scholarly journals Expression of solute carrier 7A4 (SLC7A4) in the plasma membrane is not sufficient to mediate amino acid transport activity

2002 ◽  
Vol 364 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine WOLF ◽  
Annette JANZEN ◽  
Nicole VÉKONY ◽  
Ursula MARTINÉ ◽  
Dennis STRAND ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Solute Carrier

Member 4 of human solute carrier family 7 (SLC7A4) exhibits significant sequence homology with the SLC7 subfamily of human cationic amino acid transporters (hCATs) [Sperandeo, Borsani, Incerti, Zollo, Rossi, Zuffardi, Castaldo, Taglialatela, Andria and Sebastio (1998) Genomics 49, 230–236]. It is therefore often referred to as hCAT-4 even though no convincing transport activity has been shown for this protein. We expressed SLC7A4 in Xenopus laevis oocytes, but could not detect any transport activity for cationic, neutral or anionic amino acids or for the polyamine putrescine. In addition, human glioblastoma cells stably overexpressing a fusion protein between SLC7A4 and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) did not exhibit an increased transport activity for l-arginine. The lack of transport activity was not due to a lack of SLC7A4 protein expression in the plasma membrane, as in both cell types SLC7A4-EGFP exhibited a similar subcellular localization and level of protein expression as functional hCAT-EGFP proteins. The expression of SLC7A4 can be induced in NT2 teratocarcinoma cells by treatment with retinoic acid. However, also for this endogenously expressed SLC7A4, we could not detect any transport activity for l-arginine. Our data demonstrate that the expression of SLC7A4 in the plasma membrane is not sufficient to induce an amino acid transport activity in X. laevis oocytes or human cells. Therefore, SLC7A4 is either not an amino acid transporter or it needs additional (protein) factor(s) to be functional.

Amino-acid-dependent modulation of amino acid transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

1996 ◽  
Vol 199 (4) ◽  
pp. 923-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Taylor ◽  
S Kaur ◽  
B Mackenzie ◽  
G J Peter
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Acid Mixture ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Amino Acid Supplementation ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Acid Supplementation

We have measured rates of uptake of arginine, glutamine, glutamate, serine, phenylalanine and glycine in Xenopus laevis oocytes cultured for periods of up to 24h in saline in the presence or absence of a mixture of 20 amino acids at concentrations approximating those in Xenopus plasma. Amino acid supplementation increased the total intracellular amino acid concentration from 8.2 to 18.4 nmol per oocyte. Specific Na(+)-dependent amino acid transporters (systems B0,+, Xag-) exhibit 'adaptive regulation' (up-regulation during amino acid deprivation and down-regulation during amino acid supplementation). Na(+)-independent transporters of glutamate, glutamine and glycine (including system asc) display an opposite modulation in activity, which may help to combat amino-acid-induced oxidative stress by increasing the supply of glutathione precursors. Single amino acids at physiological plasma concentrations (0.47 mmol l-1 L-alanine, 0.08 mmol l-1 L-glutamate) mimicked at least some effects of the amino acid mixture. The mechanisms of transport modulation do not appear to include trans-amino acid or membrane potential effects and, in the case of Na(+)-independent transport, are independent of protein or mRNA synthesis. Furthermore, activation of protein kinase C by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not significantly affect endogenous glutamine and glutamate transport. The Xenopus oocyte appears to possess endogenous signalling mechanisms for selectively modulating the activity of amino acid transport proteins expressed in its surface membranes, a factor for consideration when using oocytes as an expression system for structure-function studies of cloned amino acid transporters.

scholarly journals Discrimination of two amino acid transport activities in 4F2 heavy chain- expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes

1998 ◽  
Vol 333 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika BRÖER ◽  
Bernd HAMPRECHT ◽  
Stefan BRÖER
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Transport System ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Independent System ◽  
Leucine Transport ◽  
Dependent Transport

Expression of the type II membrane proteins of the rbAT/4F2hc family in Xenopus laevisoocytes results in the induction of amino acid transport activity. To elucidate the mechanism of action, amino acid transport was investigated in oocytes expressing the surface antigen 4F2hc. Leucine transport was mediated by a Na+-independent and a Na+-dependent transport mechanism. Both systems could be further discriminated by their stereochemical constraints. Isoleucine, with a branch at the β-position, shared only the Na+-independent transport system with leucine. Both transport systems were sensitive to inhibition by arginine, but only the Na+-independent system was sensitive to inhibition by 2-aminobicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid. When compared with known transport systems the two transport activities could be described as similar to, but not identical with, mammalian systems b0,+ and y+L. The Na+-independent b0,+-like transport system was found both in rbAT and 4F2hc expressing oocytes, indicating that both proteins act in a similar way.

