Rabbit Intestinal Brush-border Membrane Vesicles Research Articles

Intestinal Brush-border Membrane Transport of Monocarboxylic Acids Mediated by Proton-coupled Transport and Anion Antiport Mechanisms

Intestinal brush-border membrane transport of monocarboxylic acids was investigated by using rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) and isolated intestinal tissues mounted on Ussing-type chambers. [3H]Mevalonic acid uptake by BBMVs showed an overshoot phenomenon in the presence of an inwardly directed proton gradient, but not in the presence of an inwardly directed sodium gradient or an outwardly directed HCO3- or chloride gradient. Initial uptake of mevalonic acid was saturable in the presence of a proton gradient. Uptake of [3H]mevalonic acid was inhibited by various monocarboxylic acids, including acetic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid, nicotinic acid, pravastatin, salicylic acid and valproic acid, but not by dicarboxylic acid or amino acids. Acetic acid, which is transported by both anion antiport and proton-coupled transport systems, induced serosal bicarbonate-dependent alkalinization in the mucosal-side bathing solution of rabbit jejunal tissues, when examined in Ussing-type chambers. Pravastatin, which is a structural analogue of mevalonic acid and is absorbed via proton-coupled transport like mevalonic acid, did not. The result demonstrates that acetic acid is transported by the bicarbonate-dependent anion antiport system, whereas pravastatin is not. So, it is suggested that monocarboxylic acids are transported by at least two independent transporters, namely, a proton-coupled transporter for most monocarboxylic acids, including mevalonic acid, pravastatin and acetic acid, and an anion antiporter for acetic acid, but not for mevalonic acid or pravastatin. Activation of anion antiporter can induce HCO3- secretion in intact intestine.

Characteristics of dicarboxylic amino acid transport by rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

Journal Article Characteristics of Dicarboxylic Amino Acid Transport by Rabbit Intestinal Brush-Border Membrane Vesicles Get access Nutrition Reviews, Volume 43, Issue 1, January 1985, Pages 30–32, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.1985.tb02391.x Published: 01 January 1985

Inhibitory effect of TNF‐α on the intestinal absorption of galactose

Sepsis is a systemic response to infection in which toxins, such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), stimulate the production of inflammatory mediators like the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Previous studies from our laboratory have revealed that LPS inhibits the intestinal absorption of L-leucine and D-fructose in rabbit when it was intravenously administered, and that TNF-alpha seems to mediate this effect on amino acid absorption. To extend this work, the present study was designed to evaluate the possible effect of TNF-alpha on D-galactose intestinal absorption, identify the intracellular mechanisms involved and establish whether this cytokine mediates possible LPS effects. Our findings indicate that TNF-alpha decreases D-galactose absorption both in rabbit intestinal tissue preparations and brush-border membrane vesicles. Western blot analysis revealed reduced amounts of the Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) protein in the plasma membrane attributable to the cytokine. On the contrary, TNF-alpha increased SGLT1 mRNA levels. Specific inhibitors of the secondary messengers PKC, PKA, the MAP kinases p38 MAP, JNK, MEK1/2 as well as the proteasome, diminished the TNF-alpha-evoked inhibitory effect. LPS inhibition of the uptake of the sugar was blocked by a TNF-alpha antagonist. In conclusion, TNF-alpha inhibits D-galactose intestinal absorption by decreasing the number of SGLT1 molecules at the enterocyte plasma membrane through a mechanism in which several protein-like kinases are involved.

A phosphorylated phloretin derivative. Synthesis and effect on intestinal Na(+)-dependent phosphate absorption.

