Nitrogen Fixation and Allantoin Formation in Soybean Plants

The activity of nitrogenase and the concentration of ammonia and allantoin (+ allantoic acid) in root nodules were measured throughout the growth period of soybean plants. Nitrogenase activity measured by acetylene reduction increased with plant growth and reached a maximum level at the flowering period. The level of ammonia and allantoin concentration in nodules was parallel with increased nitrogenase activity. At the late reproductive stage (pod-forming period), nitrogenase activity showed a marked decrease, but the ammonia and allantoin in the nodules remained at a constant level. Detached nodules from 56 day-old soybean plants were exposed to ¹⁵N₂ gas, and the distribution of ¹⁵N among nitrogen compounds was investigated. Enrichment of ¹⁵N in allantoin and allantoic acid reached a fairly high level after 90 min of nitrogen fixation; ca. 22% of ¹⁵N in acid-soluble nitrogen compounds was incorporated into allantoin + allantoic acid. In contrast, enrichment of ¹⁵N in amide nitrogen was relatively low. No significant ¹⁵N was detected in the RNA fraction. The data suggested that ureide formation in nitrogen-fixing root nodules did not take place through the breakdown of nucleic acids, but directly associated with the assimilating system of biologically fixed nitrogen.     

Arginine metabolism in developing soybean cotyledons : I. Relationship to nitrogen nutrition

The free and protein amino acid composition of Glycine max (L.) Merrill cotyledons was determined for the entire developmental period using high performance liquid chromatography. Arginine constituted 18% of the total protein nitrogen throughout development, and there was a linear arginine nitrogen accumulation rate of 1212 nanomoles per cotyledon per day between 16 and 58 days after anthesis. Arginine and asparagine were major constituents of the free amino acid pool, constituting 14 to 62% and 2 to 41% of the total free amino acid nitrogen, respectively. The urea cycle intermediates, citrulline, ornithine, and argininosuccinate were also detected in the free pool. A comparison of the amino acid composition of cotyledonary protein and of seedcoat exudate suggested that 72% of the cotyledon's arginine requirement is satisfied by in situ biosynthesis, and that 20% of the transformed nitrogen is incorporated into arginine. Also, [1-¹⁴C]glutamate and [U-¹⁴C]glutamine were fed to excised cotyledons. After 4 hours, ¹⁴C was incorporated into protein and released as ¹⁴CO₂, but none was incorporated into the C-1 and C-6 positions of free and protein arginine, determined using arginine-specific enzyme-linked assays. It is not currently known whether arginine biosynthesis in the cotyledon involves glutamate delivered from the mother plant or glutamate derived in situ.     

Metabolism and translocation of allantoin in ureide-producing grain legumes

Transfer of the nitrogen and carbon of allantoin to amino acids and protein of leaflets, stems and petioles, apices, peduncles, pods, and seeds of detached shoots of nodulated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. cv. Caloona) plants was demonstrated following supply of [2-¹⁴C], [1,3-¹⁵N]allantoin in the transpiration stream. Throughout vegetative and reproductive growth all plant organs showed significant ureolytic activity and readily metabolized [2-¹⁴C]allantoin to ¹⁴CO₂. A metabolic pathway for ureide nitrogen utilization via allantoic acid, urea, and ammonia was indicated. Levels of ureolytic activity in extracts from leaves and roots of nodulated cowpea were consistently maintained at higher levels than in non-nodulated, NO₃⁻ grown plants.

[¹⁴C]Ureides were recovered in extracts of aphids (Aphis craccivora and Macrosiphum euphorbieae) feeding at different sites on cowpea plants supplied with [2-¹⁴C]allantoin through the transpiration stream or to the upper surface of single leaflets. The data indicated that the ureides were effectively transferred from xylem or leaf mesophyll to phloem, and then translocated in phloem to fruits, apices, and roots.

