Variation in the free amino acid content of skeletal muscle of Ophicephalus punctatus (Bloch)

The skeletal muscle of Ophicephalus punctatus contains nine essential free amino acids, arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and lysine, and eight non-essential amino acids, alanine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine, proline and serine. Histidine and lysine dominated the free amino acids pool. Seasonal variation was detected in the levels of histidine, arginine, leucine, phenylalanine, glycine, cystine and serine with highest values occurring in April and again in November. Changes were also detected in the concentrations of certain amino acids as the fish grew in size. Levels of free amino acids did not significantly differ between sexes. Factors effecting variation are discussed.     

Die Aminosäurenzusammensetzung der Proteine von Sonnen- und Schattenblättern der Blutbuche (Fagus sylvatica L. cv. Atropunicea)

Summary The amino acid contents of sun and shade leaves of the copper beech are significantly different. On the basis of dry matter, the concentration of the majority of amino acids is higher in shade leaves. Only the concentrations of proline, valine, histidine and arginine are about 30% lower compared with those of the other amino acids. Calculated on the basis of crude protein, the concentrations of lysine, histidine, arginine, valine, isoleucine and proline are considerably lower in shade leaves than in sun leaves. On the other hand, shade leaves contain more tyrosine, phenylalanine, and methionine.A hypothesis interpreting the different morphogenesis of sun and shade leaves in connection with the high proline content of sun leaves is discussed.     

Florida citrus molasses as a fermentation substrate: I. Free amino acids in molasses from early and midseason varieties of citrus fruits during 2 years of production

Samples of midseason Florida citrus molasses from 10 different manufacturing plants were studied during 2 years of production for suitability as fermentation substrates. They were analyzed for degrees Brix, pH, percentage of protein, and free amino acid content. The following ranges of values were obtained: degrees Brix, 65.4 to 73.0; pH, 4.2 to 6.4; and protein, 3.3 to 5.1%. Although the general characteristics of all samples were quite similar, the total free amino acid content and the number of amino acids differed from year to year and from plant to plant. The free amino acids consistently present were asparagine, aspartic acid, alanine, γ-amino-butyric, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, serine, and threonine. Occasionally found were arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and valine. An extremely high level of proline was detected in all samples.     

Effect of cypermethrin on the free amino acids pool in an organophosphorus-insecticide-resistant and a susceptible strain of Tribolium castaneum

1. Proline was found to be the major component of CTC-12 (44%) and FSS II (45%) strain.2. The cypermethrin treatment resulted in an increase in most of the amino acids of sixth instar larvae and all amino acids of adult beetles of CTC 12 strain.3. In the susceptible strain (FSS II), however, the tyrosine, phenylalanine and arginine increased, whereas serine, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine and lysine were decreased significantly in the sixth instar larvae.4. In the FSS II adult beetles, only aspartic acid increased, while other amino acids either decreased (threonine, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, tyrososine, lysine, arginine) or remained unaffected (serine, glutamic acid, leucine, phenylalanine, histidine).     

Variation in amino acid composition of cytochrome c of species in the fungal genusUstilago

Cytochrome c was extracted and purified from nine species of the genusUstilago, representing five pathogen for monocotyledonous and four for dicotyledonous host species. The amino acid compositions of acid hydrolysates of cytochrome c from these species were compared and divergence values were calculated for all pairs of species. Aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and arginine were the most variable amino acids for both dicot and monocot pathogens. Differences in lysine, glutamic acid, alanine, and histidine distinguished most monocot and dicot pathogens. The dicotyledonous pathogens had fewer glutamic acid and additional alanine and histidine residues. Divergence values for cytochrome c were generally highest between species of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous hosts and lowest for species within the monocotyledonous group. Pairs of species in the dicotyledonous group gave values only slightly lower than those for pairs with species from different groups.     

