THE GLUTAMATE AND GLUTAMINE CONTENT OF RAT BRAIN AFTER PORTOCAVAL ANASTOMOSIS

Abstract— Rats have been subjected to portocaval anastomosis and the ammonium ion in plasma and the glutamate and glutamine levels in plasma, red cells and brain have been estimated up to 6 weeks after operation. The glutamine, but not the glutamate, levels in brain were consistently raised, being about 2.5 times greater than normal and the level can be correlated with the level of plasma ammonium ion. Consideration is given to the possibility that the glutamine may be in the greatly enlarged neuroglial compartment in this abnormal metabolic state.     

THE EFFECTS OF HYPERKETONEMIA ON GLUTAMATE AND GLUTAMINE METABOLISM IN DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN

Abstract— The effect of increased exposure to ketone bodies in the developing rat brain suggest that intrauterine and postnatal hyperketonemia lead to an altered metabolism of glutamine and glutamate. It is postulated that this effect is related to the delayed development of glutaminase ( l -glutamine amido-hydrolase EC 3.5.1.2) and glutamate dehydrogenase ( l -glutamate: NAD oxidoreductase EC 1.4.1.2).
The specific activities of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutaminase and glutamine synthetase ( l -glutamate: ammonia ligase EC 6.3.1.2) in the brains of newborn rats increased during early development. A positive correlation was observed between the specific activity of glutaminase and the concentration of glutamate in the brain as well as between the concentrations of blood and brain glutamine and glutamate in both control and hyperketonemic pups. This indicates a different degree of permeability and metabolism for glutamine and glutamate in the brain during the neonatal period, as compared to adulthood.
In hyperketonemic pups, glutamine and glutamate metabolism were found to differ from that in control animals. The concentrations of glutamate were higher, and glutamine lower, in both the blood and brain as compared to that in controls. The concentrations of α-ketoglutarate were also lower in their brain. In the brains of hyperketonemic and control pups, the concentration of malate was the same. During the first 3 weeks of life the increase of spec. act. of GDH and glutaminase was found to be suppressed in the brains of hyperketonemic pups. However, the spec. act. of glutamine synthetase was similar to that of the control pups.     

谷氨酰胺对大鼠海马脑片谷氨酸递质释放的影响

在以前的工作中我们观察到 ,饲料中补充谷氨酰胺 (Ｇｌｎ)可使大鼠脑组织中Ｇｌｎ和谷氨酸 (Ｇｌｕ)含量升高 ,并引起一系列代谢和功能的改变。当脑组织处于丰富的Ｇｌｎ环境中时 ,Ｇｌｕ等兴奋性氨基酸的释放是否会受到影响呢 ?由于条件所限 ,在整体无法观察这一过程 ,但离体脑片为我们提供了一个较为理想的研究方法。本实验通过对离体海马脑片进行孵育 ,观察Ｇｌｎ对Ｇｌｕ递质释放的影响 ,从而进一步探讨Ｇｌｎ的中枢作用机制。1　材料与方法(1)人工脑脊液 (ＡＣＳＦ)的配制　所用标准ＡＣＳＦ的配方为 (ｍｍｏｌ/Ｌ) :ＮａＣｌ 12 4,Ｋ…     

THE FORMATION OF GLUTAMATE, ASPARTATE AND GABA IN THE RAT RETINA; GLUCOSE AND GLUTAMINE AS PRECURSORS

Abstract— The distribution of the neuroactive amino acids taurine, GABA, glycine, glutamate and aspartate, together with glutamine, have been studied in the rat retina. Peak levels of taurine were found in photoreceptor cells and of GABA and glycine in a retinal fraction enriched in amacrine cells and, synaptic terminals. In vitro , GABA formation from [³H]glutamine and [¹⁴C]glucose was also most prominent in this fraction; at 500 μ m [³H]glutamine was the better precursor.
Observations on metabolism in the photoreceptor cell layer of the tissue suggest an active turnover of glutamate, aspartate and GABA, and show that glutamine may serve as an alternative substrate to glucose here, perhaps via the GABA bypath.     

ISOACCEPTOR tRNAs FOR GLUTAMATE, GLUTAMINE, ASPARTATE AND ASPARAGINE IN CALF BRAIN

Abstract— Glutamyl, glutaminyl. aspartyl and asparaginyl tRNAs of calf brain were analysed by reverse phase chromatography for isoacceptor tRNAs. The radioactivity profiles revealed two peaks for gluta-mate. three for glutamine, two for aspartate and one for asparagine. Comparison of brain tRNAs with tRNAs from other sources showed that glutamate and aspartate tRNAs of brain closely resembled a majority of other tRNAs in the number and relative abundance of isoacceptors. Glutamine and asparagine tRNAs from different sources exhibited more marked differences.     

