Cellular uptake adapts rapidly to physiologic demands by changing transporter abundance in the plasma membrane. The human gene RSC1A1 codes for a 67-kDa protein named RS1 that has been shown to induce downregulation of the sodium-Dglucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and of the concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 (CNT1) in the plasma membrane by blocking exocytosis at the Golgi. Injecting RS1 fragments into Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing SGLT1 or CNT1 and measuring the expressed uptake of a-methylglucoside or uridine 1 hour later, we identified a RS1 domain (RS1-Reg) containing multiple predicted phosphorylation sites that is responsible for this post-translational downregulation of SGLT1 and CNT1. Dependent on phosphorylation, RS1-Reg blocks the release of SGLT1-containing vesicles from the Golgi in a glucosedependent manner or glucose-independent release of CNT1-containing vesicles. We showed that upregulation of SGLT1 in the small intestine after glucose ingestion is promoted by glucose-dependent disinhibition of the RS1-Reg-blocked exocytotic pathway of SGLT1 between meals. Mimicking phosphorylation of RS1-Reg, we obtained a RS1-Reg variant that downregulates SGLT1 in the brush-border membrane at high luminal glucose concentration. Because RS1 mediates shortterm regulation of various transporters, we propose that the RS1-Reg-navigated transporter release from Golgi represents a basic regulatory mechanism of general importance, which implies the existence of receptor proteins that recognize different phosphorylated forms of RS1-Reg and of complex transporterspecific sorting in the trans-Golgi. RS1-Reg-derived peptides that downregulate SGLT1 at high intracellular glucose concentrations may be used for downregulation of glucose absorption in small intestine, which has been proposed as strategy for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Organic cation transporter OCT1 forms oligomers. Results: The intact structure of the large extracelluar loop of OCT1 is pivotal for oligomerization. Oligomerization increases membrane targeting and does not influence substrate affinities. Conclusion: OCT1 monomers within oligomeric transporter complexes can operate independently, and oligomerization can be changed by extracellular agents. Significance: The reported data are important to understand transport mechanism and effects of mutations.

The product of gene RSC1A1, named RS1, participates in transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the sodium-d-glucose cotransporter SGLT1. Using coexpression in oocytes of Xenopus laevis, posttranscriptional inhibition of human SGLT1 (hSGLT1) and some other transporters by human RS1 (hRS1) was demonstrated previously. In the present study, histidine-tagged hRS1 was expressed in oocytes or Sf9 cells and purified using nickel(II)-charged nitrilotriacetic acid-agarose. hRS1 protein was injected into oocytes expressing hSGLT1 or the human organic cation transporter hOCT2, and the effect on hSGLT1-mediated uptake of methyl-alpha-D-[14C]glucopyranoside ([14C]AMG) or hOCT2-mediated uptake of [14C]tetraethylammonium ([14C]TEA) was measured. Within 30 min after the injection of hRS1 protein, hSGLT1-expressed AMG uptake or hOCT2-expressed TEA uptake was inhibited by approximately 50%. Inhibition of AMG uptake was decreased when a dominant negative mutant of dynamin I was coexpressed and increased after stimulation of PKC. Inhibition remained unaltered when endocytosis was inhibited by chlorpromazine, imipramine, or filipin but was prevented when exocytosis was inhibited by botulinum toxin B or when the release of vesicles from the TGN and endosomes was inhibited by brefeldin A. Inhibition of hSGLT1-mediated AMG uptake and hOCT2-mediated TEA uptake by hRS1 protein were decreased at an enhanced intracellular AMG concentration. The data suggest that hRS1 protein exhibits glucose-dependent, short-term inhibition of hSGLT1 and hOCT2 by inhibiting the release of vesicles from the trans-Golgi network.

Polyspecific organic cation and anion transporters of the SLC22 protein family are critically involved in absorption and excretion of drugs. To elucidate transport mechanisms, functional and biophysical characterization of purified transporters is required and tertiary structures must be determined. Here, we synthesized rat organic cation transporters OCT1 and OCT2 and rat organic anion transporter OAT1 in a cell free system in the absence of detergent. We solubilized the precipitates with 2% 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy- sn-glycero-3-[phospho- rac-(1-glycerol)] (LMPG), purified the transporters in the presence of 1% 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) or octyl glucoside, and reconstituted them into proteoliposomes. From 1 mL reaction vessels 0.13-0.36 mg of transporter proteins was purified. Thus, from five to ten 1 mL reaction vessels sufficient protein for crystallization was obtained. In the presence of 1% LMPG and 0.5% CHAPS, OCT1 and OAT1 formed homo-oligomers but no hetero-oligomers. After reconstitution of OCT1, OCT2, and OAT1 into proteoliposomes, similar Michaelis-Menten K m values were measured for uptake of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and p-aminohippurate (PAH (-)) by the organic cation and anion transporters, respectively, as after expression of the transporters in cells. Using the reconstituted system, evidence was obtained that OAT1 operates as obligatory and electroneutral PAH (-)/dicarboxylate antiporter and contains a low-affinity chloride binding site that stimulates turnover. PAH (-) uptake was observed only with alpha-ketoglutarate (KG (2-)) on the trans side, and trans-KG (2-) increased the PAH (-) concentration in voltage-clamped proteoliposomes transiently above equilibrium. The V max of PAH (-)/KG (2-) antiport was increased by Cl (-) in a manner independent of gradients, and PAH (-)/KG (2-) antiport was independent of membrane potential in the absence or presence of Cl (-).

