Properties of enzymes hydrating epoxides in human epidermis and liver

• 1.1. Cytosolic and microsomal epoxide hydrolyzing enzymes of human skin and liver were compared and found to be different.
• 2.2. Epidermal and hepatic cytosolic epoxide hydrolases were different in terms of substrate selectivity, pI, inhibitor sensitivity and affinity Chromatographic properties.
• 3.3. Microsomal epoxide hydrolases had the same pIs but different substrate selectivities.
• 4.4. Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from adults had higher specific activity than that from neonates or cultured epidermis, but lower activity than adult hepatic enzymes.
• 5.5. The sizes of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from epidermis and liver were similar and lower than that from cultured fibroblasts.
• 6.6. Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from all sources shared similar antigenic determinants.

     

Effects of high dietary methionine on activities of selected enzymes in the liver of kittens (felis domesticus)

• 1.1. Growing male kittens were fed an 18% casein diet supplemented with 2, 3, or 4% l-methionine (MET) for 6 weeks.
• 2.2. Free MET concentration in liver increased 30-fold and cystathionine two- to three-fold; the activity of adenosyl-MET transferase and cystathionase also increased but remained lower than previously found in rats.
• 3.3. Taurine concentration in liver decreased in cats fed excess MET and appeared to depend on taurine intake.
• 4.4. Alanine aminotransferase activity was high in all groups while serine dehydratase activity was very low.
• 5.5. Pyruvate kinase and malic enzyme activities which are normally low in cat liver increased after excess MET. Also, glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases increased.
• 6.6. Cat liver metabolism showed limited adaptation to an excess dietary intake of methionine compared to that found in rats.

     

Arginase activity in different fish species and tissues

• 1.1. Arginase activity was measured in different tissues from eight species of fish.
• 2.2. Spur dogfish showed a very high arginase activity compared with the other species analysed.
• 3.3. The activity in teleosts was mainly found in tissues of high metabolic activity (liver, kidney and red muscle).

     

Stearyl-CoA desaturation capacity of the rat liver during regeneration after partial hepatectomy

• 1.1. Stearyl-CoA desaturase activity was measured in microsomes isolated from regenerating rat liver over a period of 11 days.
• 2.2. The stearyl-CoA desaturation capacity of the liver recovered by the fourth day after partial hepatectomy.
• 3.3. Return to normal enzyme activity coincided with the normalization of the ratio between stearic and oleic acids in microsomes.

     

IDentification of a microsomal retinoic acid synthase as a microsomal cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system

• 1.1. To characterize an enzyme which metabolizes retinal in liver microsomes, several properties of the enzymatic reaction from retinal to retinoic acid were investigated using rabbit liver microsomes.
• 2.2. The maximum pH of the reaction in the liver microsomes was 7.6.
• 3.3. The K_m and V_max values for all-trans, 9-cis and 13-cis-retinals were determined.
• 4.4. The reaction proceeded in the presence of NADPH and molecular oxygen.
• 5.5. The incorporation of one atom of molecular oxygen into retinal was confirmed by using oxygen-18, showing that the reaction comprised monooxygenation, not dehydrogenation.
• 6.6. The monooxygenase activity was inhibited by carbon monoxide, phenylisocyanide and antiNADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase IgG, but not by anti-cytochrome b₅ IgG.
• 7.7. The enzymatic activity inhibited by carbon monoxide was photoreversibly restored by light of a wavelength of around 450 nm.
• 8.8. The retinal-induced spectra of liver microsomes with three isomeric retinals were type I spectra.
• 9.9. The microsomal monooxygenase activity induced by phenobarbital or ethanol were more effective than that by 3-methylcholanthrene, clotrimazole or β-naphthoflavone.
• 10.10. These results showed that the monooxygenase reaction from retinal to retinoic acid in liver microsomes is catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system.

