Transport mechanisms carrier-mediated

Facilitated transport combines some properties of both mechanisms discussed above. This type of transport is carrier mediated so that there is substrate specificity, a transport maximum, and competitive inhibition. However, facilitated transport is not energy-dependent and is unable to transport a substrate against a concentration gradient. 

In SLM extraction, the transport mechanism is influenced primarily by the chemical characteristics of the analytes to be extracted and the organic liquid in the membrane into which the analytes will interact and diffuse. Analyte solubility in the membrane and its partition coefficient will have the main impact on separation and enrichment. Analyte transport in SLM extraction can be substantially categorized into two major types one is diffusive transport (or simple permeation) and the other covers facilitated transport (or carrier-mediated transport).73... 

Anandamide is inactivated in two steps, first by transport inside the cell and subsequently by intracellular enzymatic hydrolysis. The transport of anandamide inside the cell is a carrier-mediated activity, having been shown to be a saturable, time- and temperature-dependent process that involves some protein with high affinity and specificity for anandamide (Beltramo, 1997). This transport process, unlike that of classical neurotransmitters, is Na+-independent and driven only by the concentration gradient of anandamide (Piomelli, 1998). Although the anandamide transporter protein has not been cloned yet, its well characterized activity is known to be inhibited by specific transporter inhibitors. Reuptake of 2-AG is probably mediated by the same facilitating mechanism (Di Marzo, 1999a,b Piomelli, 1999). 

Enalaprilat and SQ27,519 are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with poor oral absorption. Enalapril and fosinopril are dipeptide and amino acid derivatives of enalaprilat and SQ27,519, respectively [51] (Fig. 10). Both prodrugs are converted via deesterification to the active drug by hepatic biotransformation. In situ rat perfusion of enalapril indicated a nonpassive absorption mechanism via the small peptide carrier-mediated transport system. In contrast to the active parent, enalapril renders enalaprilat more peptide-like, with higher apparent affinity for the peptide carrier. The absorption of fosinopril was predominantly passive. Carrier-mediated transport was not demonstrated, but neither was its existence ruled out. 

Solvents used to increase solubility for compounds during screening of permeability across the cell monolayers, together with commonly used excipients for formulations, can also affect the barrier as they contain ingredients which enhance drug absorption [100, 151]. There are different mechanisms by which these compounds can modulate the barrier [4, 149, 150] for example, they may increase the tight junctional pathway inhibiting carrier-mediated transport, or cholesterol... 

Hidalgo, I. J., Li, J., Carrier-mediated transport and efflux mechanisms in Caco-2 cells, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. 1996, 22, 53-66. 

Tamai, I. [Molecular characterization of intestinal absorption of drugs by carrier-mediated transport mechanisms]. Yakugaku Zasshi 1997, 117, 415-434. 

Swaan, P. W. and J. J. Tukker. Carrier-mediated transport mechanism of foscamet (trisodium phosphono-formate hexahydrate) in rat intestinal tissue. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1995, 272, 242-247. 

When applying any of these models it is crucial to understand the main transport mechanisms as well as the metabolic route and characterization of the activity of the transporter/enzyme involved. It is well recognized that the activities of carrier-mediated processes in Caco-2 cells are considerably lower than in vivo [20, 42, 48] therefore, it is crucial to extrapolate in vitro cell culture data to the in vivo situation with great care [18, 20, 42, 48], This is especially important when carrier-mediated processes are involved, as evidenced by a recent report which showed significant differences in gene expression levels for transporters, channels and metabolizing enzymes in Caco-2 cells than in human duodenum [48], If an animal model is used, then potential species differences must also be considered [18, 20, 45],... 

Depending upon the mechanism that is employed by the organism to accumulate the solute, internalisation fluxes can vary both in direction and order of magnitude. The kinetics of passive transport will be examined in Section 6.1.1. Trace element internalisation via ion channels or carrier-mediated transport, subsequent to the specific binding of a solute to a transport site, will be addressed in Section 6.1.2. Finally, since several substances (e.g. Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+, some sugars and amino acids) can be concentrated in the cell against their electrochemical gradient (active transport systems), the kinetic implications of an active transport mechanism will be examined in Section 6.1.3. Further explanations of the mechanisms themselves can be obtained in Chapters 6 and 7 of this volume [24,245]. 

The quantity of any given solute being presented to the reabsorptive mechanisms is determined by the product of the GFR and the solute concentration in plasma. One of the features of any carrier-mediated process is its limited capacity. Binding of a substance to its transport protein follows the same principles as substrate binding to an enzyme or hormone binding to its receptor so we may appropriately liken the dynamics to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. 

Amino add reabsorption in the renal tubules Amino acids are small, easily filtered molecules. Efficient reabsorption mechanisms are vital to conserve amino acids which are metabolically valuable resources. Transport of individual amino acids and small peptides is symport carrier mediated mechanisms in which sodium is co-transported. The process is indirectly ATP dependent because Na is returned to the lumen of the nephron by the sodium pump , Na+/K+ dependent ATPase. 

On the other hand, several probe substrates of carrier-mediated transport systems in the small intestine have been reported to be not absorbed by carrier-mediated mechanism in the rat colon in situ. Those include L-carnitine [23], methotrexate [18], cephradine [18], and 5-fluorouracil [18], as substrates of the L-carnitine carrier, folate carrier, peptide carrier, and pyrimidine carrier, respectively (Table 3.3). It is based on the nonsaturable nature of their transport. Particularly, the apparent membrane permeabilities of L-carnitine and methotrexate are negligibly low, suggesting that these compounds are practically unabsorbable from the colon. In the case of 5-fluorouracil, Na+-independence of transport was observed in situ [18] and also in everted sacs in vitro in the colon [21], while its carrier in the small intestine is known to be Na+-dependent. Furthermore, for ascorbate and nicotinate, as described in everted sacs in vitro [21], and L-dopa, as described in situ [24], carrier-mediated transport cannot be observed in the rat colon. 

Substances can be transported across epithelial membranes by simple passive diffusion, carrier-mediated diffusion, and active transport, in addition to other specialized mechanisms, including endocytosis. 

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