scholarly journals Induction of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase III and glutamine synthetase mRNA during confinement stress in gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta)

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kong ◽  
N. Kahatapitiya ◽  
K. Kingsley ◽  
W.L. Salo ◽  
P.M. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamine Synthetase ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Urea Synthesis ◽  
Carbamoyl Phosphate ◽  
Confinement Stress ◽  
Actin Mrna ◽  
Mrna Analysis ◽  
Ribonuclease Protection ◽  
Gulf Toadfish

Gulf toadfish (Opsanus β) rapidly switch to excretion of urea as their main nitrogenous waste product under several laboratory conditions, including confinement to small volumes of water. Prior evidence suggested that the activities of two key enzymes of urea synthesis exhibited potentially different modes of upregulation during this switch, with carbamoyl phosphate synthethase III (CPSase III) activated allosterically by N-acetylglutamate, and glutamine synthetase (GSase) activated by increases in the concentration of protein. The present study was undertaken to examine additional aspects of the regulation of these enzymes. The sequence for O. beta CPSase III cDNA was obtained, and it was found to be similar to that of other piscine CPSases. The sequence also allowed us to develop riboprobes for CPSase III mRNA analysis using ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs). CPSase III mRNA was expressed in liver, muscle, kidney and intestine, in agreement with prior enzymatic measurements. Levels of CPSase III mRNA increased five- to tenfold (relative to beta-actin mRNA) in liver (but not muscle) following 48 h of confinement stress. Measured by western analysis using an antibody to chicken GSase, confined O. beta GSase protein concentrations increased eightfold over control levels, in agreement with prior and present measurements of increases in GSase activity. Furthermore, RPAs of GSase mRNA levels demonstrated an increase of fivefold during confinement.

Subcellular localization and biochemical properties of the enzymes of carbamoyl phosphate and urea synthesis in the batrachoidid fishes Opsanus beta, Opsanus tau and Porichthys notatus

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Glutamine Synthetase ◽  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Urea Synthesis ◽  
Carbamoyl Phosphate ◽  
Opsanus Beta ◽  
Opsanus Tau ◽  
Porichthys Notatus ◽  
The Family

The subcellular localization and biochemical properties of the enzymes of carbamoyl phosphate and urea synthesis were examined in three representatives of fishes of the family Batrachoididae, the gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta), the oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) and the plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus). The primary objective of the study was to compare the biochemical characteristics of these fishes, which represent a range between ammoniotelism and ureotelism (O. beta being facultatively ureotelic), with previous patterns observed for an ammoniotelic teleost (Micropterus salmoides, the largemouth bass) and an obligate ureogenic elasmobranch (Squalus acanthias, the dogfish shark). The present study documents the expression of mitochondrial carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPSase) III and cytosolic CPSase II (and its associated enzymes of pyrimidine synthesis, dihydro-orotase and aspartate carbamoyltransferase) in the livers of all three batrachoidid species. Both mitochondrial and cytosolic activities of arginase were present in the livers of all three species, as were cytosolic glutamine synthetase and argininosuccinate synthetase and lyase. However, O. beta also showed mitochondrial glutamine synthetase activity and higher total hepatic levels of glutamine synthetase than either O. tau or P. notatus. Taken together, these observations confirm that the arrangement of these enzymes in the batrachoidid fishes has greater similarity to that of M. salmoides than to that of S. acanthias. However, differences within the family appear to coincide with the different nitrogen excretion strategies. O. tau and P. notatus are primarily ammoniotelic and most closely resemble the ammoniotelic M. salmoides, whereas ureotelism in O. beta is correlated with the presence of a mitochondrial glutamine synthetase and the ability to induce higher total glutamine synthetase activities than O. tau or P. notatus. Additionally, isolated mitochondria from O. beta were able to generate citrulline from glutamine, whereas those from O. tau were not. Also in contrast to S. acanthias, glutamine synthetase activities in the mitochondria of O. beta are consistently lower than those of CPSase III. This and other kinetic observations lend support to the hypothesis that glutamine synthetase may be an important regulatory control point in determining rates of ureogenesis in O. beta.

