Final answer:
Reversal of intestinal transporter orientation would result in a disrupted Na+/glucose symport system, leading to inefficient glucose absorption and potential malabsorption and nutrient deficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consequences of Transporter Reversal on Intestinal Cells
If the transport mechanisms on intestinal cells were reversed, with the Na+/glucose cotransporters facing the capillaries on the basal side, and the glucose carrier proteins facing the lumen on the apical side, glucose absorption would be inefficient. Normally, glucose and Na+ bind to symport proteins on the apical surface and are transported into the cell, where Na+ is then pumped out by the Na+/K+ ATPase on the basal surface, maintaining a low intracellular Na+ concentration. This gradient drives the symport of glucose. It would be significantly disrupted if reversed, preventing glucose from being absorbed effectively into the bloodstream and leading to its loss in the feces.
In normal physiology, secondary active transport mechanisms enabled by the Na+/K+ ATPase create the necessary gradient for glucose to be absorbed against its concentration gradient. Reversing these transporters would thus mean glucose would potentially exit the cell into the intestinal lumen rather than being taken up, resulting in malabsorption and potential nutrient deficiency.