     

N]NMR determination of asparagine and glutamine nitrogen utilization for synthesis of storage protein in developing cotyledons of soybean in culture

Solid-state [¹⁵N]NMR was used to measure the use of the amide and amino nitrogens of glutamine and asparagine for synthesis of storage protein in cotyledons of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Elf) in culture. No major discrimination in the incorporation of the amide or amino nitrogens of glutamine into protein is apparent, but the same nitrogens of asparagine are used with a degree of specificity. During the first seven days in culture with asparagine as the sole nitrogen source, the amino nitrogen donates approximately twice as much nitrogen to protein as does the amide nitrogen. The use of the amide nitrogen increases with longer periods of culture. The reduced use of the amide nitrogen was confirmed by its early appearance as ammonium in the culture medium. The amide nitrogen of asparagine was found at all times to be an essential precursor for protein because of its appearance in protein in residues whose nitrogens were not supplied by the amino nitrogen. In addition, methionine sulfoximine inhibited growth completely on asparagine, indicating that some ammonium assimilation is essential for storage protein synthesis. These results indicate that in a developing cotyledon, a transaminase reaction is of major importance in the utilization of asparagine for synthesis of storage protein and that, at least in the early stages of cotyledon development, reduced activities of ammonium-assimilating enzymes in the cotyledon tissue or in other tissues of the seed or pod may be a limiting factor in the use of asparagine-amide nitrogen.     

Probable site of allantoin formation in nodulating soybean plants

Nodulated soybean plants contain high concentration of allantoin in all parts. Excision of nodules from the roots brought about a marked decrease in allantoin. To examine the function of nodules in allantoin production, nodulated and nodule-detached soybeans were fed with ¹⁵NH₃ for 1 week. High abundance of ¹⁵N was found in the amino acid-N fraction of both plants. In the root and stem of the nodulated plants, ca 80% of the nitrogen in this fraction was derived from the NH₃ added in the medium. Excess ¹⁵N was detected also in allantoin-N fraction, but the ¹⁵N content was very low in contrast to that in amino acid-N fraction. The site involved in the allantoin formation and the possible significance of its synthesis are discussed in relation to symbiotic nitrogen fixation.     

Metabolism of nitrate and ammonium in seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies) measured by in vivo 14N and 15N NMR spectroscopy

In vivo ¹⁵N and ¹⁴N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the assimilation of nitrate and ammonium in seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). The main objective was to study accumulation of free NH+₄ and examine to what extent the nitrogen source affects the composition of the free amino acid pools in roots, stems and needles. NH+₄ concentrations in plants growing in the presence of 0.5–50 mM ammonium were quantified using ¹⁴N NMR. The NH+₄ values in tissues ranged from 6 to 46 μmol (g fresh weight)^?1. with highest concentrations in roots and needles. The tissue NH+₄ peaked at 5.0 mM NH+₄ in the medium. and failed to increase when NH+₄ in the medium was increased to 50 mM, indicating metabolic control of the concentration of this cation in tissues. The ¹⁴N NMR spectra were used to estimate pH of the NH+₄ storage pools. Based on the pH sensitivity of the quintet of ¹⁴NH+₄ resonance, we suggest that the pH of the ammonium storage compartments in the roots and stems should be 3.7–3.8, and in needles 3.4–3.5, representing extremely low pH values of the tissue. ¹⁵N from nitrate or ammonium was first incorporated into the amide group of glutamine and then into α-amino groups, confirming that the glutamine synthetase/ glutamate synthase cycle is the major route of nitrogen assimilation into amino acids and thus plays a role in lowering the levels of NH+₄ in the cytoplasm. NH+₄ can also be assimilated in roots in plants growing in darkness. The main ¹⁵N-labelled amino acids were glutamine. arginine and alanine. Almost no ¹⁵N signals from needles were observed. Double labelling (δN + w, wN) of arginine is consistent with the operation of the ornithine cycle, and enrichment indicates that this cycle is a major sink of newly assimilated nitrogen. Nitrogen assimilation in roots in the presence of added methionine sulphoximine and glutamate indicated the catabolic action of glutamate dehydrogenase. The ¹⁵N NMR spectra of plants grown on ¹⁵N-urea showed a marked increase in the labelling of ammonium and glutamine. indicating high urease activity. Amino acids were also quantified using high pressure liquid chromatography. Arginine was found to be an important transport form of nitrogen in the stem.     