Some Effects of Protein Deficiency in Young Growing Pigs. II. Blood Plasma Free Amino Acids

The influence of protein deficiency, rehabilitation and total starvation on the free amino acid levels in the blood plasma of pigs has been investigated. It was found that the concentration of most amino acids was reduced during protein deficiency. The levels of leucine, isoleucine and valine were diminished by the greatest proportion, followed by threonine, tyrosine and citrulline. During the first few weeks of protein deficiency the levels of lysine, histidine and arginine were slightly increased, but later decreased below control values. Concentrations of glycine and alanine were altered in a similar way except that the initial increase was much more pronounced. The concentrations of most of these amino acids returned to control levels after rehabilitation. Total starvation led to an increase in concentration of leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine and to a smaller extent phenylalanine, lysine, citrulline and arginine. The concentration of glycine, alanine and glutamic acid were very much reduced. The level of urea in the circulation dropped reversibly during protein deficiency and increased very much during total starvation.     

Salivary amino acids in Lygus species (Heteroptera:Miridae)

Free and protein-bound amino acids were investigated in the phytophagous bug Lygus rugulipennis and its salivary gland. Over 38 substances were separated. The total content of amino compounds in the insects was about 1400 μmol/g fr. wt (16% by weight), of which 97% was amino acid residues in proteins.The salivary glands, which comprise about 1.5% of the live weight of the insects, contain 3.5% of the total free amino acids and 1% of the whote insect. Free and protein-bound amino acids comprise, respectively, about 1.4 and 11.6% of the fresh weight of the gland. The total concentration of free amino acids in the saliva was estimated to range from 0.5 to 2.2% by weight (ca. 0.1 M).The composition of free amino acids in the salivary gland of Lugus varies markedly. In four studied species (L. rugulipennis, L. gemellatus, L. pratensis, L. punctatus), the most abundant compounds were proline, arginine, lysine, leucine, glutamic acid, methionine sulphoxide and glycerophosphoethanolamine. In whole specimens of L. rugulipennis the predominant free amino acids were proline, alanine, taurine, glutamic acid, glutamine and methionine sulphoxide. The most abundant amino acids in proteins were glutamic and aspartic acid, glycine, alanine and leucine. The results indicate that the amino acid composition in the salivary glands of Lygus species does not differ markedly from that of the whole insect. The functions of salivary amino acids are discussed.     

Changes in free and bound amino acids in experimental silicosis.

The amino acid composition of lung, serum and liver in silicotic rats was studied in order to assess the availability of precursors in lung for fibrogenesis. It was observed that the pool of ornithine, arginine, alanine, leucine, valine, glutamic acid, lysine, proline and glycine underwent marked alterations. Free arginine, proline and leucine were only detectable in silicotic lung, while free glycine, glutamic acid and glutamine pools decreased significantly in liver. Changes in amino acid metabolism as a result of silicosis are discussed.     

Changes in plasma amino acid concentrations with increasing age in patients with propionic acidemia

The objective of the study is to analyze plasma amino acid concentrations in propionic acidemia (PA) for the purpose of elucidating possible correlations between propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency and distinct amino acid behavior. Plasma concentrations of 19 amino acids were measured in 240 random samples from 11 patients (6 families) with enzymatically and/or genetically proven propionic acidemia (sampling period, January 2001–December 2007). They were compared with reference values from the literature and correlated with age using the Pearson correlation coefficient test. Decreased plasma concentrations were observed for glutamine, histidine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and arginine. Levels of glycine, alanine and aspartate were elevated, while values of serine, asparagine, ornithine and glutamate were normal. For lysine, proline and methionine a clear association was not possible. Significant correlations with age were observed for 13 amino acids (positive correlation: asparagine, glutamine, proline, alanine, histidine, threonine, methionine, arginine; negative correlation: leucine, phenylalanine, ornithine, glutamate and aspartate). This study gives new insight over long-term changes in plasma amino acid concentrations and may provide options for future therapies (e.g., substitution of anaplerotic substances) in PA patients.     

