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The AMP-activated protein kinase pathway--new players upstream and downstream.

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) cascade is a sensor of cellular energy status. Whenever the cellular ATP:ADP ratio falls, owing to a stress that inhibits ATP production or increases ATP consumption, this is amplified by adenylate kinase into a much larger increase in the AMP:ATP ratio. AMP activates the system by binding to two tandem domains on the gamma subunits of AMPK, and this is antagonized by high concentrations of ATP. AMP binding causes activation by a sensitive mechanism involving phosphorylation of AMPK by the tumour suppressor LKB1. Once activated, AMPK switches on catabolic pathways that generate ATP while switching off ATP-consuming processes. As well as acting at the level of the individual cell, the system also regulates food intake and energy expenditure at the whole body level, in particular by mediating the effects of hormones and cytokines such as leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin. A particularly interesting downstream target recently identified is TSC2 (tuberin). The LKB1-->AMPK-->TSC2 pathway negatively regulates the target of rapamycin (TOR), and this appears to be responsible for limiting protein synthesis and cell growth, and protecting against apoptosis, during cellular stresses such as glucose starvation.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases↗

Strain-dependent cross-bridge cycle for muscle. II. Steady-state behavior.

Quantitative predictions of steady-state muscle properties from the strain-dependent cross-bridge for muscle are presented. With a stiffness of 5.4 x 10(-4) N/m per head, a throw distance of 11 nm, and three allowed actin sites/head, isometric properties and their dependence on phosphate and nucleotide levels are well described if the tension-generating step occurs before phosphate release. At very low ATP levels, rigorlike states with negative strain are predicted. The rate-limiting step for cycling and ATP consumption is strain-blocked ADP release for isometric and slowly shortening muscle. Under rapid shortening, ATP hydrolysis on detached heads is the rate-limiting step, and the ratio of bound ATP to bound ADP.Pi increases by a factor of 7. At large positive strains, bound heads must be forcibly detached from actin to account for tension in rapid extension, but forced detachment in shortening has no effect without destroying isometric attached states. Strain-blocked phosphate release as proposed produces modest inhibition of the ATPase rate under rapid shortening, sufficient to give a maximum for one actin site per helix turn. Alternative cross-bridge models are discussed in the light of these predictions.

Actins↗

Adenine nucleotide regulation of malate oxidation in isolated mung bean hypocotyl mitochondria.

We have studied the effects of ATP and ADP on the oxidation of malate by coupled and uncoupled mitochondria prepared from etiolated hypocotyls of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.).In coupled mitochondria, ATP (1 millimolar) increased pyruvate production and decreased oxaloacetate formation without altering the rate of oxygen consumption. ATP also significantly decreased oxaloacetate production and increased pyruvate production in mitochondria that were uncoupled by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone plus oligomycin.In coupled mitochondria, ADP (1 millimolar) increased the production of both pyruvate and oxaloacetate concomitantly with the acceleration of oxygen uptake to the state 3 rate. The effects of ADP were largely eliminated in uncoupled mitochondria. These results indicate that, whereas the ADP stimulation of oxaloacetate and pyruvate production in the coupled mitochondria is brought about primarily as the result of the accelerated rates of electron transport and NADH oxidation by the respiratory chain in state 3, ATP has significant regulatory effects independent of those that might be exerted by control of electron transport.

Journal Article↗

[Change in energy metabolism of ascites cancer cells with a decrease in pH].

In Hank's balanced salt solution EL-4 ascites thymoma cells possessed endogenous respiration which was sufficient for the maintenance of their ATP level: pH decrease down to 6.0 had no effect either on endogenous respiration or the ATP level. Glucose had no influence on the respiration of EL-4 cells but inhibited that of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells by 40% (Crabtree effect); respiration of the both cell lines was strongly (4-fold) inhibited after simultaneous addition of glucose, lactate and pH decrease. EL-4 cells had no endogenous glycolysis; EAC cells showed a low level of glycolysis only after pH decrease. Glucose addition led to activation of glycolysis (both inhibited 2-fold after a decrease of pH down to 6.0. The respiration inhibition at pH 7.3 and 6.0 caused no decrease of ATP depletion when glucose was present in the medium; this result may be due to suppression of ATP consumption. Incubation of EL-4 cells under respiration and glycolysis deficiency conditions resulted in a sharp ATP depletion; pH decrease delayed this depletion.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Competition between extramitochondrial and intramitochondrial ATP-consuming processes.

