BIOSYNTHESIS OF L-TYROSINE O-SULPHATE FROM THE METHYL AND ETHYL ESTERS OF L-TYROSINE

1. Rat-liver supernatant preparations are capable of achieving the biological sulphation of l-tyrosine methyl ester, the reaction proceeding maximally at a substrate concentration of 30 mm and at pH 7.0. 2. Two sulphated products are formed, one of which has been identified as l-tyrosine O-sulphate. On the basis of indirect evidence the other product can be assumed to be l-tyrosine O-sulphate methyl ester. 3. An enzyme present in rat-liver supernatant preparations is capable of converting l-tyrosine O-sulphate methyl ester into l-tyrosine O-sulphate. This enzyme is inhibited by l-tyrosine methyl ester. 4. l-Tyrosine ethyl ester also yields two sulphated products when used as an acceptor in the liver sulphating system. One of these has been identified chromatographically as l-tyrosine O-sulphate and the other may be presumed to be l-tyrosine O-sulphate ethyl ester.

THE BIOCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF 2-HYDROXY-4-METHYLTHIOBUTYRIC ACID INTO METHIONINE BY THE RAT IN VITRO

1. The conversion of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobarbituric acid into methionine requires a flavine coenzyme, which can be partially replaced by NAD or NADP, and glutamine, which can be partially replaced by asparagine. The system also requires aerobic conditions. 2. There does not appear to be a requirement for a metal ion: Mn(2+) is slightly inhibitory and Cu(2+) is strongly inhibitory. 3. Of the kidney, liver, brain, small intestine and muscle, the kidney possesses the greatest conversion activity/g. of tissue, but on a total organ basis the liver is the more important organ. Within the liver cells most of the activity is present in the supernatant fraction.

FORMATION OF HEPATIC LYMPH

Samples of hepatic lymph collected from isolated perfused rat livers or from livers of whole rats, during continuous infusion of BSP, showed two types of response with respect to content of BSP. One of these was characterized by lymph BSP concentrations below those in blood plasma, and a chromatographic composition of lymph BSP different from that in both plasma and bile. In the other response BSP concentrations in lymph were grossly higher than those in plasma, and the chromatographic composition of the BSP was identical with that in bile. The second response was observed whenever bile flow was deliberately arrested, but it also occurred when bile was apparently flowing freely, suggesting that a type of nonobstructive, nonhemolytic jaundice could exist, based on failure of labile mechanisms which normally prevent diffusion of biliary substances into the extracellular space. The chromatographic composition of the BSP in responses of the first type suggests that part of the BSP in hepatic lymph normally arises from the hepatic cells, rather than from either the blood plasma or the bile.

UPTAKE OF PLASMA FREE FATTY ACIDS BY THE ISOLATED RAT LIVER: EFFECT OF GLUCAGON

The uptake of oleate by the isolated perfused rat liver was studied over the range of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration from 100 to 1,800 µEq/liter. Hepatic removal of FFA could be described as a linear function of the FFA concentration in blood entering the liver. When appropriate correction was made for the difference in metabolic rates of the two species, it was found that the isolated rat liver removed FFA from its perfusing blood at rates quite comparable to those reported for the dog liver in vivo. An effect of glucagon on FFA uptake rates could not be demonstrated, either with fasted or with glycogen-containing livers. This experimental system, which offers the advantages of relatively easy control of many variables and of exclusion of the effects of other organs, appears well suited for studies of fatty acid metabolism in the liver.

THE DYNAMICS OF RETICULOENDOTHELIAL BLOCKADE

The dynamics of "reticuloendothelial blockade" were studied in living rabbits and isolated, perfused rabbit livers utilizing gelatin as a blockading agent and Au(198) stabilized in gelatin as a tracer. Employing the above experimental model, the following observations were made. (a) RES blockade was specific and dependent on the surface properties of the particle under study. (b) RES blockade was not caused by saturation of hepatic removal mechanisms. (c) RES blockade was not caused by depletion of demonstrable serum opsonins. (d) RES blockade appeared to correlate with high circulating levels of the blockading agent, per se. Thus, under the conditions employed, the term "reticuloendothelial blockade" was a misnomer. Although specificity of liver macrophage-particle interaction was evident and deserves further study, the data suggest that blockade as usually studied is a laboratory phenomenon induced by the continuing circulation of the blockading agent.

