Expression of a human renal sodium nucleoside cotransporter in Xenopus laevis oocytes

In this study, Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with poly(A)+ RNA (mRNA) isolated from human kidney were used to express a Na(+)-nucleoside cotransporter. Na(+)-stimulated [3H]thymidine uptake was enhanced 2-3-fold in oocytes injected with 50 ng poly(A)+ RNA and 4-5-fold in oocytes injected with 20 ng of a size-fractionated human renal cortex mRNA fragment (2-3 kb) in comparison with water-injected oocytes. Na(+)-dependent thymidine uptake in oocytes injected with the 2-3 kb mRNA fragment was inhibited significantly by thymidine and guanosine but not by formycin B, consistent with the N4 Na(+)-nucleoside cotransporter. The Km (28 microM) of Na(+)-dependent thymidine uptake in the oocytes injected with the 2-3 kb mRNA fragment was similar to the Km (27 microM) of Na(+)-dependent thymidine uptake obtained in human renal brush border membrane vesicles. These data suggest for the first time that a Na(+)-nucleoside cotransporter from human kidney can be expressed in X. laevis oocytes.