Riboflavin uptake by rat liver basolateral membrane vesicles.

The present study examined riboflavin (RF) uptake by purified rat liver basolateral membrane vesicle (BLMV). Uptake of RF was found to be Na(+)- and pH-independent in nature. Studies on RF uptake by BLMV as a function of incubation medium osmolarity have indicated that the uptake is the result of transport (66.5%) into the intravesicular space as well as binding (33.5%) to membrane surfaces. The process of RF uptake by BLMV was saturable as a function of substrate concentration with an apparent Km of 3.55 +/- 0.70 microM and Vmax of 39.89 +/- 3.24 pmol/mg protein/5 s, respectively. cis-Addition of unlabeled RF and its structural analogs lumaflavin and lumichrome inhibited the uptake of [3H]RF while trans-addition of unlabeled RF stimulated the efflux of [3H]RF from preloaded vesicles. No effect on RF uptake was found by the membrane transport inhibitors probenecid, 4,4-diisothiocyanotostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and 4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS). Induction of a transient positive intravesicular space led to a slight stimulation of RF uptake, while induction of a negative intravesicular space led to a slight inhibition in RF uptake. These results demonstrate the existence of a membrane-associated carrier system for RF uptake by liver BLMV. This system appears to be Na(+)- and pH-independent and is influenced to a certain degree by changes in transmembrane electrical potential.