Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “TRANSAMINASES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Increased liver echogenicity at ultrasound examination reflects degree of steatosis but not of fibrosis in asymptomatic patients with mild/moderate abnormalities of liver transaminases.

AIMS: To investigate whether hyperechogenicity of liver can reliably be interpreted as liver steatosis and if any concomitant or isolated fibrosis can be disclosed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 165 patients with no signs or symptoms of liver disease referred because of slightly to moderately raised aminotransferases (alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase 0.7-5.0 microkat/l) for more than 6 months were prospectively investigated with a comprehensive laboratory profile, ultrasound examination of liver and percutaneous liver biopsy Fibrosis was assessed quantitatively and according to Metavir. Steatosis was graded as none, mild, moderate or severe. RESULTS: Of 98 (59.4%) patients with raised echogenicity, 85 (86.7%) had liver steatosis of at least moderate degree, 9 patients with same degree of steatosis had normal echogenicity and 13 patients with no or only mild steatosis had a hyperechogenic liver (sensitivity 0.90, specificity 0.82, positive predictive value 0.87, negative predictive value 0.87). About the same relations were found regardless of body mass index and degree of fibrosis. With increased echogenicity together with high attenuation (n = 591 and reduced portal vessel wall distinction (n = 79), positive predictive value increased to 0.93 and 0.94, respectively. Quantitatively assessed fibrosis (mean +/- SD) was 3.2 +/- 4.6% of biopsy area with normal and 2.3 +/- 1.8% with raised echogenicity (ns). Echogenicity was normal in 5 out of 9 patients with septal fibrosis and in 4 out of 6 patients with cirrhosis. Any structural, non-homogenous findings at ultrasound were not associated with architectural fibrotic changes and none had nodular contours of liver surface. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of liver echogenicity is of value for detection or exclusion of moderate to pronounced fatty infiltration (correct classification 86.6%) but cannot be relied upon in diagnosing fibrosis, not even cirrhosis in asymptomatic patients with mild to moderately elevated liver transaminases.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Body mass index is a good predictor of an elevated alanine transaminase level in the general population: hints from the Dionysos study.

AIM: To establish the contribution of body mass index (BMI), sex, age, ethanol intake, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infection, coffee and drug consumption, and cigarette smoking to account for an elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) level in the general population. SUBJECTS: A total of 6315 adult subjects from the Dionysos study. METHODS: Logistic regression was used to quantify the contribution of the variables of interest to elevated ALT, defined as a value of ALT>60 U/l. Areas under ROC curves (AUCs) were calculated to assess accuracy. RESULTS: All the variables considered, with the exception of coffee and drug consumption, were significant predictors of elevated ALT at univariable analyses. When significant predictors were employed in a multivariable model, age and cigarette smoking were no longer significant. The AUC was 0.77 (95% CI=0.74-0.80) for the multivariable model and 0.64 (95% CI=0.60-0.68) for the univariable BMI model (p<0.0001 for the comparison). CONCLUSION: BMI is a good predictor of elevated ALT serum activity in the general population. The ability to predict an elevated ALT is however increased substantially by considering sex, ethanol intake, HBV and HCV infection together with BMI.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Studies with mechanism-based inactivators of lysine epsilon-transaminase from Achromobacter liquidum.

Analogues of lysine containing a 4,5-acetylenic linkage (lysyne) or a cis- or trans-4,5-olefinic linkage (lysenes) function as substrates for a homogeneous L-lysine epsilon-transaminase from Achromobacter liquidum but partition between transamination and time-dependent inactivation. The partition ratio is lowest for lysyne (40 per inactivation event) and higher for trans-lysene (160 per inactivation event), and the cis-lysene transaminates 1600 times per inactivation event. cis-Lysene yields alpha-picolinate as a detectable accumulating product, presumably from cyclization of initial 6-aldehyde to dihydropicolinate and spontaneous autoxidation. The trans isomer also yields some picolinate as an identifiable product. The product from the few lysyne turnovers is as yet unknown but has strong absorbance at 318 nm. The inactive enzyme species from all three lysine analogues slowly (overnight) regain full activity after gel filtration chromatography and dialysis, suggesting reversal of the initial adduct-forming reaction. Initial studies with partially purified pseudomonad lysine alpha-racemase show alpha-3H incorporation from 3H2O but no inactivation consistent with the expectation that these lysine analogues could act readily as mechanism-based inactivators for pyridoxal P enzymes which act at the epsilon- but not the alpha-carbon of lysine.

