Re-examination of hexose-transporter inhibition and labelling by hexose isothiocyanates

We have re-examined hexose-transport inhibition by hexose isothiocyanates and find that the inhibition is incomplete, probably because of decomposition of the reagent. The inhibition type is 'mixed', because hexose-transporter ligands such as maltose and cytochalasin B only give partial protection from inhibition. This suggests that a liganded-transporter-hexose isothiocyanate ternary complex is formed. We have compared the labelling of red-blood-cell membranes by [14C]MITC (D-maltose isothiocyanate) with the labelling obtained using a photoaffinity probe (ASA-BMPA [2-N-(4-azidosalicyloyl)-1,3-bis-(D-mannos-4'-yloxy)-2 -propylamine]) which gives specific labelling of the hexose transporter in band 4.5. [14C]MITC gives a partially D-glucose-displaceable labelling of a band 3 component in the same cell preparations which show ASA-BMPA labelling of band 4.5. This eliminates the possibility that band 4.5 labelling can only occur when the HITC (hexose isothiocyanate) binding protein in band 3 is proteolysed. HITC pretreatment does not decrease ASA-BMPA labelling of the exofacial site of band 4.5. This is also consistent with the formation of ternary complex. However, HITC pretreatment inhibits both reversible and photoactivated covalent [3H]cytochalasin B binding to band 4.5. These results suggest that, in the intact cell, interactions between a band 3 HITC-binding component and the inside cytochalasin B-binding site on the hexose transporter in band 4.5 may occur.