Abstract
Amino acid transport in small intestine has been briefly reviewed. The specificity of the transport systems has not been conclusively classified yet. Simple diffusion, sodium-dependent and -independent transports are generally involved in amino acid transport. Experimental materials and methods used are very important to deduce any definitive conclusion regarding the specificity. Membrane vesicles prepared either from brush border or basal lateral membrane are assumed to be best to analyze the specificity, energy coupling and regulation of the transport. Regulation of amino acid transport has been noticed in semistarved state, diabetic condition and developing process. In these cases, changes in kinetic parameters conflict each other. Therefore, amino acid transport in small intestine requires much more detailed studies on the kinetics.
