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Damage to neurons in culture following medium change: role of glutamine and extracellular generation of glutamate.

Changing the medium of primary cell cultures of CNS origin causes severe damage that is mediated via the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type of glutamate receptors and dependent on the presence of glutamine in the medium. Data presented here show that glutamine has two roles in culture damage: glutamine is contaminated with a small amount of glutamate, which is responsible for initiating culture damage, and glutamine is the source of the glutamate that is produced extracellularly in damaged cultures. The NMDA receptor plays a critical role minutes after medium change when the glutamate contaminating the glutamine binds to NMDA receptors; during this time, addition of a low level (10-20 microM) of 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid can block most culture damage and the appearance of extracellular glutamate. A higher level (300 microM) of 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid can protect cultures when added at much later times (30-60 min). Between 3 and 6 h after medium change, the concentration of extracellular glutamate starts to rise and accumulates until the end of the culture period (20 h). Medium removed from cultures at 3 h or later after medium change and incubated alone (i.e., with no cells) also continues to generate glutamate; filtration (0.22 microns pore size) or centrifugation (18,000 g) stops the appearance of this glutamate. 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase, blocks the generation of glutamate. Mitochondria or mitochondrial fragments are probably released from the damaged cells and then convert extracellular glutamine to glutamate, resulting in generation of a high extracellular glutamate concentration.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Growth hormone suppression and glutamine flux associated with cardiac surgery.

Pharmacological doses of growth hormone (GH) in humans and rats increase plasma and muscle glutamine values. As major surgery results in a physiological rise in serum GH concentration, we investigated whether this physiological increase in GH altered glutamine metabolism. Eighteen patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were randomly assigned to receive somatostatin, 100 micrograms subcutaneously at induction of anaesthesia and 8 hourly for 48 h, or placebo. Somatostatin effectively blocked the physiological surge of GH following injury but did not affect plasma or muscle glutamine concentrations, which fell significantly in both groups. Plasma glutamine decreased by 31% (P < 0.01) and 28% (P < 0.01) in the control and somatostatin groups respectively. Muscle glutamine was reduced 45% (P < 0.001) in the control group and 50% (P < 0.001) in the somatostatin group. There was no difference in muscle or circulating glutamate, alanine or branched chain amino acid concentrations or in metabolite values between the somatostatin-treated patients and the control group. There was no relationship between the GH response to surgery and glutamine metabolism following major surgery.

Blood Glucose↗

Inhibition by L-glutamine of the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor from cultured endothelial cells.

L-Glutamine (0.02-2 mM) but not D-glutamine (0.2 mM and 2 mM) inhibited the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) from bovine aortic endothelial cells cultured in the presence or absence of L-arginine. Inhibition was maximal at a concentration of 200 microns, and was reversed by L-arginine (50 microns) but not D-arginine (100 microns). L-Glutamic acid (2 mM) or ammonium chloride (1 mM), putative products of the metabolism of L-glutamine in endothelial cells, had no effect on EDRF release. L-Glutamine (0.2 mM and 2 mM) but not D-glutamine (2 mM), L-glutamic acid (2 mM) or ammonium chloride (1 mM) also inhibited the generation of L-arginine in endothelial cells. Thus, L-glutamine inhibits EDRF release by preventing the generation of L-arginine.

Animals↗

Effects of oral supplement of L-glutamine on diverted colon wall.

Diverted colorectal segments can present trophic and inflammatory changes. These alterations are of special importance in the patients whose colostomy becomes permanent, as well as in the differential diagnosis with other inflammatory diseases. This study was accomplished to quantify these alterations and to determine if oral supplement of L-glutamine would avoid them. Twenty-six adult male Wistar rats were distributed in three groups: control, colostomized and colostomized+L-glutamine. The colostomized group received a loop colostomy. The colostomized+L-glutamine group received a colostomy similar to the previous group and oral supplement of L-glutamine. Partial volumes of all layers of the colonic wall were measured by image analysis stereology. The diversion caused a decrease of partial volumes of the mucosa and the epithelium as well, and also of the height of the intestinal crypts (p<0.05). There was an increase of partial volumes of the lamina propria, of the submucosa and of the muscularis mucosae vs controls (p<0.05). The partial volume of the muscularis propria didn't show significant alteration. The supplementation of L-glutamine was effective in preventing the atrophy of mucosa and epithelium (p<0.05), also avoiding the increase of partial volumes of the submucosa and lamina propria (p<0.05). This supplement didn't change significantly the muscular layers. In conclusion, colostomy causes the atrophy of the colon wall, mainly due to the atrophy of the epithelium. The supplementation of L-glutamine is able to avoid these changes.