QUANTITATIVE ISOLATION AND PROPERTIES OF NEARLY HOMOGENEOUS POPULATIONS OF UNDEGRADED FREE AND BOUND POLYSOMES FROM RAT BRAIN1

Abstract— A procedure is described for the preparation of free and bound polysomes from whole homogenate of rat brain tissue. Brain is homogenized in a sucrose-polysome buffer medium high in KCl (250 mm). After a 12-min centrifugation at 135,000 g, the free polysomes in the supernatant are decanted and saved, while the membrane bound polysomes in the pellet are resuspended in homogenizing medium, homogenized in the presence of detergent (Triton X-100), centrifuged for 5min at 1470 g to remove nuclei, decanted, treated with deoxycholate and centrifuged for 10 min at 24,000 g to remove deoxycholate-insoluble material. Polysomes in the two supernatants are harvested by centrifugation through sucrose gradients prepared in high KCl polysome buffer, and with or without cell sap. Free and bound polysomes prepared in this manner are undegraded, equally active in cell-free protein synthesis, and largely free of the usual contaminants. Cross-contamination is minimal (>10%). The recovery of polysomes is at least 95%. The distribution of ribosomes and polysomes in rat brain is 58% free and 42% membrane-bound. The distribution of rat brain RNA is 65% ribosomal and 35% non-ribosomal. Conditions are described for the visualization and analysis of the entire complement of free and bound ribosomes. The size fractionation procedure is rapid and reproducible, requires much less ultracentrifugation than the density-gradient technique, and provides a nearly quantitative means of isolating undegraded free and bound polysomes of rat brain tissue.     

A METHOD FOR THE ISOLATION AND ESTIMATION OF GABA, GLUTAMATE AND GLUTAMINE FROM COMPLEX MIXTURES BY A COMBINATION OF ENZYMIC INTERCONVERSION AND FORMATION OF 1-DIMETHYLAMINONAPHTHALENE-5-SULPHONYLBUTYROLACTAM

Abstract— A method is presented which allows the isolation and estimation of GABA, glutamate and glutamine in extracts of nervous tissue. It depends on the enzymic conversion of the last two compounds to GABA, before isolating the GABA as DNS-γ-butyrolactam. The low polarity of this compound makes this possible without the use of chromatography. Furthermore, the specific radioactivities of these 3 compounds in a complex mixture may be found without elaborate separation procedures. Details are given of optimum reaction conditions, and comparisons made with other methods of estimation of these amino acids.     

NaCl对水稻谷氨酸合酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶的胁迫作用

在ＮａＣｌ的胁迫下,水稻幼苗根和叶的谷氨酸合酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶的活性随着营养液中的ＮａＣｌ浓度的升高而降低;游离ＮＨ４＾＋在叶中积累,在根中未见明显变化。与根相比,叶对ＮａＣｌ的胁迫作用更为敏感。叶的ＮＡＤＨ－ＧＯＧＡＴ和ＮＡＤＨ－ＧＤＨ活性在ＮａＣｌ胁迫降低的程度明显大于根。无论是否有ＮａＣｌ存在,根的ＮＡＤＨ－ＧＤＨ活性明显高于叶。ＧＳ／ＧＤＨ比值分析提示,对对照下,根中的ＮＨ４＾存在,根的ＮＡ     

EFFECTS OF EXCITATION AND ANAESTHESIA ON THE GLUTAMINE CONTENT OF THE RAT BRAIN WITH A REFERENCE TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF GLUTAMINE

Abstract— A study of the factors affecting the ghtamine content in brain of rats showed that it was significantly decreased by intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline and by the stimulus of decapitation. It fell markedly at the stage of delirium (excitement) of pentobarbitone sodium anaesthesia and returned to the original value in light and deep surgical anaesthesia; after pentylenetetrazol injection the glutamine content showed a tendency to decrease but this change was only significant in relation to its post-saline level when the convulsant and 0.9 % NaCl were given to lightly-anaesthetized animals.
The i.p. administration of glutamine temporarily abolished the decrease in its concentration in the brain caused by injection and decapitation but never raised it above the original level. Many rats previously treated with glutamine showed no signs of excitement during the induction period of pentobarbitone sodium anaesthesia, and those which were excited showed a comparatively smaller decrease of brain glutamine content. whereas in the anaesthetic state there was no change in the content of brain glutamine after glutamine had been administered. Pentylenetetrazol given at the dose level of 200 mg/kg, but not at that of 100 mg/kg, resulted in the uptake of the added glutamine by the brain up to its normal concentration. Hence, the added glutamine did not readily enter normal or anaesthetized brain, but did penetrate the hyperactive brain where its level had fallen.
The brain levels of free glutamic and aspartic acids were not affected, in general, by procedures which increased cerebral activity. Glutamate was decreased by deep anaesthesia, whereas aspartate was not significantly altered in any of the conditions which were tested.
The significance of these results in relation to cerebral ammonia metabolism and possible changes of the permeability of the tissue to glutamine in different functional states is discussed.     