Molecular Biology of Mammalian Plasma Membrane Amino Acid Transporters

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 969-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
MANUEL PALACÍN ◽  
RAÚL ESTÉVEZ ◽  
JOAN BERTRAN ◽  
ANTONIO ZORZANO
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Cationic Amino Acid ◽  
Function Relationship

Palacı́n, Manuel, Raúl Estévez, Joan Bertran, and Antonio Zorzano. Molecular Biology of Mammalian Plasma Membrane Amino Acid Transporters. Physiol. Rev. 78: 969–1054, 1998. — Molecular biology entered the field of mammalian amino acid transporters in 1990–1991 with the cloning of the first GABA and cationic amino acid transporters. Since then, cDNA have been isolated for more than 20 mammalian amino acid transporters. All of them belong to four protein families. Here we describe the tissue expression, transport characteristics, structure-function relationship, and the putative physiological roles of these transporters. Wherever possible, the ascription of these transporters to known amino acid transport systems is suggested. Significant contributions have been made to the molecular biology of amino acid transport in mammals in the last 3 years, such as the construction of knockouts for the CAT-1 cationic amino acid transporter and the EAAT2 and EAAT3 glutamate transporters, as well as a growing number of studies aimed to elucidate the structure-function relationship of the amino acid transporter. In addition, the first gene ( rBAT) responsible for an inherited disease of amino acid transport (cystinuria) has been identified. Identifying the molecular structure of amino acid transport systems of high physiological relevance (e.g., system A, L, N, and x−c) and of the genes responsible for other aminoacidurias as well as revealing the key molecular mechanisms of the amino acid transporters are the main challenges of the future in this field.

Is gamma-actin a regulator of amino acid transport?

1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (6) ◽  
pp. C1647-C1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Lin ◽  
J. I. McCormick ◽  
R. M. Johnstone
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Amino Acid Uptake ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Acid Uptake ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Dependent Transport

A mutated yeast cell line incapable of growth in minimal medium with proline as the sole nitrogen source was restored to normal growth by transfection with a cDNA from mouse Ehrlich cells. The cloned cDNA (E51) was found to be 90% homologous to gamma-actin. Immediately after transfection with E51 cDNA, both alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and proline uptake in the mutated yeast were increased, particularly at pH 5. The expression of the same E51 cDNA also enhanced amino acid uptake in Xenopus laevis oocytes after injection into the Xenopus nuclei. A mutated mammalian lymphocyte cell line (GF-17), deficient in system A transport, also showed increased Na(+)-dependent transport after transfection with E51 cDNA. Whereas the mock transfected GF-17 cells failed to grow in the selection medium, the transfectants with E51 cDNA grew better than the untransfected cells. The data are consistent with the conclusion that expression of E51 cDNA can modify inactive, endogenous amino acid transporters, permitting substantial amino acid uptake in cells deficient in amino acid transporter(s) and permitting rapid cell growth. The data suggest that the gamma-actin-like protein coded for by E51 cDNA may play a significant regulatory role in amino acid transport.

Molecular characteristics of mammalian and insect amino acid transporters: implications for amino acid homeostasis.

1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Castagna ◽  
C Shayakul ◽  
D Trotti ◽  
V F Sacchi ◽  
W R Harvey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Amino Acid Transport System ◽  
Energy Dependent