Animals↗

pH and temperature dependence of glutamine uptake, carbon dioxide and ammonia production in kidney slices from acidotic rats.

1. The effects of medium pH and temperature on glutamine uptake, NH3 production and CO2 production were examined using kidney cortex slices from normal and acidotic rats. 2. Uptake of glutamine by kidney slices from normal rats shows a pH optimum of 7.5 at 25 degrees C and 7.3 at 37 degrees C. Uptake is optimal, however, at a constant OH-/H+ ratio of 10. 3. In slices from acidotic rats greatest uptake was at pH 6.8 at 25 degrees C and 6.6 at 37 degrees C. Optimal OH-/H+ ratio was 0.4 and constant at both temperatures. 4. CO2 production from glutamine was greatest at pH 7.0 at 37 degrees C in slices from control rats. No pH optimum was detected at 25 degrees C. With slices from acidotic animals, optimal pH for CO2 production became identical with that for uptake. 5. Both basal and glutamine-stimulated NH3 production showed no optimal pH but were significantly higher in slices from acidotic rats compared with those from controls. 6. Dependence of glutamine penetration on optimal OH-/H+ ratio is considered to reflect a general membrane phenomenon which is produced by either an increase in carrier-substrate complexes or an increase in the number of carriers at this ratio. 7. Cellular penetration of glutamine does not appear to be a limiting factor in production of NH3 in vitro.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

The influence of L-glutamine on the depression of hepatic cytochrome P450 activity in male rats caused by total parenteral nutrition.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) bypasses the gut leading to intestinal and hepatic dysfunction, including decreased hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) activity. Glutamine prevents the TPN-associated changes in gut function and morphology. This study examined the effect of glutamine supplementation on hepatic P450 activities in male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving continuous TPN. Animals received continuous lipid-free TPN for 7 days with 0, 0.1, or 4.5% glutamine. Surgical controls were allowed free access to rat chow. The V(max)/K(m) ratios (intrinsic clearance) for the formation of 4-hydroxymidazolam (CYP3A) were 12.8, 14.6, and 27.7 microl/min/mg for TPN treatment with 0, 0.1%, or 4.5% glutamine, respectively, compared with a chow-fed control (37.1 microl/min/mg). The corresponding values for 1'-hydroxymidazolam formation (CYP3A) were 3.7, 6.1, 11.7, and 15.2 microl/min/mg, respectively. The addition of glutamine to TPN similarly affected the formation rates for 2beta- and 6beta-hydroxytestosterone (CYP3A), and these metabolite formation rates were highly correlated (r = 0.865; p < 0.001). The formation rates for 2alpha- and 16alpha-hydroxytestosterone (CYP2C) were also highly correlated (r = 0.892; p < 0.001). Parenteral glutamine modified the TPN-associated suppression of CYP3A and CYP2C activities in adult male rats receiving TPN.

Animals↗

Regulation of nitrogen fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae: evidence for a role of glutamine synthetase as a regulator of nitrogenase synthesis.

Mutations causing constitutive synthesis of glutamine synthetase (GlnC(-) phenotype) were transferred from Klebsiella aerogenes into Klebsiella pneumoniae by P1-mediated transduction. Such GlnC(-) strains of K. pneumoniae have constitutive levels of glutamine synthetase. Two of three GlnC(-) strains of K. pneumoniae studied, each containing independently isolated mutations that confer the GlnC(-) phenotype, continue to synthesize nitrogenase in the presence of NH(4) (+). One strain, KP5069, produces 30% as much nitrogenase when grown in the presence of 15 mM NH(4) (+) as in its absence. The GlnC(-) phenotype allows the synthesis of nitrogenase to continue under conditions that completely repress nitrogenase synthesis in the wild-type strain. Glutamine auxotrophs of K. pneumoniae, that do not produce catalytically active glutamine synthetase, are unable to synthesize nitrogenase during nitrogen limited growth. Complementation of K. pneumoniae Gln(-) strains by an Escherichia coli episome (F'133) simultaneously restores glutamine synthetase activity and the ability to synthesize nitrogenase. These results indicate a role for glutamine synthetase as a positive control element for nitrogen fixation in K. pneumoniae.

Catalysis↗

Identification of the structural gene for glutamine synthetase in Klebsiella aerogenes.