水霉(Soprolegnia fer ax)生长菌丝顶端细胞内游离Ca~(2 )和膜结合Ca~(2 )的分布

本文比较和研究了水霉(Saprolegnia ferax)生长菌丝顶端胞内Fluo-3游离Ca~(2 )和CTC膜结合Ca~(2 )的荧光分布影像。激光共焦扫描显微镜下观察可见:Fluo-3荧光有房室化现象,Fluo-3荧光反映的是细胞质游离Ca~(2 )与细胞器游离Ca~(2 )总的分布状况,Fluo-3游离Ca~(2 )的最大荧光强度出现在菌丝顶端2—10μm区域,10μm以后荧光强度逐渐下降,约40μm以后荧光降到很低,值得注意的是菌丝顶端2μm以前存在一个低荧光强度区。CTC膜结合Ca~(2 )的荧光影像显示:pH6.8或8.0的条件下菌丝最顶端2μm以前的区域都不能被染色,但pH8.0条件下的荧光较pH6.8弥散而强烈,代表线粒体的蠕虫状荧光斑点不再能够清晰辨认,说明其它细胞器也被染色,但菌丝顶端仍然不能被着色。结合菌丝顶端DIC和超微结构分析说明,菌丝顶端泡囊不是一个Ca~(2 )库,线粒体和内质网等是菌丝胞内重要的Ca~(2 )库。本文结果还澄清了有关菌丝内细胞质游离Ca~(2 )分布的矛盾报道。     

REACTIONS OF VALONIA AND OF HALICYSTIS TO COLLOIDS

From the results of these tests it is clear that both Halicystis and Valonia have a high degree of tolerance for animal peptone, and a very high degree of tolerance for animal proteose and for egg albumen. The products of bacterial growths fostered by these proteins have a deleterious effect upon both species of algae; but, if it were possible to prevent bacterial growth entirely and at the same time supply proper food, it is probable that Halicystis and Valonia would show normal growth indefinitely in the presence of these three colloids. This is not true where exposure is made to yeast nucleic acid dissolved in sea water containing 0.00093 gm. per cc. of NaOH. Valonia is markedly less tolerant of this medium (perhaps of NaOH rather than the colloid used) than Halicystis. Such differential effects, however, reach a high point in the case of the solutions of diphtheria toxin and of edestin. Halicystis has a very high tolerance for diphtheria toxin, and Valonia a very low tolerance. In the case of edestin, the relationship is reversed. Here Halicystis has a very low tolerance, and Valonia a very high tolerance. In fact, it may be said that diphtheria toxin has no appreciable effect upon Halicystis, and edestin a very slight effect upon Valonia; while diphtheria toxin is extremely toxic to Valonia, and edestin is extremely toxic to Halicystis. We can offer no suggestions, at present, as to the way in which these effects are produced. It is probable that the very thin protoplasmic layer of these species, which is certainly no thicker than 8µ, is sufficient to obstruct the passage of proteins having large molecules, like egg albumen, with a degree of efficiency that is extraordinary. In the tests we have reported, areas of from 20 sq. cm. to 40 sq. cm. have been submitted to the action of a relatively high concentration of egg albumen for several days without permitting the passage of sufficient amounts to give definable tests either with Spiegler''s or with Tanret''s method,— presumably less than 1 part in 250,000. In the tests of the proteins having much smaller molecules (though the size may not be the explanation), there is some probability that the membranes exhibit a little permeability. The peptone and the proteose of animal origin, or biuret-positive substances derived from them, apparently pass the protoplasmic membranes occasionally in quantities sufficient to give biuret tests. The most probable case of protein passage, however, was that of the proteose of the scarlet runner bean, where specific detection of less than 1 part per 80,000 was possible. In this instance the proteose appeared to pass membranes that were healthy and were functioning normally. But since the cells of the algae had to be destroyed in making the tests, one cannot maintain this point. All one can say is that protein passage was indicated in carefully examined cells of both species, where no breaks in the protoplasmic membrane were discernible, and where samples of the treated cells behaved normally after treatment.     

