% inhibition (IC50) observed at concentrations less than 30 microM. Of the pyrimidine nucleosides examined, only uridine (IC50, 41 +/- 9 microM) was a good inhibitor. Thymidine and cytidine were poor inhibitors with IC50 values greater than 300 microM. Direct measurements of [3H]thymidine transport revealed, however, that the uptake of this nucleoside was also mediated by a sodium-dependent mechanism. Thymidine transport was inhibited by low concentrations of cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and deoxyadenosine (IC50 values less than 25 microM), but not by formycin B, inosine, or guanosine (IC50 values greater than 600 microM). These data indicate that there are two sodium-dependent mechanisms for nucleoside transport in mouse intestinal epithelial cells, and that formycin B and thymidine may serve as model substrates to distinguish between these transporters. Neither of these sodium-dependent transport mechanisms was inhibited by nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (10 microM), a potent inhibitor of one of the equilibrative (facilitated diffusion) nucleoside transporters found in many cells.

Animals↗

The D-glucose transporter is tissue-specific. Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue have a unique form of glucose transporter.

Using isotopic equilibration with [3H]D-glucose and measurement of D-glucose inhibitable cytochalasin B binding, I show that the erythrocytes of embryonic and newborn rats contain D-glucose transporters. On the basis of cytochalasin B binding and the time course of isotopic exchange, the number of transporters in rat embryonic erythrocytes is only 5% of that in human erythrocytes. Antibodies raised against the human erythrocyte glucose transporter were used as a probe to investigate the structural similarity between transporters. On this basis, the polypeptides of the glucose transporter of human erythrocytes and of embryonic rat erythrocytes are similar but not identical; in addition, certain antibodies showed similar reactivity toward the transporter of rat embryonic erythrocytes and that of rat brain. These antibodies, however, react with brain transporters 5 to 10 times better than with those of skeletal muscle and adipocytes suggesting that insulin responsive tissues may have a different type of glucose transporter. The cellular location of glucose transporters in skeletal muscle, determined by immunofluorescence, is on the plasma membrane or very close to the plasma membrane.

Adipose Tissue↗

Intracellular transport of class I histocompatibility molecules. Influence of protein folding on transport to the cell surface.

To examine the structural requirements for the intracellular transport and surface expression of Class I histocompatibility molecules, we studied somatic cell variants that produce altered forms of the H-2Kb molecule. One variant, R8.10, produced a mutant Kb molecule that was expressed on the cell surface at about 15% of the wild-type level. Nucleic acid sequence analysis identified the mutation as a single nucleotide change resulting in an amino acid substitution (Trp----Arg) at residue 167 in the alpha 2 extracellular domain. A comparative kinetic analysis of the intracellular transport of the wild-type and mutant molecules revealed that transport of the mutant product was remarkably impaired. Whereas wild-type molecules arrived at the cell surface with a half-time of about 30 min, 80% of newly synthesized mutant molecules did not progress beyond the rough endoplasmic reticulum, where they were slowly degraded. Surprisingly, the remaining 20% of the mutant population was capable of reaching the plasma membrane at a rate about one-half that of wild-type Kb. The accumulation of most of the mutant molecules in the rough endoplasmic reticulum was not due to aggregation or insolubility, nor could it be attributed to a lack of association with beta 2-microglobulin. Several techniques were employed in an effort to detect structural features unique to the transport-deficient mutant population. Monoclonal antibody binding experiments revealed structural differences between wild-type and mutant molecules in the region of the mutation but failed to distinguish the transport-competent and -deficient mutant populations. Detergent partitioning studies were also ineffective in this regard. However, differences between transported and untransported molecules were readily demonstrated by their disparate susceptibilities to proteolytic digestion. The results indicated that the transport-deficient form of the mutant assumed a conformation that was altered relative to both the transport-competent form and the wild-type molecule. The fact that the ability of wild-type and mutant molecules to be transported correlated with conformational features rather than with their specific primary sequences suggests that proper folding is an important requirement for their passage through the exocytotic pathway.

Animals↗

[L-arginine transport in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats and effect of liposome on the transport].

