Uptake of L-carnitine, D-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine by isolated guinea-pig enterocytes.
Uptake and metabolism of L-carnitine, D-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine were studied utilizing isolated guinea-pig enterocytes. Uptake of the D- and L-isomers of carnitine was temperature dependent. Uptake of L-[14C]carnitine by jejunal cells was sodium dependent since replacement by lithium, potassium or choline greatly reduced uptake. L- and D-carnitine developed intracellular to extracellular concentration gradients for total carnitine (free plus acetylated) of 2.7 and 1.4, respectively. However, acetylation of L-carnitine accounted almost entirely for the difference between uptake of L- and D-carnitine. About 60% of the intracellular label was acetyl-L-carnitine after 30 min, and the remainder was free L-carnitine. No other products were observed. D-Carnitine was not metabolized. Acetyl-L-carnitine was deacetylated during or immediately after uptake into intestinal cells and a portion of this newly formed intracellular free carnitine was apparently reacetylated. L-Carnitine and D-carnitine transport (after adjustment for metabolism and diffusion) were evaluated over a concentration range of 2-1000 microM. Km values of 6-7 microM and 5 microM, were estimated for L- and D-carnitine, respectively. Ileal-cell uptake was about half that found for jejunal cells, but the labeled intracellular acetylcarnitine-to-carnitine ratios were similar for both cell populations. Carnitine transport by guinea-pig enterocytes demonstrate characteristics of a carrier-mediated process since it was inhibited by D-carnitine and trimethylaminobutyrate, as well as being temperature and concentration dependent. The process appears to be facilitated diffusion rather than active transport since L-carnitine did not develop a significant concentration gradient, and was unaffected by ouabain or actinomycin A.
C J
CJ
Gross
L M
LM
Henderson
D A
DA
Savaiano
D000107:Acetylation; D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004058:Diffusion; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C029081:trimethylaminobutyrate; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase; D002331:Carnitine