类产碱假单胞菌谷氨酸脱氢酶的纯化和性质

谷氨酸脱氢酶（Ｇｌｕｔａｍａｔｅｄｅｈｙｄｒｏｇｅｎａｓｅ,ＧＤＨ）可逆催化谷氨酸脱氨生成α酮戊二酸和氨,是一种依赖ＮＡＤ（Ｐ）的脱氢酶。其分子形式主要为六聚体或四聚体,大多数ＧＤＨ为六聚体［１］。该酶广泛存在于原核生物和真核生物,在氮、碳代谢的联系方面发挥重要作用。至今已有很多细菌ＧＤＨ得到详细研究［２～４］,但未见类产碱假单胞菌ＧＤＨ的研究报道。本文通过研究类产碱假单胞菌ＧＤＨ的纯化和性质,为揭示该菌的氮、碳代谢机制奠定基础。１　材料和方法１－１　细菌培养液体培养基为含柠檬酸和氯化铵的微量…     

THE PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF RAT BRAIN GLUTAMATE DEHYDROGENASE

—A method is described for the preparation of glutamate dehydrogenase in a highly purified form from rat brain. Only one protein band was detected when the enzyme was subjected to electrophoresis on SDS polyacrylamide gels. The rat brain enzyme was essentially identical to the rat liver enzyme with respect to electrophoresis on SDS polyacrylamide gels, immunochemical properties and most kinetic parameters. However, the brain enzyme was much less reactive with glutamate, was more sensitive to inhibition by haloperidol, and was considerably more stable than the liver enzyme.     

BIOCHEMICAL CORRELATES OF TRANSMISSION MEDIATED BY GLUTAMATE AND ASPARTATE

Abstract— Glutamate and aspartate probably serve as transmitters of hippocampal perforant path and commissural afferents, respectively. We therefore used slices of hippocampal regions to evaluate certain biochemical properties as markers for sites of transmission mediated by these amino acids. In these studies content and accumulation of glutamate and aspartate were compared with their Ca²⁺-dependent effluxes.
Hippocampal regions varied little in their contents of glutamate and aspartate, but slices of regio superior and dentate gyrus accumulated and released more of each than slices of regio inferior. A commissurotomy or bilateral entorhinal lesion altered Ca²⁺-dependent efflux and accumulation in the same direction, but did not affect the glutamate or aspartate content of any hippocampal region. Elimination of hippocampal mossy fibers reduced the Ca²⁺-dependent efflux of glutamate and probably aspartate from slices of dentate gyrus, but not of regio inferior, where most mossy fiber synapses are located. The mossy fibers appeared relatively deficient in aspartate in both strains tested, but only in Purdue-Wistar rats were they enriched in glutamate. Removal of the perforant path input to the fascia dentata did not significantly change the activity of any of the enzymes most actively involved in glutamate synthesis.
These results suggest that accumulation or high affinity transport of glutamate or aspartate can be employed to localize afferents which use these amino acids as transmitters, although it is not so reliable or selective a marker as Ca²⁺-dependent efflux. Enrichment in either glutamate or aspartate content or in the activity of enzymes which synthesize them is not a reliable marker. Neither amino acid is likely to be used as a transmitter by the hippocampal mossy fibers.     

STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF GABA SYNTHESIS: THE INTERACTION OF ADENINE NUCLEOTIDES AND GLUTAMATE WITH BRAIN GLUTAMATE DECARBOXYLASE

The effects of adenine nucleotides and glutamate on glutamate decarboxylase were studied in a dialyzed, high-speed supernatant of rat brain. When incubated with 10 μm -pyridoxal-P the enzyme was strongly inhibited by ATP, ADP and their Mg²⁺ complexes at concentrations which were well below tissue levels. The enzyme was not significantly inhibited by 15 mm -AMP or by 100 μM-3′-5’cyclic AMP or 3′-5’cyclic GMP. Inhibition by the nucleotides cannot be described in conventional steady-state kinetic terms. Addition of ATP in the presence of pyridoxal-P resulted in a slow, progressive decrease in the reaction rate which was similar to the inactivation observed when the enzyme was incubated in the absence of pyridoxal-P. The progressive inactivation in the presence of ATP was minimal at concentrations of glutamate which were well below K_m and became much more pronounced at higher glutamate concentrations. Addition of suprasaturating amounts of pyridoxal-P late in the incubation when the enzyme was almost completely inactivated resulted in an immediate and complete reactivation of the enzyme. Inhibition by ATP could be prevented by addition of saturating amounts of pyridoxal-P at the start of the reaction and was also relieved by addition of potassium phosphate buffer. The results suggest that inhibition by the nucleotides involves the prior formation of the inactive apoenzyme which results from the glutamate-promoted dissociation of pyridoxal-P. In the absence of the nucleotides, the enzyme is normally reactivated by the added pyridoxal-P. The nucleotides act to block this reassociation of pyridoxal-P with the apoenzyme thereby producing a progressive inactivation of the enzyme. The implications of these results for the regulation of GABA synthesis are discussed.