Rabbit small intestine does not contain an annexin II/caveolin 1 complex as a target for 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Intestinal cholesterol absorption is specifically inhibited by the 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe. Photoreactive ezetimibe analogues specifically label a 145-kDa protein in the brush border membrane of enterocytes from rabbit small intestine identified as aminopeptidase N (CD13). In zebrafish and mouse small intestinal cytosol, a heterocomplex of M(r) 52 kDa between annexin II and caveolin 1 was suggested as a target of ezetimibe.

Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is a molecular target of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe in the enterocyte brush border membrane.

Intestinal cholesterol absorption is an important regulator of serum cholesterol levels. Ezetimibe is a specific inhibitor of intestinal cholesterol absorption recently introduced into medical practice; its mechanism of action, however, is still unknown. Ezetimibe neither influences the release of cholesterol from mixed micelles in the gut lumen nor the transfer of cholesterol to the enterocyte brush border membrane.

Intestinal cholesterol absorption: identification of different binding proteins for cholesterol and cholesterol absorption inhibitors in the enterocyte brush border membrane.

Absorption of cholesterol from the intestine is a central part of body cholesterol homeostasis. The molecular mechanisms of intestinal cholesterol absorption and the proteins mediating membrane transport are not known. We therefore aimed to identify the proteins involved in intestinal cholesterol absorption across the luminal brush border membrane of small intestinal enterocytes.

Synthesis of a biotin-tagged photoaffinity probe of 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

The design and synthesis of a biotin-tagged photoreactive analogue C-4 of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor Ezetimibe is described. Photoaffinity labeling of intestinal brush border membrane vesicles with C-4 and subsequent streptavidin-biotin chromatography leads to selective extraction of a 145 kDa integral membrane protein as the molecular target for cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Identification of a ligand-binding site in the Na+/bile acid cotransporting protein from rabbit ileum.

Reabsorption of bile acids occurs in the terminal ileum by a Na(+)-dependent transport system composed of several subunits of the ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) and the ileal lipid-binding protein. To identify the bile acid-binding site of the transporter protein IBAT, ileal brush border membrane vesicles from rabbit ileum were photoaffinity labeled with a radioactive 7-azi-derivative of cholyltaurine followed by enrichment of IBAT protein by preparative SDS gel electrophoresis. Enzymatic fragmentation with chymotrypsin yielded IBAT peptide fragments in the molecular range of 20.

Identification of binding proteins for cholesterol absorption inhibitors as components of the intestinal cholesterol transporter.

To identify protein components of the intestinal cholesterol transporter, rabbit small intestinal brush border membrane vesicles were submitted to photoaffinity labeling using photoreactive derivatives of 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitors. An integral membrane protein of M(r) 145.3+/-7.

Identification of the bile acid-binding site of the ileal lipid-binding protein by photoaffinity labeling, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry, and NMR structure.

The ileal lipid-binding protein (ILBP) is the only physiologically relevant bile acid-binding protein in the cytosol of ileocytes. To identify the bile acid-binding site(s) of ILBP, recombinant rabbit ILBP photolabeled with 3-azi- and 7-azi-derivatives of cholyltaurine was analyzed by a combination of enzymatic fragmentation, gel electrophoresis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry. The attachment site of the 3-position of cholyltaurine was localized to the amino acid triplet His(100)-Thr(101)-Ser(102) using the photoreactive 3,3-azo-derivative of cholyltaurine.

Substrate specificity of the ileal and the hepatic Na(+)/bile acid cotransporters of the rabbit. I. Transport studies with membrane vesicles and cell lines expressing the cloned transporters.

The substrate specificity of the ileal and the hepatic Na(+)/bile acid cotransporters was determined using brush border membrane vesicles and CHO cell lines permanently expressing the Na(+)/bile acid cotransporters from rabbit ileum or rabbit liver. The hepatic transporter showed a remarkably broad specificity for interaction with cholephilic compounds in contrast to the ileal system. The anion transport inhibitor diisothiocyanostilbene disulfonate (DIDS) is a strong inhibitor of the hepatic Na(+)/bile acid cotransporter, but does not show any affinity to its ileal counterpart.

Identification of protein components of the microsomal glucose 6-phosphate transporter by photoaffinity labelling.

The glucose-6-phosphatase system catalyses the terminal step of hepatic glucose production from both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis and is thus a key regulatory factor of blood glucose homoeostasis. To identify the glucose 6-phosphate transporter T1, we have performed photoaffinity labelling of human and rat liver microsomes by using the specific photoreactive glucose-6-phosphate translocase inhibitors S 0957 and S 1743. Membrane proteins of molecular mass 70, 55, 33 and 31 kDa were labelled in human microsomes by [3H]S 0957, whereas in rat liver microsomes bands at 95, 70, 57, 54, 50, 41, 33 and 31 kDa were detectable.

