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Leucine transport across plasmamembranes from the scudEchinogammarus stammeri (Amphipoda: Gammaridae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2009

E. Berra ,
M. Forcella ,
R. Giacchini  and
P. Parenti
E. Berra
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1 - 20126 Milano, Italy
M. Forcella
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1 - 20126 Milano, Italy
R. Giacchini
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1 - 20126 Milano, Italy
P. Parenti
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1 - 20126 Milano, Italy
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Abstract

The freshwater scud Echinogammarus stammeri is a very abundant benthic crustacean in riverine systems of northern Italy.The molecular physiology of L-[3H]leucine transport across cell membranes of E. stammeri was investigated. At pH 7.4, thepresence of a NaCl gradient stimulated the leucine transport rate, when compared with KCl gradient. By contrast, alkaline pHstrongly inhibited transport activity. In NaCl medium at acidic pH, leucine uptake displayed a specific activity 2.1-fold lowerthan that measured at neutral pH. Analysis of the uptake as a function of external leucine concentration revealed saturation kinetics.Leucine uptake appeared broadly unspecific and it was much strongly inhibited by the non-polar amino acids phenylalanine,methionine, and BCH, as well as by hydrophobic hydroxyacids. These results revealed important differences with respect toamino acid transport systems described in marine crustaceans. Their relevance in the feeding adaptation of the scud is brieflydiscussed.

Keywords

amino acid transportbrush border membrane vesiclesEchinogammarus stammeriGammaridae
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , June 2006 , pp. 79 - 85
Copyright
© Université Paul Sabatier, 2006

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