Metabolic fate of guanosine in higher plants

The aim of the present study was to investigate the metabolic fate of guanine nucleotides in higher plants. The rate of uptake of [8-¹⁴C]guanosine by suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells was more than 20 times higher than that of [8-¹⁴C]guanine. The rate of uptake of [8-¹⁴C]guanosine increased with the age of the culture. Pulse-chase experiments with [8-¹⁴C]guanosine revealed that some of the guanosine that had been taken up by the cells was converted to guanine nucleotides and incorporated into nucleic acids. A significant amount of [8-¹⁴C]guanosine was degraded directly to xanthine, allantoin and allantoic acid, with the generation of ¹⁴CO₂ as the final product. The rate of salvage of [8-¹⁴C]guanosine for the synthesis of nucleic acids was highest in young cells, while the rate of degradation increased with the age of the cells. In segments of roots from Vigna mungo seedlings, nearly 50% of the [8-¹⁴C]guanosine that had been absorbed over the course of 15 min was recovered in guanine nucleotides. A significant amount of the radioactivity in nucleotides became associated with nucleic acids and ureides during ‘chase’ periods. In segments of young leaves of Camellia sinensis, [8-¹⁴C]guanosine was initially incorporated into guanine nucleotides, nucleic acids, theobromine and ureides, and the radioactivity in these compounds was transferred to caffeine and CO₂ during a 24-h incubation. Our results suggest that guanosine is an intermediate in the catabolism of guanine nucleotides and that it is re-utilised for nucleotide synthesis by ‘salvage’ reactions. Guanosine was catabolised by the conventional degradation pathway via xanthine and allantoin. In some plants, guanosine is also utilised for the formation of ureide or the biosynthesis of caffeine.     

Asparagine formation in soybean nodules

¹⁵NH₄⁺ and [¹⁵N](amide)-glutamine externally supplied to detached nodules from soybean plants (cv. Tamanishiki) were incorporated within nodule tissues by vacuum infiltration and metabolized to various nitrogen compounds during 60 minutes of incubation time. In the case of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ - feeding, the ¹⁵N abundance ratio was highest in the amide nitrogen of glutamine, followed by glutamate and the amide nitrogen of asparagine. In ¹⁵N content (micrograms excess ¹⁵N), the amide nitrogen of asparagine was most highly enriched after 60 minutes. ¹⁵NH₄⁺ was also appreciably assimilated into alanine.     

Utilization of Nitrogen Sources by Immature Soybean Cotyledons in Culture

Immature Glycine max (L.) Merrill cotyledons were cultured ina defined medium containing different nitrogen sources. Glutaminewas the most efficient source in terms of protein accumulationin the cotyledons. Asparagine was less efficient (about 70 percent that of glutamine) while allantoin was a poor source ofnitrogen. This was also true for older cotyledons where asparaginaseand allantoinase activities were maximal. The utilization ofboth asparagine and allantoin (but not glutamine) was totallyinhibited by methionine sulfoximine suggesting that their metabolisminvolves ammonia assimilation via glutamine synthetase. Apparently,neither exogenous or endogenously-generated ammonia had mucheffect on glutamine utilization, but ammonia did have a smallinhibitory effect on asparagine, which may in part account forthe lower efficiency observed with this amide. Glycine max, soybean, cotyledon culture, nitrogen metabolism     

Initial Organic Products of Fixation of [N]Dinitrogen by Root Nodules of Soybean (Glycine max)

When detached soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Hark, nodules assimilate [¹³N]N₂, the initial organic product of fixation is glutamine; glutamate becomes more highly radioactive than glutamine within 1 minute; ¹³N in alanine becoms detectable at 1 minute of fixation and increases rapidly between 1 and 2 minutes. After 15 minutes of fixation, the major ¹³N-labeled organic products in both detached and attached nodules are glutamate and alanine, plus, in the case of attached nodules, an unidentified substance, whereas [¹³N]glutamine comprises only a small fraction of organic ¹³N, and very little ¹³N is detected in asparagine. The fixation of [¹³N]N₂ into organic products was inhibited more than 99% by C₂H₂ (10%, v/v). The results support the idea that the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway is the primary route for assimilation of fixed nitrogen in soybean nodules.     

Allantoin and Allantoic Acid in the Nitrogen Economy of the Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

The ureides, allantoin and allantoic acid, represented major fractions of the soluble nitrogen pool of nodulated plants of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp. cv. Caloona) throughout vegetative and reproductive growth. Stem and petioles were the principal sites of ureide accumulation, especially in early fruiting.

