Work

Chemical Transport Knockout for Oxidized Vitamin C, Dehydroascorbic Acid, Reveals Its Functions in vivo

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Despite its transport by glucose transporters (GLUTs) in vitro , it is unknown whether dehydroascorbic acid (oxidized vitamin C, DHA) has any in vivo function. To investigate, we created a chemical transport knockout model using the vitamin C analog 6-bromo-ascorbate. This analog is transported on sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters but its oxidized form, 6-bromo-dehydroascorbic acid, is not transported by GLUTs. Mice (gulo −/− ) unable to synthesize ascorbate (vitamin C) were raised on 6-bromo-ascorbate. Despite normal survival, centrifugation of blood produced hemolysis secondary to near absence of red blood cell (RBC) ascorbate/6-bromo-ascorbate. Key findings with clinical implications were that RBCs in vitro transported dehydroascorbic acid but not bromo-dehydroascorbic acid; RBC ascorbate in vivo was obtained only via DHA transport; ascorbate via DHA transport in vivo was necessary for RBC structural integrity; and internal RBC ascorbate was essential to maintain ascorbate plasma concentrations in vitro / in vivo .

Source: EBioMedicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.08.017

Authors: Hongbin Tu, Yu Wang, Hongyan Li, Lauren R. Brinster, Mark Levine

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Language: English

Topic: Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,780