Characteristics of a Lysosomal Membrane Transport System for Tyrosine and Other Neutral Amino Acids in Rat Thyroid Cells

Tyrosine countertransport was used to demonstrate the existence of a carrier system for neutral amino acids in the lysosomal membrane of FRTL-5 thyroid cells. In addition to tyrosine, the carrier system recognized the neutral amino acids leucine, histidine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. Cystine and lysine, amino acids for which a lysosomal carrier system has been demonstrated, showed no competition with tyrosine for countertransport. The tyrosine system showed stereospecificity and cation independence. It did not require an acidic lysosome or the availability of free thiols. The apparent Km for tyrosine was approximately 100 microM; the energy of activation of the system was approximately 9.7 kcal/mol. This new lysosomal membrane carrier system for neutral amino acids resembles the plasma membrane L system in 3T3 Chinese hamster ovary cells and melanoma B-16 cells.