Echinococcus granulosus: absorption of cycloleucine and α-aminoisobutyric acid by protoscoleces

Abstract

SUMMARYProtoscoleces ofEchinococcus granulosusabsorb the amino acids cycloleucine and α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) by a combination of mediated uptake and diffusion. After correcting for the latter, values forKtandVmaxof 0·124 mM and 0·947 nmoles/mg protein/2 min for cycloleucine were calculated; corresponding values for AIB were 0·039 mM and 0·139 nmoles/mg protein/2 min. Both amino acids were accumulated against a concentration gradient and a comparison ofKtandKtvalues determined in mutual inhibition experiments suggested that both cycloleucine and AIB share a common uptake locus (loci). Cycloleucine uptake was pH-dependent and could be inhibited by a variety of other amino acids. Neither D- nor L-proline inhibited cycloleucine absorption but D-methionine, D-alanine, D-leucine, D-valine and D-serine were much more effective inhibitors than their L-counterparts.