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Biomedical subjects

H P Broquist

Publications and source records attributed to H P Broquist.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The similar effects of swainsonine and locoweed on tissue glycosidases and oligosaccharides of the pig indicate that the alkaloid is the principal toxin responsible for the induction of locoism.

A neurological condition resembling that observed in hereditary mannosidosis occurs in animals ingesting spotted locoweed and plants of the genus Swainsona. Swainsonine has been isolated from these plants and has been suggested to be the primary causative agent in inducing the pathological condition. This alkaloid has also been found to increase tissue acid alpha-D-mannosidase levels in rats while lowering liver Golgi mannosidase II levels. In the present study, the effects of locoweed and swainsonine were directly compared for the first time, with the pig as experimental animal. Both increased most lysosomal acid glycosidase activities in most tissues, decreased liver Golgi mannosidase II levels, increased plasma hydrolase levels, and greatly increased tissue oligosaccharide, especially Man5GlcNAc2 and Man4GlcNAc2. These results indicate that swainsonine is the agent in locoweed responsible for the enzymatic and oligosaccharide changes. The behavior of the animals was also similarly affected by swainsonine and locoweed.

Alkaloids↗

Identification of swainsonine as a probable contributory mycotoxin in moldy forage mycotoxicoses.

When infested with the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola, certain forages, e.g., red clover hay, can cause a "slobber syndrome" of varying severity when consumed by ruminants. The causative agent has been presumed to be slaframine [(1S,6S,8aS)-1-acetoxy-6-aminooctahydroindolizine], which is produced by R. leguminicola. In one serious outbreak of the slobber syndrome in horses, the red clover forage involved was carefully examined and found to contain R. leguminicola and slaframine. An identical hay sample is shown here by ion-exchange chromatographic and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of appropriate hay extracts to also contain swainsonine [(1S,2R,8R,8aR)-1,2,8-trihydroxyoctahydroindolizine], a potent alpha-mannosidase inhibitor. Swainsonine has previously been isolated from pure cultures of R. leguminicola and from higher plants, namely the Darling pea (Swainsona canescens) and spotted locoweed (Astragalus lentiginosus). Consumption of Darling pea and spotted locoweed by livestock results in a severe neurological condition resembling that observed in hereditary mannosidosis in cattle and humans. Our findings indicate that swainsonine may be viewed as a mycotoxin when present in moldy forages consumed by livestock. The extent to which slaframine and swainsonine mycotoxicosis pose threats to animal husbandry and, indeed, to humans, if these alkaloids were to enter the human food chain, deserves serious consideration.

Alkaloids↗

Carnitine status in Thai adults.

Plasma carnitine and urinary carnitine levels were measured in Thai adults living in Bangkok city and Ubol villages. The mean plasma carnitine and urinary carnitine levels expressed in micromoles per liter in Bangkok adults were higher than those in Ubol adults. Their mean plasma carnitine levels were 56.6 +/- 1.8 and 50.3 +/- 1.7 whereas urinary carnitine levels were 161 +/- 19 and 127 +/- 18 micromole/liter, respectively. The nutritional status in Ubol adults was inadequate. This was evidenced by the significant decrease in urinary creatinine excretion, serum albumin, and hematocrit levels. The dietary assessment agreed with the biochemical findings. Since rice, limiting in carnitine, was the main protein and energy source consumed by Ubol adults their inadequate carnitine status could be due to the low carnitine intake. Sex affects plasma carnitine levels in Bangkok adults and urinary carnitine excretion in both groups. This could be related to the lean body mass in which most of the body carnitine resides. This is supported by the higher urinary creatinine excretion in males and the significant positive correlation between carnitine excretion and creatinine-height index.

Adult↗

Biosynthesis of slaframine, (1S,6S,8aS)-1-acetoxy-6-aminooctahydroindolizine, a parasympathomimetic alkaloid of fungal origin. 3. Origin of the pyrrolidine ring.

