Responses to dietary starch or sucrose on protein and glucose kinetics in goats fed a high-concentrate diet

Responses of whole body protein synthesis (WBPS) and glucose irreversible loss rate (ILR) were compared between dietary starch and sucrose in four male goats. Diets were fed at 1.2 times maintenance requirements of ME and CP with 30% of the ME as starch, starch plus sucrose or sucrose, twice daily. The diets consisted of 33, 32, 11 and 24% of alfalfa hay, corn, soybean meal and the carbohydrates, respectively. The WBPS and glucose ILR during 5-7 h after feeding were determined by an isotope dilution method of [2H5]phenylalanine, [2H2]tyrosine, [2H4]tyrosine and [13C6]glucose. Sucrose elevated ammonia nitrogen and lowered acetate concentrations in the rumen, but did not differ from starch in nitrogen retention. Glucose ILR and WBPS were similar between the carbohydrates. It was concluded that dietary sucrose would have effects similar to starch on WBPS and glucose kinetics in the absorptive state in goats fed a high-concentrate diet.     

Responses to dietary starch or sucrose on protein and glucose kinetics in goats fed a high-concentrate diet

Abstract

Responses of whole body protein synthesis (WBPS) and glucose irreversible loss rate (ILR) were compared between dietary starch and sucrose in four male goats. Diets were fed at 1.2 times maintenance requirements of ME and CP with 30% of the ME as starch, starch plus sucrose or sucrose, twice daily. The diets consisted of 33, 32, 11 and 24% of alfalfa hay, corn, soybean meal and the carbohydrates, respectively. The WBPS and glucose ILR during 5 – 7 h after feeding were determined by an isotope dilution method of [²H₅]phenylalanine, [²H₂]tyrosine, [²H₄]tyrosine and [¹³C₆]glucose. Sucrose elevated ammonia nitrogen and lowered acetate concentrations in the rumen, but did not differ from starch in nitrogen retention. Glucose ILR and WBPS were similar between the carbohydrates. It was concluded that dietary sucrose would have effects similar to starch on WBPS and glucose kinetics in the absorptive state in goats fed a high-concentrate diet.     

Effect of pertussis toxin on insulin-induced signal transduction in rat adipocytes and soleus muscles

It has been reported that pertussis toxin (PTX) suppresses the function of trimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G-protein). We examined the effect of PTX on insulin-induced glucose uptake, diacylglycerol (DG)-protein kinase C (PKC) signalling, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and PKC zeta activation and insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gialpha to clarify the role of G-protein for insulin-mediated signal transduction mechanism in rat adipocytes and soleus muscles. Isolated adipocytes and soleus muscles were preincubated with 0.01 approximately 1 ng/ml PTX for 2 hours, followed by stimulation with 10-100 nM insulin or 1 microM tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Pretreatment with PTX resulted in dose-responsive decreases in insulin-stimulated [3H]2-deoxyglucose (DOG) uptake, and unchanged TPA-stimulated [3H]2-DOG uptake, without affecting basal [3H]2-DOG uptake. In adipocytes, insulin-induced DG-PKC signalling, PI 3-kinase activation and PKC zeta translocation from cytosol to the membrane were suppressed when treated with PTX, despite no changes in [125I]insulin-specific binding and insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Moreover, to elucidate insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of 40 kDa alpha-subunit of G-protein (Gialpha-2), adipocytes were stimulated with 10 nM insulin for 10 minutes, homogenized, immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody, and immunoblotted with anti-Gialpha-2 antibody. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gialpha-2 was found by immunoblot analysis with anti-Gialpha-2 antibody. These results suggest that G-protein regulates DG-PKC signalling by binding of Gialpha-2 with GTP and PI 3-kinase-PKC zeta signalling by releasing of Gbetagamma via dissociation of trimeric G-protein after insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in insulin-sensitive tissues.     

