H+-glycyl-L-proline cotransport in brush-border membrane vesicles of eel (Anguilla anguilla) intestine

A plasma membrane H+-glycyl-L-proline (Gly-L-Pro) cotransport mechanism has been identified in isolated eel intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) by both measuring radiolabeled Gly-L-Pro uptake and monitoring Gly-L-Pro-dependent H+ influx with the pH-sensitive dye acridine orange. The application of an inside negative membrane potential resulted in increasing Gly-L-Pro uptake, as well as the application of inwardly directed H+ gradient (although only when an inside negative membrane potential was present). Furthermore, vesicular H+ influx was found specifically associated with the presence of Gly-L-Pro in the extravesicular medium. The carrier-mediated nature of H+-Gly-L-Pro cotransport was assessed, and its concentration that yielded one-half maximal Gly-L-Pro influx was similar to 1.30 mM when measured by either radioactive or fluorescent tracers. Different dipeptides strongly inhibited Gly-L-Pro uptake by eel intestinal BBMV, as well as the cephalosporin antibiotic cephalexin, suggesting that dipeptide molecules and cephalosporin antibiotics may share a common transport system in eel intestinal BBMV.