13C-NMR study of glycerol metabolism in rabbit renal cells of proximal convoluted tubules

Perchloric acid extracts of rabbit renal proximal convoluted tubular cells (PCT) incubated with [2-13C]glycerol and [1,3-13C]glycerol were investigated by 13C-NMR spectroscopy. These 13C-NMR spectra enabled us to determine cell metabolic pathways of glycerol in PCT cells. The main percentage of 13C-label, arising from 13C-enriched glycerol, was found in glucose, lactate, glutamine and glutamate. So far it can be concluded that glycerol is a suitable substrate for PCT cells and is involved in gluconeogenesis and glycolysis as well in the Krebs cycle intermediates. Label exchange and label enrichment in 13C-labelled glucose, arising from [2-13C]glycerol and [1,3-13C]glycerol, is explained by label scrambling through the pentose shunt and a label exchange in the triose phosphate pool. From relative enrichments it is estimated that the ratio of the pyruvate kinase flux to the gluconeogenetic flux is 0.97:1 and that the ratio of pyruvate carboxylase activity relative to pyruvate dehydrogenase activity is 2.0:1. Our results show that 13C-NMR spectroscopy, using 13C-labelled substrates, is a powerful tool for the examination of renal metabolism.     

13C-n.m.r. study of C hordein.

Insoluble xylan was prepared from ground birch (Betula pubescens) pulp by alkali extraction and precipitation with ethanol. The only sugar detected after acid hydrolysis of the preparation was xylose. The insoluble xylan was used as substrate in a nephelometric assay to determine the xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8, 1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase and EC 3.2.1.37, 1,4-beta-D-xylan xylohydrolase) activities of Aspergillus and Trichoderma enzymes. The nephelometric method is reliable in evaluating xylanase hydrolysis of insoluble xylan.     

The 13C-n.m.r. spectra of peracetylated cello-oligosaccharides

The reaction of 1,4-anhydro-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol (1) with m-chloroperbenzoic acid in ethanol gives 2,3-unsaturated ethyl glycosides together with saturated ethyl glycosides formed by trans-ring opening of 1,2-epoxide intermediates. Similar results are obtained on peroxidation of 1,4-anhydro-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-mannofuranosyl)-5,6-O-isopropylidene-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol (2). Products resulting from osmylation of 1 and 2 and cleavage of the osmate esters are also described. 2-Deoxy derivatives are prepared from 1 and 2 by methoxymercuration-demercuration and also by reduction of 2-bromo-2-deoxy derivatives obtained by ethoxybromination.     

Localization of thyroxine 5'-monodeiodinase activity in the renal proximal tubules in rabbits and rats

To determine the localization of T4 5'-monodeiodinase activity in rabbit and rat nephron segments, the formation of tri-iodothyronine (T3) from thyroxine (T4) was measured in kidney homogenate and in isolated nephron segments obtained by the microdissection method. In order of decreasing activity, homogenates of rabbit renal cortex, outer medulla and inner medulla were capable of converting T4 to T3. In the isolated nephron segments of the rabbit cortex, the activities were noted in both proximal convoluted and proximal straight tubules. On the other hand, the activities were not detected in segments including the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, the distal convoluted tubule, the connecting tubule, and the cortical collecting tubule. It is concluded that both the convoluted and the straight tubules are the sites of T3 production in the kidney.     

13C-n.m.r. analysis of some sulphate derivatives of chitosan.

Positions of substitution with sulphate in three water-soluble sulphated derivatives of chitosan were analysed by 13C n.m.r. The structures of N-acetylchitosan 3,6-O-disulphate, sodium chitosan N-, 6-O-disulphate, and sodium chitosan 6-O-monosulphate were confirmed.     

High resolution 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of 'mixed linkage' xylans.

