l-Alanine transport across the isolated duodenal mucosa of the lizard Gallotia galloti has been studied in Ussing chambers under short-circuit conditions. Net l-alanine fluxes, transepithelial potential difference (PD), and short-circuit current ( Isc) showed concentration-dependent relationships. Na+-dependent l-alanine transport was substantially inhibited by the analog α-methyl aminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB). Likewise, MeAIB fluxes were completely inhibited byl-alanine, indicating the presence of system A for neutral amino acid transport. System A transport activity was electrogenic and exhibited hyperbolic relationships for net MeAIB fluxes, PD, and Isc, which displayed similar apparent K m values. Na+-dependentl-alanine transport, but not MeAIB transport, was partially inhibited by l-serine and l-cysteine, indicating the participation of system ASC. This transport activity represents the major pathway for l-alanine absorption and seemed to operate in an electroneutral mode with a negligible contribution to the l-alanine-induced electrogenicity. It is concluded from the present study that the active Na+-dependent l-alanine transport across the isolated duodenal mucosa of Gallotia galloti results from the independent activity of systems A and ASC for neutral amino acid transport.
The role of system A for neutral amino acid transport in the regulation of cell volume