Alcaligenes↗
PubMed1977

Pyridoxamine-pyruvate transaminase. 1. Determination of the active site stoichiometry and the pH dependence of the dissociation constant for 5'-deoxypyridoxal.

Spectrophotometric titration of pyridoxamine-pyruvate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.30) with pyridoxal at pH 7.15 gives four equivalent binding sites per tetramer. The pH dependence of the equilibrium constant for the association of 5'-deoxypyridoxal with the active site lysine residue was determined spectrophotometrically. These dissociation constants increase with increasing pH over the range pH 7.5-9 and are correlated with the values obtained from fast reactions kinetics (Gilmer, P. J., and Kirsch, J. F. (1977), Biochemistry 16 (following paper in this issue)). In addition to this specific reaction at an active site lysine residue, a second slower reaction at non-active site residues is observable at pH values greater than 8. The pH dependencies of the association and dissociation rate constants for this slow reaction were studied over the pH range 8 to 9 after blocking the active site by NaBH4 reduction of the pyridoxal adduct. The enzyme is stabilized and markedly activated by potassium ion.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2004

A molecularly imprinted polymer-based synthetic transaminase.

The design, synthesis, and evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer transaminase mimic is described. Methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymers were synthesized using, as a template, a transition state analogue (TSA) for the reaction of phenylpyruvic acid and pyridoxamine to yield phenylalanine and pyridoxal. Polymer suitability was established on the basis of (1)H NMR studies of template-functional monomer interactions. Polymer recognition characteristics were examined in a series of HPLC studies using the polymers as chromatographic stationary phases. Selectivity for the TSA, relative to substrates and products, was observed in both aqueous and nonpolar media. In the latter case (chloroform/AcOH, 96:4), an enantioseparation factor (alpha) of 2.1 was obtained, and frontal chromatographic studies revealed the presence of 11.9 +/- 0.2 micromol g(-1) (dry weight) of enantioselective sites. Polymers imprinted with the l-form of the oxazine-based TSA induced a 15-fold enhancement of the apparent reaction rate (app. V(max) 2.5 x 10(-7) mol s(-1); app. K(m) 8.2 x 10(-3) M) and enantioselective production of phenylalanine (32 +/- 4% ee) for reactions conducted in an aqueous buffer system. Substrate selectivity was evident, and a turnover number (k(cat)) of 0.1 s(-)(1) was determined. This is the first example of the catalysis of sigmatropic shifts in aqueous media by molecularly imprinted polymers.

Biomimetic Materials↗
PubMed1999

4-Aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-transaminase) deficiency.

4-Aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-transaminase, GABA-T, EC 2.6.1.19) deficiency (McKusick 137150), an inborn error of GABA degradation, has until now been documented in only a single Flemish child. Compared to the other defects of GABA degradation, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH, EC 1.2.1.24) deficiency with > 150 patients (McKusick 271980) and pyridoxine-dependent seizures with > 100 patients ('putative' glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.15) deficiency; McKusick 266100), GABA-T deficiency is very rare. We present a summary of the clinical, biochemical, enzymatic and molecular findings on the index proband, and a recently identified second patient, with GABA-T deficiency. The phenotype in both included psychomotor retardation, hypotonia, hyperreflexia, lethargy, refractory seizures and electroencephalographic abnormalities. In an effort to elucidate the molecular basis of GABA-T deficiency, we isolated and characterized a 1.5 kb cDNA encoding human GABA-T, in addition to a 41 kb genomic clone which encompassed the GABA-T coding region. Standard methods of cloning and sequencing revealed an A-to-G transition at nucleotide 754 of the coding region in lymphoblast cDNAs derived from the index proband. This mutation resulted in substitution of an invariant arginine at amino acid 220 by lysine. Expression of the mutant in E. coli, followed by isolation and enzymatic characterization of the recombinant protein, revealed an enzyme whose Vmax was reduced to 25% of wild-type activity. The patient and father were heterozygous for this allele; the second allele in the patient remains unidentified. Genomic Southern analysis revealed that the second proband most likely harbours a deletion in the 3' region of the GABA-T gene.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗
PubMed2003

Simultaneous synthesis of enantiomerically pure (R)-1-phenylethanol and (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine from racemic alpha-methylbenzylamine using omega-transaminase/alcohol dehydrogenase/glucose dehydrogenase coupling reaction.

A simultaneous synthesis of (R)-1-phenylethanol and (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine from racemic alpha-methylbenzylamine was achieved using an omega-transaminase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and glucose dehydrogenase in a coupled reaction. Racemic alpha-methylbenzylamine (100 mM) was converted to 49 mM (R)-1-phenylethanol (> 99% ee) and 48 mM (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine (> 98% ee) in 18 h at 37 degrees C. This method was also used to overcome product inhibition of omega-TA by the ketone product in the kinetic resolution of racemic amines at high concentration.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2004

Uptake of GABA and activity of GABA transaminase in blood platelets from children with absence epilepsy.

Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a well-defined generalized epilepsy syndrome clinically characterized by frequent absence seizures. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of GABA transaminase (GABA-T) and the kinetic parameters of GABA uptake in platelets from patients with CAE. We studied 13 patients with CAE and eight sex- and age-matched controls. The mean activity of GABA-T was lower in patients with CAE than in controls (1.22+/-0.05 vs. 1.75+/-0.10 micromol/min/kg protein). The capacity of GABA uptake into the platelets was higher in patients using valproate (0.66+/-0.09 micromol/min/kg protein), but not in those using ethosuximide (0.34+/-0.05 micromol/min/kg protein), when compared to controls (0.26+/-0.06 micromol/min/kg protein). The affinity of the transporters was not altered. The observed peripheral alterations may indicate impaired function of brain GABAergic systems in children with absence epilepsy.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗
PubMed1991

GABAergic innervation in cerebral blood vessels: an immunohistochemical demonstration of L-glutamic acid decarboxylase and GABA transaminase.

The presence of GABAergic innervation in cerebral arteries of several species was investigated by an immunohistochemical method using antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T). Both GAD and GABA-T immunoreactivities were found to be associated with large bundles and single fibers in the adventitial layer of arteries examined. The density and distribution pattern of both GAD- and GABA-T-immunoreactive fibers were found to be comparable at most regions examined. Both fibers were found to be most dense in the anterior cerebral artery and its adjacent part of the circle of Willis. Several peripheral arteries were found to receive very sparse or no GAD- and GABA-T-immunoreactive fibers. Superior cervical ganglionectomy did not appreciably affect the distribution of both fibers. Cold-storage denervation, however, resulted in a drastic decrease in both fibers. At ultrastructural levels, both GAD- and GABA-T-immunoreactive nerve profiles were found to be very close to the smooth muscle cells. These results demonstrate the presence of a potentially functional GABAergic innervation in cerebral circulation. On few occasions, GAD immunoreactivities were also found in some endothelial cells, suggesting that a nonneuronal GABA system may also be present in cerebral arteries.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗
PubMed2006

A patient with abdominal pain and markedly elevated transaminase levels after cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: A 33-year-old white female with a history of cholecystectomy presented to the emergency department with intermittent severe abdominal pain radiating from the left upper quadrant to the right upper quadrant, associated with nausea and emesis. Three weeks previously the patient had presented to the emergency department with similar pain in the abdomen. Laboratory investigations had revealed elevated bilirubin, transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase levels. At that time, pain and liver chemistry test results improved and the patient was discharged on hospital day 3. She denied a history of alcohol use, new medications, or the ingestion of other toxins. INVESTIGATIONS: History and physical examination, liver chemistry tests, viral hepatitis serology tests, autoimmune serology tests, abdominal ultrasound, liver biopsy, and an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram. DIAGNOSIS: Choledocholithiasis. MANAGEMENT: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram with sphincterotomy, removal of an 8 mm distal common bile duct stone, and pancreatic stent placement.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1997

Effect of chronic treatment with the GABA transaminase inhibitors gamma-vinyl GABA and ethanolamine O-sulphate on the in vitro GABA release from rat hippocampus.

1. The effects of 2, 8 and 21 day oral treatment with the specific gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitors gamma-vinyl GABA (GVG) and ethanolamine O-sulphate (EOS) on brain GABA levels, GABA-T activity, and basal and stimulated GABA release from rat cross-chopped brain hippocampal slices was investigated. 2. Treatment with GABA-T inhibitors lead to a reduction in brain GABA-T activity by 65-80% compared with control values, with a concomitant increase in brain GABA content of 40-100%. 3. Basal hippocampal GABA release was increased to 250-450% of control levels following inhibition of GABA-T activity. No Ca2+ dependence was observed in either control or treated tissues. 4. GVG and EOS administration led to a significant elevation in the potassium stimulated release of GABA from cross-chopped hippocampal slices compared with that of controls. Although stimulated GABA release from control tissues was decreased in the presence of a low Ca2+ medium, GVG and EOS treatment abolished this Ca2+ dependency. 5. GABA compartmentalization, Na+ and Cl- coupled GABA uptake carriers and glial release may provide explanations for the loss of the Ca2+ dependency of stimulated GABA release observed following GVG and EOS treatment. 6. Administration of GABA-T inhibitors led to increases in both basal and stimulated hippocampal GABA release. However, it is not clear which is the most important factor in the anticonvulsant activity of these drugs, the increased GABA content 'leaking' out of neurones and glia leading to widespread inhibition, or the increase in stimulated GABA release which may occur following depolarization caused by an epileptic discharge.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗
PubMed2001

Kynurenine aminotransferase and glutamine transaminase K of Escherichia coli: identity with aspartate aminotransferase.