     

Long-term starvation in Xenopus laevis daudin—III. Effects on enzymes in several tissues

• 1.1. Adult, female Xenopus laevis were subjected to 12 months of starvation.
• 2.2. Starvation resulted in a continuous reduction in the activity of both hepatic and renal glucose-6-phosphate dehydroganse.
• 3.3. Fructose-1,6-diphosphatase was significantly reduced at months 10 and 12 in the liver, and at months 4, 10, and 12 in the kidney.
• 4.4. Pyruvate kinase activity of muscle and liver decreased during the experimental period whereas the renal enzyme remained essentially unchanged.
• 5.5. Both hepatic and renal glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and hepatic glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) showed a reduction of activity after 2 and 4 months of starvation followed by an increase in GPT but not in GOT.

     

Studies on tryptophan pyrrolase of Schistocerca gregaria försk. (Orthoptera)

• 1.The trytophan pyrrolase activity of central fat bodies of S. gregoria hoppera was studied.
• 2.The enzyme system appears to be similar to that of mammalian liver.
• 3.The enzyme was localized only in central fat bodies.
• 4.Extracts of other body parts can mimic an enzyme activity because of a degradation of ommochromes in the enzyme test.

     

Effect of hibernation on liver and kidney metabolism in 13-lined ground squirrels

• 1.1. Metabolic rates and adenine nucleotide content of liver and kidney from hibernating ground squirrels were measured and compared to rats to study the biochemical adaptation to hibernation.
• 2.2. High rates of renal and hepatic gluconeogenesis were observed in squirrels, particularly from propionate and glycerol compared to rat.
• 3.3. During hibernation and starvation soluble phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity was increased in both liver and kidney.
• 4.4. Although metabolic rates are decreased during hibernation the results suggest that the enzymic complement is maintained at high activity even during torpor.

     

Kinetic properties of cat liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase

• 1.1. Cat liver microsomes contain the multifunctional enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase.
• 2.2. High specificity was shown for the phosphohydrolase as well as for the transferase activity.
• 3.3. Both activities have high V_max values determined in optimized conditions.
• 4.4. The phosphate transfer with carbamyl-phosphate as a phosphoryl donor and d-glucose as acceptor is consistent with a random mechanism in which the binding of one substrate decreases the enzyme's affinity for the second substrate.

     

Temperature acclimation in respiratory and cytochrome c oxidase activity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• 1.1. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to experimental temperatures of 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36°C for a 4-week period were used to investigate the effect of temperature acclimation on the frequency of opercular movement (FOM), growth and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in heart, liver and muscle.
• 2.2. An exponential relationship between FOM and temperature after the first week (10₁₀ =1.76) disappeared after the second week.
• 3.3. The initially high FOM at temperatures of 30 or 36°C and the low FOM at 18 or 12°C changed over 4 weeks to approach the FOM of fish at 24°C.
• 4.4. This change in the relationship of FOM to temperature from highly dependent to independent appeared to be thermal compensation.
• 5.5. Heart and liver CCO activities were significantly affected by temperature, with the lowest activity at the approximate optimum temperature for growth, 24°C.
• 6.6. Highest CCO activities for heart and liver occurred at both the highest and lowest temperatures.
• 7.7. Among the three tissues, heart CCO activity was generally the highest and most affected by acclimation temperature.
• 8.8. Muscle tissue had the lowest CCO activity and was unaffected by temperature.
• 9.9. The high CCO activity at a cold acclimation of temperature 12°C was probably due to thermal compensation and the high activity at 36°C may have been a result of thermal stress.

