Intestinal Brush Border Proteins Research Articles

Less common etiologies of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), an important cause of maldigestion and malabsorption, results from primary pancreatic diseases or secondarily impaired exocrine pancreatic function. Besides cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis, the most common etiologies of EPI, other causes of EPI include unresectable pancreatic cancer, metabolic diseases (diabetes); impaired hormonal stimulation of exocrine pancreatic secretion by cholecystokinin (CCK); celiac or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to loss of intestinal brush border proteins; and gastrointestinal surgery (asynchrony between motor and secretory functions, impaired enteropancreatic feedback, and inadequate mixing of pancreatic secretions with food). This paper reviews such conditions that have less straightforward associations with EPI and examines the role of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). Relevant literature was identified by database searches. Most patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer develop EPI (66%-92%). EPI occurs in patients with type 1 (26%-57%) or type 2 diabetes (20%-36%) and is typically mild to moderate; by definition, all patients with type 3c (pancreatogenic) diabetes have EPI. EPI occurs in untreated celiac disease (4%-80%), but typically resolves on a gluten-free diet. EPI manifests in patients with IBD (14%-74%) and up to 100% of gastrointestinal surgery patients (47%-100%; dependent on surgical site). With the paucity of published studies on PERT use for these conditions, recommendations for or against PERT use remain ambiguous. The authors conclude that there is an urgent need to conduct robust clinical studies to understand the validity and nature of associations between EPI and medical conditions beyond those with proven mechanisms, and examine the potential role for PERT.

Absorption and blood/cellular transport of folate and cobalamin: Pharmacokinetic and physiological considerations.

The systems involving folate and cobalamin have several features in common: 1) their dietary forms require luminal digestion for absorption; 2) intestinal bacteria in the upper intestine synthesize and utilize both vitamins, creating possible competition for the nutrients; 3) there is one major intestinal brush border protein essential for absorption; 4) both are subject to extensive entero-hepatic circulation. Finally, human mutations have confirmed the role of specific transporters and receptors in these processes. There are other features, however, that distinguish the metabolism of these vitamins: 1) upper intestinal bacteria tend to produce folate, while cobalamin (cbl) utilization is more common; 2) cbl absorption requires a luminal binding protein, but folate does not; 3) folate absorption can occur throughout the small bowel, but the cbl receptor, cubilin, is restricted to the distal half of the small bowel; 4) movement into cells uses transporters, exchangers, and symporters, whereas cbl is transferred by receptor-mediated endocytosis; 5) folate is carried in the blood mostly in red blood cells, whereas cbl is carried on specific binding-proteins; 6) folate can enter cells via multiple systems, but cbl uptake into all tissues use the transcobalamin receptor (TC-R), with the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) present in hepatocytes for uptake of haptocorrin-cbl (HC-cbl) complexes. In summary, the systems for absorption and distribution of folate and cobalamin are complex. These complexities help to explain the variable clinical responses after oral administration of the vitamins, especially when provided as supplements.

Histone H1 Proteins Act As Receptors for the 987P Fimbriae of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The tip adhesin FasG of the 987P fimbriae of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli mediates two distinct adhesive interactions with brush border molecules of the intestinal epithelial cells of neonatal piglets. First, FasG attaches strongly to sulfatide with hydroxylated fatty acyl chains. This interaction involves lysine 117 and other lysine residues of FasG. Second, FasG recognizes specific intestinal brush border proteins that migrate on a sodium-dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel like a distinct set of 32-35-kDa proteins, as shown by ligand blotting assays. The protein sequence of high performance liquid chromatography-purified tryptic fragments of the major protein band matched sequences of human and murine histone H1 proteins. Porcine histone H1 proteins isolated from piglet intestinal epithelial cells demonstrated the same SDS-PAGE migration pattern and 987P binding properties as the 987P-specific protein receptors from porcine intestinal brush borders. Binding was dose-dependent and shown to be specific in adhesion inhibition and gel migration shift assays. Moreover, mapping of the histone H1 binding domain suggested that it is located in their lysine-rich C-terminal domains. Histone H1 molecules were visualized on the microvilli of intestinal epithelial cells by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Taken together these results indicated that the intestinal protein receptors for 987P are histone H1 proteins. It is suggested that histones are released into the intestinal lumen by the high turnover of the intestinal epithelium. Their strong cationic properties can explain their association with the negatively charged brush border surfaces. There, the histone H1 molecules stabilize the sulfatide-fimbriae interaction by simultaneously binding to the membrane and to 987P.