The characteristics of L-arginine (L-Arg) transport in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and control WKY rats were studied and the effect of liposome as L-Arg carrier on the transport was investigated. The results showed that the L-Arg transport of SMC in SHR was obviously lower than that in WKY rats. Maximum transport velocity (Vmax) of high and low affinity in SHR were respectively 48% (P < 0.01) and 49% (P < 0.01) of WKY rat, while the michaelis constant (K(m)) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Increase of L-Arg transport induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) in SMC of SHR was obviously lower than that in WKY rats (P < 0.01). The uptake of L-Arg increased 10 to 20 times in SMC when incubated with liposome encapsulated L-Arg (Liposome-L-Arg) than with free L-Arg. The transport velocity in SMC incubated with liposome-L-Arg showed no significant difference in SHR and WKY rats (P > 0.05). The transport of liposome-L-Arg in SMC was not affected by TNF alpha in both the types of rats. The above results indicate that there exists a functional disturbance in L-Arg transport in the SMC of SHR, but the L-Arg transport in SMC can be obviously enhanced when liposome is used as L-Arg carrier. Thus, it appears that liposome-L-Arg may have clinical perspective in the treatment of hypertension.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of human Golgi nucleotide sugar transporter SLC35D2, a novel member of the SLC35 nucleotide sugar transporter family.

We report the molecular cloning of SLC35D2, a novel member of the SLC35 nucleotide sugar transporter family. The gene SLC35D2 maps to chromosome 9q22.33. SLC35D2 cDNA codes for a hydrophobic protein consisting of 337 amino acid residues with 10 putative transmembrane helices. Northern blot analysis revealed the SLC35D2 mRNA as a single major band corresponding to 2.0 kb in length. SLC35D2 was localized in the Golgi membrane and exhibited around 50% similarity with three nucleotide sugar transporters: human SLC35D1 (UDP-glucuronic acid/UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine transporter), fruitfly fringe connection (frc) transporter, and nematode SQV-7 transporter, the latter two being involved in developmental and organogenetic processes. Heterologous expression of SLC35D2 protein in yeast indicated that UDP-N-acetylglucosamine is a candidate for the substrate(s) of the transporter. The sequence similarity, subcellular localization, and transporting substrate suggest that SLC35D2 is a good candidate for the ortholog of frc transporter, which is involved in the Notch signaling system by providing the fringe N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase with the substrate. We also describe the identification and categorization of the human SLC35 gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Proton motive force-dependent Hoechst 33342 transport by the ABC transporter LmrA of Lactococcus lactis.

The fluorescent compound Hoechst 33342 is a substrate for many multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters and is widely used to characterize their transport activity. We have constructed mutants of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding cassette (ABC)-type MDR transporter LmrA of Lactococcus lactis that are defective in ATP hydrolysis. These mutants and wild-type LmrA exhibited an atypical behavior in the Hoechst 33342 transport assay. In membrane vesicles, Hoechst 33342 transport was shown to be independent of the ATPase activity of LmrA, and it was not inhibited by orthovanadate but sensitive to uncouplers that collapse the proton gradient and to N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, an inhibitor of the F0F1-ATPase. In contrast, transport of Hoechst 33342 by the homologous, heterodimeric MDR transporter LmrCD showed a normal ATP dependence and was insensitive to uncouplers of the proton gradient. With intact cells, expression of LmrA resulted in an increased rate of Hoechst 33342 influx while LmrCD caused a decrease in the rate of Hoechst 33342 influx. Cellular toxicity assays using a triple knockout strain, i.e., L. lactis delta lmrA delta lmrCD, demonstrate that expression of LmrCD protects cells against the growth inhibitory effects of Hoechst 33342, while in the presence of LmrA, cells are more susceptible to Hoechst 33342. Our data demonstrate that the LmrA-mediated Hoechst 33342 transport in membrane vesicles is influenced by the transmembrane pH gradient due to a pH-dependent partitioning of Hoechst 33342 into the membrane.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Sodium-coupled and electrogenic transport of B-complex vitamin nicotinic acid by slc5a8, a member of the Na/glucose co-transporter gene family.

