title: Placental sulphate transport: a review of functional and molecular studies.
abstract: Sulphate is required by the feto-placental unit for a number of important conjugation and biosynthetic pathways. Functional studies performed several decades ago established that sulphate transport in human placental microvillus and basal membrane vesicles was mainly via a DIDS-sensitive anion-exchange mechanism. In contrast, no evidence was found for Na⁺-dependent transport. Studies performed using isolated human placental tissue confirmed anion-exchange as the main mechanism. More recently, molecular studies have established the presence of anion-exchange proteins which could play a role in transplacental sulphate movement. However, the presence of transcripts for NaS2 has been reported and has prompted the suggestion that Na⁺-sulphate cotransport may play an important role in maternal-fetal sulphate transport. This article reviews our present knowledge of placental sulphate transport, both functional and molecular, and attempts to form a model based on the available evidence.
authors.affiliation: dtaurine@aol.com
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Shennan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017920:Antiporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D049990:Membrane Transport Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008871:Microvilli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000077003:Sodium Sulfate Cotransporter; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D027981:Symporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D049990:Membrane Transport Modulators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000077003:Sodium Sulfate Cotransporter; D013431:Sulfates; D027981:Symporters