title: Novel membrane transporter OCTN1 mediates multispecific, bidirectional, and pH-dependent transport of organic cations.
abstract: In the present study, functional characteristics of organic cation transporter (OCTN)1, which was cloned as the pH-dependent tetraethylammonium (TEA) transporter when expressed in mammalian human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells, were further investigated using Xenopus oocytes as well as HEK293 cells as gene expression systems. When OCTN1-derived complementary RNA was injected into Xenopus oocytes, pH-dependent transport of [14C]TEA was observed as the same in HEK293 cells. In contrast, a replacement of sodium ions with potassium ions in the surrounding medium did not cause any change in [14C]TEA uptake in Xenopus oocytes expressed with OCTN1. In addition, when OCTN1 was expressed in HEK293 cells, efflux of TEA from the cells was pH dependent, with an accelerated rate at acidic external medium pH. Accordingly, membrane potential or sodium ions are suggested to have no influence on [14C]TEA transport and the transport activity of OCTN1 is directly affected by pH itself. Furthermore, addition of the unlabeled TEA in external medium enhanced the efflux of preloaded [14C]TEA. These observations suggest that OCTN1 is a pH-dependent and bidirectional TEA transporter. OCTN1-mediated [14C]TEA uptake was inhibited by various organic cations such as cimetidine, procainamide, pyrilamine, quinidine, quinine, and verapamil. In addition, uptakes of cationic compounds such as [3H]pyrilamine, [3H]quinidine, and [3H]verapamil and zwitterionic L-[3H]carnitine were increased by expression of OCTN1 in Xenopus oocytes. Accordingly, OCTN1 was functionally demonstrated to be a multispecific and pH-dependent organic cation transporter, which presumably functions as a proton/organic cation antiporter at the renal apical membrane and other tissues.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yabuuchi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nezu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oku
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimane
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsuji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009865:Oocytes; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins; D011802:Quinidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D027981:Symporters; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C109807:SLC22A4 protein, human; D027981:Symporters; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D011802:Quinidine