scholarly journals Glutamine-dependent carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase and other enzyme activities related to the pyrimidine pathway in spleen of Squalus acanthias (spiny dogfish)

1989 ◽  
Vol 261 (2) ◽  
pp. 523-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Glutamine Synthetase ◽  
Enzyme Activities ◽  
Squalus Acanthias ◽  
Spiny Dogfish ◽  
Urea Synthesis ◽  
Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase ◽  
Carbamoyl Phosphate ◽  
Pyrimidine Nucleotide ◽  
Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase ◽  
Pyrimidine Pathway

The first two steps of urea synthesis in liver of marine elasmobranchs involve formation of glutamine from ammonia and of carbamoyl phosphate from glutamine, catalysed by glutamine synthetase and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, respectively [Anderson & Casey (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 456-462]; both of these enzymes are localized exclusively in the mitochondrial matrix. The objective of this study was to establish the enzymology of carbamoyl phosphate formation and utilization for pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis in Squalus acanthias (spiny dogfish), a representative elasmobranch. Aspartate carbamoyltransferase could not be detected in liver of dogfish. Spleen extracts, however, had glutamine-dependent carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, aspartate carbamoyltransferase, dihydro-orotase, and glutamine synthetase activities, all localized in the cytosol; dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase, and orotidine-5′-decarboxylase activities were also present. Except for glutamine synthetase, the levels of all activities were very low. The carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase activity is inhibited by UTP and is activated by 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate. The first three enzyme activities of the pyrimidine pathway were eluted in distinctly different positions during gel filtration chromatography under a number of different conditions; although complete proteolysis of inter-domain regions of a multifunctional complex during extraction cannot be excluded, the evidence suggests that in dogfish, in contrast to mammalian species, these three enzymes of the pyrimidine pathway exist as individual polypeptide chains. These results: (1) establish that dogfish express two different glutamine-dependent carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase activities, (2) confirm the report [Smith, Ritter & Campbell (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 198-202] that dogfish express two different glutamine synthetases, and (3) provide indirect evidence that glutamine may not be available in liver for biosynthetic reactions other than urea formation.

Regulation of tubulin and actin mRNA production in rat brain: expression of a new beta-tubulin mRNA with development

1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 1333-1342
Author(s):  
J F Bond ◽  
S R Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Rat Brain ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
In Vitro Translation ◽  
Brain Maturation ◽  
Cdna Clones ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Beta Tubulin ◽  
Mrna Species ◽  
Tubulin Mrna ◽  
Actin Mrna

The expression of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and actin mRNA during rat brain development has been examined by using specific cDNA clones and in vitro translation techniques. During brain maturation (0 to 80 days postnatal), these mRNA species undergo a significant decrease in abundance. The kinetics of this decrease varies between the cerebrum and the cerebellum. These mRNAs are most abundant in both tissues during week 1 postnatal, each representing 10 to 15% of total mRNA activity. Both alpha- and beta-tubulin mRNA content decreases by 90 to 95% in the cerebrum after day 11 postnatal, and 70 to 80% decreases in the cerebellum after day 16. Actin sequences also decrease but to a lesser extent in both tissues (i.e., 50%). These decreases coincide with the major developmental morphological changes (i.e., neurite extension) occurring during this postnatal period. These studies have also identified the appearance of a new 2.5-kilobase beta-tubulin mRNA species, which is more predominant in the cerebellar cytoplasm. The appearance of this form occurs at a time when the major 1.8-kilobase beta-tubulin mRNA levels are declining. The possibility that the tubulin multigene family is phenotypically expressed and then this expression responds to the morphological state of the nerve cells is discussed.

