title: Expression of rat liver glutamine transporters in Xenopus laevis oocytes.
abstract: As a first step in attempting to isolate the Na(+)-dependent System N transporter from rat liver we have investigated the use of prophase-arrested oocytes from Xenopus laevis for the functional expression of rat liver glutamine transporters. Individual oocytes, defolliculated by collagenase treatment, were injected with 50 nl of a 1 mg.ml-1 solution of poly(A)+ RNA (mRNA) isolated from rat liver. 50 microM L-[3H]glutamine uptake was measured 1-5 days post-injection: after 48 h, poly(A)+ RNA-injected oocytes showed a 60 +/- 12% increase in Na(+)-dependent glutamine uptake compared to controls. This increased uptake showed characteristic features of hepatic System N: that is, it tolerated Li(+)-for-Na+ substitution and was inhibited by the System N substrate L-histidine (5 mM) in Li medium, unlike endogenous Na(+)-dependent glutamine transport. In subsequent experiments rat liver poly(A)+ RNA, size-fractionated by density gradient fractionation, was injected into oocytes. Injection of poly(A)+ RNA of 1.9-2.8 kilobases (kb) in size resulted in a significant stimulation of Na(+)-dependent glutamine transport to 0.362 +/- 0.080 pmol.min-1/oocyte from 0.178 +/- 0.060 pmol.min-1/oocyte in vehicle-injected oocytes (p less than 0.01). A lighter fraction, with poly(A)+ RNA of less than 1.9 kilobases size resulted in a similar increase in Na(+)-dependent glutamine uptake which was largely Li(+)-tolerant: Li(+)-stimulated glutamine uptake in oocytes injected with this fraction increased to 0.230 +/- 0.070 pmol.min-1/oocyte from 0.098 +/- 0.029 pmol.min-1/oocyte in controls (p less than 0.05). This enhanced rate of Li(+)-stimulated glutamine uptake was inhibited 28 and 70%, respectively, by 1 and 5 mM L-histidine. Na(+)-independent uptake of glutamine rose by 72 +/- 12% in oocytes injected with poly(A)+ RNA of 2.8-3.6 kb (p less than 0.001). These results demonstrate that glutamine transporters, with characteristics associated with hepatic Systems N, L, and A (or ASC), can be expressed in X. laevis oocytes injected with specific size fractions of rat liver mRNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rennie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D010063:Ovum; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C037853:glutamine transport proteins; D005973:Glutamine; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium