2-Deoxyglucose transport by intestinal epithelial cells isolated from the chick

Characteristics of 2-deoxyglucose uptake (2DG) by intestinal epithelial cells isolated from chickens were evaluated as a means of discriminating between the concentrative transport system for monosaccharides, associated with the mucosal brush border, and other possible routes of monosaccharide entry. 2DG was chosen as it is not a substrate for the mucosal transport system. The deoxysugar enters via a saturable pathway which is not Na+-dependent, is not inhibited by K+, does not accumulate solute against a concentration gradient; exhibits a high sensitivity to inhibition by phloretin; is relatively insensitive to phlorizin inhibition; and has low affinity [but high capacity relative to Na+-dependent mucosal transport of 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG) and other monosaccharides]. These characteristics confirm those established in an earlier report for Na+-independent uptake of 3-OMG. Complications encountered in the use of 2DG as a test sugar include significant rates of metabolic conversion to an anionic form which presumably is a phosphorylated species. Methods for distinguishing between transport and subsequent metabolism are described. Inhibition of 2DG entry by several other sugars is described and inhibitory constants (K's) given for each.