The present study describes the isolation of a protein from Escherichia coli possessing kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) activity and its identification as aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT). KAT catalyses the transamination of kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine to kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid respectively, and the enzyme activity can be easily detected in E. coli cells. Separation of the E. coli protein possessing KAT activity through various chromatographic steps led to the isolation of the enzyme. N-terminal sequencing of the purified protein determined its first 10 N-terminal amino acid residues, which were identical with those of the E. coli AspAT. Recombinant AspAT (R-AspAT), homologously expressed in an E. coli/pET22b expression system, was capable of catalysing the transamination of both l-kynurenine (K(m)=3 mM; V(max)=7.9 micromol.min(-1).mg(-1)) and 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine (K(m)=3.7 mM; V(max)=1.25 micromol.min(-1).mg(-1)) in the presence of pyruvate as an amino acceptor, and exhibited its maximum activity at temperatures between 50-60 degrees C and at a pH of approx. 7.0. Like mammalian KATs, R-AspAT also displayed high glutamine transaminase K activity when l-phenylalanine was used as an amino donor (K(m)=8 mM; V(max)=20.6 micromol.min(-1).mg(-1)). The exact match of the first ten N-terminal amino acid residues of the KAT-active protein with that of AspAT, in conjunction with the high KAT activity of R-AspAT, provides convincing evidence that the identity of the E. coli protein is AspAT.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1978

The pyridoxal-binding site in pyridoxamine-pyruvate transaminase.

The enzyme-substrate complex formed between pyridoxamine-pyruvate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.30) and pyridoxal was reduced with NaBH4. After carboxymethylation and tryptic digestion, pyridoxyl-lysine-containing peptides were isolated by a combination of Sephadex and Dowex 50 chromatography. Analysis of these peptides shows the structure around the pyridoxal-binding lysine residues to be Ala-Asp-Ile-Tyr-Val-Thr-Gly-Pro-Asx-Lys(Pxy)-Cys-Leu(Pro2, Gly2, Ala2, Met)(Thr, Leu2)Gly-Val-Ser-Glu-Arg. This structure differs from those found for the corresponding peptides from pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1995

The effect of chronic treatment with the GABA transaminase inhibitors gamma-vinyl-GABA and ethanolamine-O-sulphate on the in vivo release of GABA from rat hippocampus.

The effects of chronic treatment with the specific, mechanism-based, irreversible inhibitors of 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.19; GABA transaminase), ethanolamine O-sulphate (EOS), and 4-aminohexenoate [vigabatrin; gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG)] on the extracellular concentrations of GABA in the hippocampus have been studied using in vivo microdialysis in conscious animals. Oral dosing [3 mg/ml of drinking water, giving doses of GVG of 194 +/- 38 mg/kg/day and of EOS of 303 +/- 42 mg/kg/day (mean +/- SD)] was followed by microdialysis at 2, 8, and 21 days. The basal outflow of GABA (in the range of approximately 1-2 pmol/30 microliters/30-min sample) after 2 and 8 days of treatment was not significantly different from that in control animals, but the 21-day treatment gave significant rises in the extracellular GABA concentration (up to approximately 6-8 pmol/30 microliters/30-min sample). Both inhibitors gave similar results. Depolarisation with 100 mM K+ gave large increases in GABA release in control (approximately 20-60 pmol/30 microliters/30-min sample) and treated animals. The 8- and 21-day-treated animals showed significant increases in the stimulated release compared with control animals (approximately 80-100 pmol/30 microliters/30-min sample). Excluding Ca2+ had no significant effect on either basal or stimulated release. The significant increases in K(+)-evoked release of GABA show that the increased intracellular pool of GABA is available for release, and this may be related to the anticonvulsant action of these compounds.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗
PubMed2002

Neurotoxic effects of GABA-transaminase inhibitors in the treatment of epilepsy: ocular perfusion and visual performance.