Three xylan fractions, obtained by stepwise precipitation with ethanol, were analysed by 75-MHz 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Diad frequencies, determined from the C-2 resonances, show that the (1----3)-linkages are interspersed throughout the chain rather than grouped contiguously. This type of distribution is in agreement with a random coil conformation and with the constancy of the optical rotation in solvents of different ionic strength and chaotropic power. These diad frequencies were compared with the theoretical values calculated for a random distribution from the ratio of (1----4)-:(1----3)-linkages in the 1H-n.m.r. spectra, and from the methylation analysis for one of the fractions.     

1H- and 13C-n.m.r.-spectral study of synthetic methyl d-manno-oligosaccharides

¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra for 16 synthetic methyl manno-oligosaccharides were recorded, and the signals for the anomeric protons and anomeric carbon atoms in branched manno-pentaosides and -hexaosides were assigned, based on the data for methyl manno-biosides and -triosides. These n.m.r. data identified the branching pattern of high-mannose types of glycans of glycopeptides with those of unambiguously synthesized manno-oligosaccharides, and confirmed the structures proposed for such glycans.     

Effect of phosphate deprivation on enzymes of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism in rat proximal convoluted and proximal straight tubules.

Phosphate deprivation causes a resistance to the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH). The present study determined whether acute phosphate deprivation alters basal or stimulated activities of key enzymes of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) metabolism in microdissected proximal convoluted and proximal straight tubules, since blunted cAMP levels in these proximal subsegments might account for refractoriness to the effect of PTH on phosphate reabsorption in the proximal convoluted and proximal straight tubule segments. In the proximal convoluted tubules of rats fed a normal-phosphate diet (NPD), PTH increased the adenylate cyclase activity by tenfold. In the proximal convoluted tubule of rats fed a low-phosphate diet (LPD), PTH also increased the adenylate cyclase activity by tenfold. In addition, forskolin increased the adenylate cyclase activity to levels similar to PTH in the proximal convoluted tubule of rats fed NPD or LPD. In the proximal straight tubule of rats fed NPD, PTH resulted in an approximately fivefold increase in adenylate cyclase activity. In the proximal straight tubule of rats fed LPD, PTH resulted in a fourfold increase in adenylate cyclase activity. The forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was markedly decreased (46%) in the proximal straight tubule of phosphate-deprived rats. The cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity in the proximal convoluted tubule was significantly increased by 26% in phosphate-deprived rats. The cAMP-phosphodiesterase activities in the proximal straight tubules from rats fed NPD or LPD were similar. We conclude that distinct differences in key enzymes of cAMP metabolism exist in the proximal convoluted and proximal straight tubule subsegments. Further, phosphate deprivation affects the cAMP-phosphodiesterase and adenylate cyclase activities differently in these nephron subsegments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The application of 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy to products derived from sucrose

Glycogen has been isolated from the livers of rats which had been fasted and then intubated with d-glucose. The structure of the glycogen, as determined by iodine staining and enzymic methods, was shown to be very similar to that from control animals. There were slight differences in the iodine-staining properties, but not as marked as that previously reported in the literature.     

13C-substituted pentos-2-uloses: synthesis and analysis by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy

D-erythro-Pentos-2-ulose and D-threo-pentos-2-ulose and their 1-13C- and 2-13C-substituted derivatives have been prepared by oxidizing the corresponding natural and 13C-substituted D-aldopentoses (D-arabinose, D-xylose) with cupric acetate, and purifying the products by chromatography on a cation-exchange resin in the calcium or barium form. The equilibrium compositions of the pentos-2-uloses in 2H2O were determined by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy (75 MHz) at 25 degrees and 80 degrees. Among the eighteen possible monomeric acyclic, cyclic, and bicyclic forms, the anomeric pairs of the unhydrated aldopyranoses, aldopyranose endocyclic hydrates, aldofuranose endocyclic hydrates, and ketofuranose exocyclic hydrates were identified on the basis of 13C chemical shifts and 13C-1H and 13C-13C spin-coupling constants. 1H-N.m.r. (300, 500, and 620 MHz) and 13C-n.m.r. (75 MHz) spectroscopic data in one and two dimensions (DQF-COSY, homonuclear 2D-J) were used to evaluate the conformational properties of the cyclic structures. The unhydrated pyranoses are highly conformationally homogeneous; the erythro and threo isomers prefer 1C4 and 4C1 conformations, respectively. D-threo-Pentos-2-ulopyranose hydrate prefers the 4C1 conformation whereas the erythro isomers exists in both the 4C1 and 1C4 conformations. The furanoid forms favor structures having quasi-axial anomeric hydroxyl groups and quasi-equatorial exocyclic hydroxymethyl or dihydroxymethyl groups.     

