An analysis of the adequacy of the asymmetric carrier model for sugar transport

Abstract

In 1972, Lieb, W. R.; Stein, W. D. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 265, 187-207) in their review of sugar transport in human erythrocytes concluded that the conventional two-state carrier model was inconsistent with the experimental data available at that time. Since then, other papers have appeared which question the validity of the model. In this paper, we give a brief derivation of the equations describing the two-state carrier model, and analyze the predictions of the model in the classical experiments, i.e. zero-trans, infinite-cis, and equilibrium exchange. We show that the estimate of the half saturatiion constant of 2.8 mM for glucose at the inner face of the human red cell membrane for the infinite-cis procedure reported by Hankin, B. L., Lieb, W. R. and Stein, W. D ((1972) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 288, 114-126) is unreliable. We note that all of the other experimental findings are consistent with the asymmetric carrier model.