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E Turk

Publications and source records attributed to E Turk.

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The molecular basis of inherited disorders of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tracts. An update on recent progress.

In this article, genetic disorders of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tracts ranging from common to very rare are reviewed. The first portion of each section highlights the clinical manifestations of the disorder; the second and more detailed portion of each section discusses what is currently known about the biology and genetics of the disorder. The potential use of gene therapy to treat many of these disorders is also reviewed.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗

Structure of the human Na+/glucose cotransporter gene SGLT1.

Intestinal uptake of dietary glucose and galactose is mediated by the SGLT1 Na+/glucose cotransporter of the brush border. An SGLT1 missense mutation underlies hereditary glucose/galactose malabsorption, characterized by potentially fatal diarrhea; conversely, oral rehydration therapy exploits normal transport to alleviate life-threatening diarrhea of infectious origin. We have mapped the entire human SGLT1 Na+/glucose cotransporter gene from cosmid and lambda phage clones representing a genomic region of 112 kilobases. Transcription initiation occurred from a site 27 base pairs 3' of a TATAA sequence. All exon-flanking regions were sequenced, and the entire 112-kilobase region mapped with four restriction enzymes. SGLT1 is comprised of 15 exons (spanning 72 kilobases); a possible evolutionary origin from a six-membrane-span ancestral precursor via a gene duplication event is suggested from comparison of exons against protein secondary structure and from sequence considerations. A new missense mutation in exon 1 causing glucose/galactose malabsorption is also described. This is the first Na(+)-dependent cotransporter gene structure reported. These data facilitate the search for new glucose/galactose malabsorption-related mutations in this important gene and provide a basis for future evolutionary comparisons with other Na(+)-dependent cotransporters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Relaxation kinetics of the Na+/glucose cotransporter.

An important class of integral membrane proteins, cotransporters, couple solute transport to electrochemical potential gradients; e.g., the Na+/glucose cotransporter uses the Na+ electrochemical potential gradient to accumulate sugar in cells. So far, kinetic analysis of cotransporters has mostly been limited to steady-state parameters. In this study, we have examined pre-steady-state kinetics of Na+/glucose cotransport. The cloned human transporter (hSGLT1) was expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and voltage-clamp techniques were used to monitor current transients after step changes in membrane potential. Transients exhibited a voltage-dependent time constant (tau) ranging between 2 and 10 ms. The charge movement Q was fitted to a Boltzmann relation with maximal charge Qmax of approximately 20 nC, apparent valence z of 1, and potential V0.5 of -39 mV for 50% Qmax. Lowering external Na+ from 100 to 10 mM reduced Qmax 40%, shifted V0.5 from -39 to -70 mV, had no effect on z, and reduced the voltage dependence of tau. Qmax was independent of, but tau was dependent on, temperature (a 10 degrees C increase increased tau by a factor of approximately 2.5 at -50 mV). Addition of sugar or phlorizin reduced Qmax. Analyses of hSGLT1 pre-steady-state kinetics indicate that transfer upon a step of membrane potential in the absence of sugar is due to two steps in the reaction cycle: Na+ binding/dissociation (30%) and reorientation of the protein in the membrane field (70%). The rate-limiting step appears to be Na+ binding/dissociation. Qmax provides a measure of transporter density (approximately 10(4)/microns 2). Charge transfer measurements give insight into the partial reactions of the Na+/glucose cotransporter, and, combined with genetic engineering of the protein, provide a powerful tool for studying transport mechanisms.

Animals↗

Assignment of the human Na+/glucose cotransporter gene SGLT1 to chromosome 22q13.1.

