Effects of tabtoxin on nitrogen metabolism

Tabtoxin is a chlorosis-inducing toxin produced by the plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci. Previous studies have indicated that tabtoxin inhibits glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) in vitro. We report here that tabtoxin also inhibits glutamine synthetase in vivo. The main evidence was that assimilation of exogenous ¹⁵NH₃ into Asparagus sprengeri protein was rapidly inhibited in isolated cells exposed to tabtoxin. This was associated with an equivalent decline in glutamine synthetase activity in extracts of these cells and the accumulation of extracellular ammonia. Glutamine synthetase was also inhibited in leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. White Burley treated with tabtoxin and the affected tissue accumulated ammonia and became chlorotic. However, the development of symptoms and accumulation of ammonia was suppressed when the leaves were held in air containing 1% CO₂ to reduce photorespiration. This indicates that the chlorotic symptom did not result from the inhibition of nitrogen assimilation but was a consequence of the interruption of the photorespiratory nitrogen cycle.     

Apocalmodulin and Ca2+ calmodulin-binding sites on the CaV1.2 channel

The cardiac L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel is responsible for initiating excitation-contraction coupling. Three sequences (amino acids 1609-1628, 1627-1652, and 1665-1685, designated A, C, and IQ, respectively) of its alpha(1) subunit contribute to calmodulin (CaM) binding and Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation. Peptides matching the A, C, and IQ sequences all bind Ca(2+)CaM. Longer peptides representing A plus C (A-C) or C plus IQ (C-IQ) bind only a single molecule of Ca(2+)CaM. Apocalmodulin (ApoCaM) binds with low affinity to the IQ peptide and with higher affinity to the C-IQ peptide. Binding to the IQ and C peptides increases the Ca(2+) affinity of the C-lobe of CaM, but only the IQ peptide alters the Ca(2+) affinity of the N-lobe. Conversion of the isoleucine and glutamine residues of the IQ motif to alanines in the channel destroys inactivation (Zühlke et al., 2000). The double mutation in the peptide reduces the interaction with apoCaM. A mutant CaM unable to bind Ca(2+) at sites 3 and 4 (which abolishes the ability of CaM to inactivate the channel) binds to the IQ, but not to the C or A peptide. Our data are consistent with a model in which apoCaM binding to the region around the IQ motif is necessary for the rapid binding of Ca(2+) to the C-lobe of CaM. Upon Ca(2+) binding, this lobe is likely to engage the A-C region.     

Genetically engineered binding proteins as biosensors for fermentation and cell culture

The signal-transduction properties and the potential applications of two engineered binding proteins from E. coli were extensively studied. Both proteins have a single cysteine mutation in their polypeptide chains, which allow the introduction of an environmentally sensitive fluorophore: ANS for glucose-binding protein (GBP) and acrylodan for glutamine-binding protein (QBP). Both proteins respond to their ligands in the micromolar range. The proteins can be stored at 4 degrees C for at least 5 months. Apparent binding constant, protein concentration, and fluorophore are three major factors that affect the biosensor's responsive ranges. The binding of the ligand is quick and reversible in solution, but the unfavorable dissociation equilibrium and mass-transfer resistance for encapsulated proteins can delay the response to several minutes and the recovery to hours. Simulated results show that using dialysis tubing with a diameter of 1 mm or less is possible to reduce the recovery time to less than 30 minutes. The potential applications of GBP were studied in yeast fermentation and E. coli fermentations in three different scales: 150 mL, 5 mL, and 100 microL. The results were compared with an YSI 2700 Chemistry Analyzer. Although the latter could not give reliable results for the E. coli fermentations as the glucose concentration in LB medium is close to its lower detection limit, the glucose biosensor presented here was successfully applied to each situation. Glutamine-binding protein was tested in cell cultures of two different scales (100 mL and 100 microL) and the results were also compared with those obtained with YSI. Both QBP and YSI gave good results for the 100-mL cell culture, but the relatively large sample volume requirement of YSI (at least 5 microL) prevented it from being used in the 100-microL cell culture. Because of their small sample volume requirements (less than 1 microL) and high sensitivity, the assays described here might find wide applications in high-throughput bioprocessing.     

