A novel proline, glycine: K+ symporter in midgut brush-border membrane vesicles from larval Manduca sexta

Alkali-cation-dependent uptake of proline and glycine into brush-border membrane vesicles from the midgut of the larval tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta was investigated using rapid filtration assays. Uptake of both amino acids was by electrophoretic symport, with K+ being the favored cation at pH 10. Counterflow accumulation of proline was elicited by glycine and vice versa, suggesting that the two amino acids are transported by a common symporter, which we designate the pro, gly: K+ symporter. L-alpha-Aminoisobutyric acid was the only other amino acid that elicited the accumulation of both proline and glycine. D-Proline was not symported; L-proline, glycine and L-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid appear to be the only substrates of the pro, gly: K+ symporter. Neutral amino acids with relatively short sidechains elicit glycine accumulation, suggesting that glycine may also be symported by the well-established neutral amino acid system. Since proline does not utilize the broad-spectrum, neutral system, its symport appears to be exclusively through the pro, gly: K+ symporter. Proline symport was found mainly in posterior midgut vesicles, suggesting that the pro, gly: K+ symporter may be localized in this region of the midgut.