Phenotypic characteristics of a distinctive multilayered epithelium suggests that it is a precursor in the development of Barrett's esophagus.

A distinctive type of multilayered epithelium (ME) has been described at the neo-squamocolumnar junction and within columnar mucosa in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). This epithelium has morphologic and ultrastructural features of both squamous and columnar epithelium. Multilayered epithelium may represent an early or intermediate stage of columnar metaplasia; therefore, we performed this study to determine the morphologic and biologic characteristics of this epithelium and to gain insight into its derivation. Esophageal mucosal biopsies containing ME from 17 patients with BE were evaluated morphologically, stained with a variety of mucin histochemical stains; and also immunostained with antibodies against cytokeratins (CK) 13 (squamous epithelium marker); 14 (basal squamous epithelium marker) 7, 8/18, 19, and 20 (columnar epithelium markers), MIB-1 (proliferation marker); villin (intestinal brush border protein); and TGFalpha, EGFR, pS2, and hSP (enteric proliferation/differentiation regulatory peptides). The results were compared with normal esophageal squamous epithelium, normal gastric cardia epithelium, specialized-type intestinal epithelium (BE), and esophageal mucosal and submucosal gland duct epithelium. Multilayered epithelium expressed a pattern of mucin production (neutral mucin, sialomucin, and sulfomucin in 88%, 100%, and 71% of cases, respectively) and cytokeratin expression (CK 13 and 19 in the basal "squamoid" cells, CK 7, 8/18, 19, and 20 in the superficial "columnar" cells) similar to that of columnar epithelium in BE, and showed a high capacity for cellular proliferation (Ki-67-positive in 88% of cases) and differentiation (TGFalpha, EGFR, pS2 and villin-positive in 100%, 100%, 93%, and 66% of cases, respectively). The mucosal gland duct epithelium showed a similar phenotypic pattern and, in one case, was seen to give rise to ME at the surface of the mucosa. These data provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that ME represents an early or intermediate stage in the development of esophageal columnar metaplasia (BE). The mucosal gland duct epithelium may contain progenitor cells that can give rise to ME.

Structural Determinants Required for Apical Sorting of an Intestinal Brush-border Membrane Protein

The distinct protein and lipid constituents of the apical and basolateral membranes in polarized cells are sorted by specific signals. O-Glycosylation of a highly polarized intestinal brush-border protein sucrase isomaltase is implicated in its apical sorting through interaction with sphingolipid-cholesterol microdomains. We characterized the structural determinants required for this mechanism by focusing on two major domains in pro-SI, the membrane anchor and the Ser/Thr-rich stalk domain. Deletion mutants lacking either domain, pro-SI(DeltaST) (stalk-free) and pro-SI(DeltaMA) (membrane anchor-free), were constructed and expressed in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. In the absence of the membrane anchoring domain, pro-SI(DeltaMA) does not associate with lipid rafts and the mutant is randomly delivered to both membranes. Therefore, the O-glycosylated stalk region is not sufficient per se for the high fidelity of apical sorting of pro-SI. Pro-SI(DeltaST) does not associate either with lipid rafts and its targeting behavior is similar to that of pro-SI(DeltaMA). Only wild type pro-SI containing both determinants, the stalk region and membrane anchor, associates with lipid microdomains and is targeted correctly to the apical membrane. However, not all sequences in the stalk region are required for apical sorting. Only O-glycosylation of a stretch of 12 amino acids (Ala(37)-Pro(48)) juxtapose the membrane anchor is required in conjunction with the membrane anchoring domain for correct targeting of pro-SI to the apical membrane. Other O-glycosylated domains within the stalk (Ala(49)-Pro(57)) are not sufficient for apical sorting. We conclude that the recognition signal for apical sorting of pro-SI comprises O-glycosylation of the Ala(37)-Pro(48) stretch and requires the presence of the membrane anchoring domain.