Metabolic enzymes as targets for 14-3-3 proteins

The 14-3-3 proteins are binding proteins that have been shown to interact with a wide array of enzymes involved in primary biosynthetic and energy metabolism in plants. In most cases, the significance of binding of the 14-3-3 protein is not known. However, most of the interactions are phosphorylation-dependent and most of the known binding partners are found in the cytosol, while some may also be localized to plastids and mitochondria. In this review, we examine the factors that may regulate the binding of 14-3-3s to their target proteins, and discuss their possible roles in the regulation of the activity and proteolytic degradation of enzymes involved in primary carbon and nitrogen metabolism.     

Alteration of amino acid metabolism in neuronal aggregate cultures exposed to hypoglycaemic conditions

The neuronal effects of glucose deficiency on amino acid metabolism was studied on three-dimensional cultures of rat telencephalon neurones. Transient (6 h) exposure of differentiated cultures to low glucose (0.25 mm instead of 25 mm) caused irreversible damage, as judged by the marked decrease in the activities of two neurone-specific enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase, 1 week after the hypoglycemic insult. Quantification of amino acids and ammonia in the culture media supernatants indicated increased amino acid utilization and ammonia production during glucose-deficiency. Measurement of intracellular amino acids showed decreased levels of alanine, glutamine, glutamate and GABA, while aspartate was increased. Added lactate (11 mm) during glucose deficiency largely prevented the changes in amino acid metabolism and ammonia production, and attenuated irreversible damage. Higher media levels of glutamine (4 mm instead of 0.25 mm) during glucose deprivation prevented the decrease of intracellular glutamate and GABA, while it further increased intracellular aspartate, ammonia production and neuronal damage. Both lactate and glutamine were readily oxidized in these neuronal cultures. The present results suggest that in neurones, glucose deficiency enhances amino acid deamination at the expense of transamination reactions. This results in increased ammonia production and neuronal damage.     

Mast cell dynamics and involvement in the development of peritoneal adhesions in the rat

Mast cells have been implicated in the ethiopathology of post-operative peritoneal adhesions. However an evaluation of their role in this condition is missing. Adhesions were induced in rats using small intestinal scraping. These rats or rats injected ip with either Stem Cell Factor (SCF) or nedocromil sodium or compound 48/80 (day 0-20) were sacrificed for grading of peritoneal adhesions, for evaluating mast cells and inflammatory cells in adhesions and peritoneal lavage (histochemical staining) and for histamine content (peritoneal lavage, radioenzymatic assay) on days 1-21. Mast cell sonicate was added to intestinal fibroblast and their proliferation was assessed (cell counting). All the rats developed adhesions (day 1) and after 3 days the adhesion score remained constant. Early adhesions were avascular and made of fibrinous exudate containing many mast cells. Thereafter adhesions became denser, and the number of stainable mast cells decreased and then stabilized. On the first few days, inflammatory cells in the peritoneal lavage increased while mast cells and histamine content were significantly reduced indicating their activation. Injection of SCF for 1 week slightly increased peritoneal adhesion formation while nedocromil sodium reduced their development. Compound 48/80 had no significant influence. Addition of mast cell sonicate to normal intestine or to peritoneal adhesion fibroblasts resulted in a significant increase of fibroblast proliferation. In conclusion, mast cell presence correlated with the establishment of peritoneal adhesions, and their pharmacological modulation influenced adhesion formation. In vitro mast cell induced fibroplasia. Therefore, mast cells have a profibrogenic role in this model of peritoneal adhesions.     

Transport of organic sulfur and nitrogen in the roots of young mycorrhizal pedunculate oak trees (Quercus robur L.)