The relationship between intra- and extramitochondrial ATP utilization was investigated in liver mitochondria isolated from normally fed, starved and high-protein fed rats. ATP export was provoked by adding a hexokinase-glucose-trap and intramitochondrial ATP consumption by adding ammonia, bicarbonate and ornithine in order to stimulate citrulline synthesis. Both processes compete for ATP produced via oxidative phosphorylation; the rate of citrulline formation declines as the extramitochondrial [ATP]/[ADP] ratio decreases. It is concluded that ATP for adenine nucleotide translocation and that for carbamoyl phosphate synthesis are delivered from a common intramitochondrial pool of adenine nucleotides. In mitochondria from rats with a high-protein diet, citrulline synthesis greatly stimulates the rate of oxidative phosphorylation (about two thirds of state 3 respiration). Under these conditions the intramitochondrial [ATP]/[ADP] ratio is significantly reduced. The intramitochondrial [ATP]/[ADP] ratio is not in thermodynamic equilibrium with the extramitochondrial one.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Balancing of mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production and of the ATP-consuming processes of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells in a high phosphate medium.

A balance of energy budgeting of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells including mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production and about 80% of ATP consumption in a high phosphate medium is presented. In the share of glycolysis was about one-third of the total ATP production, more than twice that found in a low phosphate medium. The extent of a single energy reaction was assessed from the decrease of coupled oxygen consumption and lactate formation following the specific inhibition of this process. The inhibitory effects on coupled respiration and glycolysis were identical for the energy consuming processes measured: protein turnover, Na+/K(+)-ATPase, Ca2(+)-transport and RNA synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Local probes and heterogeneous catalysis: a case study of a mitochondria-luciferase-hexokinase coupled system.

Biological systems are characterized by a high degree of structural organization. In the intracellular context, this introduces physical constraints which are not considered in the standard biochemical analysis of isolated systems, aimed towards mechanistic studies. A major challenge in cellular biology is thus to integrate the structural and mechanistic information and reach an adequate representation of the modes of operation in situ. We present an approach to this problem which takes advantage of a localized probe to study heterogeneous coupled system, as minimal models for cellular operation. The system consists of ATP production at the surface of mitochondria, and ATP consumption in solution by the hexokinase reaction. Soluble or biologically localized firefly luciferase is used to continuously monitor ATP concentration either in the bulk solution or at the surface of the organelle, respectively. The general system of a surface source and a bulk sink is mathematically modeled, and an analytic steady-state solution for local and bulk ATP is presented. The results are validated by experiment and differ from the expected behavior of an equivalent homogeneous system in solution. The model is further adapted to evaluate the effect of mixing. In addition, two limiting cases of heterogeneous distribution of hexokinase are analyzed, in which the soluble enzyme adsorbs non-specifically to mitochondria, or binds selectively to the site of ATP appearance on the membrane. The results are discussed in terms of their significance to the analysis of bulk measurements in vitro and their relevance to better description of cellular situations.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Contributions of Na+ flux and the anoxic depolarization to adenosine 5'-triphosphate levels in hypoxic/hypoglycemic rat hippocampal slices.