In mammalian cells, the uptake of amino acids is mediated by specialized, energy-dependent and passive transporters with overlapping substrate specificities. Most energy-dependent transporters are coupled either to the cotransport of Na+ or Cl- or to the countertransport of K+. Passive transporters are either facilitated transporters or channels. As a prelude to the molecular characterization of the different classes of transporters, we have isolated transporter cDNAs by expression-cloning with Xenopus laevis oocytes and we have characterized the cloned transporters functionally by uptake studies into oocytes using radiolabelled substrates and by electrophysiology to determine substrate-evoked currents. Mammalian transporters investigated include the dibasic and neutral amino acid transport protein D2/NBAT (system b0+) and the Na(+)- and K(+)-dependent neuronal and epithelial high-affinity glutamate transporter EAAC1 (system XAG-). A detailed characterization of these proteins has provided new information on transport characteristics and mechanisms for coupling to different inorganic ions. This work has furthermore advanced our understanding of the roles these transporters play in amino acid homeostasis and in various pathologies. For example, in the central nervous system, glutamate transporters are critically important in maintaining the extracellular glutamate concentration below neurotoxic levels, and defects of the human D2 gene have been shown to account for the formation of kidney stones in patients with cystinuria. Using similar approaches, we are investigating the molecular characteristics of K(+)-coupled amino acid transporters in the larval lepidopteran insect midgut. In the larval midgut, K+ is actively secreted into the lumen through the concerted action of an apical H+ V-ATPase and an apical K+/2H+ antiporter, thereby providing the driving force for absorption of amino acids. In vivo, the uptake occurs at extremely high pH (pH 10) and is driven by a large potential difference (approximately -200 mV). Studies with brush-border membrane vesicles have shown that there are several transport systems in the larval intestine with distinct amino acid and cation specificities. In addition to K+, Na+ can also be coupled to amino acid uptake at lower pH, but the Na+/K+ ratio of the hemolymph is so low that K+ is probably the major coupling ion in vivo. The neutral amino acid transport system of larval midgut has been studied most extensively. Apart from its cation selectivity, it appears to be related to the amino acid transport system B previously characterized in vertebrate epithelial cells. Both systems have a broad substrate range which excludes 2-(methylamino)-isobutyric acid, an amino acid analog accepted by the mammalian Na(+)-coupled system A. In order to gain insights into the K(+)-coupling mechanism and into amino acid and K+ homeostasis in insects, current studies are designed to delineate the molecular characteristics of these insect transporters. Recent data showed that injection of mRNA prepared from the midgut of Manduca sexta into Xenopus laevis oocytes induced a 1.5- to 2.5-fold stimulation of the Na(+)-dependent uptake of both leucine and phenylalanine (0.2 mmoll-1, pH 8). The molecular cloning of these transporters is now in progress. Knowledge of their unique molecular properties could be exploited in the future to control disease vectors and insect pests.

scholarly journals The 4F2hc surface antigen is necessary for expression of system L-like neutral amino acid-transport activity in C6-BU-1 rat glioma cells: evidence from expression studies in Xenopus laevis oocytes

1995 ◽  
Vol 312 (3) ◽  
pp. 863-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bröer ◽  
A Bröer ◽  
B Hamprecht
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Glioma Cells ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Rat Glioma ◽  
Polyadenylated Rna ◽  
System L

Mammalian cells possess a variety of amino acid-transport systems with overlapping substrate specificity. System L is one of the major amino acid-transport systems in all non-epithelial cells. Its molecular structure is not known. To clone the neutral amino acid-transporter system L, we followed an expression cloning strategy using Xenopus laevis oocytes. A cDNA library derived from C6-BU-1 rat glioma cells was used as a source, because high expression of system L activity could be demonstrated with polyadenylated RNA isolated from these cells, when injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes [Bröer, Bröer and Hamprecht (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1192, 95-100]. A single clone (ILAT) was identified, the sense cRNA of which, on injection into Xenopus laevis oocytes, stimulated sodium-independent isoleucine transport by about 100-fold. Further characterization revealed that transport of cationic amino acids was also stimulated. Sequencing of the cDNA showed that the identified clone is the heavy chain of the rat 4F2 surface antigen, a marker of tumour cells and activated lymphocytes. Uptake of neutral and cationic amino acids was not stimulated by the presence of Na+ ions. Antisense cRNA transcribed from this clone or antisense oligonucleotides, when co-injected with polyadenylated RNA from C6-BU-1 rat glioma cells, completely suppressed system L-like isoleucine-transport activity. We conclude that ILAT is necessary for expression of system L-like amino acid-transport activity by polyadenylated RNA from C6-BU-1 rat glioma cells.

scholarly journals Functional reconstitution of the hepatic system N amino acid transport activity

1991 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
B K Tamarappoo ◽  
M S Kilberg
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Total Cell ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Carrier Protein ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Cell Homogenate ◽  
Differential Solubility

Hepatic System N is responsible for the active plasma-membrane transport of glutamine, histidine and asparagine. This report describes the solubilization and reconstitution of System N activity. Differential solubility resulted in an approximate enrichment of almost 600-fold compared with total cell homogenate. The results indicate that reconstitution can be utilized as a functional assay during purification of the hepatic System N carrier protein.

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