In vivo regulation of phenylalanine hydroxylation to tyrosine, studied using enrichment in apoB-100

Phenylalanine hydroxylation is necessary for the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine and disposal of excess phenylalanine. Studies of in vivo regulation of phenylalanine hydroxylation suffer from the lack of a method to determine intrahepatocyte enrichment of phenylalanine and tyrosine. apoB-100, a hepatic export protein, is synthesized from intrahepatocyte amino acids. We designed an in vivo multi-isotope study, [(15)N]phenylalanine and [2H2]tyrosine to determine rates of phenylalanine hydroxylation from plasma enrichments in free amino acids and apoB-100. For independent verification of apoB-100 as a reflection of enrichment in the intrahepatocyte pool, [1-(13)C]lysine was used as an indicator amino acid (IAA) to measure in vivo changes in protein synthesis in response to tyrosine supplementation. Adult men (n = 6) were fed an amino acid-based diet with low phenylalanine (9 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), 4.54 mumol.kg(-1).,h(-1)) and seven graded intakes of tyrosine from 2.5 (deficient) to 12.5 (excess) mg.kg(-1).day(-1). Gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry did not detect any tracer in apoB-100 tyrosine. A new and more sensitive method to measure label enrichment in proteins using isotope ratio mass spectrometry demonstrated that phenylalanine hydroxylation measured in apoB-100 decreased linearly in response to increasing tyrosine intake and reached a break point at 6.8 mg.kg(-1).day(-1). IAA oxidation decreased with increased tyrosine intake and reached a break point at 6.0 mg.kg(-1).day(-1). We conclude: apoB-100 is an accurate and useful measure of changes in phenylalanine hydroxylation; the synthesis of tyrosine via phenylalanine hydroxylation is regulated to meet the needs for protein synthesis; and that plasma phenylalanine does not reflect changes in protein synthesis.     

Stimulation of insulin biosynthesis in isolated mouse islets by L-leucine, 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid and α-ketoisocaproic acid

An immune binding technique was used for measuring the effects of certain amino acids on the rate of insulin biosynthesis. [³H]phenylalanine served as the radioactive precursor for insulin synthesized by isolated mouse pancreatic islets. L-Leucine was found to stimulate the insulin biosynthesis and this effect was observed already at a physiologic concentration in contrast to the much higher concentrations needed to stimulate insulin secretion in vitro. Furthermore, it was found that 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid and α-ketoisocaproic acid shared with glucose and L-leucine the ability to stimulate insulin biosynthesis. In contrast, L-alanine, L-arginine and D-leucine had no stimulatory effect in the absence of glucose, while in the presence of 5 mM glucose L-arginine decreased and L-alanine increased the incorporation rate of tritiated phenylalanine. The fact that many of those compounds which stimulated insulin biosynthesis have also been shown elsewhere to be metabolized by the B-cells supports the view that the rate of insulin biosynthesis may be substrate dependent.     

Tyrosine and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Activities during Shoot Initiation in Tobacco Callus Cultures

Both phenylalanine ammonia lyase and tyrosine ammonia lyase were detected in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. Wisconsin 38) callus. The enzymes were separated from each other by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. Increased activity of tyrosine ammonia lyase was observed during culture of tobacco callus under shoot-forming conditions, while activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase increased during culture under non-organ-forming conditions. Confirmation of these findings was obtained by examining the incorporation of [¹⁴C]tyrosine and [¹⁴C]phenylalanine into p-coumarate and trans-cinnamate, respectively.     

The effect of the source of nitrogen supplementation on nitrogen balance,rates of plasma leucine turnover,protein synthesis and degradation in sheep

Combined experiments of the isotope dilution method of [1-¹³C]leucine, open-circuit calorimetry and nitrogen (N) balance test were used to determine the effect of the source of N supplementation on N balance, whole body protein synthesis (WBPS) and degradation (WBPD) in sheep. The experiment was performed in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. The control diet consisted of timothy hay, ground maize and soybean meal. The urea diet was the control diet supplemented with 1.5% urea. The SBM diet contained the same N and metabolisable energy as the urea diet, which was reached by changing ground maize and soybean meal weights of the control diet. Nitrogen retention was greater (p < 0.05) for the urea diet than the control and SBM diets. Plasma urea concentrations were highest for the SBM diet, followed by the urea diet, and the control diet was lowest. The WBPS and WBPD did not differ between diets, but were numerically lower for the urea and SBM diets. These results suggest that in sheep, urea supplementation influenced N retention without clear changes in WBPS and WBPD.     