The Na+/glucose cotransporter gene SGLT1 encodes the primary carrier protein responsible for the uptake of the dietary sugars glucose and galactose from the intestinal lumen. SGLT1 transport activity is currently exploited in oral rehydration therapy. The 75-kDa glycoprotein is localized in the brush border of the intestinal epithelium and is predicted to comprise 12 membrane spans. In two patients with the autosomal recessive disease glucose/galactose malabsorption, the underlying cause was found to be a missense mutation in SGLT1, and the Asp28-->Asn change was demonstrated in vitro to eliminate SGLT1 transport activity. The SGLT1 gene was previously shown to reside on the distal q arm of chromosome 22 (11.2-->qter). We have used a cosmid probe for fluorescence in situ hybridization, which refines the localization to 22q13.1, and provide an example of the utility of the SGLT1 probe as a diagnostic for genetic diseases associated with translocations of chromosome 22.

Carrier Proteins↗

Sodium cotransport proteins.

Significant advances have been made in elucidating the structure of Na+ cotransport proteins. Some fifteen of these low-abundance proteins have been cloned, sequenced and functionally expressed. They are members of the 12 membrane-spanning superfamily and they segregate into two groups, the Na+/glucose (SGLT1) and Na+/Cl-/GABA (GAT-1) families. SGLT1 transporters are expressed in bacteria and animal cells, while GAT-1 transporters are mostly expressed in the brain. None have yet been found in plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning of a human kidney cDNA with similarity to the sodium-glucose cotransporter.

We have used low-stringency screening with the human intestinal Na(+)-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 to isolate a 2,271-nucleotide cDNA (Hu14) from human kidney. This clone, which encodes a 672-residue protein, is 59% identical at the amino acid level to SGLT1 and has a similar number and arrangement of predicted membrane-spanning regions. It also shares significant sequence identity with other Na(+)-coupled transporters. Northern blot analysis suggests strong expression of Hu14 in kidney, but, unlike SGLT1, no significant expression in intestine. We have been unable to demonstrate definitive transport of any of a number of substrates (including amino acids, sugars, nucleosides, and vitamins) into Hu14 cRNA-injected Xenopus oocytes, although sequence conservation makes it likely that Hu14 represents another member of the Na+ cotransporter family, possibly a second Na(+)-glucose cotransporter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1).

An important class of Na+ transport proteins is the cotransporters. They exist in bacteria and animal cells and are responsible for the "active" accumulation of sugars, amino acids, carboxylic acids and some ions, e.g., I-, Cl-, and PO-4, in cells. In the small intestine and renal proximal tubule the cotransporters play an important role in the transport of salt and water across the epithelia. The most well known and best characterized Na+ cotransporter is the intestinal brush border Na+/glucose cotransporter. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed both the rabbit and human Na+/glucose cotransporters. The cDNAs code for 73kDa proteins with 662-664 residues (86% identity). Secondary structure analysis suggests a 12 membrane-spanning helical model with the N- and C-termini in the cytoplasm. A single N-linked glycosylation site is utilized at Asn248. These sugars are not required for function. Two essential residues for functional expression in oocytes have been identified, Asp28 and Arg300. In two sisters with glucose-galactose malabsorption the transport defect is caused by a missense mutation changing Asp28 to Asn28, and we have found that changing Arg300 to Cys300 eliminated transport. Current research is directed to finding residues and domains essential for ligand binding and transport, and we are using electrophysiological techniques to correlate structure and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glucose/galactose malabsorption caused by a defect in the Na+/glucose cotransporter.

Glucose/galactose malabsorption (GGM) is an autosomal recessive disease manifesting within the first weeks of life and characterized by a selective failure to absorb dietary glucose and galactose from the intestine. The consequent severe diarrhoea and dehydration are usually fatal unless these sugars are eliminated from the diet. Intestinal biopsies of GGM patients have revealed a specific defect in Na(+)-dependent absorption of glucose in the brush border. Normal glucose absorption is mediated by the Na+/glucose cotransporter in the brush border membrane of the intestinal epithelium. Cellular influx is driven by the transmembrane Na+ electrochemical potential gradient; thereafter the sugar moves to the blood across the basolateral membrane via the facilitated glucose carrier. We have previously cloned and sequenced a Na+/glucose cotransporter from normal human ileum and shown that this gene, SGLT1, resides on the distal q arm of chromosome 22. We have now amplified SGLT1 complementary DNA and genomic DNA from members of a family affected with GGM by the polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis of the amplified products has revealed a single missense mutation in SGLT1 which cosegregates with the GGM phenotype and results in a complete loss of Na(+)-dependent glucose transport in Xenopus oocytes injected with this complementary RNA.

