pH gradient-stimulated phosphate transport in outer medullary brush-border membranes

Phosphate transport was studied in brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from outer medullary tissue of the porcine kidney. Phosphate uptake studies were performed in the absence of sodium at 21 degrees C. A 1.2- to 12-fold overshoot, above equilibrium values, was present with intracellular pH (pHin) equal to 8.0 and extracellular pH (pHout) equal to 6.5, which was not evident at pHin = pHout. Concentration-dependence of the pH-stimulate uptake was determined by the difference of uptake in the absence of a pH gradient (pHin = pHout) from that in the presence of a pH gradient over a large range of phosphate concentrations. The uptake was consistent with a single facilitative system characterized by apparent kinetic parameters; with Michaelis constant 149 +/- 11 microM and maximal velocity 4.9 +/- 0.4 nmol.mg protein-1.min-1, n = 3. Phosphate uptake was inhibited by the stilbene derivative 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid with a mean inhibition constant (Ki) value of 0.15 mM (n = 2). In addition, pH gradient-stimulated phosphate uptake was sensitive to furosemide and bumetanide; Ki values of 0.50 +/- 0.05 and 0.11 +/- 0.04 mM, respectively. Arsenate (1 mM) and phosphonoformate (1 mM) inhibited pH-dependent phosphate uptake, whereas sulfate (5 mM), bicarbonate (25 mM), and chloride (100 mM) were without effect, indicating that the transport system is relatively specific to phosphate and its close analogues. pH gradient-stimulated phosphate uptake was not influenced by potassium-diffusional gradients. The data provide evidence for a facilitative process in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from outer medullary tissue of the pig kidney that is capable of transporting phosphate in the absence of sodium.