Fermentable Dietary Fiber Increases GLP-1 Secretion and Improves Glucose Homeostasis Despite Increased Intestinal Glucose Transport Capacity in Healthy Dogs

Ileal proglucagon gene expression and postprandial plasma concentrations of proglucagon-derived peptides are reported to change with the type and quantity of dietary fiber ingested by rats. Within the intestine, proglucagon encodes several proglucagon-derived peptides known to modulate intestinal absorption capacity and pancreatic insulin secretion. To determine whether the chronic ingestion of fermentable dietary fiber regulates the expression and synthesis of proglucagon-derived peptides in the distal intestine to modulate glucose homeostasis, the following study was conducted: 16 adult dogs (23 ± 2 kg) were fed isoenergetic, isonitrogenous diets containing a mixture of high fermentable dietary fibers (HFF) or low fermentable (LFF) wood cellulose for 14 d in a randomized cross-over design. Food was withheld for 16 h before an oral glucose tolerance test was conducted supplying 2 g of glucose/kg body wt, and peripheral blood was collected via a hind-leg catheter at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min for plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)NH2 (GLP-1) analyses. Intestinal samples were collected after the second dietary treatment. Ileal proglucagon mRNA, intestinal (GLP-1) concentrations and the integrated area under the curves (AUC) for plasma GLP-1 and insulin were greater and plasma glucose AUC was reduced when dogs were fed the HFF diet compared to the LFF diet (P < 0.05). Intestinal villi heights, brush border and basolateral glucose transporter protein abundance and jejunal transport capacities were significantly greater when dogs were fed the HFF diet than when fed the LFF diet. In conclusion, improvements in glucose homeostasis are observed in healthy dogs when they ingest fermentable fibers.

Galectin-4 and small intestinal brush border enzymes form clusters.

Detergent-insoluble complexes prepared from pig small intestine are highly enriched in several transmembrane brush border enzymes including aminopeptidase N and sucrase-isomaltase, indicating that they reside in a glycolipid-rich environment in vivo. In the present work galectin-4, an animal lectin lacking a N-terminal signal peptide for membrane translocation, was discovered in these complexes as well, and in gradient centrifugation brush border enzymes and galectin-4 formed distinct soluble high molecular weight clusters. Immunoperoxidase cytochemistry and immunogold electron microscopy showed that galectin-4 is indeed an intestinal brush border protein; we also localized galectin-4 throughout the cell, mainly associated with membraneous structures, including small vesicles, and to the rootlets of microvillar actin filaments. This was confirmed by subcellular fractionation, showing about half the amount of galectin-4 to be in the microvillar fraction, the rest being associated with insoluble intracellular structures. A direct association between the lectin and aminopeptidase N was evidenced by a colocalization along microvilli in double immunogold labeling and by the ability of an antibody to galectin-4 to coimmunoprecipitate aminopeptidase N and sucrase-isomaltase. Furthermore, galectin-4 was released from microvillar, right-side-out vesicles as well as from mucosal explants by a brief wash with 100 mM lactose, confirming its extracellular localization. Galectin-4 is therefore secreted by a nonclassical pathway, and the brush border enzymes represent a novel class of natural ligands for a member of the galectin family. Newly synthesized galectin-4 is rapidly "trapped" by association with intracellular structures prior to its apical secretion, but once externalized, association with brush border enzymes prevents it from being released from the enterocyte into the intestinal lumen.

Binding of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli to 32- to 33-kilodalton human intestinal brush border proteins.

We have detected human intestinal brush border proteins to which Escherichia coli strains adhere by means of a blotting-nitrocellulose method in which the binding of radiolabeled bacteria to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-separated intestinal cell membranes was evaluated. The brush border fraction contained several polypeptides that bound only adherent E. coli strains. The most prominent and consistent of these proteins had apparent molecular masses of 32 to 33 kDa. Additional polypeptides ranging from 50 to 70, from 105 to 130, and from 180 to 200 kDa were also recognized by adherent E. coli strains, although with less intensity (in accordance with the number of bound bacteria to these polypeptides). Independently of the pattern of adherence (localized [LA], diffuse [DA], or aggregative [AggA]) all HEp-2-adhering strains recognized, with different intensities, the 32- to 33-kDa brush border proteins, whereas nonadhesive strains did not. The relative avidity of an LA strain to bind to the 32- to 33-kDa proteins was approximately seven- and sixfold higher than the binding of strains with aggregative and diffuse adherence, respectively. Thus, it is reasonable to think that LA, DA, and AggA strains have a common adhesin that mediates binding to the 32- to 33-kDa bands. Inhibition experiments using HEp-2 cells demonstrated that isolated 32- to 33-kDa proteins or specific antiserum blocked preferentially bacterial adherence of the LA pattern. Delipidization and protein digestion of the human brush borders confirmed that E. coli bound to structures of a proteinaceous nature. Deglycosylation studies and sodium meta-periodate oxidation of the intestinal cell membranes decreased bacterial binding activity significantly, indicating that E. coli bound to carbohydrate moieties in the glycoproteins. These results suggest that binding of E. coli strains, mainly of the LA phenotype, to the 32- to 33-kDa proteins could play a role in colonization through adherence to the intestinal mucosa.

