Short communication: Urea transporter protein UT-B in the bovine parotid gland

Ruminant nutrition relies upon the symbiotic relationship that exists with microbial populations in the rumen. Urea transported across the ruminal epithelia and secreted by the salivary glands is a key source of nitrogen for microbial growth in the rumen. As ruminal urea transport can be mediated by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dairy science 2013-03, Vol.96 (3), p.1685-1690
Main Authors: Dix, L., Ward, D.T., Stewart, G.S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blotting, Western - veterinary
Cattle
Cell Membrane - chemistry
Cell Membrane - physiology
Female
Membrane Transport Proteins - analysis
Membrane Transport Proteins - physiology
microbial growth
nitrogen
parotid
parotid gland
Parotid Gland - chemistry
Parotid Gland - physiology
plasma membrane
rumen
Rumen - chemistry
Rumen - physiology
ruminant nutrition
symbiosis
transporters
urea
Urea Transporters
UT-B transporter
Western blotting
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Summary:Ruminant nutrition relies upon the symbiotic relationship that exists with microbial populations in the rumen. Urea transported across the ruminal epithelia and secreted by the salivary glands is a key source of nitrogen for microbial growth in the rumen. As ruminal urea transport can be mediated by specific UT-B urea transporters, this study investigated whether UT-B urea transporters were also present in the bovine salivary gland. Western blotting experiments detected only small amounts of UT-B protein in whole-cell lysate from the bovine parotid gland. In contrast, strong 32 to 34 and 40kDa UT-B proteins were detected in parotid plasma membrane-enriched protein, showing the importance of using enriched samples. These signals were also detected in rumen and correspond to bovine UT-B1 and UT-B2 urea transporters, respectively. Further immunolocalization studies identified that these proteins were located in the ductal system of the parotid gland. This study, therefore, confirmed the presence of UT-B urea transporter protein in the bovine parotid salivary gland.
ISSN:0022-0302
1525-3198
DOI:10.3168/jds.2012-6230