The phytopathogen Rhizoctonia leguminicola has previously been shown to incorporate pipecolic acid into the piperidine alkaloids 1-acetoxy-6-aminooctahydroindolizine (slaframine) and 3,4,5-trihydroxyoctahydro-1-pyrindine. In the experiments described here, resting cultures of R. leguminicola were incubated with [1-14C]- and [2-14C]malonic acid and with [1-14C]- and [2-2H]acetic acid. Both acids were incorporated into the ring systems of both alkaloids. Mass spectrometric analysis of 2H-enriched slaframine showed that the label resides in the five-membered ring and that the methyl carbon of acetate is joined to the carboxyl carbon of pipecolate. A pipecolate-dependent decarboxylation of [1-14C]malonate was demonstrated in cell-free extracts of R. leguminicola. The results account for previously unattributed carbons in the two alkaloids and suggest the formation of an eight-carbon intermediate common to both alkaloids by acylation of malonate with pipecolic acid.

Acetates↗

Biosynthesis of slaframine, (1S,6S,8aS)-1-acetoxy-6-aminooctahydroindolizine, a parasympathomimetic alkaloid of fungal origin. 4. Metabolic fate of ethyl pipecolylacetate, 1,3-dioxooctahydroindolizine, and 1-hydroxyoctahydroindolizine in Rhizoctonia leguminicola.

Known or suspected intermediates in the biosynthesis of slaframine and 3,4,5-trihydroxyoctahydro-1-pyrindine, piperidine alkaloids of the phytopathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola, were prepared and tested for biological conversions. Ethyl pipecolylacetate, an analogue of the postulated condensation product of pipecolic and malonic acids (two previously identified alkaloid precursors), was insufficiently stable for feeding experiments. The lactam of pipecolylacetate, 1,3-dioxooctahydroindolizine, was degraded by the fungus without direct incorporation into alkaloids. The known slaframine precursor 1-hydroxyoctahydroindolizine was prepared by a novel route which permitted high levels of deuterium enrichment at C-1 and C-3. Mass spectrometric examination of the slaframine biosynthesized from cis- and trans-[1,3,3-2H]-1-hydroxyoctahydroindolizine strengthened arguments that 1-oxooctahydroindolizine is an intermediate in slaframine biogenesis.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Carnitine content of liquid formulas and special diets.

Radioisotopic analyses for carnitine content were done on infant formula, formulas for tube feeding, food supplements, and chemically defined diets. The carnitine content of the diets depend on the protein source. Products whose main protein source is soy protein isolate, casein, or egg white solids contain 4 nmole carnitine per milliliter or less, with most of them containing undetectable amounts of carnitine. Products based on milk or beef contain 50 to 656 nmole carnitine per milliliter. The daily requirement of the body for carnitine is unknown. Evidence is discussed that indicates that the possible use of carnitine as a supplement to formula diets intended for long-term care needs to be considered.

Animals↗

Biosynthesis of carnitine in Neurospora crassa.

In growing cultures of Neurospora crassa lysine auxotroph 33933, (a) beta-hydroxy-epsilon-N-trimethyllysine and gamma-N-trimethylaminobutyraldehyde, postulated precursors of carnitine in the rat, effectively blocked synthesis of labeles carnitine from epsilon-N-[CH3-3H]trimethyllysine; and (b) beta-hydroxy-epsilon-N[CH3-3H[trimethyllysine and gamma-N-[CH3-3H]trimethylaminobutyraldehyde were effectively utilized for carnitine formation. From these isotopic experiments, the latter steps of carnitine synthesis in Neurospora are postulated to be epsilon-N-trimethyllysine leads to beta-hydroxy-epsilon-N-trimethyllysine leads to gamma-N-trimethylaminobutyraldehyde leads to gamma-butyrobetaine leads to carnitine.

Carnitine↗

Purification of S-adenosylmethionine: epsilon-N-L-lysine methyltransferase. The first enzyme in carnitine biosynthesis.

