cDNA cloning, expression, purification, distribution, and characterization of biologically active canine alanine aminotransferase-1

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a pyridoxal enzyme found mainly in the liver and kidney, but also in small amounts in the heart, muscle, fat, and brain. Serum aminotransferase activities have been used broadly as surrogate markers for tissue injury and disease in human and veterinary clinical settings and in safety assessment of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Because of its relative abundance in liver, increased serum ALT activity is generally considered indicative of liver damage. Two ALT isoenzymes, ALT1 and ALT2, are known and have been cloned and sequenced from human, rat, and mouse. In this study, we have cloned the complementary DNA encoding the canine orthologue of ALT1 (cALT1). The complete cDNA sequence comprised 1852 bases and contained a 1485-base open reading frame, which encodes a polypeptide of 494 amino acid residues. Canine ALT1 shares 87.7, 87.2, and 87.0% amino acid identity to its human, mouse, and rat orthologues, respectively. The cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli, with a N-terminal His (6x) tag, and the recombinant enzyme was purified using immobilized metal-affinity chromatography. The final yield of the purified recombinant cALT1 was greater than 5mg/L culture. The alanine transaminase activity of purified cALT1 was 229.81U/mg protein, which is approximately 38-fold higher than that of total soluble recombinant E. coli cell lysate, confirming that the enzyme is a functional ALT. Evaluation of various canine tissues by RT-PCR revealed that the level of ALT1 expression is in the order of: heart>liver>fat approximately brain approximately gastrocnemius>kidney. The purified cALT1 will be helpful to develop isoenzyme-specific anti-bodies, which could further improve the diagnostic resolution of current ALT assays in drug safety studies.     

Cloning, sequence, and expression of a cDNA encoding hamster UDP-GlcNAc:dolichol phosphate N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase

UDP-GlcNAc:dolichol phosphate N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase (GPT) catalyzes the initial reaction required for synthesis of dolichol-P-P-oligosaccharides. We report here on the sequence and expression of a full-length cDNA clone encoding hamster GPT. The cDNA predicts a protein of 408 amino acid residues including 10 hydrophobic segments. Several portions of the hamster GPT sequence constituting one-third of the protein have 60% or greater identity with yeast GPT, and one-half of the conserved sequence falls within the hydrophobic segments. In addition, hamster GPT has two copies of a putative dolichol recognition sequence recently identified in three yeast enzymes that interact with dolichol. The protein lacks KDEL or DEKKMP-type carboxyl-terminal ER sorting sequences. When expressed in COS-1 cells, the cDNA causes a 5-7-fold increase of GPT activity in membrane fractions. The activity was completely inhibitable by tunicamycin, and the primary product was shown to be GlcNAc-pyrophosphoryldolichol. This cDNA represents the first enzyme of the dolichol-oligosaccharide biosynthetic pathway to be cloned from a vertebrate source and demonstrates structural homology between the enzymes of the yeast and mammalian pathways.     

A purified cysteine conjugate beta-lyase from rat kidney cytosol. Requirement for an alpha-keto acid or an amino acid oxidase for activity and identity with soluble glutamine transaminase K

Cysteine conjugate beta-lyase has been purified from rat kidney cytosol. The enzyme is a 100,000-dalton dimer of two 55,000-dalton subunits and has an absorption maximum at 432 nm. The enzyme has phenylalanine alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate transaminase activity and appears to be identical to rat kidney cytosolic glutamine transaminase K. Metabolism of S-1,2-dichlorovinyl-L-cysteine (DCVC) by the purified enzyme was dependent on the presence of either alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate or a protein factor which is present in the cytosolic fraction of rat kidney cortex. The protein factor was identified as a flavin containing L-amino acid oxidase which oxidized DCVC to S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-3-mercapto-2-oxopropionic acid. S-(1,2-Dichlorovinyl)-3-mercapto-2-oxopropionic acid has not been previously reported as a metabolite of DCVC. The data also show that rat kidney cytosolic glutamine transaminase K catalyzes both a beta-elimination and a transamination reaction with DCVC when alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate is present and that amino acid oxidase and alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate stimulate the enzyme activity by providing amino acceptors. When incubations were done with DCVC as substrate in the presence of excess alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate, the beta-lyase catalyzed beta-elimination and transamination in a ratio of 1:1.3, respectively. Under conditions where most of the alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate was consumed, the beta-elimination predominated indicating that the S-1,2-dichlorovinyl-3-mercapto-2-oxopropionic acid pool was consumed by transamination after the alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate had been depleted. The data are discussed with regard to the importance of these pathways as regulators or participants in the toxicity of S-cysteine conjugates.     