Response of hexokinase enzymes and the insulin system to dietary carbohydrates in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio

The response of the common carp to diets with varying amounts of digestible starch, provided either as pea meal (LP, HP, 30 and 46% peas, respectively) or as cereal (LW, HW, 30 and 46% wheat, respectively), was studied and compared with the response to a carbohydrate-free protein-rich diet (CF). Here we focused on the utilisation of dietary carbohydrates by examining the relationship between dietary starch intake, hepatic hexokinase activities, circulating insulin and muscle insulin receptor system. Plasma glucose concentration and hepatic high Km hexokinase (glucokinase, GK) activity were not affected by the content of digestible starch, but 6 h after feeding enzyme activity was higher in the fish fed carbohydrate diets. Similarly, low Km hexokinase (HK) activity was also higher in the fish 24 h after feeding. Fat gain and protein retention were significantly improved by increased digestible starch intake, especially in the HP group, which in turn, presented the highest plasma insulin levels. Glycogen stores were moderately increased by the ingestion of digestible starch. The number of insulin receptors was greater in the CF group than in fish on carbohydrates, except the HP group. Our results confirmed that the common carp uses dietary carbohydrates efficiently, especially when there are provided by peas. This efficiency might be related to the enhanced response of postprandial insulin observed in the HP group.     

Stimulation of insulin biosynthesis in isolated mouse islets by L-leucine, 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid and α-ketoisocaproic acid

An immune binding technique was used for measuring the effects of certain amino acids on the rate of insulin biosynthesis. [³H]phenylalanine served as the radioactive precursor for insulin synthesized by isolated mouse pancreatic islets. L-Leucine was found to stimulate the insulin biosynthesis and this effect was observed already at a physiologic concentration in contrast to the much higher concentrations needed to stimulate insulin secretion in vitro. Furthermore, it was found that 2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acid and α-ketoisocaproic acid shared with glucose and L-leucine the ability to stimulate insulin biosynthesis. In contrast, L-alanine, L-arginine and D-leucine had no stimulatory effect in the absence of glucose, while in the presence of 5 mM glucose L-arginine decreased and L-alanine increased the incorporation rate of tritiated phenylalanine. The fact that many of those compounds which stimulated insulin biosynthesis have also been shown elsewhere to be metabolized by the B-cells supports the view that the rate of insulin biosynthesis may be substrate dependent.     

Inhibition of protein degradation in isolated rat hepatocytes

1. Isolated parenchymal cells were prepared by collagenase perfusion of livers from fed rats that had been previously injected with [³H]leucine to label liver proteins. When these cells were incubated in a salts medium containing glucose, gelatin and EDTA, cellular integrity was maintained over a period of 6h. 2. Cells incubated in the presence of 2mm-leucine to minimize radioactive isotope reincorporation released [³H]leucine into the medium at a rate accounting for the degradation of 4.5% of the labelled cell protein per h. 3. Degradation of [³H]protein in these cells was inhibited by insulin and by certain amino acids, of which tryptophan and phenylalanine were the most effective. 4. Protein degradation was decreased by several proteinase inhibitors, particularly those that are known to inhibit lysosomal cathepsin B, and by inhibitors of cell-energy production. 5. Ammonia inhibited degradation, but only at concentrations above 1.8mm. Aliphatic analogues of ammonia were effective at lower concentrations than was ammonia. 6. High concentrations of ammonia inhibited degradation by 50%. The extent of this inhibition could not be increased further by the addition of the cathepsin B inhibitor leupeptin, which by itself inhibited degradation by approx. 30%. 7. The sensitivity of proteolysis in isolated hepatocytes to these various inhibitory agents is discussed in relation to their possible modes of action.     

Effect of aromatic acids on protein synthesis in subcellular preparations from the rat brain.

The incorporation of [3H]phenylalanine, [3H]tyrosine, and [3H]tryptophan into protein and amino acyl-tRNA was studied in cell-free preparations from rat brain. Tyrosine and tryptophan inhibited the incorporation of phenylalanine into protein, and tyrosine inhibited the incorporation of phenylalanine and tryptophan into amino acyl-tRNAs. In most cases, homogentisate, phenylpyruvate, and phenyllactate inhibited the incorporation of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan into protein and amino acyl-tRNAs, and the incorporation of phenylalanine into polyphenylalanine. All other protein amino acids, and phenylacetate, salicylate, and benzoate were wholly ineffectual. The results suggest that the formation of amino acyl-tRNAs may have been the step which was affected most by the inhibitors. The incorporation data at different concentrations of the aromatic amino acids were fitted to the simple Michaelis equation. Homogentisate and phenylpyruvate generally tended to reduce both Km and V in the incorporation of aromatic amino acids into protein and amino acyl-tRNAs, even if V decreased more than Km.     

