The permeability of rat liver lysosomes to sugars. Evidence for carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion.

1. By the osmotic-protection method, the penetration of sugars through the rat liver lysosomal membranes was studied with a view of determining whether sugar uptake was by facilitated diffusion. 2. The following criteria for this type of transport were established: sugar specificity, the order of uptake being 2-deoxy-D-glucose less than D-glucose less than D-mannose less than D-galactose less than D-ribose less than 2-deoxy-D-ribose; stereospecificity, the uptake of L-glucose and L-ribose being 50% slower than their D-stereoisomers; inhibition by 1 MM-phlorrhizin and 1 M-cytochalastin B; competition between sugars for uptake, and a Q10 (rate difference over a 10 degrees C temperature range) for uptake of approx. 2.8. 3. It is proposed that sugar uptake into lysosomes from rat liver is by facilitated diffusion.