Evaluation of a thiodipeptide, L-phenylalanyl-Ψ[CS-N]-L-alanine, as a novel probe for peptide transporter 1

Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2014;29(6):470-4. doi: 10.2133/dmpk.DMPK-14-RG-047. Epub 2014 Jul 8.

Abstract

L-Phenylalanyl-Ψ[CS-N]-l-alanine (Phe-Ψ-Ala), a thiourea dipeptide, was evaluated as a probe for peptide transporter 1 (PEPT1). Uptake of Phe-Ψ-Ala in PEPT1-overexpressing HeLa cells was significantly higher than that in vector-transfected HeLa cells and the Km value was 275 ± 32 µM. The uptake was pH-dependent, being highest at pH 6.0, and was significantly decreased in the presence of PEPT1 inhibitors [glycylsarcosine (Gly-Sar), cephalexin, valaciclovir, glycylglycine, and glycylproline]. In metabolism assay using rat intestinal mucosa, rat hepatic microsomes, and human hepatocytes, the amount of Phe-Ψ-Ala was unchanged, whereas phenylalanylalanine was extensively decomposed. The clearance, distribution volume, and half-life of intravenously administered Phe-Ψ-Ala in rats were 0.151 ± 0.008 L/h/kg, 0.235 ± 0.012 L/kg, and 1.14 ± 0.07 h, respectively. The maximum plasma concentration of orally administered Phe-Ψ-Ala (2.31 ± 0.60 µg/mL) in the presence of Gly-Sar was significantly decreased compared with that in the absence of glycylsarcosine (3.74 ± 0.44 µg/mL), suggesting that the intestinal absorption of Phe-Ψ-Ala is mediated by intestinal PEPT1. In conclusion, our results indicate that Phe-Ψ-Ala is a high-affinity, metabolically stable, non-radioactive probe for PEPT1, and it should prove useful in studies of PEPT1, e.g., for predicting drug-drug interactions mediated by PEPT1 in vitro and in vivo.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Dipeptides / administration & dosage
  • Dipeptides / blood
  • Dipeptides / metabolism*
  • Dipeptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Dipeptides / pharmacology
  • Half-Life
  • HeLa Cells
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Transport Modulators / pharmacology
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Peptide Transporter 1
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Symporters / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Symporters / genetics
  • Symporters / metabolism*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Dipeptides
  • Membrane Transport Modulators
  • Peptide Transporter 1
  • SLC15A1 protein, human
  • Slc15a1 protein, rat
  • Symporters
  • glycylsarcosine
  • phenylalanylalanine