Use of 3H and 14C double-labeled glucose to assess in vivo pathways of amino acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

3H and 14C tracing data concerning amino acid biosynthetic pathways in Escherichia coli K12 are presented. Thirteen acidic and neutral amino acids were isolated from protein hydrolysates of wild type E. coli K12 grown aerobically or anaerobically in the presence of [U-14C]glucose together with [1-3H]glucose, [3-3H]glucose, [4-3H]glucose, or [6-3H]glucose. The observed 3H/14C counts of the amino acids were compared with the ratios expected on the basis of the input substrate specific activities and present understanding of biosynthetic pathways. For nine amino acids, serine, valine, leucine, threonine, isoleucine, glycine, glutamate, proline, and phenylalanine, the agreement between anticipated and observed specific activities was satisfactory. For the remaining four, methionine, alanine, aspartate, and (in cells labeled with [3-3H]glucose) tyrosine, the anticipated and observed specific activities differed markedly. For alanine, aspartate, and tyrosine, the differences are probably due to exchange of tritium in the course of biosynthesis; for methionine, it may be that there is a principle source of the methyl group other than carbon 3 of serine.     

Reduced glucose uptake precedes insulin signaling defects in adipocytes from heterozygous GLUT4 knockout mice.

Decreased GLUT4 expression, impaired insulin receptor (IR), IRS-1, and pp60/IRS-3 tyrosine phosphorylation are characteristics of adipocytes from insulin-resistant animal models and obese NIDDM humans. However, the sequence of events leading to the development of insulin signaling defects and the significance of decreased GLUT4 expression in causing adipocyte insulin resistance are unknown. The present study used male heterozygous GLUT4 knockout mice (GLUT4(+/-)) as a novel model of diabetes to study the development of insulin signaling defects in adipocytes with the progression of whole body insulin resistance and diabetes. Male GLUT4(+/-) mice with normal fed glycemia and insulinemia (N/N), normal fed glycemia and hyperinsulinemia (N/H), and fed hyperglycemia with hyperinsulinemia (H/H) exist at all ages. The expression of GLUT4 protein and the maximal insulin-stimulated glucose transport was 50% decreased in adipocytes from all three groups. Insulin signaling was normal in N/N adipose cells. From 35 to 70% reductions in insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IR, IRS-1, and pp60/IRS-3 were noted with no changes in the cellular content of IR, IRS-1, and p85 in N/H adipocytes. Insulin-stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation was further decreased to 12-23% in H/H adipose cells accompanied by 42% decreased IR and 80% increased p85 expression. Insulin-stimulated, IRS-1-associated PI3 kinase activity was decreased by 20% in N/H and 68% reduced in H/H GLUT4(+/-) adipocytes. However, total insulin-stimulated PI3 kinase activity was normal in H/H GLUT4(+/-) adipocytes. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that hyperinsulinemia triggers a reduction of IR tyrosine kinase activity that is further exacerbated by the appearance of hyperglycemia. However, the insulin signaling cascade has sufficient plasticity to accommodate significant changes in specific components without further reducing glucose uptake. Furthermore, the data indicate that the cellular content of GLUT4 is the rate-limiting factor in mediating maximal insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in GLUT4(+/-) adipocytes.     

INCORPORATION OF PHENYLALANINE, TYROSINE AND TRYPTOPHAN INTO PROTEIN OF HOMOGENATES FROM DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN: KINETICS OF INCORPORATION AND RECIPROCAL INHIBITION

The kinetics of the incorporation into protein of [³H]phenylalanine, [³H]tyrosine and [³H]tryptophan were studied with homogenates prepared from whole brain of 1-, 7-, 21- and 60-day-old rats. The maximal velocities (V_max)of incorporation of phenylalanine and tyrosine decreased and the apparent Michaelis-constants (K_m) for all three amino acids increased with increasing age of the rats. Tyrosine had the smallest and tryptophan the largest K_m values in all age groups. Phenylalanine competitively inhibited the incorporation of tyrosine, but tyrosine inhibited non-competitively the incorporation of phenylalanine. Tryptophan inhibited competitively the incorporation of phenylalanine, but at least partially non-competitively the incorporation of tyrosine. Phenylalanine and tyrosine did not significantly affect the incorporation of tryptophan in homogenates from 60-day-old rats. In 1-day-old rats only a very large excess of phenylalanine or tyrosine inhibited detectably. The K_i for phenylalanine in the incorporation of tyrosine was significantly smaller in 1- than in 60-day-old rats. In every case the inhibition presumably occurred at a single rate-limiting step in the complicated process of incorporation of amino acids into protein.     