黄河裸裂尻鱼肥胖基因克隆及其对青藏高原季节性冷环境的适应性表达

目的克隆黄河裸裂尻鱼肥胖基因(obese gene,ob),分析编码蛋白leptin的序列特征,检测ob mR-NA的组织特异性表达和不同环境温度下肝胰脏和白肌ob mRNA的相对表达水平,为探究黄河裸裂尻鱼在青藏高原季节性寒冷环境下的生态适应机制提供科学数据。方法利用RT-PCT、5’-RACE和3’-RACE法获得ob基因全长cDNA序列。通过已知cDNA序列设计半定量RT-PCR和real-time PCR引物,进行表达研究。结果黄河裸裂尻鱼ob基因序列全长为1 337 bp,其中开放阅读框(ORF)长513 bp,编码170个氨基酸。黄河裸裂尻鱼ob mRNA在心脏、肾脏、脂肪、肠、精巢、肝胰脏、鳃、脑和肌肉9个被检组织中均有表达,其中在心脏中表达最强,肌肉组织中表达最弱。栖息水域环境温度下降,将显著抑制黄河裸裂尻鱼肝胰脏和白肌ob mRNA的表达。结论黄河裸裂尻鱼ob基因特殊的组织表达特征可能与其特定组织的能量代谢及其特殊的生物学功能有关。Leptin在黄河裸裂尻鱼能量代谢调节和季节性环境适应方面发挥着重要作用。     

The flavin-containing monooxygenase expressed in pig liver: primary sequence, distribution, and evidence for a single gene

The primary sequence of the flavin-containing monooxygenase expressed in pig liver has been derived from the nucleotide sequence of cloned cDNA. The derived sequence is composed of 532 amino acids and represents a protein having a molecular weight of 58,952. The complete sequence was obtained from a single clone containing 2070 bases. A second clone, obtained from an independent library, yielded an identical sequence for the 1374 bases present. The amino acid composition compiled from the derived sequence is very similar to that obtained previously from the purified protein. In addition, a 10 amino acid sequence in a peptide formed from the purified protein by digestion with V8 protease exactly matches the derived sequence for residues 309-318. The flavin-containing monooxygenase expressed in pig liver is also expressed in pig lung and kidney as determined by analysis of both microsomal proteins and mRNA. The ratio of mRNA to protein for the enzyme in kidney is about 5 times greater than the same ratio for liver and about twice the ratio for lung. The reasons for these differences are not understood. Southern analysis of genomic DNA indicates that there is a single gene encoding the flavin-containing monooxygenase expressed in pig liver. Therefore, the broad activity of this enzyme in liver appears to be the result of the catalytic diversity of a single protein.     

Musclin, a novel skeletal muscle-derived secretory factor

Skeletal muscle is involved in the homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism. We hypothesized that the skeletal muscle produces and secretes bioactive factor(s), similar to adipocytokines secreted by fat tissue. Here, we report the identification of a novel secretory factor, musclin, by signal sequence trap of mouse skeletal muscle cDNAs. Musclin cDNA encoded 130 amino acids, including NH(2)-terminal 30-amino acid signal sequence. Musclin protein contained a region homologous to natriuretic peptide family, and KKKR, a putative serine protease cleavage site, similar to the natriuretic peptide family. Full-length musclin protein and KKKR-dependent cleaved form were secreted in media of musclin cDNA-transfected mammalian cell cultures. Musclin mRNA was expressed almost exclusively in the skeletal muscle of mice. Musclin mRNA levels in skeletal muscle were markedly low in fasted, increased upon re-feeding, and were low in streptozotocin-treated insulin-deficient mice. Musclin mRNA expression was induced at late stage in the differentiation of C2C12 myocytes. In myocytes, insulin increased, while epinephrine, isoproterenol, and forskolin reduced musclin mRNA, all of which are known to increase the cellular content of cyclic AMP, a counter-regulator to insulin. Pathologically, overexpression of musclin mRNA was noted in the muscles of obese insulin-resistant KKAy mice. Functionally, recombinant musclin significantly attenuated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in myocytes. In conclusion, we identified musclin, a novel skeletal muscle-derived secretory factor. Musclin expression level is tightly regulated by nutritional changes and its physiological role could be linked to glucose metabolism.     

Glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase modulates amino acid content during photorespiration

In photorespiration, peroxisomal glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase (GGAT) catalyzes the reaction of glutamate and glyoxylate to produce 2-oxoglutarate and glycine. Previous studies demonstrated that alanine aminotransferase-like protein functions as a photorespiratory GGAT. Photorespiratory transamination to glyoxylate, which is mediated by GGAT and serine glyoxylate aminotransferase (SGAT), is believed to play an important role in the biosynthesis and metabolism of major amino acids. To better understand its role in the regulation of amino acid levels, we produced 42 GGAT1 overexpression lines that express different levels of GGAT1 mRNA. The levels of free serine, glycine, and citrulline increased markedly in GGAT1 overexpression lines compared with levels in the wild type, and levels of these amino acids were strongly correlated with levels of GGAT1 mRNA and GGAT activity in the leaves. This accumulation began soon after exposure to light and was repressed under high levels of CO(2). Light and nutrient conditions both affected the amino acid profiles; supplementation with NH(4)NO(3) increased the levels of some amino acids compared with the controls. The results suggest that the photorespiratory aminotransferase reactions catalyzed by GGAT and SGAT are both important regulators of amino acid content.     

Metabolism of 2-oxoacid analogues of leucine,valine and phenylalanine by heart muscle,brain and kidney of the rat

[1-¹⁴C]-Labelled 2-oxoacid analogues of leucine, valine and phenylalanine were used to study the metabolism of these 2-oxoacids in the brain, kidney and heart muscle of rats. By following the ¹⁴CO₂ release during 30–60 min of incubation at 37°C the decarboxylation rate was determined and measurement of the ¹⁴C-incorporation into the corresponding amino acid yielded the transamination rate. From these rates, decarboxylation/transamination ratios could be calculated which are indicative for the metabolic fate of the 2-oxoacid in the various organs. The results obtained show that all three tissues are capable of utilizing the 2-oxoacid analogues of leucine, valine and phenylalanine, however, to a different extent: kidney > heart muscle > brain. The decarboxylation/transamination ratios reveal that the branched-chain 2-oxoacids are predominantly decarboxylated in kidney and heart muscle while in brain they are mainly transaminated. The ratios calculated for phenylpyruvate in all tissues are within 0.19 and 0.36, indicating that this 2-oxoacid is preferentially transaminated. The results are discussed with respect to possible dietary alterations of enzymes involved in 2-oxoacid metabolism in order to improve transamination of these compounds.     

Metabolic changes in the African fruit beetle,Pachnoda sinuata,during starvation

Specimens of the fruit beetle Pachnoda sinuata were starved for up to 30 days. The weight of the beetles declined consistently throughout the starvation period. Concentrations of carbohydrates and alanine in flight muscles, fat body and haemolymph decreased rapidly after onset of starvation, while the concentration of proline remained high. Whereas the lipid concentrations in the haemolymph did not change significantly upon starvation, the lipid content in flight muscles and fat body decreased significantly.Beetles that had been starved for 14 days responded to injection of Mem-CC, the endogenous neuropeptide from its corpora cardiaca, with hyperprolinaemia and a decrease in the alanine level, but no such effect was monitored after prolonged starvation of 28 days. Regardless of the period of starvation, Mem-CC injection could not cause hypertrehalosaemia or hyperlipaemia, although carbohydrates were increased in fed beetles after injection.Flight ability of beetles that had been starved for 15 or 30 days was apparently not impaired. During such periods, beetles used proline exclusively as fuel for flight as evidenced by the increase in the level of alanine in the haemolymph and decrease of the level of proline; the concentrations of carbohydrates and lipids remained unchanged.Activities of malic enzyme and alanine aminotransferase (enzymes involved in transamination in proline metabolism), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (enzyme of glycolysis), 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (enzyme of beta-oxidation of fatty acids) and of malate dehydrogenase (enzyme of Krebs cycle) were measured in fat body and flight muscles. In flight muscle tissue the maximum activity of NAD(+)-dependent malic enzyme increased, while that of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased during starvation, and malate dehydrogenase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase were unchanged. In fat body tissue, activities of NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase increased during food deprivation and activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase remained unchanged.     