     

Effect of methyl methacrylate on mitochondrial function and structure

• 1.1. Treatment of isolated rat liver mitochondria with methyl methacrylate (MM) produced membrane disruption as evidenced by the release of citrate synthase, and changes in the ultrastructure of mitochondria.
• 2.2. At concentration 0.1%, MM uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation as evidenced by stimulation of state 4 respiration supported either by pyruvate plus malate or succinate (+rotenone) and ATP-ase activity in intact mitochondria.
• 3.3. At concentration 1% MM stimulated ATP-ase activity in intact mitochondria and succinate (+rotenone) oxidation at state 4 and was without effect on this substrate oxidation at state 3.
• 4.4. MM inhibited pyruvate plus malate oxidation either at state 3 or in the presence of uncoupling agents.
• 5.5. MM inhibited the NADH oxidase of electron transport particles at a concentration which failed to inhibit either succinic oxidase or the NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity.
• 6.6. The data presented suggest that in the isolated mitochondria MM inhibits NADH oxidation in the vicinity of the rotenone sensitive site of complex I.
• 7.7. The general conclusion is that MM may block an electron transport and to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria. The overall in vitro effect would be to prevent ATP synthesis which could result in cell death under in vivo conditions.

     

In vivo effect of Berenil on rat liver polyamine metabolism

• 1.1. Berenil, administered to rats in vivo, promoted a decrease in liver SAMDC activity, but an increase in ODC and SAT activity.
• 2.2. Its effect on ODC was completely prevented by cycloheximide, that on SAT only partially.
• 3.3. Berenil had no effect on ODC activity in adrenalectomized rats. Adrenergic antagonists counteracted the effect of Berenil on ODC activity.
• 4.4. Polyamine content was increased. The maximum modification was observed for putrescine and N¹-acetylspermidine.

     

Influence of handling and/or anaesthesia on stress response in rainbow trout. Effects on liver primary metabolism

• 1.1. The overall effect of handling, anaesthesia and sham injection on some blood metabolites, liver glycogen and several key enzymes involved in liver carbohydrates and nitrogen metabolism was studied in rainbow trout. In addition, the possible role of anaesthesia (MS222) itself as a stress-inductor or suppressor was also studied.
• 2.2. Stress resulted in hyperglycaemia and initially in liver glycogen depletion, as well as increasing plasma amino acid levels.
• 3.3. Glycogen stores subsequently recovered while amino acid concentration fell.
• 4.4. These changes seemed to correlate with the increased activity of liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase, thus supporting the hypothesis that gluconeogenic flux from amino acids increases in stressed trouts.
• 5.5. Anaesthesia, under the same experimental conditions, did not seem to mediate in stress production, but rather resulted in stress suppression.

     

Human GMP synthetase

• 1.1. The specific activity of GMP synthetase was measured in several human tissues and found to be highest in cultured skin fibroblasts, followed by bone marrow, leukocytes, erythrocytes. placenta, and liver.
• 2.2. The enzyme from fibroblasts was purified approximately 50-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration.
• 3.3. The K_m values were determined to be 4.9μM for XMP, 270μM for ATP. and 340 μM for glutamine.
• 4.4. Ammonium sulfate could replace glutamine as the amino donor but was much less efficient.
• 5.5. The enzyme was specific for ATP as the energy source.
• 6.6. Unlike the calf thymus enzyme, the human enzyme has no requirement for a reduced sulfhydryl compound.
• 7.7. Human GMP synthetase is inhibited by ATP, dATP, azaserine, and hydroxylamine.

     

Carbohydrate metabolism in several tissues of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,is modified during ovarian recrudescence

• 1.1. Several pathways of carbohydrate metabolism were evaluated in three different tissues—liver, gonad and kidney—of a hatchery-reared population of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) which characterised two different stages of their gonadal maturation, i.e. previtellogenesis and established exogenous vitellogenesis.
• 2.2. A fall in liver glycogen levels was observed during exogenous vitellogenesis. A decrease in activity of the enzymes involved in glycolysis and in the pentose phosphate shunt was also observed, suggesting that at the end of exogenous vitellogenesis the necessity of energy and reducing power has decreased compared to the situation at the onset of this period.
• 3.3. The main changes observed in gonad during vitellogenesis were the decreased activity of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate shunt as well as increased glycogen levels. The stored glycogen should be used later in association with the embryo development.
• 4.4. No major changes were observed in kidney metabolism throughout the vitellogenic process.
• 5.5. Exogenous vitellogenesis in rainbow trout is mainly associated with increased glycogen levels in the gonad and decreased metabolic activity in the liver.

