scholarly journals The C-terminal domain of the neutral amino acid transporter SNAT2 regulates transport activity through voltage-dependent processes

2011 ◽  
Vol 434 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Zhang ◽  
Catherine B. Zander ◽  
Christof Grewer
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Membrane Potentials ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Membrane Expression ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
C Terminus

SNAT (sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter) 2 belongs to the SLC38 (solute carrier 38) family of solute transporters. Transport of one amino acid molecule into the cell is driven by the co-transport of one Na+ ion. The functional significance of the C-terminus of SNAT2, which is predicted to be located in the extracellular space, is currently unknown. In the present paper, we removed 13 amino acid residues from the SNAT2 C-terminus and studied the effect of this deletion on transporter function. The truncation abolished amino acid transport currents at negative membrane potentials (<0 mV), as well as substrate uptake. However, transport currents were observed at positive membrane potentials demonstrating that transport was accelerated while the driving force decreased. Membrane expression levels were normal in the truncated transporter. SNAT2Del C-ter (13 residues deleted from the C-terminus) showed 3-fold higher apparent affinity for alanine, and 2-fold higher Na+ affinity compared with wild-type SNAT2, suggesting that the C-terminus is not required for high-affinity substrate and Na+ interaction with SNAT2. The pH sensitivity of amino acid transport was retained partially after the truncation. In contrast with the truncation after TM (transmembrane domain) 11, the deletion of TM11 resulted in an inactive transporter, most probably due to a defect in cell surface expression. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the C-terminal domain of SNAT2 is an important voltage regulator that is required for a normal amino acid translocation process at physiological membrane potentials. However, the C-terminus appears not to be involved in the regulation of membrane expression.

scholarly journals Amino acid sensing by enteroendocrine STC-1 cells: role of the Na+-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (6) ◽  
pp. C1401-C1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Young ◽  
Osvaldo Rey ◽  
Catia Sternini ◽  
Enrique Rozengurt
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Isobutyric Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Membrane Depolarization ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Acid Transporter

The results presented here show that STC-1 cells, a model of intestinal endocrine cells, respond to a broad range of amino acids, including l-proline, l-serine, l-alanine, l-methionine, l-glycine, l-histidine, and α-methyl-amino-isobutyric acid (MeAIB) with a rapid increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). We sought to identify the mechanism by which amino acids induce Ca2+ signaling in these cells. Several lines of evidence suggest that amino acid transport through the Na+-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2) is a major mechanism by which amino acids induced Ca2+ signaling in STC-1 cells: 1) the amino acid efficacy profile for inducing Ca2+ signaling in STC-1 cells closely matches the amino acid specificity of SNAT2; 2) amino acid-induced Ca2+ signaling in STC-1 cells was suppressed by removing Na+ from the medium; 3) the nonmetabolized synthetic substrate of amino acid transport MeAIB produced a marked increase in [Ca2+]i; 4) transfection of small interfering RNA targeting SNAT2 produced a marked decrease in Ca2+ signaling in response to l-proline in STC-1 cells; 5) amino acid-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was associated with membrane depolarization and mediated by Ca2+ influx, since it depended on extracellular Ca2+; 6) the increase in [Ca2+]i in response to l-proline, l-alanine, or MeAIB was abrogated by either nifedipine (1–10 μM) or nitrendipine (1 μM), which block L-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. We hypothesize that the inward current of Na+ associated with the function of SNAT2 leads to membrane depolarization and activation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels that mediate Ca2+ influx, thereby leading to an increase in the [Ca2+]i in enteroendocrine STC-1 cells.

scholarly journals Mutations of the basic amino acid transporter gene associated with cystinuria

1995 ◽  
Vol 310 (3) ◽  
pp. 951-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Miyamoto ◽  
K Katai ◽  
S Tatsumi ◽  
K Sone ◽  
H Segawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transport ◽  
Basic Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Acid Transport ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Acid Transporter

To investigate the function of a basic and neutral amino acid transporter-like protein (rBAT) which is a candidate gene for cystinuria, we analysed the rBAT gene in cystinuric patients. Patient 1 is a compound heterozygote with mutations in the rBAT gene causing a glutamine-to-lysine transition at amino acid 268, and a threonine-to-alanine transition at amino acid 341, who inherited these alleles from his mother (E268K) and father (T341A), respectively. Injection of T341A and E268K mutant cRNAs into oocytes decreased transport activity to 53.9% and 62.5% of control (L-cystine transport activity in oocytes injected with wild-type rBAT cRNA), respectively. Co-injection of E268K and T341A into oocytes strongly decreased amino acid transport activity to 28% of control. On the other hand, co-injection of wild-type and mutant rBAT did not decrease transport activity. Furthermore, immunological studies have demonstrated that the reduction of amino acid transport is not due to a decrease in the amount of rBAT protein expressed in oocyte membranes. These results indicate that mutations in the rBAT gene are crucial disease-causing lesions in cystinuria. In addition, co-injection experiments suggest that rBAT may function as a transport activator or regulatory subunit by homo- or hetero-multimer complex formation.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of Inhibitors of a Neutral Amino Acid Transporter, SLC6A19, Using Two Functional Cell-Based Assays

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay J. Danthi ◽  
Beirong Liang ◽  
Oanh Smicker ◽  
Benjamin Coupland ◽  
Jill Gregory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid ◽  
Imaging Plate ◽  
Acid Uptake ◽  
Functional Assays ◽  
Neutral Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Acid Transporter ◽  
Pharmacologically Active

SLC6A19 (B0AT1) is a neutral amino acid transporter, the loss of function of which results in Hartnup disease. SLC6A19 is also believed to have an important role in amino acid homeostasis, diabetes, and weight control. A small-molecule inhibitor of human SLC6A19 (hSLC6A19) was identified using two functional cell-based assays: a fluorescence imaging plate reader (FLIPR) membrane potential (FMP) assay and a stable isotope-labeled neutral amino acid uptake assay. A diverse collection of 3440 pharmacologically active compounds from the Microsource Spectrum and Tocriscreen collections were tested at 10 µM in both assays using MDCK cells stably expressing hSLC6A19 and its obligatory subunit, TMEM27. Compounds that inhibited SLC6A19 activity in both assays were further confirmed for activity and selectivity and characterized for potency in functional assays against hSLC6A19 and related transporters. A single compound, cinromide, was found to robustly, selectively, and reproducibly inhibit SLC6A19 in all functional assays. Structurally related analogs of cinromide were tested to demonstrate structure–activity relationship (SAR). The assays described here are suitable for carrying out high-throughput screening campaigns to identify modulators of SLC6A19.

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