凤眼莲根分泌物氨基酸组分对根际肠杆菌属F2细菌的趋化作用

凤眼莲(Eichhornia crassipes)的根分泌物中含有Met等多种氨基酸,其中Met、GABA、Gly、Ala、Asp、Ser、Val和Leu(10^-7～10^-2mol·L^-1)均对凤眼莲的根际肠杆菌属F₂(Enterobacter sp.F₂)细菌有强烈的正趋化作用;Glu、Thr和His(10^-7～10^-3mol·L^-1)也对该菌有一定的正趋化作用;而Lys、Cys、Arg、Tyr、Pro、Asn、Gln、Ile、Phe和Typ则对该菌表现出一定的负趋化作用.对细菌的正趋化作用存在一个趋化物的最适浓度范围.具有正趋化作用的氨基酸在凤眼莲根际的浓度都较高,而具有负趋化作用的浓度则较低,这正是凤眼莲与该根际细菌结合为根际微生态系统的原因之一.     

Aspects of the Drought Tolerance in Creosotebush (Larrea divaricata)

In order to understand better the physiological adaption of creosotebush (Larrea divaricata Cav.) to drought conditions, its carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism after a 7-day desiccation period under controlled conditions were studied. Although fructose was not significantly altered in the leaves of desiccated plants, as compared to those maintained under normal moisture conditions, both glucose and sucrose were significantly reduced. Total amino acids more than doubled under moisture stress, the increase being predominantly due to proline, phenylalanine, and glutamic acid. Significant increases also occurred in alanine, arginine, histidine, isoleucine, and valine. Increases or decreases in other amino acids were not significant. These stress-induced changes in certain amino acids are considered in relationship to protein hydrolysis, to accumulation of nitrogen degradation products translocated from the roots, and to the possible function of specific amino acids (e.g., proline) in NH₃⁺ storage.     

Utilization and requirements of amino acids by a cell line derived from the butterfly Papilio xuthus

The media, in which a butterfly cell line (Px 58), derived from pharate adult ovaries of Papilio xuthus cultured for 8 days, were analysed to examine the changes in free amino acids in the medium during cultivation. Beta-alanine, arginine, glycine, histidine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, and tryptophan did not change markedly. Asparagine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine decreased to some extent with culturing. Alpha-alanine increased markedly, and glutamic acid did so to a lesser extent. Requirements of amino acids by the cell line were examined by deleting amino acids one at a time. Deletion of alpha-alanine, beta-alanine, asparagine, glutamic acid, glycine, and phenylalanine did not cause deterioration of the cell. These amino acids were thought to be non-essential or required only a little. Deletion of other amino acids impaired the cell growth severely. These amino acids would appear to be essential for growth of the Px 58 cell line.     

Dynamics of the amino acid composition of the medium during cultivation of isolated organs by the directed perfusion method]

The dynamics of the amino acid composition of the medium under conditions of adequate perfusion of the isolated organs of a dog (sternum, kidney and liver) was studied. It was found that after a 6-hour perfusion of the complex of organs the amount in the perfusion medium of such amino acids as histidine, lysine, alanine, considerably increased, whereas the amount of arginine, serine, aspartic acid, threonine with glutamine, isoleucine, proline, leucine and valine decreased as compared with their initial concentration. The dynamics of the amino acid medium composition during a 4-hour perfusion was studied in experiments with the isolated sternum. The concentration of alanine, lysine and histidine increased in the medium. At the same time there was seen a decrease in the concentration of serine, aspartic acid, isoleucine, tyrosine and phenyl-alanine.     

Effect of sound and Lenzites-decayed wood on the amino acid composition of Reticulitermes flavipes

In hydrolysates of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, the most abundant protein amino acids (μmoles) were glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid; the least abundant were methionine and histidine. Sawdust from both sound and Lenzites trabea-decayed sapwood blocks of sugar maple, loblolly pine, and slash pine was force-fed to termites. A diet of decayed rather than sound wood had little effect on protein amino acid composition of the termites; glycine content varied the most. In contrast, diet affected the free amino acid composition. Except for glutamic acid, the major protein amino acids of the termites were not the predominant free amino acids. Tyrosine and histidine were relatively more abundant as free than as protein amino acids. Greatest differences in protein amino acid compositions of sound and decayed wood were in contents of glycine, leucine, lysine, and arginine.     

Protein content and amino acids composition of bee-pollens from major floral sources in Al-Ahsa,eastern Saudi Arabia

Protein content and amino acids composition of bee-pollens from major pollen floral sources in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia were determined to investigate the nutritive value of pollen protein relative to requirements of honeybees and adult humans. The major pollen sources were alfalfa, date palm, rape, summer squash, and sunflower. Bee-pollens from alfalfa and date palm showed high content of crude protein and amino acid concentrations. Bee-pollen from sunflower had low content of those components. Eighteen amino acids were found in bee-pollens from the five major floral sources. The highest concentrations of individual amino acids valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and proline were obtained from alfalfa bee-pollen; lysine, arginine, cysteine, tryptophan and tyrosine from date palm; methionine, histidine, glycine and alanine from summer squash; threonine, serine and glutamic acid from sunflower; and aspartic acid from rape bee-pollen. The amino acid composition obtained from sunflower bee-pollen showed the lowest concentrations of the essential amino acids: isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine. Apart from methionine, arginine and isoleucine, the essential amino acids of bee-pollen from alfalfa, date palm, summer squash and rape exceeded the honeybees’ requirements. Methionine was the limiting amino acid in bee-pollens from the five selected sources. Concentrations of essential amino acids in the tested bee-pollens were variable and significantly correlated to their botanical origin of pollen. Bee-pollens from alfalfa, date palm and summer squash was found to be rich source of protein and amino acids for bees and for humans.     

The Inhibitory Effects of Various Amino Acids on the Growth of Barley Seedlings

The effect of fifteen amino acids, supplied singly, on the growthof isolated germinating barley embryos in the presence of nitratehas been studied. The L forms of lysine, arginine, tyrosine,proline, threonine, methionine, leucine, and valine at concentrationsof either 1 or 2 mM have been found to inhibit fresh-weightaccumulation. The inhibition by valine is relieved by furtheraddition of isoleucine and that of leucine by the addition ofboth isoleucine and valine. These interrelations have been interpretedas suggesting that leucine and valine can inhibit acetolactateand acetohydrorybutyrate synthesis. The inhibition of tyrosinecan be relieved by phenylalanine and that of lysine by ornithineor arginine. The possible reasons for these interrelationshipsare discussed.     

Thin layer chromatographic analyses of amino acids in Echinostoma revolutum (Trematoda) adults

Bailey R. S. Jr. and Fried B. 1977. Thin layer Chromatographic analyses of amino acids in Echinostoma revolutum (Trematoda) adults. International Journal for Parasitology7: 497–499. Thin layer Chromatographic analyses were made on free pool amino acids and those obtained from the incubate fluid of Echinostoma revolutum adults maintained in a non-nutrient salt solution. The major free pool amino acids detected were alanine, proline, serine and methionine. Alpha-amino-n-butyric acid was also tentatively identified. Amino acids detected in the incubate fluid were leucine-isoleucine, valine, methionine, tyrosine, proline, alanine, glutamic acid, serine, arginine, and aplha-amino-n-butyric acid was also tentatively identified. Amino acids presumably isolated from either worm egesta or the protonephridial system were qualitively similar to those obtained from worm incubate fluid.     