2'-Phosphophloretin (2'-PP), a phosphorylated derivative of the plant chalcone, was synthesized. The effect of 2'-PP, on Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake into intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from rabbit and rat duodenum and jejunum was examined. 2'-PP decreased Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake into rabbit BBMV with an IC(50) of 55 nM and into rat BBMV with an IC(50) of 58 nM. 2'-PP did not affect Na(+)-dependent glucose, Na(+)-dependent sulfate, or Na(+)-dependent alanine uptake by rabbit intestinal BBMVs. 2'-PP inhibition of rabbit intestinal BBMV Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake was sensitive to external phosphate concentration, suggesting that 2'-PP inhibition of Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake was competitive with respect to phosphate. Binding of [(3)H]2'-PP to rabbit intestinal BBMV was examined. Binding of [(3)H]2'-PP was Na(+)-dependent with a K(0.5) for Na(+)(Na(+) concentration for 50% 2'-PP binding) of 30 mM. The apparent K(s) for Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]2'-PP binding to rabbit BBMVs was 58 nM in agreement with the IC(50) for 2'-PP inhibition of Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake. These results indicate that 2'-PP bound to rabbit or rat intestinal BBMV Na(+)-phosphate cotransporter and inhibited Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake. In rats treated with 2'-PP by daily gavage, the effect of 2'-PP on serum phosphate, serum glucose, and serum calcium was examined. In a concentration-dependent manner, 2'-PP reduced serum phosphate by 45% 1 wk after starting treatment. 2'-PP did not alter serum calcium or serum glucose. The apparent IC(50) for 2'-PP in vivo was 3 microM.

Na +-dependent and Na +-independent transport of l-arginine and l-alanine across dog intestinal brush border membrane vesicles

We prepared intestinal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from beagle dogs fed a commercial diet (protein content: 24–26%), and investigated the characteristics of transport for basic and neutral amino acids across the intestinal BBMVs. To determined the kinetic parameters for l-arginine and l-alanine uptake, their total uptake was resolved into three routes: (1) Na +-dependent carrier-mediated transport; (2) Na +-independent carrier-mediated transport; and (3) simple diffusion. We could observe subtle, but clear-cut, Na +-dependent basic amino acid transport for the first time among studies with intestinal BBMVs prepared from mammals fed a normal diet. The Na +-dependent system for l-arginine transport can be best characterized as ‘low affinity, low capacity’, in contrast to that for l-alanine transport, which is ‘low affinity, high capacity’. Maximal velocities of the Na +-dependent carrier-mediated transport are estimated to be higher for both l-arginine and l-alanine in dog intestinal BBMVs than in rabbit intestinal BBMVs reported previously. These results suggest that food habit of mammals is an important factor to decide the characteristic of system B 0,+, a Na +-dependent carrier-mediated transport system common to basic and neutral amino acids across intestinal brush border membranes, as is protein content of the diet.

PH-dependent fluoride transport in intestinal brush border membrane vesicles

Fluoride (F) absorption from the rat stomach and urinary bladder, hamster cheek pouch, and the renal tubules of several species are pH gradient-dependent. These observations led to the hypothesis that F crosses these epithelia in the form of the undissociated acid, HF. Several recent reports, however, have provided evidence that F absorption from the rat small intestine is insensitive to the lumenal pH. We report here our evidence that F uptake by rabbit intestinal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) occurred rapidly and with an overshoot only in the presence of an inward-directed proton gradient. In the absence of a proton gradient or in the presence of an outward-directed gradient, F uptake was slow and without an overshoot. In the presence of an inward-directed proton gradient, F uptake was partially inhibited by DIDS and DEP but not by diBAC. PCMBS inhibited F uptake by up to 83% in a dose-response manner. DiBAC appeared to reduce intravesicular pH slightly but the other reagents had no effect. When the uptake buffer contained chloride or nitrate, F uptake was partially inhibited compared to the mannitol or gluconate controls. It was concluded that F transport across the rabbit intestinal BBMV occurs via a carrier-mediated process which may involve cotransport of F with H + or exchange of F with OH −. The inhibitory effects of DIDS, DEP and PCMBS may occur by affecting this carrier-mediated transport.