VITAMIN A AND ISOPRENOID SYNTHESIS IN THE RAT

1. Vitamin A-deficient rats were compared with similar animals given small amounts of vitamin A sufficient for adequate growth and with animals given large amounts of vitamin A. The effects of pair-feeding and feeding ad libitum were compared. 2. Ubiquinone and cholesterol concentrations in liver were measured at various stages of the deficiency, and the uptake of radioactive mevalonate and acetate into isoprenoid compounds was studied. 3. Ubiquinone concentrations in liver increased markedly in deficient rats compared with adequate controls, and heavy vitamin A supplementation had a further effect in depressing ubiquinone concentrations. These effects were unrelated to food intake or to the size of the organs. 4. Radioactive uptake into ubiquinone was often greater in deficient livers, especially during the early stages of the experiments, but the effect was not consistent. 5. Cholesterol concentrations were usually higher in deficient livers and these were more affected by the feeding regimen. 6. No consistent effect of vitamin A deficiency or of vitamin A dosage on the incorporation of mevalonate into cholesterol or squalene was found. 7. No evidence has been found for a specific effect of vitamin A on isoprenoid synthesis at the metabolic level.

METABOLISM OF POLYCYCLIC COMPOUNDS. THE METABOLISM OF 7,12-DIMETHYLBENZ(ALPHA)ANTHRACENE BY RAT-LIVER HOMOGENATES

1. The main products of the metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene by rat-liver homogenates are the isomeric monohydroxymethyl derivatives. The syntheses of these compounds are described. 2. Two phenolic products and two dihydrodihydroxy compounds were formed, but none of these appeared to have been formed by hydroxylation at the ;K region'. There was little evidence for the formation of a glutathione conjugate of the hydrocarbon. 3. The monohydroxymethyl derivatives are products of the hydroxylation of the hydrocarbon in the ascorbic acid-Fe(2+)-oxygen model hydroxylating system.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BIOTIN AND VITAMIN B12. EFFECTS OF BIOTIN AND VITAMIN B12 ON FOLIC ACID METABOLISM

1. The effects of dietary biotin compared with vitamin B(12) on the total content and on the distribution of the various folate derivatives in the liver of rats given a biotin-free diet have been studied. The effect of both vitamins on the conversion in vitro of folic acid into citrovorum factor in the same experimental conditions was also examined. 2. In biotin-treated rats as well as in vitamin B(12)-treated rats the total content of folic acid-active substances measured microbiologically by Pediococcus cerevisiae, Streptococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus casei is significantly higher than that in biotin-deficient rats. The liver distribution of various folate derivatives in the three groups of animals is also markedly modified. 3. The amount of citrovorum factor formed in systems with liver homogenate of rats receiving biotin or vitamin B(12) is higher than that with liver homogenates of deficient rats. 4. The results obtained demonstrate the influence of biotin in the metabolism of folic acid, and the similar actions at this level of both biotin and vitamin B(12). These results are discussed in relation to the participation of the two vitamins in the metabolism of C(1) units, as a biochemical interpretation of the relationships between vitamin B(12) and biotin.

THE METABOLISM OF PROGESTERONE BY ANIMAL TISSUES IN VITRO. SEX AND SPECIES DIFFERENCES IN CONJUGATE FORMATION DURING THE METABOLISM OF (4-14C)PROGESTERONE BY LIVER HOMOGENATES