Labeling studies using ¹⁴CO₂ and ¹⁵N₂ and incubation periods of 25 to 245 minutes indicated that synthesis of allantoin and allantoic acid in root nodules involved currently delivered photosynthate and recently fixed N, and that the ureides were exported from nodule to shoot via the xylem. From 60 to 80% of xylem-borne N consisted of ureides; the remainder was glutamine, asparagine, and amino acids. Allantoin predominated in the soluble N fraction of nodules and fruits, allantoin and allantoic acid were present in approximately equal proportions in xylem exudate, stems, and petioles.

Extracts of the plant tissue fraction of nitrogen-fixing cowpea nodules contained glutamate synthase (EC 2.6.1.53) and glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2), but little activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3). High levels of uricase (EC 1.7.3.3) and allantoinase (EC 3.5.2.5) were also detected. Allantoinase but little uricase was found in extracts of leaflets, pods, and seeds.

Balance sheets were constructed for production, storage, and utilization of ureide N during growth. Virtually all (average 92%) of the ureides exported from roots was metabolized on entering the shoot, the compounds being presumably used as N sources for protein synthesis.

     

Initial organic products of assimilation of [N]ammonium and [N]nitrate by tobacco cells cultured on different sources of nitrogen

Glutamine is the first major organic product of assimilation of ¹³NH₄⁺ by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) cells cultured on nitrate, urea, or ammonium succinate as the sole source of nitrogen, and of ¹³NO₃⁻ by tobacco cells cultured on nitrate. The percentage of organic ¹³N in glutamate, and subsequently, alanine, increases with increasing periods of assimilation. ¹³NO₃⁻, used for the first time in a study of assimilation of nitrogen, was purified by new preparative techniques. During pulse-chase experiments, there is a decrease in the percentage of ¹³N in glutamine, and a concomitant increase in the percentage of ¹³N in glutamate and alanine. Methionine sulfoximine inhibits the incorporation of ¹³N from ¹³NH₄⁺ into glutamine more extensively than it inhibits the incorporation of ¹³N into glutamate, with cells grown on any of the three sources of nitrogen. Azaserine inhibits glutamate synthesis extensively when ¹³NH₄⁺ is fed to cells cultured on nitrate. These results indicate that the major route for assimilation of ¹³NH₄⁺ is the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway, and that glutamate dehydrogenase also plays a role, but a minor one. Methionine sulfoximine inhibits the incorporation of ¹³N from ¹³NO₃⁻ into glutamate more strongly than it inhibits the incorporation of ¹³N into glutamine, suggesting that the assimilation of ¹³NH₄⁺ derived from ¹³NO₃⁻ may be mediated solely by the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway.     

Nitrogen Incorporation into Lignite Humic Acids during Microbial Degradation

Previous study showed that nitrogen content in lignite humic acids (HA) increased significantly during lignite biodegradation. In this paper we evaluated the factors responsible for the increased level of N in HA and the formation of new nitrogen compound following microbial degradation. When the ammonium sulfate concentration in lignite medium was < 0.5%, the N-content in HA was higher than that in the crude lignite humic acid (cHA); when the ammonium sulfate concentration was ≥ 0.5%, both the biodegraded humic acid (bHA) N-content and the content of bHA in lignite increased significantly, but at 2.0% no increase was observed. This indicated that HA incorporated N existing in the lignite medium, and more HA can incorporate more N with the increase of bHA amount in lignite during microbial degradation. CP/MAS ¹⁵N NMR analysis showed that the N incorporated into HA during biotransformation was in the form of free or ionized NH₂-groups in amino acids and sugars, as well as NH₄ ⁺. We propose nitrogen can be incorporated into HA biotically and abiotically. The high N content bHA has a potential application in agriculture since N is essential for plant growth.     

[15N] leucine as a source of [15N] glutamate in organotypic cerebellar explants

Approximately 26.0% of the [¹⁵N] glutamate and [alpha ¹⁵N] glutamine formed in organotypic cerebellar explants was derived from [¹⁵N] leucine. Approximately 14.0% of the ¹⁵NH₃ and [amide ¹⁵N] glutamine synthesized came from leucine nitrogen. Another 4.0% of the alpha nitrogen of both glutamate and glutamine was derived from [¹⁵N] valine. These results suggest that branched-chain amino acids, particularly leucine, may be important for the synthesis of glutamic acid by the brain.     

