Leucine uptake in brush-border membrane vesicles from the midgut of a lepidopteran larva, Philosamia cynthia

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Abstract
A potassium- or sodium-activated cotransport of leucine occurs in brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from the midgut of larvae of Philosamia cynthia Drury). The potassium chemical gradient can drive a twofold accumulation of leucine, which is greatly increased under experimental conditions that presumably provide an electrical potential difference (δψ) Kinetic parameters show that leucine transport is improved by these conditions and by a pH gradient similar to that occurring in vivo. However, these gradients cannot drive an intravesicular accumulation of leucine in the absence of potassium. The potassium-dependence of leucine uptake shows that 20% of the transport is potassium-independent and that K50 and Vmax are 30.3± 3.2mmoll−1 and 2584±148pmol 7 s−1mg−1 protein, respectively. The potassium-independent component of leucine transport is also carrier-mediated and some evidence is reported suggesting that the same carrier can cross the membrane as binary carrier and leucine) or ternary (carrier, leucine and potassium) complexes, each having a different mobility

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