The contribution of phenylalanine to tyrosine metabolism in vivo. Studies in the post-absorptive and phenylalanine-loaded rat.

1. Rates of appearance and oxidation of plasma L-leucine, L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine, as well as conversion of plasma phenylalanine into plasma tyrosine, were determined in 90-120 g rats after overnight starvation and while receiving 115-120 mumol of L-phenylalanine/h. 2. In the post-absorptive state, plasma tyrosine and phenylalanine appearances were similar, despite the fact that 22% of plasma tyrosine appearance could be attributed to the hydroxylation of phenylalanine. 3. A constant infusion of 115-120 mumol of L-phenylalanine/h did not significantly alter plasma leucine kinetics, but increased appearance of plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine. The percentage of phenylalanine and tyrosine appearance that was oxidized increased from 12.1% and 24.4% to 37.3% and 48.0% respectively. In phenylalanine-loaded rats, 72% of plasma tyrosine appearance could be attributed to the conversion of phenylalanine. 4. Whole-body tyrosine oxidation measured from a continuous infusion of either L-[14C]tyrosine or L-[14C]phenylalanine differed by 165%. 5. It can be concluded that, in the post-absorptive state, phenylalanine hydroxylation makes a substantial contribution to the plasma appearance of tyrosine and is significantly increased when phenylalanine is administered. The disposal of excess infused phenylalanine is a result of a greater percentage of plasma phenylalanine being converted into tyrosine and a greater proportion of tyrosine being further oxidized. However, apparent tyrosine oxidation rates estimated from plasma tyrosine specific radioactivities and appearance of expired 14CO2 during administration of [14C]tyrosine are underestimates of true rates, in part because tyrosine generated from phenylalanine hydroxylation is catabolized without freely equilibrating with the plasma compartment.     

Stimulation of proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin release by pyruvate and lactate.

Increasing concentrations of pyruvate failed to stimulate proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin release in freshly isolated islets. Glycolytic flux (3H2O from [5-3H]glucose) decreased by 80-85%, but decarboxylation of [1(-14)C]pyruvate was unaffected in islets tested immediately after alloxan exposure. This strongly suggested that in freshly isolated islets, beta-cells, in relation to other islet cells, hardly contribute to the decarboxylation of pyruvate. Non-alloxan-treated cultured islets decarboxylated 2-2.5 times as much pyruvate as did alloxan-treated islets cultured for 15-18h. Thus the contribution of beta-cells to the metabolism of pyruvate after culturing markedly increased. Concomitantly beta-cells became responsive to pyruvate. At 20mM-pyruvate, release of prelabelled proinsulin and insulin and incorporation of [3H]leucine into proinsulin reached values approximately half of those obtained with 20mM-glucose. Lactate was as effective as pyruvate in inducing responses in cultured islets. The experiments indicate that a critical degree of substrate utilization is necessary for the generation of signals for insulin release and proinsulin biosynthesis.     

Insulin and epidermal growth factor do not affect phosphoinositide metabolism in rat liver plasma membranes and hepatocytes

Recent studies with viral oncogene tyrosine kinases have suggested that these kinases may phosphorylate phosphoinositides and diacylglycerol. Since the receptors for insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) also possess tyrosine kinase activity, we have investigated possible effects of insulin and EGF on phosphoinositide metabolism in rat liver plasma membranes and rat hepatocytes. In plasma membranes prepared from rats injected 18 h prior with [3H]myo-inositol or incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, phosphatidylinositol-4-P and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-P2 were formed, but there were no effects of either insulin or EGF although these agents stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation. In hepatocytes incubated with [3H]myo-inositol, label was incorporated into phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol-4-P, and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-P2, but there was no effect of insulin. Incubation of hepatocytes with [3H]myo-inositol plus insulin or EGF for 2 h also did not alter the formation of [3H]myo-inositol-1,4,5-P3 from [3H]phosphatidylinositol-4,5-P2 induced by vasopressin. These findings suggest that the tyrosine kinase activity of liver insulin and EGF receptors is not important in phosphoinositide formation.     

