Concentrative amino acid uptake at the serosal side of colon mucosa

Uptake of the nonmetabolizable model amino acid 2-aminoisobutyric acid (= AIB) through the basolateral membrane into epithelial cells was studied in sheep colon stripped of serosa and muscle layers. Only the antiluminal surface of the mucosa was exposed to the incubation medium. Thus AIB entry into epithelial cells could only occur through the basolateral membrane. AIB was taken up by a saturable process against a high concentration gradient. AIB uptake was inhibited by other neutral amino acids but not by sugars. In a low Na+ medium AIB uptake was impaired, indicating that active transport of amino acids through the basolateral membrane of colon epithelial cells is Na+-dependent. In the rat a saturable concentrative uptake of AIB through the basolateral membrane of colon epithelial cells has also been demonstrated. Concentrative uptake of amino acids through the basolateral membranes is probably important for the supply of colon epithelium with amino acids.