Inhibition of Astrocyte Glutamine Production by α-Ketoisocaproic Acid

Abstract: We have evaluated the effect of α-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC), the ketoacid of leucine, on the production of glutamine by cultured astrocytes. We used ¹⁵NH₄Cl as a metabolic tracer to measure the production of both [5-¹⁵N]glutamine, reflecting amidation of glutamate via glutamine synthetase, and [2-¹⁵N]glutamine, representing the reductive amination of 2-oxoglutarate via glutamate dehydrogenase and subsequent conversion of [¹⁵N]-glutamate to [2-¹⁵N]glutamine. Addition of KIC (1 mM) to the medium diminished the production of [5-¹⁵N]glutamine and stimulated the formation of [2-¹⁵N]glutamine with the overall result being a significant inhibition of net glutamine synthesis. An external KIC concentration as low as 0.06 mM inhibited synthesis of [5-¹⁵N]glutamine and a level as low as 0.13 mM enhanced labeling (atom% excess) of [2-¹⁵N]glutamine. Higher concentrations of KIC in the medium had correspondingly larger effects. The presence of KIC in the medium did not affect flux through glutaminase, which was measured using [2-¹⁵N]glutamine as a tracer. Nor did KIC inhibit the activity of glutamine synthetase that was purified from sheep brain. Addition of KIC to the medium caused no increased release of lactate dehydrogenase from the astrocytes, suggesting that the ketoacid was not toxic to the cells. KIC treatment was associated with an approximately twofold increase in the formation of ¹⁴CO₂ from [U-¹⁴C]glutamate, indicating that transamination of glutamate with KIC increases intraastrocytic α-ketoglutarate, which is oxidized in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. KIC inhibited glutamine synthesis more than any other ketoacid tested, with the exception of hydroxypyruvate. The data indicate that KIC diminishes flux through glutamine synthetase by lowering the intraastrocytic glutamate concentration below the K_m of glutamine synthetase for glutamate, which we determined to be ～7 mM.     

N- and [C]NMR determination of utilization of glycine for synthesis of storage protein in the presence of glutamine in developing cotyledons of soybean

Solid-state ¹⁵N- and [¹³C] NMR have been used to measure quantitatively the utilization of glycine in the presence of glutamine for the synthesis of storage protein in immature cotyledons of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Elf) in culture. The presence of an equal molar amount of glycine in the medium causes a decrease in the use of glutamine-amide nitrogen. Glycine nitrogen is incorporated extensively into peptide bonds (in amounts greater than what would be expected if it appeared solely in glycine residues), but is used sparingly for synthesis of histidine ring residues, guanidino nitrogen residues of arginine, and lysine residues. The modest use of glycine carbon in protein synthesis does not parallel the use of glycine nitrogen.     

Evidence for a relationship between malate metabolism and activity of 1-sinapoylglucose: L-malate sinapoyltransferase in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cotyledons

The control of malate metabolism and stimulation of 1-sinapolyglucose: L-malate sinapoyltransferase (SMT) activity in radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus) cotyledons has been studied. The light-induced and nitrate-dependent activity of SMT catalyzes the formation of O-sinapoly-L-malate via 1-O-sinapoyl--D-glucose. When dark-grown radish seedlings, cultivated in quartz sand with nutrient solution containing NO ₃ ^- as the sole N source, were treated with light, SMT activity increased concomitantly with free malate in the cotyledons. This light effect was suppressed in seedlings grown in a culture medium which contained in addition to NO ₃ ^- also NH ₄ ⁺ . However, treatment with methionine sulfoximine neutralized this ammonium effect, resulting again in both rapid accumulation of malate and rapid increase in SMT activity. When seedlings grown on NO ₃ ^- nitrogen were subsequently supplied with NH ₄ ⁺ nitrogen, the accumulated level of L-malate rapidly dropped and the SMT increase ceased. The enzyme activity decreased later on, reaching the low activity level of plants which were grown permanently on NO ₃ ^- /NH ₄ ⁺ -nitrogen. An external supply (vacuum infiltration) of malate to excised cotyledons and intact seedings, grown on NO ₃ ^- /NH ₄ ⁺ -nitrogen medium, specifically promoted a dose-dependent increase in the activity of SMT. In summary these results provide evidence indicating that the SMT activity in cotyledons of Raphanus sativus might be related to the metabolism of malic acid.Abbreviation MSO L-methionine sulfoximine - SinGlc 1-O-sinapoyl--D-glucose - SinMal O-sinapoyl-L-malate - SMT 1-O-sinapoyl--D-glucose:L-malate sinapolytransferase     