NHE2 and NHE3 are human and rabbit intestinal brush-border proteins.

Rabbit NHE2 and NHE3 are two epithelial isoform Na+/H+ exchangers (NHE), the messages for which are found predominantly and entirely, respectively, in renal, intestinal, and gastric mucosa. The current studies used Western analysis and immunohistochemistry to identify and characterize the apical vs. basolateral membrane distribution of NHE2 and NHE3 in intestinal epithelial cells. Based on Western analysis, NHE2 and NHE3 both are present in brush-border but not basolateral membranes of small intestine. Both NHE2 and NHE3 are 85-kDa proteins. Consistent with Western analysis, NHE2 and NHE3 are immunolocalired to the brush-border but not basolateral membranes of villus epithelial cells, but not goblet cells, in human jejunum and ileum and in surface epithelial cells in the ascending and descending colon and rectum. In addition, NHE2 and NHE3 are present in small amounts in the crypt cell brush border of human jejunum, ileum, ascending and descending colon, and rectum. In rabbit jejunum, ileum, and ascending colon, NHE2 and NHE3 are present in the brush border of epithelial and not goblet cells, again much more in the villus (small intestine)/ surface cells (colon) than the crypt. NHE2 but not NHE3 is present in the brush border of rabbit descending colon surface cells and in small amounts in crypt cells. NHE2 and NHE3 are both human and rabbit small intestinal and colonic epithelial cell brush-border Na+/H+ exchanger isoforms that colocalize in all intestinal segments except rabbit descending colon, which lacks NHE3.

The effect of an anti-glucocorticoid (ZK 98299) on thymus evolution and on hydrocortisone-induced thymolysis, intestinal brush-border enzymes and their desialylation in suckling rats.

1. The action in Onapristone infant male rats displays short-term and delayed effects. 2. Suppression of intestinal brush-border enzymes and increase of thymus mass were observed only immediately after 3-day treatment with Onapristone. After an additional 3 days its effect disappeared. There was no immediate or delayed effect of Onapristone on the desialylation of brush-border enzymes. 3. In the short-term and delayed effects, Onapristone suppressed the HC-provoked induction of several intestinal brush-border enzymes, especially alpha-glycosidases. In the delayed effect the drug also suppressed thymolysis induced by the exogeneously given glucocorticoid, and suppressed the HC-induced desialylation of a brush-border enzyme DP IV, which serves as a marker of the desialylation process. 4. These experiments seem to support a conclusion that the postnatal development of intestinal brush-border enzymes and the development of thymus in infant rats are controlled by endogeneously secreted glucocorticoids. 5. The control of sialylation of intestinal brush-border proteins by endogeneously secreted glucocorticoids during the postnatal development of the rat remains debatable.

Immunochemical evidence that myosin I heavy chain-like protein is identical to the 110-kilodalton brush-border protein.

In a previous study, we identified a new mammalian myosin heavy chain, termed myosin I heavy chain-like protein (MIHC), by molecular cloning of a bovine intestinal cDNA clone. In this investigation, we examined the relationship between MIHC and the 110-kDa intestinal brush-border protein, which possesses a myosin-like ATPase activity. We raised antibodies against a chemically synthesized oligopeptide representing a part of the MIHC sequence. These antibodies reacted specifically in immunoblots with the 110-kDa protein in both purified 110-kDa protein-calmodulin complex and crude microvillar protein extracts. Staining of tissue sections with these antibodies was specifically localized to the brush-border microvilli of small intestines, indicating an identical cellular localization for both MIHC and the 110-kDa protein. Furthermore, analysis of the MIHC sequence revealed two putative calmodulin-binding sites, which is consistent with the fact that the 110-kDa protein forms a complex with calmodulin. These results strongly support the conclusion that MIHC is identical to the 110-kDa protein and suggest that not only the conventional myosin system but also the MIHC (110-kDa protein)-calmodulin complex may play an important role in ATP-dependent and Ca2+-induced brush-border contraction.

