Polarity of neutral amino acid transport and characterization of a broad specificity transport activity in a kidney epithelial cell line, MDCK.

The Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line was investigated with respect to the cellular polarity of amino acid transport in early confluent versus late confluent cultures. Early confluent cultures could take up amino acids from the apical and the basolateral sides of the cell layer via amino acid transport Systems A, ASC, and L. However, in late confluent cultures the activities of Systems A and L were clearly localized to the basolateral surface of the cell monolayer. In addition to the presence of systems A, ASC, and L, a novel activity, measurable under conditions used for quantitating System ASC, was found to be active in the apical membrane of these cells. This transporter, termed System G (for general), recognized basic and neutral amino acids with high affinity and acidic amino acids with lower affinity. System G exhibited broad substrate specificity, strict cation specificity, and a broad pH optimum with maximal activity at acidic pH. The activity of System G was relatively low after growth in serum-containing medium but was induced in a defined medium. Induction of System G activity was dependent upon the presence of prostaglandin E1. The broad substrate specificity, low pH optimum, and Na+ dependence suggest that System G may function in apical membranes as an energy-dependent transport route during reabsorption of amino acids from the kidney tubule lumen.