cDNA cloning, functional expression, and mRNA tissue distribution of a third organellar Ca2+ pump

We describe the characterization of a rat kidney cDNA that encodes a novel Ca2+-transporting ATPase. The cDNA, termed RK 8-13, was isolated previously using an oligonucleotide hybridization probe corresponding to part of the ATP binding site of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPases (Gunteski-Hamblin, A.-M., Greeb, J., and Shull, G. E. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 15032-15040). The complete nucleotide sequence of the 4.5-kilobase cDNA has been determined, and the primary structure of the protein has been deduced. The enzyme consists of 999 amino acids, has an Mr of 109,223, and contains all of the conserved domains found in transport ATPases of the E1-E2 class. It exhibits 75-77% amino acid identity with the fast-twitch and slow-twitch/cardiac isoforms of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase, and the hydropathy plots of the three enzymes are virtually identical. High levels of ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake were demonstrated in microsomes of COS-1 cells that had been transfected with a construct consisting of the entire coding sequence of the cDNA in the expression vector p91023(B). Northern blot analyses of poly(A)+ RNA revealed that the mRNA for this protein is expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, uterus, brain, lung, liver, kidney, testes, small intestine, large intestine, and pancreas. These data show that the enzyme is a Ca2+-transporting ATPase and that its mRNA is expressed in a broad variety of both muscle and non-muscle tissues.     

Structure and function of ATA3, a new subtype of amino acid transport system A, primarily expressed in the liver and skeletal muscle

To date, two different transporters that are capable of transporting alpha-(methylamino)isobutyric acid, the specific substrate for amino acid transport system A, have been cloned. These two transporters are known as ATA1 and ATA2. We have cloned a third transporter that is able to transport the system A-specific substrate. This new transporter, cloned from rat skeletal muscle and designated rATA3, consists of 547 amino acids and has a high degree of homology to rat ATA1 (47% identity) and rat ATA2 (57% identity). rATA3 mRNA is present only in the liver and skeletal muscle. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, rATA3 mediates the transport of alpha-[(14)C](methylamino)isobutyric acid and [(3)H]alanine. With the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique, we have shown that exposure of rATA3-expressing oocytes to neutral, short-chain aliphatic amino acids induces inward currents. The amino acid-induced current is Na(+)-dependent and pH-dependent. Analysis of the currents with alanine as the substrate has shown that the K(0. 5) for alanine (i.e., concentration of the amino acid yielding half-maximal current) is 4.2+/-0.1 mM and that the Na(+):alanine stoichiometry is 1:1.     

A predominant role of acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 in dietary fat absorption implicated by tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and up-regulation by high fat diet

Acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (MGAT2) catalyzes the synthesis of diacylglycerol and differs from the MGAT1 and MGAT3 in tissue distribution at the mRNA level. In addition to the small intestine, MGAT2 mRNA is also expressed at high levels in human liver, the lower gastrointestinal tract, and the mouse kidney, but the physiological significance of such expression has not yet been studied. Using an affinity-purified antibody, the present study investigated the expression of murine MGAT2 protein along the intestinal tract, determined its subcellular localization, and studied its regulation by diet and in db/db mouse. Results demonstrate a high level of MGAT2 expression in the small intestine in a proximal-to-distal gradient that correlated well with both MGAT enzyme activity and fat absorption pattern. In contrast, MGAT2 protein was not detectable in other sections of the digestive tract, including stomach, cecum, colon, and rectum, or other mouse tissues such as kidney, liver, and adipocytes. Immunohistological studies provided direct evidence that the enzyme is expressed not only in the villi, but also in the crypt regions of the small intestine, which suggests that MGAT2 expression occurs prior to the maturation of enterocytes. MGAT2 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in both MGAT2-transfected COS-7 and Caco-2 cells, indicating that the ER is the primary site for dietary fat re-synthesis. MGAT2 expression appeared not to be affected by diabetes in the db/db mouse, however, the total intestinal MGAT activity was significantly enhanced. Finally, an up-regulation of both MGAT2 protein expression and MGAT activity was observed in mice fed a high fat diet, implicating a role of MGAT2 in diet-induced obesity. Taken together, our data suggest a predominant role of MGAT2 in dietary fat absorption.     

