Energetics of Na+-dependent sugar transport by isolated intestinal cells: evidence for a major role for membrane potentials.

Intestinal epithelial cells isolated from 6-wk-old chickens maintain the capability for Na+-dependent concentrative accumulation of 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG). Cells depleted of ATP exhibit a transient accumulation of 3-OMG in response to imposed Na+ gradients ([Na+]o greater than [Na+]i) or when transmembrane ion diffusion potentials (cell interior negative) are established. Phlorizin or lack of extracellular Na+ prevents formation of sugar gradients in every case. A nonconcentrative, non-Na+-dependent sugar transport system is also operative in these cells. The latter system is inhibited to various degrees by phloretin, theophylline, cytochalasin B, and a variety of flavonones and flavones, including apigenin. These agents also act to inhibit efflux of sugar from the cell via this pathway. The concentrative system normally operates against a "leak" of sugar through the nonconcentrative carrier. If the passive system is made inoperative by any of the agents named above, a significant enhancement of steady-state sugar gradients maintained by the cells is observed. With cytochalasin B, gradients as large as 30-fold are established. The energy inherent in cellular Na+ gradients cannot account for sugar gradients of this magnitude unless both chemical electrical driving forces are considered. When the passive leak is maximmally inhibited, more than half of the total energy required must be derived from the membrane potential.