The insulin receptor juxtamembrane region contains two independent tyrosine/beta-turn internalization signals

We have investigated the role of tyrosine residues in the insulin receptor cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region (Tyr953 and Tyr960) during endocytosis. Analysis of the secondary structure of the juxtamembrane region by the Chou-Fasman algorithms predicts that both the sequences GPLY953 and NPEY960 form tyrosine-containing beta-turns. Similarly, analysis of model peptides by 1-D and 2-D NMR show that these sequences form beta-turns in solution, whereas replacement of the tyrosine residues with alanine destabilizes the beta-turn. CHO cell lines were prepared expressing mutant receptors in which each tyrosine was mutated to phenylalanine or alanine, and an additional mutant contained alanine at both positions. These mutations had no effect on insulin binding or receptor autophosphorylation. Replacements with phenylalanine had no effect on the rate of [125I]insulin endocytosis, whereas single substitutions with alanine reduced [125I]insulin endocytosis by 40-50%. Replacement of both tyrosines with alanine reduced internalization by 70%. These data suggest that the insulin receptor contains two tyrosine/beta-turns which contribute independently and additively to insulin-stimulated endocytosis.     

Whole body and skeletal muscle glutamine metabolism in healthy subjects

We measured glutamine kinetics using L-[5-15N]glutamine and L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine infusions in healthy subjects in the postabsorptive state and during ingestion of an amino acid mixture that included glutamine, alone or with additional glucose. Ingestion of the amino acid mixture increased arterial glutamine concentrations by approximately 20% (not by 30%; P < 0.05), irrespective of the presence or absence of glucose. Muscle free glutamine concentrations remained unchanged during ingestion of amino acids alone but decreased from 21.0 +/- 1.0 to 16.4 +/- 1.6 mmol/l (P < 0.05) during simultaneous ingestion of glucose due to a decrease in intramuscular release from protein breakdown and glutamine synthesis (0.82 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.06 micromol x 100 ml leg(-1) x min(-1); P < 0.05). In both protocols, muscle glutamine inward and outward transport and muscle glutamine utilization for protein synthesis increased during amino acid ingestion; leg glutamine net balance remained unchanged. In summary, ingestion of an amino acid mixture that includes glutamine increases glutamine availability and uptake by skeletal muscle in healthy subjects without causing an increase in the intramuscular free glutamine pool. Simultaneous ingestion of glucose diminishes the intramuscular glutamine concentration despite increased glutamine availability in the blood due to decreased glutamine production.     

Glutamine metabolism in isolated incubated adipocytes of the rat.

1. Phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity in the epididymal fat-pad was 15.1 nmol/min per mg of protein. Glutaminase activity demonstrated differences with respect to adipose-tissue sites. Considerable variation was found in different sites of adipose tissue from lean control and Zucker obese animals. 2. Adipocytes incubated in the presence of 2 mM-glutamine utilized glutamine at a rate of 1.8 mumol/h per g dry wt., and glutamate, ammonia, lactate and alanine were produced. Addition of glucose plus insulin increased the rates of glutamine utilization and glutamate, ammonia, lactate and alanine production. Isoprenaline alone or plus glucose further stimulated the rate of glutamine utilization and formation of end products. 3. The rate of incorporation of 14C from glutamine into CO2 was similar to that of glucose, but the rate of incorporation into triacylglycerol was much less. Addition of unlabelled glucose or glucose plus insulin stimulated the rate of incorporation of [14C]glutamine into triacylglycerol, but had no effect on that of 14CO2 formation. Isoprenaline plus glucose increased the rate of incorporation of [14C]glutamine into CO2, but decreased the rate of incorporation into triacylglycerol. 4. In the absence of insulin, the rate of [14C]glutamine incorporation into triacylglycerol was related to the glucose concentration (0-10 mM). However, in the presence of insulin, the rate of incorporation of [14C]glutamine was maximal at 1 mM-glucose.