Structural studies of the H+/oligopeptide transport system from rabbit small intestine.

A 127-kDa protein was identified as a component of the H+/oligopeptide transport system in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit small intestine by photoaffinity labeling with [3H]cephalexin and further photoreactive beta-lactam antibiotics and dipeptides. Reconstitution of stereospecific transport activity revealed the involvement of the 127-kDa protein in H+-dependent transport of oligopeptides and orally active alpha-amino-beta-lactam antibiotics (Kramer et al., Eur.

Intestinal absorption of bile acids: paradoxical behaviour of the 14 kDa ileal lipid-binding protein in differential photoaffinity labelling.

Photoaffinity labelling of brush border membrane vesicles from rabbit ileum with radiolabelled 3,3-azo and 7,7-azo derivatives of taurocholate identified integral membrane proteins of molecular masses 93 and 46 kDa, as well as a 14 kDa peripheral membrane protein, as components of the ileal Na+/bile acid transport system [Kramer, Girbig, Gutjahr, Kowalewski, Jouvenal, Müller, Tripier and Wess (1993) J. Biol. Chem.

Topological photoaffinity labeling of the rabbit ileal Na+/bile-salt-cotransport system.

For the investigation of the topology of the rabbit ileal Na+/bile-salt-cotransport system, composed of a 93-kDa integral membrane protein and a peripheral 14-kDa bile-acid-binding protein (ILBP), we have synthesized photolabile dimeric bile-salt-transport inhibitors (photoblockers), G1-X-G2, where two bile acid moieties (G1 and G2) are tethered together via a spacer, X, and where one of the two bile acid moieties carries a photoactivatable group. These photoblockers specifically interact with the ileal Na+/bile-salt-cotransport system as demonstrated by a concentration-dependent inhibition of [3H]cholyltaurine uptake by rabbit ileal brush-border membrane vesicles and by inhibition of photolabeling of the 93-kDa and 14-kDa bile-salt-binding proteins by 7,7-azo and 3,3-azo derivatives of cholyltaurine. Ileal bile-salt uptake was specifically inhibited by the photoblockers, which were not taken up themselves by the small intestine as demonstrated by in vivo ileal perfusion.

The rabbit ileal lipid-binding protein. Gene cloning and functional expression of the recombinant protein.

A bile-acid-binding protein of Mr 14000 has been previously identified by photoaffinity labeling in rabbit ileal brush border membrane vesicles [Kramer et al. (1993) J. Biol.

The molecular interaction of sulfonylureas with beta-cell ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels.

The molecular interaction of glimepiride and glibenclamide with the beta-cell sulfonylurea receptor was investigated by kinetic and steady state binding as well as photoaffinity labeling. The novel sulfonylurea, glimepiride, exhibits a significantly higher exchange rate with the sulfonylurea receptor but a 2.5-3 fold lower binding affinity compared to glibenclamide.

Radiation-inactivation analysis of the Na+/bile acid co-transport system from rabbit ileum.

The functional-unit molecular size of the Na+/bile acid cotransport system and the apparent target size of the bile-acid-binding proteins in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit ileum were determined by radiation inactivation with high-energy electrons. The size of the functional transporting unit for Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake was determined to 451 +/- 35 kDa, whereas an apparent molecular mass of 434 +/- 39 kDa was measured for the Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transport system. Proteins of 93 kDa and 14 kDa were identified as putative protein components of the ileal Na+/bile acid cotransporter in the rabbit ileum, whereas a protein of 87 kDa may be involved in passive intestinal bile acid uptake.

Differential interaction of glimepiride and glibenclamide with the beta-cell sulfonylurea receptor. II. Photoaffinity labeling of a 65 kDa protein by [3H]glimepiride.

Glimepiride is a novel sulfonylurea for the treatment of type II-diabetic patients exhibiting different receptor binding kinetics to beta-cell membranes with 8-9-fold higher koff rate and 2.5-3-fold higher kon rate compared to glibenclamide (see accompanying paper (Müller, G. et al.

Intestinal absorption of peptides by coupling to bile acids.

Poor intestinal absorption of peptides greatly limits their use as drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases. Since bile acids are efficiently absorbed by an active, Na(+)-dependent transport system in the ileum of mammals, model peptides of different chain length were attached to the 3-position of modified 3 beta-(omega-amino-alkoxy)-7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid. These peptide-bile acid conjugates inhibited Na(+)-dependent [3H]taurocholate uptake into brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit ileum in a concentration-dependent manner.

Intestinal bile acid absorption. Na(+)-dependent bile acid transport activity in rabbit small intestine correlates with the coexpression of an integral 93-kDa and a peripheral 14-kDa bile acid-binding membrane protein along the duodenum-ileum axis.