Antisense Elements (Genetics)↗

Molecular genetics of the human Na+/glucose cotransporter.

Recent success in expression cloning has revealed the primary structure of the Na+/glucose cotransporter from rabbit small intestine, and this has subsequently led to the cloning of the Na+/glucose cotransporters from human small intestine and human kidney. Close homology is evident between the rabbit and human intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporters at the DNA level, and the predicted amino acid and secondary structure levels. The Na+/glucose cotransporter amino acid sequence from human kidney is 57% identical with that from human small intestine. Significant homology also exists between these Na+/glucose cotransporters and the E. coli Na+/proline cotransporter (putP). The rabbit intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter has 11 potential membrane spanning regions and 2 hydrophilic regions containing highly charged residues. The amino acid sequence shows two potential N-glycosylation sites (N-X-T/S). Using an in vitro translation approach we were able to determine that only one of these (Asn 248) is glycosylated. Expression experiments with Xenopus oocytes using the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin indicate that glycosylation of Asn 248 is required for functional expression of the transporter. The N-X-T/S sequence at Asn 248 is conserved in the human intestinal and the human renal Na+/glucose cotransporter. Chromosomal localization studies map the human intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter gene (SGLT1) to the q11.2----qter region of chromosome 22 and the human renal Na+/glucose cotransporter gene (SGLT2) to the q-arm of chromosome 16.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Homology of the human intestinal Na+/glucose and Escherichia coli Na+/proline cotransporters.

Cotransport proteins are responsible for the active accumulation of organic substrates in cells. Na+ gradients provide the driving force for uptake of most substrates into eukaryotes and for a few substrates in some prokaryotes. We report here the cloning and sequencing of the human intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) and compare its structure with other cloned transporters. At the DNA level and the predicted amino acid and secondary structure levels, close homology is evident between the human and rabbit intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporters, and a significant homology is found between these and the Escherichia coli Na+/proline cotransporter (putP). No homology is detectible with other known proteins. We infer from these results that the mammalian Na+/glucose and prokaryote Na+/proline cotransporters share a common ancestral gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and properties of the cellular and scrapie hamster prion proteins.

During scrapie infection an abnormal isoform of the prion protein (PrP), designated PrPSc, accumulates and is found to copurify with infectivity; to date, no nucleic acid has been found which is scrapie-specific. Both uninfected and scrapie-infected cells synthesize a PrP isoform, denoted PrPC, which exhibits physical properties that differentiate it from PrPSc. PrPC was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using a PrP-specific monoclonal antibody cross-linked to protein-A--Avidgel. PrPSc was purified by detergent extraction, poly(ethylene glycol) precipitation and repeated differential centrifugation of PrPSc polymers. Both PrP isoforms were found to have the same N-terminal amino acid sequence which begins at a predicted signal peptide cleavage site. The first 8 residues of PrPC were found to be KKXPKPGG and the first 29 residues of PrPSc were found to be KKXPKPGGWNTGGSXYPGQGSPGGNRYPP. Arg residues 3 and 15 in PrPSc and 3 in PrPC appear to be modified since no detectable signals (denoted X) were found at these positions during gas-phase sequencing. Both PrP isoforms were found to contain an intramolecular disulfide bond, linking Cys 179 and 214, which creates a loop of 36 amino acids containing the two N-linked glycosylation sites. Development of a purification protocol for PrPC should facilitate comparisons of the two PrP isoforms and lead to an understanding of how PrPSc is synthesized either from PrPC or a precursor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