Pathophysiology of Diseases Involving Intestinal Brush-Border Proteins

The intestinal brush border is a complex organelle that contains hydrolytic enzymes, receptors, other proteins involved in transport and contractile proteins. In this article, we review the molecular organization of brush-border proteins within the whole membrane, and discuss their synthesis and turnover. This knowledge provides a framework for understanding the mechanisms by which certain diseases are associated with changes in brush-border proteins. Distribution of Enzymes within the Brush Border The intestinal brush border is composed of a membranous sheet, 6.0 nm wide, lined on the luminal side by a carbohydrate-rich layer known as the glycocalyx (Fig. 1). Attached to the.