A Futile Cycle? Tissue Homeostatic Trans-Membrane Water Co-Transport: Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Metabolic Consequences

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe phenomenon of active trans-membrane water cycling (AWC) has emerged in little over a decade. Here, we consider H2O transport across cell membranes from the origins of its study. Historically, trans-membrane water transport processes were classified into: A) compensating bidirectional fluxes (“exchange”), and B) unidirectional flux (“net flow”) categories. Recent literature molecular structure determinations and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations indicate probably all the many different hydrophilic substrate membrane co-transporters have membrane-spanning hydrophilic pathways and co-transport water along with their substrates, and that they individually catalyze category A and/or B water flux processes, although usually not simultaneously. The AWC name signifies that, integrated over the all the cell’s co-transporters, the rate ofhomeostatic, bidirectional trans-cytolemmal water exchange (category A) is synchronized with the metabolic rate of the crucial Na+,K+-ATPase (NKA) enzyme. A literature survey indicates the stoichiometric (category B) water/substrate ratios of individual co-transporters are often very large. The MD simulations also suggest how different co-transporter reactions can bekineticallycoupled molecularly.Is this (Na+,K+-ATPase rate-synchronized) cycling futile, or is it consequential? Conservatively representative literature metabolomic and proteinomic results enable comprehensive free energy analyses of the many transport reactions with known water stoichiometries. Free energy calculations, using literature intracellular pressure (Pi) values reveals there is anoutwardtrans-membrane H2O barochemical gradient of magnitude comparable to that of the well-knowninwardNa+electrochemical gradient. For most co-influxers, these gradients are finely balanced to maintain intracellular metabolite concentration values near their consuming enzyme Michaelis constants. The thermodynamic analyses include glucose, glutamate-, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and lactate-transporters. 2%-4% Pialterations can lead to disastrous concentration levels. For the neurotransmitters glutamate-and GABA, very small astrocytic Pichanges can allow/disallow synaptic transmission. Unlike the Na+and K+electrochemical steady-states, the H2O barochemicalsteady-stateis in (or near) chemicalequilibrium. The analyses show why the presence of aquaporins (AQPs) does not dissipate the trans-membrane pressure gradient. A feedback loop inherent in the opposing Na+electrochemical and H2O barochemical gradients regulates AQP-catalyzed water flux as an integral AWC aspect. These results also require a re-consideration of the underlying nature of Pi. Active trans-membrane water cycling is not futile, but is inherent to the cell’s “NKA system” - a new, fundamental aspect of biology.SYNOPSISViaintracellular pressure, membrane co-transported water influences thermodynamic control of cell metabolite maintenance.