Sparfloxacin binds to rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles by ionic interactions

The intestinal transport and binding of sparfloxacin has been investigated using rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles. The apparent uptake of sparfloxacin by these vesicles was very rapid. The plateau was reached after 20 min in NaCl-free buffer with a membrane binding of this drug accounting for about two-thirds of the apparent accumulation. Addition of NaCl did not affect the transport of this fluoroquinolone into the intravesicular space. However, the binding of sparfloxacin to membrane vesicles was sharply reduced by NaCl, suggesting that the binding of sparfloxacin to epithelial cells involves ionic interactions.

Enhancement of the small intestinal uptake of phenylalanyl-glycine via a H +/oligopeptide transport system by chemical modification with fatty acids

The transport characteristics of chemically modified phenylalanylglycine (Phe-Gly) with butyric acid (C 4-Phe-Gly) and caproic acid (C 6-Phe-Gly) were examined using rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs). In the presence of an inwardly H + gradient (pH 7.5 inside, pH 6.0 outside), the uptake of Phe-Gly via BBMVs was significantly enhanced by the covalent attachment of butyric or caproic acid to the N-terminal of Phe-Gly. Moreover, C 4-Phe-Gly uptake was stimulated by the trans-stimulation effect of some dipeptides and cefadroxil, and was inhibited by other dipeptides and cefadroxil. These results indicate that N-terminal modified Phe-Gly with fatty acids are transported into BBMVs via an oligopeptide transporter. Therefore, chemical modification of dipeptides with fatty acids can enhance the intestinal absorption of dipeptide by a carrier-mediated transport via an oligopeptide transporter.

Characterisation of penicillin-G uptake in rabbit small-intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

Uptake of penicillin-G has been studied in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Penicillin-G was transported into the lumen of BBMV via an H +-dependent, Na +-independent uptake system. This was a saturable carrier-mediated process, which adhered to Michaelis-Menten kinetics, having a pH optimum of 4.5 and resulting in a net-negative charge transfer. V max was 59 nmol penicillin-G (mg protein) -1 (30 s) -1 and K m 22.7 mM. Ampicillin, penicillin-V, cefadroxil, cephalexin, cephalothin, cephradine, l-camosine, glycyl- l-alanine, glycyl- l-tyrosine and glycylglycylglycine inhibited the uptake of penicillin-G. However, glycylsarcosine stimulated uptake by 92%. Countertransport experiments suggested that this effect took place at the active site of the transporter. Penicillin-G uptake appeared to be mediated via a common transport system shared by penicillins, cephalosporins and peptides.

Transport and steady-state accumulation of putrescine in brush-border membrane vesicles of rabbit small intestine.

Absorption of polyamines from the lumen is essential for cell proliferation in small intestine but also in other rapidly growing body tissues and tumors. Intestinal uptake of polyamines is thought to involve one or more transport systems, but the characteristics of these systems have not yet been clearly elucidated. Because high levels of putrescine have been identified in intestinal lumen, we explored kinetic, physiochemical, and structural features of uptake of this diamine across rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (IBBMV) prepared by CaCl2 or MgCl2 precipitation procedure. Initial rates of putrescine influx were measured during 5-min incubations at 25 or 37 degrees C (optimal temperature) for concentrations of 0.45-145 microM. At both temperatures, kinetics of putrescine transport fitted a model with a single Michaelis-Menten uptake component plus a nonsaturable uptake component. At 37 degrees C, the kinetic parameters for the saturable component of putrescine uptake, Km,app and Vmax,app, were 16.8 +/- 4.7 microM and 19.9 +/- 2.8 pmol.mg protein-1.min-1, respectively. The value of the constant for the nonsaturable component of putrescine uptake (P = 0.45 +/- 0.06 x 10(-8) l.mg protein-1.s-1) suggested this component represented essentially nonspecific binding of putrescine to IBBMV. Cadaverine, spermidine, and spermine were competitive inhibitors of putrescine transport, with inhibition constants equal to 47, 117, and 219 microM, respectively. When effects of a variety of alkyldiamines and structural analogues of polyamines (1 mM) on influx of 5.6 microM putrescine were compared, cadaverine, methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), and cyclic derivatives of MGBG were found to exhibit the highest inhibitory potencies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transport of cycasin by the intestinal Na +/glucose cotransporter