1. Sex and species differences during the metabolism of [4-(14)C]progesterone by liver homogenates from rat, rabbit, guinea pig and hamster have been investigated. 2. Liver homogenate from male rat formed ;water-soluble' metabolites faster and in significantly larger amounts than did liver homogenate from female rat. About 65-70% of the added progesterone was conjugated as glucuronide by liver homogenate from male rat and about 45-50% by that from female rat. Liver homogenate from male rat also formed glucuronides faster than did liver homogenate from female rat. Sulphate formation was low (8-16%) in liver homogenates from both male and female rats. 3. Hamster-liver homogenate did not show any sex difference in the rate of formation of ;water-soluble' metabolites, but a sex difference was observed in the amount of free steroids recovered at low tissue:steroid ratios. Liver homogenate from female hamster formed glucuronides faster and in significantly larger amounts than did liver homogenate from male hamster, the reverse of what was found in rat liver. 4. Liver homogenates from male and female rabbits and guinea pigs formed ;water-soluble' metabolites that were almost entirely glucuronides. 5. Neither rabbit liver nor guinea-pig liver showed any significant sex difference in the rate or amount of formation of total ;water-soluble' metabolites or glucuronides, but guinea-pig liver was considerably less active than rabbit liver. 6. Glucuronides were quantitatively the major type of conjugate formed by the liver homogenates from both sexes of all species except the male hamster.

FURTHER STUDIES ON THE LIPID METABOLISM OF THE NORMAL AND VITAMIN B-12 DEFICIENT CHICK EMBRYO

1. The triglyceride, cholesterol ester and total phospholipid fractions were isolated from the livers and yolk sacs of normal and vitamin B(12)-deficient chick embryos after 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 days of incubation, and the fatty acid compositions were determined. 2. At all stages of incubation, the concentration of cholesterol ester in the livers of the normal embryos were greater, and on days 15 and 17 the concentrations of triglyceride were considerably less, than the corresponding concentrations in the livers of the deficient embryos. 3. Between day 13 and day 21 of incubation the concentration of oleic acid in the liver triglycerides of the normal embryos increased, whereas the concentrations of palmitic acid and docosahexaenoic acid decreased. Vitamin B(12) deficiency resulted in higher concentrations of palmitic acid in the liver triglycerides on days 15, 17 and 19, higher concentrations of C(18) polyunsaturated acids on days 13 and 15 and lower concentrations of oleic acid on days 13, 15, 17 and 19. 4. At all stages of development, cholesterol oleate accounted for almost 80% of the total liver cholesterol esters in both normal and deficient embryos. 5. As development of the normal embryos progressed, the concentrations of palmitic acid and arachidonic acid in the liver phospholipid decreased, whereas the concentrations of stearic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increased. Vitamin B(12) deficiency resulted in markedly higher concentrations of stearic acid and palmitic acid and markedly lower concentrations of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the liver phospholipids. 6. Vitamin B(12) deficiency did not influence the fatty acid composition of the triglyceride, cholesterol ester and phospholipid fractions either in the yolks of fertile unincubated eggs or in the yolks obtained from eggs that had been incubated for 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 days.

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HORMONAL CONDITIONS ON THE CONCENTRATION AND OXIDOREDUCTION STATE OF THE NICOTINAMIDE NUCLEOTIDES OF RAT LIVER

1. The concentration and oxidoreduction state of the liver nicotinamide nucleotides of rats subjected to a number of hormonal treatments have been measured. 2. Adrenalectomy decreases the NADP(+) content by 80% but has little effect on NAD(+), NADH or NADPH. High doses of cortisone produce similar changes, but more physiological doses (5mug. daily) tend to increase the NADP(+) content. 3. Glucagon treatment of normal rats lowered the NADH and NADP(+) concentrations but did not affect the total amounts present. Growth hormone increased the concentrations and total amounts of NAD(+) and NADH but significantly decreased the concentrations and total amounts of NADP(+) and NADPH. 4. Measurements have been made of a number of enzymes in the livers of adrenalectomized and glucagon-treated rats that could affect the oxidoreduction state of NADP. The activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase are not affected by adrenalectomy or treatment with cortisone or glucagon. Nor does adrenalectomy affect the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase or NADPH-glutathione oxidoreductase. The hepatic content of glutathione is, however, decreased 50% by adrenalectomy. 5. Measurements of the oxidation of [1-(14)C]glucose and [6-(14)C]glucose by liver slices from adrenalectomized rats showed that glucose oxidation was substantially normal, although phenazine methosulphate caused a smaller stimulation of the oxidation of C-1 of [1-(14)C]glucose in slices from the livers of adrenalectomized rats than it did with slices from controls. The hepatic synthesis of lipids from [1-(14)C]glucose was marginally increased in adrenalectomized rats. 6. The additional NADP(+) found when liver is extracted with 0.02n-sulphuric acid-0.1m-sodium sulphate is less affected than the NADP(+) extracted with 0.1n-hydrochloric acid in adrenalectomized or glucagon-treated rats. Hooded Norway rats appear to have less of this extra form of NADP(+) than albino rats. 7. An attempt has been made to correlate the observed changes in the nicotinamide nucleotides with metabolic patterns prevailing in different hormonal conditions.

