Na+ gradient-dependent p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in rat basolateral membrane vesicles.

The relationship between the transmembrane Na+ gradient and p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport was examined in isolated rat basolateral membrane vesicles. A 100 mM Na+ gradient (o leads to i) accelerated the influx of 50 microM [3H]PAH whereas similar gradients of choline+, K+, or Li+ did not. The sodium effect was not due to a diffusion potential. The Na+ gradient (o leads to i) decreased the apparent Michaelis constant for PAH from 0.167 +/- 0.016 to 0.054 +/- 0.016 mM and increased the maximum flux rate from 116.00 +/- 13.50 to 427.34 +/- 98.96 pmol/mg/min. An "overshoot" of [3H]PAH influx (159 +/- 4% of the equilibrium value) could be demonstrated only in the presence of a Na+ gradient (o leads to i) plus an opposing gradient of unlabeled PAH (i leads to o). These results suggest that PAH transport and the Na+ gradient are functionally related. A model for cellular uptake of PAH by a Na+ gradient-dependent anion exchange mechanism is presented.