Vigabatrin is a GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) transaminase inhibitor that elicits an antiepileptic effect by enhancing inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain. Vigabatrin has been previously associated with concentric peripheral visual field loss and visual electrophysiological abnormalities. Recently, visual function deficits of the central retina have been identified in a proportion of patients receiving vigabatrin; these include disturbances in colour perception, contrast sensitivity and short-wavelength automated perimetry. Consequently, it is suggested that vigabatrin-associated retinal toxicity is diffuse inducing subtle central visual dysfunction and more severe peripheral visual defects. Reductions in cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate for glucose occur in epilepsy patients receiving antiepileptic drug therapy. Despite the known cerebral haemodynamic alterations in epilepsy and the visual consequences of vigabatrin therapy, ocular blood flow has only recently been investigated in this group. We present findings from a series of novel investigations that identify compromised retinal microvascular perfusion and pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) in epilepsy patients. The reduction in POBF was exacerbated in epilepsy patients treated with vigabatrin compared to conventionally treated epilepsy patients. A number of theories are presented to explain compromised ocular blood flow in vigabatrin treated epilepsy patients, and the possibility of a GABAergic mechanism of toxicity is discussed.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗
PubMed1993

Hepatitis C virus RNA in serum of blood donors with or without elevated transaminase levels.

The pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia in blood donors who are positive for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) according to the level of transaminase activity is unclear. A polymerase chain reaction-based HCV RNA detection method was used to study two clearly defined groups of anti-HCV-positive blood donors with repeatedly normal (n = 27) and elevated (n = 17) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. HCV RNA was detected in only 4 of 27 blood donors with normal ALT values and 15 of 17 with elevated ALT values. These results indicate that anti-HCV-positive blood donors with normal ALT levels constitute a heterogeneous group, as HCV viremia is detectable in only a small proportion of cases. Polymerase chain reaction should be useful in the surveillance of anti-HCV-positive blood donors with normal ALT levels, by identifying those who might benefit from further investigation and treatment.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1997

Clinical, histological, and virological features of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal or abnormal alanine transaminase levels.

This study was aimed to evaluate demographic, clinical, histological, and virological characteristics of 46 hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with persistently normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and to compare the results with those obtained in a group of 52 HCV-RNA-positive patients with elevated ALT levels. Subjects with normal ALT were more often females (P < .001), were more likely to be asymptomatic (P < .001), and have a lower incidence of risk factors for HCV transmission (P < .01). All patients with normal ALT had significant histological liver damage. The mean grading and staging did not differ between patients with normal and those with raised ALT concentrations. Moderate to severe hepatitis was more frequently found among subjects with normal than with elevated ALT. HCV genotype 2a was far more common in subjects with normal (43%) than with abnormal ALT levels (6%; P < .002), genotype 1b being more frequent in these latter (50% vs. 17%; P < .001). Patients with normal ALT levels had similar serum HCV-RNA titers than subjects with raised ALT. Neither HCV genotype distribution nor viral load correlated with the severity of liver damage. We conclude that significant liver disease may occur irrespective of clinical symptoms, ALT levels, HCV genotypes, and viral load.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prospective study on anti-hepatitis C virus-positive patients with persistently normal serum alanine transaminase with or without detectable serum hepatitis C virus RNA.

A significant proportion of patients with detectable antibodies to hepatitis C virus have normal serum alanine transaminase levels. Our aim was to study the outcome of this group. Between 1992 and 1999, 135 consecutive anti-HCV-positive patients with persistently normal ALT were followed for 3.6 +/- 2.3 years (0.5 to 8.5 years), 108 had a liver biopsy at inclusion, and 24 had a second liver biopsy 3.5 +/- 1.0 years later. Serum HCV RNA was detectable with PCR in 94 patients (69%) and not detectable in 41 patients (31%). Patients with and without detectable serum HCV RNA had similar epidemiological characteristics. Serum ALT levels and anti-HCV ratio were lower (P =.001), and histological lesions had lower grade and stage in patients without detectable serum HCV RNA (P =.001). Liver HCV RNA was not detectable with PCR in the 12-serum HCV RNA-negative patients tested. During follow-up, all patients without detectable serum HCV RNA remained HCV RNA-negative and kept normal serum ALT; all patients with detectable serum HCV RNA remained HCV RNA-positive, 20 (21%) had a slight fluctuation of serum ALT above the upper limit of normal. No significant changes were observed in the liver lesions of the 24 patients who underwent a second liver biopsy. In anti-HCV-positive patients with persistently normal serum ALT, histological lesions are significantly lower in HCV RNA-negative than in HCV RNA-positive patients. During follow-up, the HCV RNA status of patients remained unchanged; 21% of the patients with detectable serum HCV RNA had slight increase in serum ALT levels, but histological lesions remained stable.

Adult↗