A 10 min exposure of rat hippocampal slices to hypoxic/hypoglycemic medium decreased tissue adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) levels. Hypoxia/hypoglycemia also caused an anoxic depolarization and essentially no recovery of the synaptically evoked population spike from CA1 region recorded 30 min after re-introduction of normoxic/normoglycemic medium. Removal of Ca2+ or the addition of either the non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist dizocilpine maleate, the inorganic Ca2+ channel antagonist Co2+; or the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin to hypoxic/hypoglycemic medium improved recovery of the evoked population spike upon re-oxygenation. Dizocilpine maleate, Co2+, and tetrodotoxin spared ATP during exposure to hypoxia/hypoglycemia. In contrast, Ca(2+)-free medium facilitated recovery of the population spike but did not preserve ATP during hypoxia/hypoglycemia. Dizocilpine maleate, Co2+ or dantrolene, when added to Ca(2+)-free medium, did not preserve ATP. Tetrodotoxin, when added to Ca(2+)-free medium, was effective in sparing ATP in hypoxic/hypoglycemic medium. To determine the effect of anoxic depolarization on ATP levels, hippocampal slices were collected just before and after the depolarization. There appeared to be an abrupt drop in ATP associated with the anoxic depolarization. We conclude that Na+ influx plays a relatively larger role in ATP consumption during hypoxia/hypoglycemia than Ca2+ influx. In addition, the anoxic depolarization imposes a large and rapid drop in ATP levels.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

ATP depletion, a possible role in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia in glycogen storage disease type I.

Other investigators have shown that fructose infusion in normal man and rats acutely depletes hepatic ATP and P(i) and increases the rate of uric acid formation by the degradation of preformed nucleotides. We postulated that a similar mechanism of ATP depletion might be present in patients with glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency (GSD-I) as a result of ATP consumption during glycogenolysis and resulting excess glycolysis. The postulate was tested by measurement of: (a) hepatic content of ATP, glycogen, phosphorylated sugars, and phosphorylase activities before and after increasing glycolysis by glucagon infusion and (b) plasma urate levels and urate excretion before and after therapy designed to maintain blood glucose levels above 70 mg/dl and thus prevent excess glycogenolysis and glycolysis. Glucagon infusion in seven patients with GSD-I caused a decrease in hepatic ATP from 2.25 +/- 0.09 to 0.73 +/- 0.06 mumol/g liver (P <0.01), within 5 min, persisting in one patient to 20 min (1.3 mumol/g). Three patients with GSD other than GSD-I (controls), and 10 normal rats, showed no change in ATP levels after glucagon infusion. Glucagon caused an increase in hepatic phosphorylase activity from 163 +/- 21 to 311 +/- 17 mumol/min per g protein (P <0.01), and a decrease in glycogen content from 8.96 +/- 0.51 to 6.68 +/- 0.38% weight (P <0.01). Hepatic content of phosphorylated hexoses measured in two patients, showed the following mean increases in response to glucagon; glucose-6-phosphate (from 0.25 to 0.98 mumol/g liver), fructose-6-phosphate (from 0.17 to 0.45 mumol/g liver), and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (from 0.09 to 1.28 mumol/g) within 5 min. These changes, except for glucose-6-phosphate, returned toward preinfusion levels within 20 min. Treatment consisted of continuous intragastric feedings of a high glucose dietary mixture. Such treatment increased blood glucose from a mean level of 62 (range 28-96) to 86 (range 71-143) mg/dl (P <0.02), decreased plasma glucagon from a mean of 190 (range 171-208) to 56 (range 30-70) pg/ml (P <0.01), but caused no significant change in insulin levels. Urate output measured in three patients showed an initial increase, coinciding with a decrease in plasma lactate and triglyceride levels, then decreased to normal within 3 days after treatment. Normalization of urate excretion was associated with normalization of serum uric acid. We suggest that the maintenance of blood glucose levels above 70 mg/dl is effective in reducing serum urate levels and that transient and recurrent depletion of hepatic ATP due to glycogenolysis is contributory in the genesis of hyperuricemia in untreated patients with GSD-I.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

AMP-activated protein kinase--development of the energy sensor concept.

The LKB1-->AMPK cascade is switched on by metabolic stresses that either inhibit ATP production (e.g. hypoxia, hypoglycaemia) or that accelerate ATP consumption (e.g. muscle contraction). Any decline in cellular energy status is accompanied by a rise in the cellular AMP: ATP ratio, and this activates AMPK by a complex and sensitive mechanism involving antagonistic binding of the nucleotides to two sites on the regulatory gamma subunits of AMPK. Once activated by metabolic stress, AMPK activates catabolic pathways that generate ATP, while inhibiting cell growth and biosynthesis and other processes that consume ATP. While the AMPK system probably evolved in single-celled eukaryotes to maintain energy balance at the cellular level, in multicellular organisms its role has become adapted so that it is also involved in maintaining whole body energy balance. Thus, it is regulated by hormones and cytokines, especially the adipokines leptin and adiponectin, increasing whole body energy expenditure while regulating food intake. Some hormones may activate AMPK by an LKB1-independent mechanism involving Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase kinases. Low levels of activation of AMPK are likely to play a role in the current global rise in obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and AMPK is the target for the widely used antidiabetic drug metformin.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

31P NMR spectroscopy of brain and heart.

