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Sodium-Driven Transport A Re-evaluation of the Sodium-Gradient Hypothesis

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Intestinal Ion Transport

Abstract

The sodium-gradient hypothesis (SGH) was originally proposed to explain the uphill transport of certain organic solutes,† particularly sugars and amino acids, in the small intestine as well as in several other cells and tissues1,2,3,4. The molecular basis of this transport is assumed to consist of a typical mobile carriermechanism5 that is made asymmetrical by virtue of its being coupled to the opposite transmembrane gradients of the alkali metal ions, Na+ and K+. The fundamental concept underlying the hypothesis is that of cotransport 6. Organic solute and Na+ would interact at the level of a carrier with distinct but (allosterically) related binding sites for each of these two species. The concept of cotransport includes the twin concepts of reciprocal activationand coupled flows:binding and the ensuing influx of one species activates the binding and influx of its partner. As a corollary, reciprocal inhibitory effects and countertransportmay also be explained through, and be a part of, the same mechanism6. In fact, such opposite activating and inhibitory roles were assigned by Crane to Na+ and K+ respectively2. The prevailing extracellular cation, Na+, would stimulate solute influx by cotransport, while the prevailing intracellular cation, K+, would inhibit the efflux and perhaps move out of the cell by countertransport. The concerted effect of the two cations would be the net accumulation of the organic solute within the enterocyte.

On special leave from the University of Puerto Rico.

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Author notes

  1. Francisco Alvarado

    Present address: Laboratorie de Physiologie Comparée, Université de Paris-Sud, Centre d’Orsay, 91405, Orsay, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Francisco Alvarado

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Chirurgie Expérimentale, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Lausanne, Switzerland

    J. W. L. Robinson

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Alvarado, F. (1976). Sodium-Driven Transport A Re-evaluation of the Sodium-Gradient Hypothesis. In: Robinson, J.W.L. (eds) Intestinal Ion Transport. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6156-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6156-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-6158-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-6156-5

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