Purification, cDNA cloning, and expression of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D-mannoside beta-1,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III from rat kidney.

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D-mannoside beta-1,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III: EC 2.4.1.144) catalyzes the addition of N-acetylglucosamine in beta 1-4 linkage to the beta-linked mannose of the trimannosyl core of N-linked sugar chains. The enzyme has been purified over 153,000-fold in 1.5% yield from a Triton X-100 extract of rat kidney by fractionation procedures utilizing QAE-Sepharose, Cu(2+)-chelating Sepharose, and affinity chromatography on UDP-hexanolamine and substrate-conjugated Sepharose. The purified protein migrates as one major and one minor band with apparent molecular masses of 62 kDa and 52 kDa, respectively. The purified enzyme was digested with trypsin, and the amino acid sequences of four peptides were determined. Oligonucleotide primers were designed according to those amino acid sequences and used in the polymerase chain reaction. Screening for the cDNA for GnT-III was carried out by plaque hybridization using a rat kidney cDNA library (lambda gt10) and a polymerase chain reaction product as the probe. Rat kidney GnT-III has 536 amino acids and three putative N-glycosylation sites. There is no sequence homology to other previously cloned glycosyltransferases, but the enzyme appears to be a type II transmembrane protein like the other glycosyltransferases. The GnT-III activity in transiently transfected COS-1 cells was found to be about 500-3600-fold as compared to that in non- or mock-transfected cells.     

Streptomyces beta-alanine:alpha-ketoglutarate aminotransferase, a novel omega-amino acid transaminase. Purification, crystallization, and enzymologic properties

An enzyme which catalyzes the transamination of beta-alanine with alpha-ketoglutarate was purified to homogeneity from Streptomyces griseus IFO 3102 and crystallized. Molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 185,000 +/- 10,000 by a gel-filtration method. The enzyme consists of four subunits identical in molecular weight (51,000 +/- 1,000). The transaminase is composed of 483 amino acids/subunit containing 7 and 8 residues of half-cystine and methionine, respectively. The enzyme exhibits absorption maxima at 278 and 415 nm. The pyridoxal 5'-phosphate content was determined to be 4 mol/mol of enzyme. The enzyme catalyzes transamination of omega-amino acids including taurine and hypotaurine. beta-Alanine and DL-beta-aminoisobutyrate served as a good amino donor; the Michaelis constants are 8.0 and 12.5 mM, respectively. alpha-Ketoglutarate is the only amino acceptor (Km = 4.0 mM); pyruvate and oxalacetate are inactive. Based on the substrate specificity, the terminology of beta-alanine:alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase is proposed for the enzyme. Carbonyl reagents, HgCl2,DL-gabaculine, and alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine strongly inhibited the enzyme.     

Cytoplasmic enzyme activities involved in energy and amino acid metabolism in pathological human renal cortex

Enzyme levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured in the cytosol of renal cortex samples from either normal and pathologic kidney tissue. The mean enzyme activity values, expressed in Units per gram of cytosolic protein decreased in the following order: normal cortex (LDH = 4,299 +/- 654; AST = 522 +/- 101; ALT = 197 +/- 44). chronic pyelonephritis (LDH = 2,360 +/- 876; AST = 297 +/- 117; ALT = 90 +/- 48), hydronephrosis (LDH = 2,208 +/- 1,264; AST = 279 +/- 165; ALT = 82 +/- 61), pyonephrosis (LDH = 1,410 +/- 596; AST = 158 +/- 69; ALT = 23.4 +/- 16.4) and renal tuberculosis (LDH = 1,149 +/- 481; AST = 93 +/- 34; ALT = 5.6 +/- 2.8). The decrease in the enzyme activities paralleled tissue damage and it was shown to affect cellular functionality in relation with energy and amino acid metabolism.     