Incorporation of nitrate nitrogen in rice seedlings transferred to anaerobic conditions

Summary Incorporation of¹⁵NO₃- into amino acids was studied in 3-day-old aerobic rice seedlings (with coleoptile and root) subjected for 24h to anaerobic conditions. The incorporation of¹⁵N into glutamate, glutamine and alanine accounted for 89% and 84% of total incorporation in coleoptile and root, respectively. These findings indicate that, after the primary incorporation of¹⁵N into glutamate and glutamine, the main fate of nitrate nitrogen in rice seedlings subjected to anoxia is alanine.     

Patterns of [13N]ammonium uptake and assimilation by Frankia HFPArl3

Nitrogen-starved cells of Frankia strain HFPArl3 incorporated [¹³N]-labeled ammonium into glutamine serine (glutamate, alanine, aspartate), after five-minute radioisotope exposures. High initial endogenous pools of glutamate were reduced, while total glutamine increased, during short term NH _inf4 ^sup+ incubation. Preincubation of cells in methionine sulfoximine (MSX) resulted in [¹³N]glutamine reduced by more than 80%, while [¹³N]glutamate and [¹³N]alanine levels increased. The results suggest that glutamine synthetase is the primary enzyme of ammonium assimilation, and that glutamate dehydrogenase and alanine dehydrogenase may also function in ammonium assimilation at low levels. Efflux of [¹³N]serine and lesser amounts of [¹³N]glutamine was detected from the Frankia cells. The identity of both Ser and Gln in the extracellular compartment was confirmed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Serine efflux may be of significance in nitrogen transfer in Frankia.Abbreviations Pthr phosphothreonine - Aad -amino-adipate - MSX methionine sulfoximine     

The Role of Glutamine Synthetase and Glutamate Dehydrogenase in Cerebral Ammonia Homeostasis

In the brain, glutamine synthetase (GS), which is located predominantly in astrocytes, is largely responsible for the removal of both blood-derived and metabolically generated ammonia. Thus, studies with [¹³N]ammonia have shown that about 25?% of blood-derived ammonia is removed in a single pass through the rat brain and that this ammonia is incorporated primarily into glutamine (amide) in astrocytes. Major pathways for cerebral ammonia generation include the glutaminase reaction and the glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) reaction. The equilibrium position of the GDH-catalyzed reaction in vitro favors reductive amination of α-ketoglutarate at pH 7.4. Nevertheless, only a small amount of label derived from [¹³N]ammonia in rat brain is incorporated into glutamate and the α-amine of glutamine in vivo. Most likely the cerebral GDH reaction is drawn normally in the direction of glutamate oxidation (ammonia production) by rapid removal of ammonia as glutamine. Linkage of glutamate/α-ketoglutarate-utilizing aminotransferases with the GDH reaction channels excess amino acid nitrogen toward ammonia for glutamine synthesis. At high ammonia levels and/or when GS is inhibited the GDH reaction coupled with glutamate/α-ketoglutarate-linked aminotransferases may, however, promote the flow of ammonia nitrogen toward synthesis of amino acids. Preliminary evidence suggests an important role for the purine nucleotide cycle (PNC) as an additional source of ammonia in neurons (Net reaction: l-Aspartate?+?GTP?+?H₂O?→?Fumarate?+?GDP?+?P_i?+?NH₃) and in the beat cycle of ependyma cilia. The link of the PNC to aminotransferases and GDH/GS and its role in cerebral nitrogen metabolism under both normal and pathological (e.g. hyperammonemic encephalopathy) conditions should be a productive area for future research.