The medicinal and food use of seed from the cycad plant ( Cycas spp.), which contains the neurotoxin cycasin, is a proposed etiological factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS/PDC), a prototypical neurodegenerative disease found in the western Pacific. Cycasin, the β- d-glucoside of methylazoxymethanol might enter neurons and other cells via a glucose transporter. Since the intestinal brush-border Na +/glucose cotransporter plays a major role in the absorption of monosaccharides, the following studies were conducted to determine if cycasin, the β- d-glucoside of methylazoxymethanol, is a substrate for the transporter. We measured the ability of cycasin to (i) inhibit Na +/glucose uptake into rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles, and (ii) to generate current by the cloned Na +/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The results show that cycasin inhibits Na +-dependent sugar transport in the vesicles, and cycasin generates phlorizin-sensitive currents in oocytes. We conclude that cycasin is a substrate for the intestinal brush-border Na +/glucose cotransporter, albeit with a lower affinity than d-glucose. This suggests that cycasin may be absorbed from the gut lumen by the cotransporter, and as a result either cycasin or the aglycone is presented to the blood-brain barrier for uptake into the brain.

Bestatin transport in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

The effect of papain treatment on bestatin uptake by rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) was studied. Papain treatment of BBMVs effectively diminished aminopeptidase activity but not bestatin uptake by a H +/dipeptide cotransporter. Bestatin uptake by BBMVs was composed of two saturable components, and after papain treatment the high-affinity component disappeared while the low-affinity component was retained. These findings suggest that high- and low-affinity components represent bestatin binding to aminopeptidase and the true uptake by the H +/dipeptide cotransporter, respectively.

Mechanisms of intestinal absorption of the antibiotic, fosfomycin, in brush-border membrane vesicles in rabbits and humans.

In order to clarify the mechanism of intestinal absorption of an antibiotic, fosfomycin (FOM), the uptakes of FOM by rabbit and human small intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were studied. The initial uptake of FOM by BBMV at 15 s was saturable at a higher concentration of FOM. The kinetic parameters at 37 degrees C of the saturable uptake expressed by the Michaelis-Menten equation were Kt = 5.17 mM and Jmax = 3.88 nmol/15 s/mg protein for rabbits, and Kt = 4.03 mM and Jmax = 1.90 nmol/15 s/mg protein for humans. The most efficient uptake was observed in the presence of both inward-directed Na(+)- and H(+)-gradients in both mammals. The uptake of FOM was inhibited by inorganic phosphate, FOM glycol which is a degradation product of FOM in the gastric juice and specific inhibitors of phosphate transport such as arsenate and phosphonoacetic acid. These findings confirmed that FOM absorption from rabbit and human small intestines is associated with the phosphate transport system. These transport phenomena of FOM are in close agreement with those obtained previously in rat BBMV studies. Judging from the results obtained for three mammalian species, rat, rabbit and human, it was concluded that carrier-mediated transport via the phosphate transport system is a very important pathway of intestinal absorption of FOM.

Carrier-mediated mechanism for biotin transport in rabbit intestine: studies with brush-border membrane vesicles

