H+ gradient-driven dipeptide reabsorption in proximal tubule of rat kidney. Studies in vivo and in vitro.

Microinfusion of glycylsarcosine into superficial nephron sections showed that the dipeptide was reabsorbed mainly in late portions of the rat proximal tubule. In vivo microperfusion data demonstrated a saturable, high-capacity, low-affinity dipeptide reabsorption mechanism that was inhibited by other peptides but not by amino acids or peptidase inhibitors. The reabsorption was enhanced by lowering the luminal pH from 7.5 to 5.5. In vitro studies with rat cortical brush-border vesicles showed that glycylsarcosine uptake was independent of a Na+ gradient and greater uptake occurred when the extravesicular pH was acidic compared with the intravesicular pH. An inward-directed H+ gradient stimulated glycylsarcosine uptake and caused a transient accumulation of the dipeptide inside the vesicles above the equilibrium value. The presence of a proton ionophore abolished the H+ gradient-dependent uptake. An inside-negative membrane potential stimulated the initial uptake of the dipeptide. The uptake process was saturable and inhibited by other peptides but not by amino acids. The vesicle studies also showed that there are at least two peptide transport systems functioning in these vesicles, one a high-affinity, low-capacity type and the other a low-affinity, high-capacity type.