Uptake and xylem loading of organic sulfur and nitrogen were analyzed in detached mycorrhizal (Laccaria laccata L.) roots of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings using radiolabeled reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutamine (Gln) for transport analyses. The experiments showed for the first time that GSH is taken up by plant roots from the nutrient solution and is partially allocated to the shoot. Apparently, GSH produced during mineralization processes in the soil can be used by plant roots as a sulfur source. GSH uptake into the roots showed biphasic kinetics within the concentration range studied (0–500 M) with maximum transport velocities (v _max) and substrate affinities (K _m) that were similar to the kinetics of Gln uptake. GSH uptake kinetics were also in the same range as previously reported for sulfate uptake by mycorrhizal roots of pedunculate oak. It may therefore be assumed that GSH and sulfate uptake can be of comparable significance for sulfur nutrition, provided both sulfur sources are available at similar concentrations at the sites of uptake. Xylem loading of GSH and Gln showed monophasic transport kinetics with v _max significantly lower than observed for the two respective uptake systems and, as indicated by the K _m-values, a substrate affinity between the high and the low affinity uptake systems. The possible nature of the transport systems for GSH and Gln is discussed.     

Walker 256 tumour growth causes marked changes of glutamine metabolism in rat small intestine

The effect of Walker 256 tumour growth on the metabolism of glucose and glutamine in the small intestine of rats was examined. Walker 256 tumour has been extensively used as an experimental model to induce cancer cachexia in rats. Walker 256 tumour growth decreased body weight and small intestine weight and length. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphate-dependent glutaminase were reduced in the proximal, median and distal portions of the intestine. Glutamine oxidation was reduced in the proximal portion only. The decrease in glutaminase activity was not due to a low synthesis of the protein as indicated by Western blotting analysis. Hexokinase and citrate synthase activities were not changed by the tumour. These findings led us to postulate that tumour growth impairs glutamine metabolism of small intestine but the mechanism involved remains to be elucidated.     

Effects of Potassium and Glutamine on Metabolism of Glucose in Astrocytes

The metabolic effects of extracellular glutamine (2.5 mM) or high potassium (25 mM) on glucose metabolism were studied in cultured cerebellar astrocytes. High potassium caused an increased glycolytic flux and an increase in glutamine release. Exposure to glutamine increased glycolytic flux and alanine formation, indicating that glutamine uptake is an energy requiring process. The effects of glutamine and high potassium on glycolytic flux were additive. Formation of metabolites from [1-¹³C]glucose and [2-¹³C]acetate confirmed the effects of glutamine and high potassium on glycolytic metabolism. In the presence of extracellular glutamine, analysis of the ¹³C labeling patterns of citrate and glutamine indicated a decrease in the cycling ratio and/or pyruvate carboxylation and glutamine synthesis from [1-¹³C]glucose did occur, but was decreased. Exposure to high potassium led to extracellular accumulation of acetate, presumably through non-enzymatic decarboxylation of pyruvate.     

Effects of oral supplement of L-glutamine on diverted colon wall

Diverted colorectal segments can present trophic and inflammatory changes. These alterations are of special importance in the patients whose colostomy becomes permanent, as well as in the differential diagnosis with other inflammatory diseases. This study was accomplished to quantify these alterations and to determine if oral supplement of L-glutamine would avoid them. Twenty-six adult male Wistar rats were distributed in three groups: control, colostomized and colostomized+L-glutamine. The colostomized group received a loop colostomy. The colostomized+L-glutamine group received a colostomy similar to the previous group and oral supplement of L-glutamine. Partial volumes of all layers of the colonic wall were measured by image analysis stereology. The diversion caused a decrease of partial volumes of the mucosa and the epithelium as well, and also of the height of the intestinal crypts ( p <0.05). There was an increase of partial volumes of the lamina propria, of the submucosa and of the muscularis mucosae vs controls ( p <0.05). The partial volume of the muscularis propria didn't show significant alteration. The supplementation of L-glutamine was effective in preventing the atrophy of mucosa and epithelium ( p <0.05), also avoiding the increase of partial volumes of the submucosa and lamina propria ( p <0.05). This supplement didn't change significantly the muscular layers. In conclusion, colostomy causes the atrophy of the colon wall, mainly due to the atrophy of the epithelium. The supplementation of L-glutamine is able to avoid these changes.