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Recent investigations have indicated that cellular rheogenic properties may interfere with the correct estimation of Na+ and amino transport stoichiometry. We have reevaluated the stoichiometry of Na+ and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (alpha-AIB) cotransport in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells depleted of Na+ and ATP by incubation in Na+-free HEPES-buffered medium (pH 7.2) containing 160 mM K+ and 2.5 microM valinomycin. Transfer of the cells to a medium with 10 mM 22Na+, 10 mM 3H-AIB, and 150 mM K+ resulted in an enhancement of Na+ flux above basal levels, which represents 0.6 of the AIB uptake. Under these conditions the membrane potential, -7.0 +/- 0.1 mV (SEM), does not change with the addition of AIB, -7.3 +/- 0.6 mV (SEM). HgCl2 (10 microM) added to the medium inhibited AIB flux and AIB-stimulated Na+ flux by 45-50% but did not change the coupling ratio. HgCl2 (10 microM) does not inhibit the basal Na+ flux nor does it affect cellular Na+ or K+ content. In physiological medium cotransport is electrogenic. The membrane potential of Ehrlich cells in physiological medium is -22.3 +/- 0.8 mV (SEM) and depolarizes to -16.7 +/- 0.7 mV (SEM) upon addition of AIB. Under these conditions the coupling ratio was highly variable but the ratio of codepression is 0.90 +/- 0.02 (SEM) in the presence of HgCl2 (10 microM). These results are consistent with a model (Smith and Robinson, 1981) in which the stoichiometry is one cosubstrate molecule per molecule of alpha-AIB. We suggest that H+ provides the alternative cosubstrate in this low Na+ environment and that in high Na+ medium the Na+:AIB stoichiometry approaches 1:1.

The effects of H+ on the kinetics of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) influx in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells have been investigated at different external Na+ concentrations. Elevation of [H+] in the presence of both high (154 mEq/l) and low (10 mEq/l) external Na+ leads to decreases in the maximum influx (Jmax) and increases in the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) for influx of AIB. In the virtual absence of external Na+ (0.96 +/- 0.04 mEq/l), alterations in [H+] are without measurable effect on AIB flux. Furthermore, addition of AIB (10 mM) to cell suspensions (pH 5.90) stimulates H+ uptake by the cells in either the presence or absence of Na+. The data are consistent with two kinetic models for Na+-dependent amino acid transport: an order bireactant (Na+-binding necessary before AIB binding) system or a random bireactant system. Both models require that H+ serve as an alternative substrate for Na+. The consistency of the models was tested by fit to data from the present study (not used to evaluate the kinetic parameters) and by prediction of the pH dependence of Na+-dependent amino acid transport compared to earlier studies.