Mutations at two sites of the Klebsiella aerogenes chromosome, unlinked by transduction with phages PW52 and P1, result in the lack of enzymatically active glutamine synthetase. A mutation in the glnB site leads to a marked decrease in the formation of an apparently normal enzyme. Some of the mutations in the glnA site lead to the production of enzymatically inactive material capable of reacting with anti-glutamine synthetase serum. The revertant of a glnA mutant was found to produce a glutamine synthetase with less activity and less stability to heat than the enzyme of the wild type. These results locate the structural gene to the production of enzymatically inactive glutamine synthetase antigen, not subject to repression by exogenously added ammonia. This observation suggests that glutamine synthetase is itself involved in the regulation of the synthesis of glutamine synthetase.

Ammonia↗

Mutations affecting glutamine synthetase activity in Salmonella typhimurium.

A positive selection procedure has been devised for isolating mutant strains of Salmonella typhimurium with altered glutamine synthetase activity. Mutants are derived from a histidine auxotroph by selecting for ability to grow on D-histidine as the sole histidine source. We hypothesize that the phenotype may be based on a regulatory increase in the activities of the D-histidine racemizing enzymes, but this has not been established. Spontaneous glutamine-requiring mutants isolated by the above selection procedure have two types of alterations in glutamine synthetase activity. Some have less than 10% of parent activity. Others have significant glutamine synthetase activity, but the enzyme have an altered response to divalent cations. Activity in mutants of the second type mimics that of highly adenylylated wild-type enzyme, which is believed to be in-active in vivo. Glutamine synthetase from one such mutant is more heat labile than wild-type enzyme, indicating that it is structurally altered. Mutations in all strains are probably in the glutamine synthetase structural gene (glnA). They are closely linked on the Salmonella chromosome and lie at about min 125. The mutants have normal glutamate dehydrogenase activity.

Cell-Free System↗

Formation of glutamine from [13n]ammonia, [13n]dinitrogen, and [14C]glutamate by heterocysts isolated from Anabaena cylindrica.

A method is described for the isolation of metabolically active heterocysts from Anabaena cylindrica. These isolated heterocysts accounted for up to 34% of the acetylene-reducing activity of whole filaments and had a specific activity of up to 1,560 nmol of C2H4 formed per mg of heterocyst chlorphyll per min. Activity of glutamine synthetase was coupled to activity of nitrogenase in isolated heterocysts as shown by acetylene-inhibitable formation of [13N]NH3 and of amidelabeled [13N]glutamine form [13N]N2. A method is also described for the production of 6-mCi amounts of [13N]NH3. Isolated heterocysts formed [13N]glutamine from [13N]NH3 and glutamate, and [14C]glutamine from NH3 and [14C]glutamate, in the presence of magnesium adenosine 5'-triphosphate. Methionine sulfoximine strongly inhibited these syntheses. Glutamate synthase is, after nitrogenase and glutamine synthetase, the third sequential enzyme involved in the assimilation of N2 by intact filaments. However, the kinetics of solubilization of the activity of glutamate synthase during cavitation of suspensions of A. cylindrica indicated that very little, if any, of the activity of that enzyme was located in heterocysts. Concordantly, isolated heterocysts failed to form substantial amounts of radioactive glutamate from either [13N]glutamine or alph-[14C]ketoglutarate in the presence of other substrates and cofactors of the glutamate synthase reaction. However, they formed [14C]glutamate rapidly from alpha-[14C]ketoglutarate by aminotransferase reactions, with various amino acids as the nitrogen donor. The implication of these findings with regard to the identities of the substances moving between heterocysts and vegetative cells are discussed.

Acetylene↗

Regulation of glutamine synthetase formation in Escherichia coli: characterization of mutants lacking the uridylyltransferase.

A lambda phage (lambdaNK55) carrying the translocatable element Tn10, conferring tetracycline resistance (Tetr), has been utilized to isolate glutamine auxotrophs of Escherichia coli K-12. Such strains lack uridylyltransferase as a result of an insertion of the TN10 element in the glnD gene. The glnD::Tn10 insertion has been mapped at min 4 on the E. coli chromosome and 98% contransducible by phage P1 with dapD. A lambda transducing phage carrying the glnD gene has been identified. A glnD::Tn10 strain synthesizes highly adenylylated glutamine synthetase under all conditions of growth and fails to accumulate high levels of glutamine synthetase in response to nitrogen limitation. However, this strain, under nitrogen-limiting conditions, allows synthesis of 10 to 20 milliunits of biosynthetically active glutamine synthetase per mg of protein, which is sufficient to allow slow growth in the absence of glutamine. The GlnD phenotype in E. coli can be suppressed by the presence of mutations which increase the quantity of biosynthetically active glutamine synthetase.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Nitrogen control of Salmonella typhimurium: co-regulation of synthesis of glutamine synthetase and amino acid transport systems.

