i transport in epithelia has both Na ϩ -dependent and Na ϩ -independent components, but so far only Na ϩ -dependent transporters have been characterized in detail and molecularly identified. Consequently, in the present study, we initiated the characterization and analysis of intestinal Na ϩ -independent P i transport using an in vitro model, Caco2BBE cells. Only Na ϩ -independent Pi uptake was observed in these cells, and Pi uptake was dramatically increased when cells were incubated in high-P i DMEM (4 mM) from 1 day to several days. No response to low-Pi medium was observed. The increased Pi transport was mainly caused by V max changes, and it was prevented by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Pi transport in cells grown in 1 mM Pi (basal DMEM) decreased at pH Ͼ 7.5, and it was inhibited with proton ionophores. Pi transport in cells incubated with 4 mM Pi increased with alkaline pH, suggesting a preference for divalent phosphate. Pi uptake in cells in 1 mM Pi was completely inhibited only by Pi and partially inhibited by phosphonoformate, oxalate, DIDS, SITS, SO 4 2Ϫ , HCO 3 Ϫ , and arsenate. This inhibition pattern suggests that more than one Pi transporter is active in cells maintained with 1 mM Pi. Phosphate transport from cells maintained at 4 mM Pi was only partially inhibited by phosphonoformate, oxalate, and arsenate. Attempts to identify the responsible transporters showed that multifunctional anion exchangers of the Slc26 family as well as members of Slc17, Slc20, and Slc37 and the Pi exporter xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1 are not involved. phosphate transport; Caco2BBE cells; Na ϩ -independent Pi uptake; phosphate absorption; small intestine; inorganic phosphate CONTROL of P i homeostasis is mediated by the coordinated activity of a complex set of physiological mechanisms acting on the rate of intestinal absorption, rate of renal excretion, and eventual mobilization of the bone reservoir. These mechanisms consist of hormones and nonhormonal events that act either acutely or slowly (chronically) to modulate the activity of plasma membrane P i transporters (2, 4, 23). The precision of P i homeostasis control is critical not only because of the extreme relevance of the physiological roles of P i in the organism (pH buffer, energy bonds, signal transduction, phospholipid composition, bone formation, etc.) but also because serious conditions can emerge when control of P i homeostasis is lost, resulting in either hypophosphatemia (7) or hyperphosphatemia (20,23).While the kidney has historically been recognized as the major checkpoint and regulator of P i homeostasis, more recently it has been revealed that the intestine is a relevant modulator of P i signaling and is now a target for pharmacological interventions in phosphate disorders (23,30,31). The majority of P i absorption takes place in the small intestine, with important regional differences depending on the animal species (22). With respect to the mechanisms of P i absorption, the classical combination of both saturated (transcel...