Membrane-Potential-Sensitive, Na+ -Independent Lysine Transport by Lobster Hepatopancreatic Brush Border Membrane Vesicles

Transport of L-[3H]lysine by epithelial brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) of lobster hepatopancreas, formed by a magnesium precipitation technique, was insensitive to transmembrane gradients of Na+, K+, TMA+ or H +. Apparent initial lysine entry rates (15 s uptake) and extent of amino acid accumulation against a concentration gradient (overshoot) were both stimulated by transmembrane anion gradients according to the following sequence: SCN−> Cl−> gluconate−. The magnitude of this anion-gradient-dependent transport was significantly increased by bilateral acidic pH. Lysine transport at acidic pH strongly responded to transmembrane potential developed by addition of valinomycin to K+-loaded vesicles, or was markedly reduced if K+-equilibrated vesicles were incubated with the ionophore in the presence of an inwardly directed SCN− gradient. Lysine influx occurred by the combination of at least one carrier process and ‘apparent diffusion’. L-Arginine, L-alanine and L-leucine, added to the external medium, were all strong inhibitors of lysine influx. The first two were competitive inhibitors of lysine entry, while the latter was non-competitive in effect. These results suggest that lysine, arginine and alanine may share a common, Na+-independent, membrane-potential-sensitive transport mechanism in lobster BBMV. Leucine transport may occur in these membranes by a separate agency.