Distribution and abundance of nutrient transporter mRNA in the intestinal tract of the black bear, Ursus americanus.

End products of digestion are absorbed by the body through the action of transporter proteins expressed on the apical membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. We investigated the mRNA abundance and distribution of a peptide transporter (PepT1), a glucose transporter (SGLT1), two amino acid transporters (NBAT and b(o,+)AT), and a digestive enzyme, aminopeptidase N (APN), in the intestinal tract of black bears (Ursus americanus). Intestinal total RNA was isolated from 10 bears and abundance of PepT1, SGLT1, NBAT, b(o,+)AT, and APN mRNA were determined by Northern blots.