title: Characterization of the ascorbic acid transport by 3T6 fibroblasts.
abstract: Ascorbic acid transport by 3T6 mouse skin fibroblasts has been characterized using radiometric technique with L-[1-14C]ascorbic acid under the conditions in which oxidation of ascorbic acid was prevented by addition of 1 mM thiourea. The ascorbate transport is temperature-dependent with the energy of activation E and Q10 of 13.3 kcal/mol and 2.0, respectively. The transport requires energy and exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 112 microM and Vmax of 158 pmol/min per mg protein, when the extracellular Na+ concentration is 150 mM. The ascorbate transport requires presence of extracellular Na+ and can be inhibited by ouabain treatment. At 40 and 200 microM ascorbate concentrations, respectively, 1.4 and 1.0 moles of Na+ bound the transporter molecule per each mole of ascorbate transported. Increased Na+ binding to the transporter at lower ascorbate concentration may signify multiple Na+-binding sites or ascorbate concentration dependent conformational changes in the transporter molecule. Increasing Na+ concentration decreases Km without affecting Vmax, suggesting that Na+ increases affinity of ascorbate for the transporter molecule without affecting translocation process. An increase in ascorbate concentration reduces the number of Na+ bound to the transporter from 1.4 to 1.0. The ascorbate transport is stimulated by Ca2+ and other divalent cations. The mechanism of stimulation by Ca2+ is not clear. Calcium increases both the Km and Vmax. The data presented support the hypothesis that the ascorbate transport by 3T6 fibroblasts is an energy and temperature-dependent active process driven by the Na+ electrochemical gradient. A potent inhibitor of ascorbate transport is also demonstrated in human serum.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D001769:Blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain; D008274:Magnesium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002118:Calcium