Amino acid synthesis from glucose-U-14C in Glossina morsitans

Amino acid synthesis from glucose-U-¹⁴C was investigated in 2 day post-emergent and pregnant females of Glossina morsitans. This insect can synthesize alanine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, and serine from glucose. Arginine, histidine, hydroxyproline, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, taurine, threonine, and valine showed no radioactivity and hence may be classified as nutritionally indispensable amino acids. Although tyrosine and hydroxyproline were not synthesized from glucose, they are at least partially dispensable nutrients for this insect because their synthesis from phenylalanine has been demonstrated. After the labelled glucose injection the highest radioactivity was recovered in the proline fraction. This is probably related to its rôle as an important energy reserve for flight. The radioactive amino acids recovered from females and from their offspring following glucose-U-¹⁴C injection were similar to those recovered from younger females. Radioactivity was also detected in the expired CO₂ and the excreta. The amino acids alanine, arginine, cystine, glycine, histidine, leucine/isoleucine, lysine, methionine, proline, and valine were identified in the excreta, of which arginine and histidine were in the largest amounts. Only excreted alanine, glycine, and proline showed radioactivity.     

The role of free amino acids in semen of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and carp Cyprinus carpio

The present study investigated (1) the free amino acid (FAA) composition in semen of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and carp Cyprinus carpio, (2) enzyme systems involved in amino acid metabolism and (3) the effect of amino acids on sperm viability under in vitro storage conditions. In the seminal plasma of O. mykiss, the main FAAs were arginine, glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine, methionine and proline, in spermatozoa cysteine, arginine and methionine. In the seminal plasma of C. carpio, the main FAAs were alanine, arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine and proline, in spermatozoa arginine, glutamic acid, histidine, leucine and lysine. When spermatozoa were incubated for 48 h together with the seminal plasma, the quantitative amino acid pattern changed in both species indicating their metabolism. In spermatozoa and seminal plasma of O. mykiss and C. carpio, the following enzymes were found to be related to amino acid metabolism: transaminases (specific for alanine, aspartate, isoleucine and leucine), decarboxylases (specific for valine and lysine), glutamate dehydrogenase and α‐keto acid dehydrogenases (substrates: 3‐methyl‐2‐oxovaleric acid and 4‐methyl‐2‐oxovalerate). These data demonstrate that amino acid catabolism by transamination, decarboxylation and oxidative deamination can occur in semen of the two species. Also activity of methionine sulphoxide reductase was detected, an enzyme which reduces methionine sulphoxide to methionine. This reaction plays an important role in antioxidant defence. To determine the effect of FAAs on the sperm viability, C. carpio and O. mykiss spermatozoa were incubated in sperm motility inhibiting saline solution containing different amino acids. Methionine had a positive effect on the sperm viability in both species. Taken together this result with the in vivo occurrence of methionine and of methionine reductase in semen, it can be assumed that this amino acid plays an important role in antioxidant defence. Also isoleucine in O. mykiss and leucine in C. carpio had a positive effect on sperm viability. As seminal plasma and spermatozoa of the two species exhibit enzyme activities to catabolize leucine and isoleucine, they might serve as additional energy resources especially during prolonged incubation and storage periods.     

Variations circadiennes des acides aminés libres de l'hemolymphe de Penaeus japonicus

The non-essential free amino acids of Peneaus japonicus hemolymph (asp, ser, glu, pro, gly, tyr, arg, ala, cys, tau) are more common than the essential ones: 750 pmol μl^?1 of hemolymph vs 330 pmol. Under a light-dark (L-D); 12-12 photoperiod, tricircadian variations of males or tetracircadian variations of females are more pronounced for non-essential amino acids then for essential ones. In the first case, free amino acid concentrations of hemolymph can be multiplied by a factor of three, and in the second case by a factor of six; but circadian variations of females are greater than those of males. Differences between the maximum and minimum of essential free amino acid concentrations of male and female hemolymph are more frequent than for non-essential amino acids. A differences of 2 h between the minimum of essential and non-essential amino acid concentrations in males only appeared during the afternoon. The more concentrated free amino acids in P. japnicus hemolymph are glycine, proline, histidine, and alanine; the less concentrated are lysine, cysteine and glutamic acid while others, like leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine can only be estimated at 10.00 and 24.00 h.