The effects of pH on the rates of isotope exchange catalyzed by alanine aminotransferase.

Alanine aminotransferase catalyzes exchange of the β-hydrogens of alanine with the solvent at a rate commensurate with the rate of exchange of the α-hydrogen. These methyl protons are lost sequentially and intermediates having protons on the α-carbon but deuterium on the β-carbon were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance. The overall rates of exchange of both α-hydrogen and β-hydrogen were less than the rate of transamination and did not vary from pH 6–8. The α-hydrogen of glutamate, on the other hand, was found to exchange at a greater rate than the overall transamination rate with ketoglutarate. However the β-hydrogens of glutamate are not removed during the enzymic reaction. It is concluded that a basic group on the enzyme removes the proton from the α-carbon of alanine at a rate at least as great as the rate of transamination. Because the proton is held on the enzyme, it appears to exchange more slowly in alanine. Labilization of the α-hydrogen of amino acids does not appear to be the ratelimiting reaction of alanine aminotransferase, but occurs at a rate comparable to that of the overall reaction.     

Purification and sequence identification of anserinase

Anserinase (Xaa-methyl-His dipeptidase, EC 3.4.13.5) is a dipeptidase that mainly catalyzes the hydrolysis of Nalpha-acetylhistidine in the brain, retina and vitreous body of all poikilothermic vertebrates. The gene encoding anserinase has not been previously identified. We report the molecular identification of anserinase, purified from brain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The determination of the N-terminal sequence of the purified anserinase allowed the design of primers permitting the corresponding cDNA to be cloned by PCR. The anserinase cDNA has an ORF of 1485 nucleotides and encodes a signal peptide of 18 amino acids and a mature protein of 476 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 53.3 kDa. Sequence analysis showed that anserinase is a member of the M20A metallopeptidase subfamily in MEROPS peptidase database, to which 'serum' carnosinase (EC 3.4.13.20) and cytosolic nonspecific dipeptidase (EC 3.4.13.18, CNDP) belong. A cDNA encoding CNDP-like protein was also isolated from tilapia brain. Whereas anserinase mRNA was detected only in brain, retina, kidney and skeletal muscle, CNDP-like protein mRNA was detected in all tissues examined.     

Alanine and glutamine synthesis and release from skeletal muscle. I. Glycolysis and amino acid release.

The synthesis and release of alanine and glutamine were investigated with an intact rat epitrochlaris muscle preparation. This preparation will maintain on incubation for up to 6 hours, tissue levels of phosphocreatine, ATP, ADP, lactate, and pyruvate closely approximating those values observed in gastrocnemius muscles freeze-clamped in vivo. The epitrochlaris preparation releases amino acids in the same relative proportions and amounts as a perfused rat hindquarter preparation and human skeletal muscle. Since amino acids were released during incubation without observable changes in tissue amino acids levels, rates of alanine and glutamine release closely approximate net amino acid synthesis. Large increases in either glucose uptake or glycolysis in muscle were not accompanied by changes in either alanine or glutamine synthesis. Insulin increased muscle glucose uptake 4-fold, but was without effect on alanine and glutamine release. Inhibition of glycolysis by iodacetate did not decrease the rate of alanine synthesis. The rates of alanine and glutamine synthesis and release from muscle decreased significantly during prolonged incubation despite a constant rate of glucose uptake and pyruvate production. Alanine synthesis and release were decreased by aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of alanine aminotransferase. This inhibition was accompanied by a compensatory increase in the release of other amino acids, such as aspartate, an amino acid which was not otherwise released in appreciable quantities by muscle. The release of alanine, pyruvate, glutamate, and glutamine were observed to be interrelated events, reflecting a probable near-equilibrium state of alanine aminotransferase in skeletal muscle. It is concluded that glucose metabolism and amino acid release are functionally independent processes in skeletal muscle. Alanine release reflects the de novo synthesis of the amino acid and does not arise from the selective proteolysis of an alanine-rich storage protein. It appears that the rate of alanine and glutamine synthesis in skeletal muscle is dependent upon the transformation and metabolism of amino acid precursors.