Room temperature, low-field 13C-n.m.r. spectra of degraded kappa/iota carrageenans

Using samples previously degraded by autohydrolysis, it is possible to obtain valuable low-field 13C-n.m.r. spectra of samples of kappa/iota carrageenans at room temperature. Spectroscopy of samples extracted at different stages of autohydrolysis helps to determine the mechanism of the reaction and the presence of low proportion kinks and other irregularities in the molecules.     

Determination of arrangement of isoprene units in pig liver dolichol by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.

The arrangement of isoprene units in pig liver dolichol-18, -19 and -20 was determined by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopies. The alignment of trans and cis isoprene units was found to be in the order: dimethylallyl unit, two trans units, a sequence of 14-16 cis units, and a saturated isoprene unit terminated with a hydroxyl group, which verified the presumed chemical structure of dolichol. The absence of geometric isomers was confirmed. A slight amount of impurity was detected in each reversed-phase h.p.l.c. fraction of dolichol obtained by a conventional method. Detailed assignments of the 13C-n.m.r. spectrum were given for these dolichols by using model compounds and INEPT (insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer) measurement. The chemical structure of synthetic dolichol-19, which was prepared by the addition of a saturated isoprene unit to the polyprenol-18 isolated from Ginkgo biloba, was confirmed to be identical with that of pig liver dolichol-19.     

A 15N-n.m.r. study of cerebral, hepatic and renal nitrogen metabolism in hyperammonaemic rats.

1. Rats were infused with 15NH4+ or L-[15N]alanine to induce hyperammonaemia, a potential cause of hepatic encephalopathy. HClO4 extracts of freeze-clamped brain, liver and kidney were analysed by 15N-n.m.r. spectroscopy in combination with biochemical assays to investigate the effects of hyperammonaemia on tissue concentrations of ammonia, glutamine, glutamate and urea. 2. 15NH4+ infusion resulted in a 36-fold increase in the concentration of blood ammonia. Cerebral glutamine concentration increased, with 15NH4+ incorporated predominantly into the gamma-nitrogen atom of glutamine. Incorporation into glutamate was very low. Cerebral ammonia concentration increased 5-10-fold. The results suggest that the capacity of glutamine synthetase for ammonia detoxification was saturated. 3. Pretreatment with the glutamine synthetase inhibitor L-methionine DL-sulphoximine resulted in 84% inhibition of [gamma-15N]glutamine synthesis, but incorporation of 15N into other metabolites was not observed. The result suggests that no major alternative pathway for ammonia detoxification, other than glutamine synthetase, exists in rat brain. 4. In the liver 15NH4+ was incorporated into urea, glutamine, glutamate and alanine. The specific activity of 15N was higher in the gamma-nitrogen atom of glutamine than in urea. A similar pattern was observed when [15N]alanine was infused. The results are discussed in terms of the near-equilibrium states of the reactions involved in glutamate and alanine formation, heterogeneous distribution in the liver lobules of the enzymes involved in ammonia removal and their different affinities for ammonia. 5. Synthesis of glutamine, glutamate and hippurate de novo was observed in kidney. Hippurate, as well as 15NH4+, was contributed by co-extracted urine. 6. The potential utility and limitations of 15N n.m.r. for studies of mammalian metabolism in vivo are discussed.