31P NMR technique was applied to monitor changes in the energy metabolism of the brain and heart of unanesthetized cats during shock, stroke, hypoxia and increased functional activity. The results show that in these tissues content of inorganic phosphate, sugar phosphates, phosphocreatine and of ATP can be measured decently in awake animals. At the same time this technique has the great advantage over the disruptive biochemical methods that it gives a semi-continuous reading and it is non-invasive. Our findings are summarized as follows: Hemorrhagic shock resulted in an irreversible deterioration of the energy state of the brain. Our stroke model led to a very marked increase in Pi and a decrease CP in the brain but these changes were reversible. The ATP levels of the brain as it was indicated by 31p NMR spectra were not affected by hemorrhagic shock and stroke which can be attributed probably by the reduced rate of ATP consumption. The verification of this hypothesis needs further work. During increased mechanical performance the levels of SP, and Pi increased, ATP decreased, while CP was not influenced in the heart.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning in rat myocardium. Roles of adenosine, cellular energy state, and mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine has been proposed as one mediator for the preconditioning effect in the myocardium of some animals, but recent investigations have shown that this may not be the mechanism in the rat heart, although the effect itself is clearly demonstrable. The cellular energy state has been shown to be better in preconditioned hearts, and the role of ATP consumption has been discussed. The role of inhibition of mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase as a mechanism for the preservation of ATP in preconditioned hearts remains controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three-minute global ischemia followed by 9 minutes of reperfusion was used to precondition Langendorff-perfused rat hearts, and control hearts were perfused under normoxic conditions for the same time. The duration of sustained ischemia in both groups of hearts was 21 minutes, after which the hearts were reperfused for 15 minutes to evaluate their mechanical and metabolic recovery. Separate experiments were performed for tissue metabolite determinations, mitochondrial ATPase activity measurements, and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies. The recovery of the rate-pressure product was better in the preconditioned group. Three-minute preconditioning ischemia caused inhibition of the mitochondrial ATPase that persisted throughout the 9-minute intervening reperfusion so that at the early stages of sustained ischemia the enzyme activity was still more inhibited in preconditioned hearts. ATP was better preserved in preconditioned hearts than in control hearts during sustained ischemia. The accumulation of adenosine and its degradation products during sustained ischemia was greater in the control group. More lactate and H+ ions accumulated in this group, indicating higher anaerobic glycolysis. Also, inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase by oligomycin slowed ATP depletion during ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that preconditioning causes inhibition of rat heart mitochondrial ATPase that persists during reperfusion so that the enzyme is inhibited from the very beginning of the sustained ischemia. This inhibition leads to sparing of high-energy phosphates and improves the time-averaged energy state during ischemia. Although a causal relationship is difficult to prove, this reversible inhibition may contribute to postischemic recovery of the heart.

Adenosine↗

beta-Hydroxybutyrate decreases adenosine triphosphate degradation products in human subjects.