SMCT (sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter; slc5a8) is a Na+-coupled transporter for lactate, pyruvate and short-chain fatty acids. Similar to these already known substrates of SMCT, the water-soluble B-complex vitamin nicotinic acid also exists as a monocarboxylate anion (nicotinate) under physiological conditions. Therefore we evaluated the ability of SMCT to mediate the uptake of nicotinate. In mammalian cells, the cloned mouse SMCT (slc5a8) induced the uptake of nicotinate. The SMCT-induced uptake was Na+-dependent. The Michaelis constant for the uptake process was 296+/-88 microM. The Na+-activation kinetics indicated that at least two Na+ ions are involved in the process. Among the various structural analogues tested, nicotinate was the most effective substrate. Nicotinamide and methylnicotinate were not recognized by the transporter. 2-pyrazine carboxylate and isonicotinate interacted with the transporter to a moderate extent. SMCT-mediated uptake of nicotinate was inhibited by lactate and pyruvate. In the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system, SMCT-mediated nicotinate transport was electrogenic, as evident from the nicotinate-induced inward currents under voltage-clamp conditions. Substrate-induced currents in this expression system corroborated the substrate specificity determined in the mammalian cell expression system. The kinetic parameters with regard to the affinity of the transporter for nicotinate and the Hill coefficient for Na+ activation, determined by using the oocyte expression system, were also similar to those obtained from the mammalian cell expression system. We conclude that SMCT functions not only as a Na+-coupled transporter for short-chain fatty acids and lactate but also as a Na+-coupled transporter for the water-soluble vitamin nicotinic acid.

Animals↗

Disruption of transport activity in a D93H mutant thiamine transporter 1, from a Rogers Syndrome family.

Rogers syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting in megaloblastic anemia, diabetes mellitus, and sensorineural deafness. The gene associated with this disease encodes for thiamine transporter 1 (THTR1), a member of the SLC19 solute carrier family including THTR2 and the reduced folate carrier (RFC). Using transient transfections into NIH3T3 cells of a D93H mutant THTR1derived from a Rogers syndrome family, we determined the expression, post-translational modification, plasma membrane targeting and thiamine transport activity. We also explored the impact on methotrexate (MTX) transport activity of a homologous missense D88H mutation in the human RFC, a close homologue of THTR1. Western blot analysis revealed that the D93H mutant THTR1 was normally expressed and underwent a complete N-glycosylation. However, while this mutant THTR1 was targeted to the plasma membrane, it was completely devoid of thiamine transport activity. Consistently, introduction into MTX transport null cells of a homologous D88H mutation in the hRFC did not result in restoration of MTX transport activity, thereby suggesting that D88 is an essential residue for MTX transport activity. These results suggest that the D93H mutation does not interfere with transporter expression, glycosylation and plasma membrane targeting. However, the substitution of this negatively charged amino acid (Asp93) by a positively charged residue (His) in an extremely conserved region (the border of transmembrane domain 2/intracellular loop 2) in the SLC19 family, presumably inflicts deleterious structural alterations that abolish thiamine binding and/or translocation. Hence, this functional characterization of the D93H mutation provides a molecular basis for Rogers syndrome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Active influx transport is mediated by members of the organic anion transporting polypeptide family in human epidermal keratinocytes.

Normal human epidermal keratinocytes have been shown to express a cell-type-specific pattern of extrahepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes and efflux transport proteins showing that these cells metabolize and excrete a variety of xenobiotics. Recently transport proteins involved in the uptake of xenobiotics have been detected and here we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression profiles and functional activities of these proteins in human keratinocytes in comparison to primary liver cells. The transporters studied included the subtypes A, B, C, D, and E of the organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) family, which are responsible for the uptake of various anionic and neutral molecules and especially organic cations - including drugs. Constitutive expression of OATP-B, OATP-D, and OATP-E was shown for the first time in normal human epidermal keratinocytes on a molecular level using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analysis, as well as in human skin tissue shown by tissue blot hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of OATP-A and OATP-C was not detected in any of the keratinocyte samples. In contrast, liver tissue showed a significant expression of OATP-A and OATP-B as well as OATP-C, a weak expression of OATP-D, and no expression of OATP-E. These data revealed that normal human epidermal keratinocytes express a specific profile of transporters involved in drug influx. Using a newly developed uptake-transport assay, uptake of known and well-characterized OATP substrates like estradiol-17beta-glucuronide and estrone sulfate was inhibited in normal human epidermal keratinocytes by specific inhibitors such as taurocholate, verifying the functional capacity of the expressed OATPs. Human dermal fibroblasts seem to have a lower influx transport activity for estradiol-17beta-glucuronide, which correlates with the immunohistologic data. Even though the substrate specificity of the OATP isoforms is only partially known until now, our findings support the concept that uptake of large organic cations like drugs in keratinocytes is an active transport process mediated by members of the OATP family.

Biological Transport, Active↗