The initial steps of carnitine biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa involve the methylation of the epsilon-amino group of lysine as follows: Lysine A leads to monomethyllysine B leads to dimethyllysine C leads to trimethyllysine. The methyl donor is S-adenosylmethionine. An enzyme, S-adenosylmethionine:epsilon-N-L-lysine methyltransferase, has been purified from N. crassa to near homogeneity as judged by column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and ultracentrifugation. This protein catalyzes all three methylation reactions. The reaction rates are: A less than B less than C. Sedimentation equilibrium and molecular filtration give a molecular weight of 22,000 for the protein. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis of the protein in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis do not detect the possibility of subunit structure. The enzyme contains no half-cystine but does contain several acidic residues. The protein exhibits an absorption band between 400 and 420 nm which is 40 to 50 times less than the absorption seen at 280 nm and is not affected by the presence of substrates. The source of this absorption in unkown.

Amino Acids↗

Muscle carnitine levels in neuromuscular disease.

The production of energy in muscle from long-chain fatty acid oxidation is dependent upon the presence of carnitine. An abnormally low level of muscle carnitine, as seen in patients with the carnitine deficiency syndrome, results in marked muscle weakness. Muscle from 83 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic muscle biopsy was assayed for carnitine. Carnitine levels (mean +/- SEM, expressed as nmoles carnitine per mg noncollagen protein) in muscle from patients with Duchenne dystrophy (8.1 +/- 1.7) and possible Becker dystrophy (10.6 +/- 3.0) were significantly (P less than 0.001) different from histologically normal muscle (24.0 +/- 1.4). Carnitine levels in patients with limb-girdle dystrophy (16.1 +/- 3.1) and polymyositis/dermatomyositis (16.6 +/- 3.2) were also low, although not as low as in Duchenne dystrophy. Carnitine levels from patients with denervation atrophy (22.1 +/- 3.6), nonspecific fiber atrophy (21.3 +/- 1.3), and a group of miscellaneous neuromuscular diseases (20.4 +/- 1.4) were not significantly different from histologically normal muscle. The low values of carnitine seen in Duchenne dystrophy and a group of possible Becker dystrophy patients may be a nonspecific effect, related to severe muscle damage.

Carnitine↗

Dietary lysine and carnitine: relation to growth and fatty livers in rats.

Male weanling rats were fed a 72% rice diet containing no detectable carnitine and limiting in threonine and lysine. Such dietary conditions may simulate protein malnutrition in man. Under these conditions growth impairment, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and fatty liver developed. The study focused principally on the fatty liver syndrome which was corrected to varying extents depending on degrees of supplementation with carnitine, lysine, threonine, and appropriate combinations of these nutrients. Such reduction in fatty liver accumulation was accounted for principally by the lowering of triglycerides, but also in part of total cholesterol levels. All the data, which also included monitoring carnitine uptake by the tissues and measurement of plasma triglycerides, were consistent with the view that fatty liver accumulation occurs in amino acid deficient diets because (a) of an impairment in the synthesis of the lipoprotein complex mandatory for triglyceride secretion from the liver and (b) from a deficiency of carnitine needed for the intramitochondrial transport of fatty acids prerequisite for their oxidation.

Animals↗

Amino acid metabolism.

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Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Lysine catabolism in Rhizoctonia leguminicola and related fungi.

The catabolism of lysine was studied in several yeasts and fungi. Results with cell-free extracts of Rhizoctonia leguminicola support a proposed pathway involving (D- and L-) EPSILON-N-acetyllysine, alpha-keto-epsilon-acetamidohexanoic acid, delta-acetamidovaleric acid, and delta-aminovaleric acid in the conversion of L-lysine to shortchain organic acids. Label from radioactive L-lysine was found to accumulate in D- and L-epsilon-N-acetyllysine, delta-acetamidovaleric acid, delta-aminovaleric acid, and glutaric acid in cultures of R. leguminicola, Neurospora crassa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Hansenula saturnus, suggesting that the proposed omega-acetyl pathway of lysine catabolism is generalized among yeasts and fungi. In N. crassa, as is the case in R. leguminicola, the major precursor of L-pipecolic acid was the L-isomer of lysine; 15N experiments were consistent with delta1-piperideine-2-carboxylic acid as an intermediate in the transformation.

Caproates↗