Nitrogen control in Salmonella typhimurium is not limited to glutamine synthetase but affects, in addition, transport systems for histidine, glutamine, lysine-arginine-ornithine, and glutamate-aspartate. Synthesis of both glutamine synthetase and transport proteins is elevated by limitation of nitrogen in the growth medium or as a result of nitrogen (N)-regulatory mutations. Increases in the amounts of these proteins were demonstrated by direct measurements of their activities, by immunological techniques, and by visual inspection of cell fractions after gel electrophoresis. The N-regulatory mutations are closely linked on the chromosome to the structural gene for glutamine synthetase, glnA: we discuss the possibility that they lie in a regulatory gene, glnR, which is distinct from glnA. Increases in amino acid transport in N-regulatory mutant strains were indicated by increased activity in direct transport assays, improved growth on substrates of the transport systems, and increased sensitivity to inhibitory analogs that are trnasported by these systems. Mutations to loss of function of individual transport components (hisJ, hisP, glnH, argT) were introduced into N-regulatory mutant strains to determine the roles of these components in the phenotype and transport behavior of the strains. The structural gene for the periplasmic glutamine-binding protein, glnH, was identified, as was a gene argT that probably encodes the structure of the lysine-arginine-ornithine-binding protein. Genes encoding the structures of the histidine- and glutamine-binding proteins are not linked to glnA or to each other by P22-mediated transduction; thus, nitrogen control is exerted on several unlinked genes.

Amino Acids↗

Regulation of glutamine synthesis by glycine and serine in Neurospora crassa.

The biosynthetic activities of the polypeptide subunits alpha and beta of glutamine synthetase (GS) were inhibited in vitro by glycine and serine. These amino acids inhibited the growth of a mutant strain with partial GS activity when grown on glutamate as the nitrogen source and also blocked the synthesis of the glutamine in vivo, thus demonstrating the inhibitory effect on GS activity in vivo. Glycine and serine lowered the intracellular glutamine pool and regulated GS beta synthesis. A preferential induction of synthesis of the GS beta polypeptide was observed when either of these amino acids was present in the medium. On this basis, we obtained a glycine-sensitive mutant which showed a structural alteration of the GS beta polypeptide. The double regulatory effect of either glycine or serine on glutamine synthesis may be considered an example of the regulation of glutamine synthesis by alpha-amino nitrogen. It may be a mechanism that regulates the assimilation of ammonium into glutamate versus glutamine.

Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase↗

Subunit interactions and glutamine utilization by Escherichia coli imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase.

A selection strategy has been developed to identify amino acid residues involved in subunit interactions that coordinate the two half-reactions catalyzed by glutamine amidotransferases. The protein structures known for this class of enzymes have revealed that ammonia is shuttled over long distances and that each amidotransferase evolved different molecular tunnels for this purpose. The heterodimeric Escherichia coli imidazole glycerol phosphate (IGP) synthase was probed to assess if residues in the substrate amination subunit (HisF) are critical for the glutaminase activity in the HisH subunit. The activity of the HisH subunit is dependent upon binding of the nucleotide substrate at the HisF active site. This regulatory function has been exploited as a biochemical selection of mutant HisF subunits that retain full activity with ammonia as a substrate but, when constituted as a holoenzyme with wild-type HisH, impair the glutamine-dependent activity of IGP synthase. The steady-state kinetic constants for these IGP synthases with HisF alleles showed three distinct effects depending upon the site of mutation. For example, mutation of the R5 residue has similar effects on the glutamine-dependent amidotransfer reaction; however, k(cat)/K(m) for the glutaminase half-reaction was increased 10-fold over that for the wild-type enzyme with nucleotide substrate. This site appears essential for coupling of the glutamine hydrolysis and ammonia transfer steps and is the first example of a site remote to the catalytic triad that modulates the process. The results are discussed in the context of recent X-ray crystal structures of glutamine amidotransferases that relate the glutamine binding and acceptor binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of glutamine synthetase in nitrogen metabolite repression in Aspergillus nidulans.