Simple diffusion has been reported as the mechanism of biotin transport in rabbit intestine. In this study, we reevaluated this concept by examining biotin transport in rabbit intestine using optimal experimental conditions and a well-established brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) technique. Uptake of biotin by rabbit intestinal BBMV was found by an osmolarity study to be mostly the result of transport of the vitamin into an osmotically sensitive intravesicular space with little binding to membrane surfaces. Biotin transport in rabbit intestinal BBMV was 1) Na+ gradient dependent (out greater than in) with a clear "overshoot" phenomenon, indicating the accumulation of the substrate against a concentration gradient; 2) initial rate of biotin transport by the Na+ gradient-dependent component was saturable as a function of substrate concentration with apparent Km and maximum velocity (Vmax) values of 6.7 microM and 10.7 pmol.mg protein-1 x 10 s-1, respectively; 3) inhibited by high concentrations of unlabeled biotin and its related compounds desthiobiotin and thioctic acid in the presence, but not absence, of a Na+ gradient; and 4) not affected by inducing a relatively positive or negative intravesicular space with the use of valinomycin-induced K+ diffusion potential. These findings indicate that the biotin transport mechanism in rabbit intestine is carrier mediated in nature. Furthermore, this mechanism is Na+ gradient dependent, capable of accumulating the substrate against a concentration gradient and transport the vitamin via an electroneutral process.

Participation of Monocarboxylic Anion and Bicarbonate Exchange System for the Transport of Acetic Acid and Monocarboxylic Acid Drugs in the Small Intestinal Brush-Border Membrane Vesicles.

A participation of bicarbonate exchange system for the transport of acetic acid and the related monocarboxylic acid drugs in the intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) was investigated. The uptake of [3H]acetic acid at 37 degrees C by BBMVs was markedly stimulated and showed a clear overshoot phenomenon in the presence of outward-directed bicarbonate gradient (pHin = 7.5, [KHCO3]in or [NaHCO3]in = 100 mM; pHout = 7.5, [K-gluconate]out or [Na-gluconate]out = 100 mM). This uptake process was saturable (Kt = 50.4 +/- 4.96 mM and Jmax = 11.6 +/- 0.61 nmol/mg protein/10 s) and was inhibited by DIDS (4,4-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene disodium salt) and furosemide, anion exchange inhibitors, and by many monocarboxylates. The initial uptake of [3H]acetic acid was competitively inhibited by salicylic acid, suggesting the common transport between acetic acid and salicylic acid. At lower extravesicular pHs and in the presence of outward-directed bicarbonate gradient (pHin = 7.5 [KHCO3]in = 100 mM; pHout = 6.0 or 5.0, [K-gluconate]out = 100 mM) where membrane potential was clamped to zero by K(+)-valinomycin, the uptake of [3H]acetic acid showed an overshoot phenomenon, whereas the uptake was significantly decreased in the presence of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, a protonophore. It was concluded, therefore, that there are one or two mechanisms for the carrier-mediated transport of acetic acid and monocarboxylates related to bicarbonate exchange systems in rabbit intestinal BBMVs: 1) proton gradient independent and bicarbonate exchange system; 2) proton gradient dependent and bicarbonate exchange system.

Calcium-induced inhibition of taurine transport in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit small intestine

The influence of Ca 2+ on the activity of the taurine transport system was investigated in rabbit small intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles. Preincubation of the brush-border membrane vesicles with Ca 2+ prepared by the Mg 2+-aggregation method markedly decreased the NaCl gradient-dependent uptake of taurine in these vesicles. Uptake of glucose and alanine, both dependent on a Na + gradient, were also decreased by Ca 2+-treatment, but their reduction was very small compared with that of taurine uptake. The inhibitory effect of Ca 2+ was dose- and time-dependent. The inhibition was reduced by the presence of ethylene glycol-bis(β-amino ethyl ether)- N, N, N′- N′-tetraacetic acid during treatment of the membrane vesicles with Ca 2+. Neomycin partially protected the taurine transporter activity from the Ca 2+-induced inhibition, but indomethacin did not. 5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoate, a Cl −-channel blocker, did not increase taurine uptake in the Ca 2+-treated membrane vesicles. It is concluded that the Ca 2+-induced inhibition of taurine uptake in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles is not due to accelerated dissipation of the ion gradient driving forces across the membrane but rather to a direct effect on the transporter, most likely mediated by the activation of the membrane-bound phospholipase C.