The anatomical localization of the Na+/bile acid cotransport system from rabbit small intestine was determined using brush border membrane vesicles prepared from eight different segments of the small intestine. Na(+)-dependent transport activity for bile acids, both for [3H]taurocholate and [3H]cholate, was found in the distal segment 8 only representing the terminal 12% of the small intestine. In contrast, the Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transporter and the H(+)-dependent oligopeptide transporter were found over the whole length of rabbit small intestine in all segments.

Interaction of the orally active dianionic cephalosporin cefixime with the uptake system for oligopeptides and alpha-amino-beta-lactam antibiotics in rabbit small intestine.

The uptake of two orally active beta-lactam antibiotics of different chemical structure, the zwitterionic alpha-aminocephalosporin cephalexin and the dianionic carboxymethoxyimino-cephalosporin cefixime, by brush border membrane vesicles obtained from rabbit small intestine and their molecular interaction with the H+/oligopeptide transport system were investigated. The uptake of both compounds was stimulated by an inwardly directed H(+)-gradient with a profound pH-maximum for cephalexin at pH 6outside and pH 7.4inside whereas cefixime uptake was maximal below pH 5outside.

Characterization and chemical modification of the Na(+)-dependent bile-acid transport system in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit ileum.

The Na(+)-dependent uptake system for bile acids in the ileum from rabbit small intestine was characterized using brush-border membrane vesicles. The uptake of [3H]taurocholate into vesicles prepared from the terminal ileum showed an overshoot uptake in the presence of an inwardly-directed Na(+)-gradient ([Na+]out > [Na+]in), in contrast to vesicles prepared from the jejunum. The Na(+)-dependent [3H]taurocholate uptake was cis-inhibited by natural bile acid derivatives, whereas cholephilic organic compounds, such as phalloidin, bromosulphophthalein, bilirubin, indocyanine green or DIDS - all interfering with hepatic bile-acid uptake - did not show a significant inhibitory effect.

Liver-specific drug targeting by coupling to bile acids.

Bile acids are selectively taken up from portal blood into the liver by specific transport systems in the hepatocyte plasma membrane. Therefore, studies were performed to evaluate the potential of bile acids as shuttles to deliver drugs specifically to the liver. The alkylating cytostatic drug chlorambucil and the fluorescent prolyl-4-hydroxylase inhibitor 4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-beta-Ala-Phe-5-oxaproline-Gly were covalently linked via an amide bond to 7 alpha, 12 alpha,-dihydroxy-3 beta- (omega-aminoalkoxy)-5-beta-cholan-24-oic acid.

Intestinal absorption of beta-lactam antibiotics and oligopeptides. Functional and stereospecific reconstitution of the oligopeptide transport system from rabbit small intestine.

The H(+)-dependent uptake system responsible for the enteral absorption of oligopeptides and orally active beta-lactam antibiotics was functionally reconstituted into liposomes. Membrane proteins from rabbit small intestinal brush border membrane vesicles were solubilized with n-octyl glucoside and incorporated into liposomes using a gel filtration method. At protein/lipid ratios of 1:10 and 1:40, the uptake of the orally active alpha-amino-cephalosporin, D-cephalexin into proteoliposomes was stimulated by an inwardly directed H+ gradient and was protein-dependent.

Intestinal absorption of dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics. II. Purification of the binding protein for dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics from rabbit small intestinal brush border membranes.

By photoaffinity labeling of brush border membrane vesicles from rabbit small intestine with photoreactive derivatives of beta-lactam antibiotics and dipeptides, a binding protein for dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics with an apparent molecular weight of 127,000 was labeled. The labeled 127 kDa polypeptide could be solubilized with the non-ionic detergents Triton X-100, n-octyl glucoside or CHAPS. If the vesicles were solubilized prior to photoaffinity labeling, no clear incorporation of radioactivity into the 127 kDa polypeptide occurred indicating a loss of binding ability upon solubilization.

Intestinal uptake of dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics. I. The intestinal uptake system for dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics is not part of a brush border membrane peptidase.

The uptake of beta-lactam antibiotics into small intestinal enterocytes occurs by the transport system for small peptides. The role of membrane-bound peptidases in the brush border membrane of enterocytes from rabbit and pig small intestine for the uptake of small peptides and beta-lactam antibiotics was investigated using brush border membrane vesicles. The enzymatic activity of aminopeptidase N was inhibited by beta-lactam antibiotics in a non-competitive manner whereas dipeptidylpeptidase IV was not affected.

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography to the purification of the putative intestinal peptide transporter.

A membrane protein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 127,000 was identified by photoaffinity labelling as (a component of) the uptake system for small peptides and beta-lactam antibiotics in rabbit small intestine. This binding protein is a microheterogeneous glycosylated integral membrane protein which could be solubilized with non-ionic detergents and enriched by lectin affinity chromatography on wheat germ lectin agarose. For the final purification of this protein and separation from aminopeptidase N of Mr 127,000, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used.