Molecular cloning and functional expression of a sodium/ dicarboxylate cotransporter from human kidney. Pajor, Ana M. University of Arizona, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724
APStracts 2:0194F, 1995.
The renal Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter reabsorbs Krebs cycle intermediates, such as succinate and citrate, from the glomerular filtrate. The present study describes the cloning and characterization of the human renal Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter, hNaDC-1. The amino acid sequence of hNaDC-1 is 78% identical to the rabbit renal Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter, NaDC-1, and 42% identical to the rat renal Na+/sulfate transporter, NaSi-1. The carboxy terminus of hNaDC-1 protein contains two N-glycosylation sites that appear to be utilized. Xenopus oocytes injected with hNaDC-1 cRNA expressed a low-affinity, sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporter with Km for succinate around 0.4 mM. The transport of succinate by hNaDC-1 was insensitive to the pH of the medium, while the transport of citrate was stimulated by acidic pH. Northern blot analysis indicates that hNaDC-1 mRNA is found in both kidney and intestine. The gene for hNaDC-1 was localized to chromosome 17. This study provides the first demonstration that the human kidney contains a low affinity Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter with properties that resemble those of the Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter on the apical membrane of the rabbit renal proximal tubule.

Received 5 July 1995; accepted in final form 20 October 1995.
APS Manuscript Number F211-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Fluid Electrolyte
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 6 November 95