     

Supply of polyenoic fatty acids to the mammalian brain: The ease of conversion of the short-chain essential fatty acids to their longer chain polyunsaturated metabolites in liver,brain, placenta and blood

The metabolism of linoleic and linolenic acids to the longer polyunsaturated fatty acids of mammalian brain is discussed. Differences in metabolic activity are considered between tissues, between species, and during different stages of development. Available evidence suggests that:

• 1.1. The sites of metabolism are confined mainly to liver and the brain itself.
• 2.2. The similar metabolic pathways are subject to a complex control which is most effective at the first step in the sequence.
• 3.3. During early development there are reciprocal changes in the metabolic capacity of brain and liver.
• 4.4. Metabolic activity varies between species and may be absent in obligate carnivores.

     

DNase-I-like enzyme from the carp liver—Inhibition by muscle and endogenous actin

• 1.1. DNase-I-like activity occurs in the carp (Cyprinus carpio) liver cytosol (supernatant 105,000g).
• 2.2. The enzyme resembles DNase I from bovine pancreas in respect to the molecular mass (~31 kDa), pH (7.4) and ion requirements (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) and the ability to degrade native as well as denatured DNA.
• 3.3. As judged by comparison of DNase zymograms obtained after native- and SDS-PAGE, the enzyme occurs in the three molecular forms of similar molecular weight and different charges.
• 4.4. All these forms are inhibited by rabbit skeletal muscle actin as well as by endogenous actin isolated from the carp liver cytosol.
• 5.5. DNase from the carp liver cytosol does not interact with the antibodies directed against DNase I from bovine pancreas and against DNase I from the rat and bovine parotid glands.

     

Purification and characterization of monkey albumin and proalbumin

• 1.1. Albumin purified from rhesus monkey (MSA) shows immunological cross-reactivity with human serum albumin (HSA) by RIA.
• 2.2. The amino-terminal sequence of MSA shows a high degree of homology to HSA.
• 3.3. Thirty minutes after injection of radioactive leucine directly into the portal vein, albumin was purified chemically from the liver, kidneys and serum.
• 4.4. At this time, 15% of the label was incorporated into liver homogenate protein.
• 5.5. A highly labelled immunoreactive albumin form was purified from liver to constant specific radioactivity and separated from tissue and serum albumin.
• 6.6. The specific radioactivity of this proalbumin was 36-times higher than the specific radioactivity of albumin in liver tissue.
• 7.7. These similarities to HSA suggest that this non human primate species can serve as a useful model of human albumin synthesis in vivo.

     

Transamination and transsulphuration of l-cysteine in ehrlich ascites tumor cells and mouse liver: The nonenzymatic reaction of l-cysteine with pyruvate

• 1.1. The activity of cysteine aminotransferase (CAT), 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) and rhodanese is much lower in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) than in mouse liver.
• 2.2. Contrary to mouse liver homogenate, no synthesis of sulphane sulphur-containing compounds from L-cysteine is observed in EATC homogenate.
• 3.3. 2-Methyl-thiazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (CP), 2-methyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (CA) and thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (CF) can be used as sources of low molecular-weight thiol compounds both in EATC and mouse liver homogenate.
• 4.4. Pyruvate formed from phosphoenolopyruvate (PEP) in EATC homogenates reacts with L-cysteine (l-CYS) to CP.

     

Ca2+-dependent stimulation of muscle and liver phosphorylase kinase by heparin

• 1.1. Heparin stimulates the activity of nonactivated and activated skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner.
• 2.2. The stimulatory effect of heparin on the activity of nonactivated phosphorylase kinase is also expressed in the presence of calmodulin and glycogen. Heparin acted in synergism with glycogen.
• 3.3. Heparin increases the affinity of phosphorylase kinase to Ca²⁺ 5–12 fold depending upon the activation conditions.
• 4.4. Ca²⁺ influences the stimulation of liver phosphorylase kinase by heparin in a similar way.