Characterization of sodium-dependent nucleoside transport in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

The characteristics of uridine transport were studied in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles. Uridine was taken up into an osmotically active space in the absence of metabolism and there was no binding of uridine to the membrane vesicles. Uridine uptake was markedly enhanced by sodium, but showed no significant stimulation by other monovalent cations tested. Kinetic analysis of the sodium-dependent component of uridine flux indicated a single system obeying Michaelis-Menten kinetics ( K m value of 6.4 ± 1.4 μM with a V max of 9.1 ± 3.6 pmol/mg protein per s as measured under zero-trans conditions with a 100 mM NaCl gradient at 24°C). A variety of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides were able to inhibit sodium-dependent uridine transport, suggesting that these nucleosides are also permeants for the same system. Consistent with this suggestion was the finding that these nucleosides also stimulated uridine efflux from the brush-border membrane vesicles. The sodium: uridine coupling stoichiometry was found to be 1:1 as measured by the activation method. From these results it is concluded that a broad specificity sodium-dependent nucleoside transporter is present at the brush-border membrane surface of rabbit enterocytes.

A proton gradient, not a sodium gradient, is the driving force for active transport of lactate in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

An inward-directed H+ gradient markedly stimulated lactate uptake in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles, and uphill transport against a concentration gradient could be demonstrated under these conditions. Uptake of lactate was many-fold greater in the presence of a H+ gradient than in the presence of a Na+ gradient. Moreover, there was no evidence for uphill transport of lactate in the presence of a Na+ gradient. The H+-gradient-dependent stimulation of lactate uptake was not due to the effect of a H+-diffusion potential. The uptake process in the presence of a H+ gradient was saturable [Kt (concn. giving half-maximal transport) for lactate 12.7 +/- 4.5 mM] and was inhibited by many monocarboxylates. It is concluded that a H+ gradient, not a Na+ gradient, is the driving force for active transport of lactate in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

Transport of guanidine in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

The characteristics of guanidine uptake were studied in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from the rabbit proximal intestine. Guanidine uptake was manyfold greater in the presence of an outward-directed H+ gradient (intracellular pH = 5.5; extracellular pH = 7.2) than in the absence of a H+ gradient (intracellular and extracellular pH = 7.2). The time course of guanidine uptake exhibited an overshoot phenomenon in the presence of the H+ gradient, indicating occurrence of uphill transport. This H+ gradient-stimulated guanidine uptake was not due to an inside-negative H+-diffusion potential because carbonyl cyanide 4-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, a protonophore, failed to have any effect on guanidine uptake. Moreover, the transient uphill transport of guanidine was observed even in voltage-clamped membrane vesicles. However, under the conditions that effectively dissipated the H+ gradient, there was no active transport of guanidine. This H+ gradient-dependent transport mechanism for guanidine is distinct from the Na+-H+ exchanger, because amiloride did not inhibit guanidine uptake even at a concentration as high as 100 microM. These data provide evidence for the presence of a guanidine-H+ antiport system in the rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane. The presence of a carrier for guanidine in these membranes is further substantiated by the trans-stimulation of the uptake of radiolabeled guanidine by unlabeled guanidine and by the inhibition of guanidine uptake by imipramine under equilibrium exchange conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Formula omitted] as a competitive inhibitor of Na +-dependent d-glucose cotransporter in the small intestine brush-border membrane

1-O-n- Octyl-β- d-glucopyranoside is a competitive inhibitor of the Na +-dependent d-glucose uptake into rabbit, rat and human intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles. The lack of effect on the equilibrium uptake demonstrates that the detergent does not act by rupturing the vesicles; no membrane leakiness was apparent at the concentrations of octylglucopyranoside used, since d-glucose uptake is not inhibited even in the absence of the Na + gradient (in K + solution). There is a competitive interaction between octylglucopyranoside and d-glucose, as shown by Dixon and by Hunter and Down plots. The selectivity of the detergent effect is confirmed by its modest influence on amino acid uptake.