Many disease states decrease intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and elevate body fluid purine levels. The use of specific metabolic substrates may reverse this process. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that beta-hydroxybutyrate, a substrate for ATP synthesis, decreases body fluid purine levels during interventions that induce ATP degradation. Decreases in these purine levels are metabolic markers for diminished ATP degradation. Two human models for stimulating ATP degradation were used to test the hypothesis. Rapid fructose infusion causes acute degradation of hepatic ATP, and ischemic exercise stimulates ATP consumption in skeletal muscle. The activity of beta-hydroxybutyrate was used in combination with phosphate, another important substrate for ATP synthesis. The studies were performed during a low-phosphate state in 10 normal subjects and during a high-phosphate state in 7 normal subjects. Metabolic variables, such as serum or urinary phosphate level, blood beta-hydroxybutyrate level, blood acetoacetate level, plasma or urinary purine level, blood lactate level, and blood ammonia level, were monitored during the study. After ischemic exercise of the forearm muscle, beta-hydroxybutyrate decreased the level of plasma total purines, blood lactate, and blood ammonia during the low-phosphate state but not during the high-phosphate state. During fructose-induced hepatic ATP breakdown, beta-hydroxybutyrate decreased late phase plasma purine increases under low-phosphate conditions only and decreased urinary total and radiolabeled purine elevations under both phosphate conditions. These data indicate that the infusion of beta-hydroxybutyrate may alter the balance from ATP degradation toward ATP resynthesis in muscle and liver by providing an immediate source of fuel and reducing equivalents under under specific metabolic conditions. This activity in combination with other metabolic interventions may have therapeutic value by restoring ATP pools in ATP-depleted tissues.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Modeling of oxygen transport and cellular energetics explains observations on in vivo cardiac energy metabolism.

Observations on the relationship between cardiac work rate and the levels of energy metabolites adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and phosphocreatine (CrP) have not been satisfactorily explained by theoretical models of cardiac energy metabolism. Specifically, the in vivo stability of ATP, ADP, and CrP levels in response to changes in work and respiratory rate has eluded explanation. Here a previously developed model of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, which was developed based on data obtained from isolated cardiac mitochondria, is integrated with a spatially distributed model of oxygen transport in the myocardium to analyze data obtained from several laboratories over the past two decades. The model includes the components of the respiratory chain, the F0F1-ATPase, adenine nucleotide translocase, and the mitochondrial phosphate transporter at the mitochondrial level; adenylate kinase, creatine kinase, and ATP consumption in the cytoplasm; and oxygen transport between capillaries, interstitial fluid, and cardiomyocytes. The integrated model is able to reproduce experimental observations on ATP, ADP, CrP, and inorganic phosphate levels in canine hearts over a range of workload and during coronary hypoperfusion and predicts that cytoplasmic inorganic phosphate level is a key regulator of the rate of mitochondrial respiration at workloads for which the rate of cardiac oxygen consumption is less than or equal to approximately 12 mumol per minute per gram of tissue. At work rates corresponding to oxygen consumption higher than 12 mumol min(-1) g(-1), model predictions deviate from the experimental data, indicating that at high work rates, additional regulatory mechanisms that are not currently incorporated into the model may be important. Nevertheless, the integrated model explains metabolite levels observed at low to moderate workloads and the changes in metabolite levels and tissue oxygenation observed during graded hypoperfusion. These findings suggest that the observed stability of energy metabolites emerges as a property of a properly constructed model of cardiac substrate transport and mitochondrial metabolism. In addition, the validated model provides quantitative predictions of changes in phosphate metabolites during cardiac ischemia.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Dynamic changes in intact crystalline lens metabolism modulated by alkaline earth metals: I. Effects of magnesium.

Dynamic changes in organophosphate levels during incubation of the intact crystalline lens in Earle's buffer containing 10 and 20 mM-MgCl2 were studied using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Twenty-eight phosphatic metabolites of intermediary metabolism were quantitated and the utilization of these compounds was determined during a 24-hr time-course. In addition, intralenticular pH was assessed from both the resonance position of alpha-glycerophosphate and inorganic orthophosphate as measured in the intact tissue. Generally, high extracellular magnesium concentrations promote a net reduction of ATP with a concomitant production of inorganic orthophosphate; however, subtle changes occur in the metabolic processes which modulate this primary activity. The most notable difference between incubation in 10 and 20 mM-magnesium is that during 20 mM-magnesium incubations the intralenticular pH decline is proportionate to the net ATP consumption; however, in response to 10 mM-magnesium, the intralenticular pH becomes alkalotic in conjunction with the decrease in intralenticular ATP levels. The demonstration that high extracellular magnesium concentrations significantly alter lens metabolite levels is presumptive evidence that lens metabolic activity may be modulated through cellular mechanisms involving magnesium-sensitive processes.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

ATP hydrolysis during SOS induction in Escherichia coli.