Glutamine synthetase induction by glucocorticoids is preserved in skeletal muscle of aged rats

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (6) ◽  
pp. E1061-E1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Meynial-Denis ◽  
M. Mignon ◽  
A. Miri ◽  
J. Imbert ◽  
E. Aurousseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Glutamine Synthetase ◽  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Aged Rats ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Slow Twitch ◽  
Fast Twitch

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a glucocorticoid-inducible enzyme that has a key role for glutamine synthesis in muscle. We hypothesized that the glucocorticoid induction of GS could be altered in aged rats, because alterations in the responsiveness of some genes to glucocorticoids were reported in aging. We compared the glucocorticoid-induced GS in fast-twitch and slow-twitch skeletal muscles (tibialis anterior and soleus, respectively) and heart from adult (age 6-8 mo) and aged (age 22 mo) female rats. All animals received dexamethasone (Dex) in their drinking water (0.77 +/- 0.10 and 0.80 +/- 0.08 mg/day per adult and aged rat, respectively) for 5 days. Dex caused an increase in both GS activity and GS mRNA in fast-twitch and slow-twitch skeletal muscles from adult and aged rats. In contrast, Dex increased GS activity in heart of adult rats, without any concomitant change in GS mRNA levels. Furthermore, Dex did not affect GS activity in aged heart. Thus the responsiveness of GS to an excess of glucocorticoids is preserved in skeletal muscle but not in heart from aged animals.

Role of the cardiovascular system in ammonia excretion in early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yadong Wang ◽  
Christina Pasparakis ◽  
Martin Grosell
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Troponin T ◽  
Ammonia Excretion ◽  
Cardiovascular Function ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Urea Synthesis ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Early Life Stages

The purpose of this study was to investigate if the cardiovascular system is important for ammonia excretion in the early life stages of zebrafish. Morpholino knockdowns of cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) provided morphants with non-functional circulation. At the embryonic stage (30-36 hpf), ammonia excretion was not constrained by lack of cardiovascular function. At 2 days post fertilization (dpf) and 4 dpf, morpholino knockdowns of TNNT2 or VEGFA significantly reduced ammonia excretion in all morphants. Expression of rhag, rhbg and rhcgb showed no significant changes but the mRNA levels of the urea transporter (ut) were upregulated in the 4 dpf morphants. Taken together, rhag, rhbg, rhcgb and ut gene expression and an unchanged tissue ammonia concentration but an increased tissue urea concentration, suggest that impaired ammonia excretion led to increased urea synthesis. However, in larvae anesthetized with tricaine or clove oil, ammonia excretion was not reduced in the 4 dpf morphants compared to controls. Further, oxygen consumption was reduced in morphants regardless of anesthesia. These results suggest that cardiovascular function is not directly involved in ammonia excretion, but rather reduced activity and external convection may explain reduced ammonia excretion and compensatory urea accumulation in morphants with reduced cardiovascular function.

Regional and developmental variations of GFAP and actin mRNA levels in the CNS of jimpy and shiverer mutant mice

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Chen ◽  
F. Cabon ◽  
P. Sun ◽  
E. Parmantier ◽  
P. Dupouey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mutant Mice ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Actin Mrna ◽  
Developmental Variations

Regulation of urea synthesis by acid-base balance in vivo: role of NH3 concentration

1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (2) ◽  
pp. F221-F225 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cheema-Dhadli ◽  
R. L. Jungas ◽  
M. L. Halperin
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Concentration ◽  
Urea Synthesis ◽  
Carbamoyl Phosphate ◽  
Acid Base Balance ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Fixed Rate ◽  
Rate Limiting Step ◽  
Base Balance

The purpose of this study was to clarify how changes in acid-base balance influence the rate of urea synthesis in vivo. Since ureagenesis was increased by an ammonium infusion into rats, regulation seemed to be a function of the blood ammonium concentration. The rate of urea synthesis was constant at a fixed rate of ammonium infusion and independent of the conjugate base infused, chloride or bicarbonate. The steady-state blood ammonium concentration was higher in the rats that developed metabolic acidosis. Thus it appeared that regulation was not directly mediated by this ammonium concentration per se. The rate of urea synthesis was also independent of the blood pH. Accordingly, the rate of urea synthesis was examined as a function of the plasma NH3 concentration. The rate of ureagenesis was found to be directly proportional to the plasma NH3 concentration. Assuming that plasma NH3 levels reflect those in mitochondria, the NH3 concentration yielding half-maximal rates of urea synthesis (close to 2 microM) was in the same range as Km for the rate-limiting step in ureagenesis, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.16). These results suggest that, at a constant ammonium concentration, the decreased rate of ureagenesis caused by a pH fall in vitro could reflect an acidosis-induced decline in the concentration of true substrate (NH3) for this pathway.

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