Glutamine synthetase (GS), EC 6.3.1.2, is a central enzyme in the assimilation of nitrogen and the biosynthesis of glutamine. We have isolated the Aspergillus nidulans glnA gene encoding GS and have shown that glnA encodes a highly expressed but not highly regulated mRNA. Inactivation of glnA results in an absolute glutamine requirement, indicating that GS is responsible for the synthesis of this essential amino acid. Even when supplemented with high levels of glutamine, strains lacking a functional glnA gene have an inhibited morphology, and a wide range of compounds have been shown to interfere with repair of the glutamine auxotrophy. Heterologous expression of the prokaryotic Anabaena glnA gene from the A. nidulans alcA promoter allowed full complementation of the A. nidulans glnADelta mutation. However, the A. nidulans fluG gene, which encodes a protein with similarity to prokaryotic GS, did not replace A. nidulans glnA function when similarly expressed. Our studies with the glnADelta mutant confirm that glutamine, and not GS, is the key effector of nitrogen metabolite repression. Additionally, ammonium and its immediate product glutamate may also act directly to signal nitrogen sufficiency.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulation of glutamine synthetase. II. Patterns of feedback inhibition in microorganisms.

The feedback inhibition of glutamine synthetase was investigated by use of partially purified enzyme preparations from Salmonella typhimurium, Micrococcus sodonensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, Clostridium pasteurianum, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Neurospora crassa, Candida utilis, and Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Inhibition analyses indicated that the enzyme of each organism can be effectively regulated with mixtures of end products from the diverse pathways of glutamine metabolism. When tested individually, tryptophan, histidine, alanine, glycine, glutamine, 5'-adenylate (AMP), cytidine-5'-triphosphate, carbamyl phosphate, and glucosamine-6-phosphate gave limited inhibition. In most cases, the inhibitors were independent in their action, and cumulative degrees of inhibition were obtained with mixtures of these end products. In contrast, with the glutamine synthetases of the two Bacillus species, the simultaneous presence of AMP and histidine (or AMP and glutamine) gave inhibition greater than the sum of the amounts of inhibition caused by either inhibitor alone. Also, alanine and carbamyl phosphate acted synergistically to inhibit the enzyme from N. crassa. The remarkable similarity in the overall patterns of end-product inhibition observed with the enzymes from different sources indicates that these diverse organisms have evolved comparable mechanisms for the regulation of glutamine metabolism. Nevertheless, the enzymes from different sources do differ significantly in their physical and catalytic properties, as was demonstrated by dissimilarities in their purification behaviors, specificity for nucleotide substrate, ability to catalyze the glutamyl transfer reaction, and ability to utilize Mn(++) and Mg(++) as activators for the biosynthetic reaction.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Effect of L-glutamine and n-butyrate on the restitution of rat colonic mucosa after acid induced injury.

BACKGROUND: L-glutamine and n-butyrate are important nutrients for colonocytes affecting both their structure and function. The effect of these epithelial substrates on resealing of rat distal colon after acid induced injury was studied. METHODS: Isolated colonic mucosa of 32 rats was mounted in Ussing chambers and exposed to Krebs-Ringer solution for four hours. Epithelial injury was induced by short-term exposure to luminal hydrochloric acid and resealing was studied with or without added glutamine or butyrate. RESULTS: Glutamine (luminal and serosal) reduced tissue conductance, mannitol and lactulose permeability, and permeation of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Glutamine (serosal) diminished conductance and mannitol permeability. Both interventions stimulated bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in nuclei of colonocytes. Luminal butyrate had no measurable effect on these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that L-glutamine stimulates repair mechanisms of rat colonic mucosa after acid injury. This effect on the gut barrier is associated with a stimulation of crypt cell proliferation. The addition of glutamine to parenteral solutions may be beneficial for patients under intensive care whose intestinal barrier is weakened in the course of sepsis and trauma.

Animals↗

Prophylactic effect of dietary glutamine supplementation on interleukin 8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha production in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid induced colitis.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that glutamine supplemented elemental diets result in less severe intestinal damage in experimental colitis. However, few studies have examined the mode of action of glutamine in reducing intestinal damage. AIMS: To examine the effects of glutamine supplemented elemental diets on the potent inflammatory cytokines interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis which presents with both acute and chronic features of ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised into three dietary groups and fed 20% casein (controls), or 20% casein supplemented with either 2% glutamine (2% Gln) or 4% glutamine (4% Gln). After two weeks they received intracolonic TNBS to induce colitis. RESULTS: Both Gln groups of rats gained more weight than the control group (p < 0.05) which had progressive weight loss. Colon weight, macroscopic, and microscopic damage scores for the Gln groups were lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). IL-8 and TNF-alpha concentrations in inflamed colonic tissues were lower in the Gln groups than in the control group (p < 0.05), and correlated well with disease severity. Bacterial translocation was lower both in incidence (p < 0.05) and in the number of colony forming units (p < 0.05) for the Gln groups, than in the control group. With respect to all indices studied, the 4% Gln group performed better than did the 2% Gln group. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic glutamine supplementation modulates the inflammatory activities of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in TNBS induced colitis.

Analysis of Variance↗