Changes in cellular ATP concentration during SOS induction in strains of Escherichia coli with different levels of RecA and LexA proteins were studied. UV irradiation of RecA+ strains induced a twofold increase in the ATP concentration around the first 20 min, followed by a decrease to the values of nonirradiated cells. On the other hand, mutants defective in RecA protein or with either deficient RecA protease activity or cleavage-resistant LexA repressor did not show any decrease, suggesting that ATP consumption is related to LexA repressor hydrolysis. Furthermore, strains presenting a constitutive synthesis of RecA protein showed the same changes in ATP concentration as the wild-type strain. Likewise, the presence in a RecA+ strain of a LexA(Def) protein, which is defective in its capacity for binding specifically to SOS operators, did not disturb the changes in ATP when compared with the LexA+ RecA+ strain. Moreover, after UV irradiation, a LexA(Def) RecA- double mutant showed an important increase in ATP concentration, which remained elevated for at least 120 min after UV treatment.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A possible role of inorganic phosphate as a regulator of oxidative phosphorylation in combined urea synthesis and gluconeogenesis in perfused rat liver. A phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Metabolic control of oxidative metabolism was studied in perfused rat liver by means of phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Oxygen consumption, ATP, and Pi were measured with different rates of gluconeogenesis and urea synthesis by varying concentrations of the substrates in the perfusate. Five levels of oxygen consumption (VO2) were obtained: an average control value of 1.94 +/- 0.14 and 2.93 +/- 0.25, 3.29 +/- 0.46, 3.85 +/- 0.26, and 4.18 +/- 0.56 mumol/min/g liver (mean +/- S.D., n = 6). The corresponding ATP concentrations were 2.51 +/- 0.20, 2.39 +/- 0.08, 2.24 +/- 0.09, 2.13 +/- 0.12, and 1.91 +/- 0.13 mM. Pi increased stoichiometrically with the decrease in ATP. Free Pi (Pif) was calculated as NMR-visible Pi in control plus -delta ATP (1.94 mM + (-delta ATP]. The kinetic relationship of oxidative phosphorylation as a function of Pif followed a Michaelis-Menten type of equation: VO2 = 5.55/(1 + 0.24/[( Pif] - 1.81]. The observed Km value for Pi of 0.24 mM approximates the reported Km value in isolated mitochondria of 1 mM. The free Pi concentration of 1.94 mM is in the range of the Km value, while the free ADP concentration of 200 microM exceeds the Km value of 20 microM. Therefore, it is suggested that Pi play a major role in the regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in combined urea synthesis and gluconeogenesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effect of acute and chronic ethanol administration on the content of coenzymes linked to energy transfer in the liver of rats fed standard or low-protein diet.

1) In rats fed a standard diet or a protein restricted diet the effect of acute and chronic ethanol administration on liver content of adenine nucleotides was studied. In the long-term experiments the total liver content of NAD and NADP was additionally determined. 2) a single oral ethanol load does not significantly influence the total adenine nucleotide content. Liver AMP content increases immediately following ethanol ingestion about 2-fold and remains elevated for 12 hours. ATP content and ATP/ADP ratio are significantly reduced within 30 minutes after ethanol administration. Both return to initial values after 2 hours adn decrease again thereafter. 3) The increase in the AMP content is dose dependent, i.e. it is more pronounced after small doses of ethanol and is not observed when blood ethanol concentrations are very high. The elevation of the AMP levels during ethanol oxidation is interpreted as a consequence of increased ATP consumption and of inhibition of citric acid cycle. 4) In animals fed nearly protein-free diet, total adenine nucleotide content and ATP content are distinctly reduced. An increase in AMP concentration is not observed in these rats where ethanol oxidation is markedly inhibited. 5) Chronic ethanol application does neither in rats kept on a standard diet nor in those fed a protein restricted regimen affect the liver content of total adenine nucleotides or ATP. Similarly the total content of NAD and NADP shows no major changes. 6) It is concluded that the relatively small alterations in total liver adenine nucleotide content and in the different adenine nucleotide fractions are not important for ethanol-induced fat accumulation or other disturbances in the liver.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