Improved procedures for sample preparation and proteomic data analysis allowed us to identify 7700 different proteins in mouse small intestinal mucosa and calculate the concentrations of >5000 proteins. We compared protein concentrations of small intestinal mucosa from mice that were fed for two months with normal diet (ND) containing 34.4% carbohydrates, 19.6% protein, and 3.3% fat or high-fat diet (HFD) containing 25.3% carbohydrates, 24.1% protein, and 34.6% fat. Eleven percent of the quantified proteins were significantly different between ND and HFD. After HFD, we observed an elevation of proteins involved in protein synthesis, protein N-glycosylation, and vesicle trafficking. Proteins engaged in fatty acid absorption, fatty acid β-oxidation, and steroid metabolism were also increased. Enzymes of glycolysis and pentose phosphate cycle were decreased, whereas proteins of the respiratory chain and of ATP synthase were increased. The protein concentrations of various nutrient transporters located in the enterocyte plasma membrane including the Na(+)-d-glucose cotransporter SGLT1, the passive glucose transporter GLUT2, and the H(+)-peptide cotransporter PEPT1 were decreased. The concentration of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, which turned out to be the most strongly expressed enterocyte transporter, was also decreased. HFD also induced concentration changes of drug transporters and of enzymes involved in drug metabolism, which suggests effects of HFD on pharmacokinetics and toxicities. Finally, we observed down-regulation of antibody subunits and of components of the major histocompatibility complex II that may reflect impaired immune defense and immune tolerance in HFD. Our work shows dramatic changes in functional proteins of small intestine mucosa upon excessive fat consumption.

Background:The transport mechanism of organic cation transporter OCT1 is not understood. Results: Voltage-dependent movements of transmembrane ␣-helices in OCT1 were identified that were blocked by mutations of glycine in the substrate binding domain of ␣-helix 11. Conclusion: A hinge domain pivotal for transport-related structural changes has been identified. Significance: The hinge domain allows substrate occlusion during translocation.

Na-d-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) is rate-limiting for glucose absorption in the small intestine. Shortly after intake of glucose-rich food, SGLT1 abundance in the luminal membrane of the small intestine is increased. This upregulation occurs via glucose-induced acceleration of the release of SGLT1-containing vesicles from the trans-Golgi network (TGN), which is regulated by a domain of protein RS1 (RSC1A1) named RS1-Reg. Dependent on phosphorylation, RS1-Reg blocks release of vesicles containing SGLT1 or concentrative nucleoside transporter 1. The hypothesis has been raised that RS1-Reg binds to different receptor proteins at the TGN, which trigger release of vesicles with different transporters. To identify the presumed receptor proteins, two-hybrid screening was performed. Interaction with ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1), the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine synthesis, was observed and verified by immunoprecipitation. Binding of RS1-Reg mutants to ODC1 was characterized using surface plasmon resonance. Inhibition of ODC1 activity by RS1-Reg mutants and the ODC1 inhibitor difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) was measured in the absence and presence of glucose. In addition, short-term effects of DFMO, RS1-Reg mutants, the ODC1 product putrescine, and/or glucose on SGLT1 expressed in oocytes of Xenopus laevis were investigated. High-affinity binding of RS1-Reg to ODC1 was demonstrated, and evidence for a glucose binding site in ODC1 was provided. Binding of RS1-Reg to ODC1 inhibits the enzymatic activity at low intracellular glucose, which is blunted at high intracellular glucose. The data suggest that generation of putrescine by ODC1 at the TGN stimulates release of SGLT1-containing vesicles. This indicates a biomedically important role of ODC1 in regulation of glucose homeostasis.

Polyspecific organic cation transporter Oct2 from rat (gene Slc22A2) has been previously shown to transport Cs(+). Here we report that human OCT2 (hOCT2) is able to transport Cd(2+) showing substrate saturation with a Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 54 ± 5.8 μM. Uptake of Cd(2+) by hOCT2 was inhibited by typical hOCT2 ligands (unlabeled substrates and inhibitors), and the rate of uptake was decreased by a point mutation in a substrate binding domain of hOCT2. Incubation of hOCT2 overexpressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK-hOCT2-C) or rat renal proximal tubule cells expressing rOct2 (NRK-52E-C) with Cd(2+) resulted in an increased level of apoptosis that was reduced by OCT2 inhibitory ligand cimetidine(+). HEK-hOCT2-C exhibited different functional properties when they were confluent or had been dissociated by removal of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Only confluent HEK-hOCT2-C transported Cd(2+), and confluent and dissociated cells exhibited different potencies for inhibition of uptake of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium(+) (MPP(+)) by Cd(2+), MPP(+), tetraethylammonium(+), cimetidine(+), and corticosterone. In confluent HEK-hOCT2-C, largely different inhibitor potencies were obtained upon comparison of inhibition of Cd(2+) uptake, 4-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]-N-methylpyridinium(+) (ASP(+)) uptake, and MPP(+) uptake using substrate concentrations far below the respective Km values. Employing a point mutation in the previously identified substrate binding site of rat Oct1 produced evidence that short distance allosteric effects between binding sites for substrates and inhibitors are involved in substrate-dependent inhibitor potency. Substrate-dependent inhibitor affinity is probably a common property of OCTs. To predict interactions between drugs that are transported by OCTs and inhibitory drugs, it is necessary to employ the specific transported drug rather than a model substrate for in vitro measurements.