Differential distribution of villin and villin mRNA in mouse intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract The distribution of the mRNA encoding for villin, the major actin-binding protein of intestinal brush border, was studied during the differentiation of mouse intestinal epithelial cells and compared to the distribution of the protein. In situ hybridization using a cRNA clone specific for villin indicated that the distribution of the mRNA did not fully parallel that of the protein, although the overall labeling pattern for mRNA and protein along the crypt-villus axis was similar. While villin was present in equal amounts in all cells along the villi, villin-specific mRNA was mainly accumulated in the cells at the villus base, the area of the epithelium where terminal differentiation takes place and where the brush border is formed.

Identification of a new type of mammalian myosin heavy chain by molecular cloning. Overlap of its mRNA with preprotachykinin B mRNA.

In this paper, we report the polypeptide sequence, the mRNA sequence, and gene organization of a new category of mammalian myosin heavy chain, termed myosin I heavy chain-like protein (MIHC), on the basis of sequence analyses of cDNA clones isolated from a bovine intestinal cDNA library and a genomic DNA clone containing the MIHC gene. The MIHC mRNA shares its 3' sequence with the 5' sequence of the preprotachykinin B mRNA encoding the precursor for the neuromedin K neuropeptide. An overlap of these functionally unrelated mRNAs results from overlapping transcription of the same strand of the genomic DNA sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence comprising the amino-terminal two-thirds of the 119-kDa MIHC polypeptide is highly homologous to that portion of conventional myosin heavy chains which forms the globular head domain. The homology is particularly strong in the regions of sequence thought to be involved in forming the nucleotide- and actin-binding sites. By contrast, the deduced sequence comprising the carboxyl-terminal one-third of MIHC shows no significant homology to that portion of conventional myosin heavy chains which forms the alpha-helical coiled-coil rod-like tail. In this regard, MIHC more closely resembles the monomolecular, non-filamentous, low molecular weight myosin I heavy chain from Acanthamoeba castellanii. Furthermore, the size of the MIHC polypeptide, together with its preferential expression in intestinal tissue, leads us to speculate that MIHC and the 110-kDa intestinal brush-border protein (Collins, J. H., and Borysenko, C. W. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 14128-14135), which binds actin and has myosin-like ATPase activity, are the same or closely related proteins.

Use of monoclonal antibodies to investigate the intracellular transport and biogenesis of intestinal brush-border proteins.

Conference Article| February 01 1986 Use of monoclonal antibodies to investigate the intracellular transport and biogenesis of intestinal brush-border proteins HANS-PETER HAURI HANS-PETER HAURI 1Department of Pharmacology, Biocenter of the University of Basel, Klingelberstr, 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Biochem Soc Trans (1986) 14 (1): 161–163. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0140161 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation HANS-PETER HAURI; Use of monoclonal antibodies to investigate the intracellular transport and biogenesis of intestinal brush-border proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 1986; 14 (1): 161–163. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0140161 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Society Transactions Search Advanced Search This content is only available as a PDF. © 1986 Biochemical Society1986 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Vitamin D-mediated alterations in the topography of intestinal brush border proteins: Effect of papain on hydrolase release and calcium uptake

The effect of vitamin D status on the topography of intestinal cell membranes was studied in isolated brush borders, as well as their purified membranes, by limited proteolysis. Addition of papain to brush borders isolated from vitamin D 3-treated and deficient chicks resulted in a differential solubilization of leucine aminopeptidase, maltase, and sucrase activities (114, 195, and 79%, respectively, of appropriate control levels) but not alkaline phosphatase activity. In comparison, proteolysis of purified membranes exhibited vitamin D 3- and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH) 2D 3]-dependent differences in release of all four marker hydrolases monitored. Calcium uptake studies revealed that preincubation with papain yielded vesicles with a calcium content that was 125% of corresponding native vesicles, in preparations from vitamin D 3-treated, as well as deficient birds. Membrane vesicles prepared from 1,25(OH) 2D 3-treated chicks initially accumulated calcium to a greater extent than those from rachitic birds, but thereafter exhibited a decline in calcium content to basal levels. Preincubation with papain, however, abolished this loss of calcium. The combined results indicate that vitamin D mediates alterations in brush border protein topography and raise the possibility that this action of the seco-steroid might be involved in calcium absorption. However, if vitamin D-stimulated calcium transport across the brush border is dependent on a protein carrier, the molecular entity is not sensitive to inactivation by papain.

Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of renal and intestinal brush border converting enzyme

Antibodies raised against purified hog renal or intestinal brush border protein or against purified hog kidney angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) were used to characterize renal and intestinal brush border ACE by techniques of differential solubilization, fused-rocket, line absorption and crossed-immunoelectrophoresis. Renal ACE is immunologically identical to intestinal ACE. ACE is present as a major intrinsic protein of renal brush border and a minor intrinsic protein of intestinal brush border. Renal and intestinal brush border ACE could be solubilized by detergent and/or papain. The electrophoretic mobilities of the papain-treated forms of ACE were greater than the detergent-treated forms. This increased mobility was associated with the removal of a small, non-antigenic component of the enzyme. Thus, like several other intrinsic brush border peptidases, ACE is bound to renal and intestinal brush border by a small hydrophobic anchor.

Erythroid spectrin, brain fodrin, and intestinal brush border proteins (TW-260/240) are related molecules containing a common calmodulin-binding subunit bound to a variant cell type-specific subunit.

Spectrin, fodrin, and TW-260/240 form a group of structurally and functionally similar but not identical high molecular weight actin-binding proteins from chicken erythrocytes, brain tissue, or intestinal epithelial brush borders. Immunological data and one-dimensional peptide maps of the separated subunits suggest that a common (Mr 240,000) and a variant (Mr 220,000, 235,000, or 260,000) subunit account for the three different heterodimers. These results are in line with the related but distinct morphology of the three proteins observed in micrographs of rotary-shadowed molecules and the finding that the common (Mr 240,000) subunit seems to account for the calcium-dependent calmodulin-binding activity displayed by the three proteins. The possible functions of spectrin-like molecules in nonerythroid cells are discussed.

Sucrase metabolism in germfree rats

We studied degradation of the intestinal brush-border protein sucrase-isomaltase in germfree animals as well as in ex-germfree animals and conventional controls to determine the mechanism by which intestinal bacteria alter disaccharidase levels. Our results indicate that sucrase-isomaltase turnover is as rapid in germfree animals as in the other groups and are consistent with surface removal of disaccharidases by pancreatic proteases under physiological conditions. Our results also suggest that elevated disaccharidase levels in germfree animals are in large part the consequence of an increased number of mature enterocytes, which persists for at least 2 wk after exposure of animals to a conventional microbial flora.

Immunoelectrophoretic studies on human small intestinal brush border proteins—the longitudinal distribution of peptidases and disaccharidases

The longitudinal distribution of different brush border enzymes along the human small intestine was studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The results are based on biopsies taken every 50 cm in three intestines obtained at autopsy and on peroral or peroperative biopsies from the ligament of Treitz, proximal jejunum and distal ileum from 11 patients undergoing jejunoileal bypass operation for obesity. Lactasephlorizin hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.23-62) and sucrase-isomaltase (EC 3.2.1.48-10) had their highest level in jejunum with decreasing activity towards the proximal and distal ends of the intestine, while maltase (EC 3.2.1.20) increased along the intestine and reached its highest activity in the distal ileum. A carboxypeptidase (EC 3.4.12.X) is demonstrated as an enzymatic entity of the human intestine. This enzyme had a rather flat distribution curve while microvillus aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.X) and aspartate aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.7) all increased along the length axis and reached maximum values in distal ileum.

Turnover of intestinal brush-border proteins during postnatal development in rat.

Protein turnover in brush-border membranes of rats during postnatal development has been studied by the double isotope technique. Unlike adult animals where only large proteins (mol wt > 140,000) show relatively rapid turnover, most brush-border proteins in 12-day-old rats show high 3H-to-14C ratios of leucine incorporation, consistent with rapid turnover. Lysosomal proteases, including cathepsin B, are partly responsible for this rapid turnover. This conclusion is based on the following findings: 1) In vivo treatment of 12-day-old animals with leupeptin, an inhibitor of cathepsin B, alters relative turnover rates, enzyme activity, and content of many brush-border proteins. Activities of maltase and trehalase rise while lactase falls. 2) Cathepsin B activity falls rapidly in intestine after the animals are 16 days of age, at a time when luminal pancreatic proteases are rising. Moreover, cathepsin B activity shows less latency in distal intestine at 12 and 16 days than at later ages or in proximal intestine. It is suggested that during postnatal development lysosomal enzymes, e.g., cathepsin B, play an important role in the turnover of intestinal brush-border proteins.