THE OXIDATION OF D- AND L-GLYCERATE BY RAT LIVER

1. The interconversion of hydroxypyruvate and l-glycerate in the presence of NAD and rat-liver l-lactate dehydrogenase has been demonstrated. Michaelis constants for these substrates together with an equilibrium constant have been determined and compared with those for pyruvate and l-lactate. 2. The presence of d-glycerate dehydrogenase in rat liver has been confirmed and the enzyme has been purified 16-20-fold from the supernatant fraction of a homogenate, when it is free of l-lactate dehydrogenase, with a 23-29% recovery. The enzyme catalyses the interconversion of hydroxypyruvate and d-glycerate in the presence of either NAD or NADP with almost equal efficiency. d-Glycerate dehydrogenase also catalyses the reduction of glyoxylate, but is distinct from l-lactate dehydrogenase in that it fails to act on pyruvate, d-lactate or l-lactate. The enzyme is strongly dependent on free thiol groups, as shown by inhibition with p-chloromercuribenzoate, and in the presence of sodium chloride the reduction of hydroxypyruvate is activated. Michaelis constants for these substrates of d-glycerate dehydrogenase and an equilibrium constant for the NAD-catalysed reaction have been calculated. 3. An explanation for the lowered V(max.) with d-glycerate as compared with dl-glycerate for the rabbit-kidney d-alpha-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase has been proposed.

ENTRY OF GLUCOSE CARBON INTO AMINO ACIDS OF RAT BRAIN AND LIVER IN VIVO AFTER INJECTION OF UNIFORMLY 14-C-LABELLED GLUCOSE

1. Measurements were made of the rate of incorporation of (14)C from uniformly (14)C-labelled glucose into individual amino acids of rat brain and liver. 2. At 2.5 min. after intravenous injection of uniformly (14)C-labelled glucose, about 30% of the total radioactivity in the brain was present in the five amino acids studied. At 30 min. after subcutaneous injection the distribution of (14)C in amino acids was: in brain, alanine 2%, gamma-aminobutyrate 4%, aspartate 9%, glutamine 9% and glutamate 37% (total 69%); in liver, alanine 3%, aspartate 2.6%, glutamine 5.3% and glutamate 5.2% (total 18%). About 1% of the total radioactivity was in serine and glycine. 3. In both organs the specific radioactivity of alanine was initially higher than that of the other amino acids examined. The specific radioactivity of gamma-aminobutyrate in the brain was about the same as or higher than that of glutamate. 4. Amino acids of the rat brain were separated into ;free' and ;bound' fractions from brain dispersions in saline (or sucrose) media. Definite differences in the specific activities of the ;bound' and ;free' forms were not apparent.

THE ASSAY OF FOLIC-ACID ACTIVITY OF LIVER

Methods of preparing liver for the microbiological assay of folic-acid activity have been compared. Maximum values were obtained by incubating an alkaline homogenate of liver in the presence of ascorbic acid for five hours at 37 degrees C. Most other procedures resulted in significant loss of folic-acid activity.

TOXICITY AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION STUDIES ON THE HYDROCHLORIDE, BISMUTH IODIDE COMPLEX AND A RESINATE OF EMETINE

The hydrochloride, the bismuth iodide complex and a resinate of emetine have been compared on mice, cats and dogs for toxicity, on cats for emetic activity and on rats for distribution of emetine in the tissues. Emetine hydrochloride, injected sub-cutaneously, was as toxic as emetine hydrochloride or emetine bismuth iodide administered orally, but only one-sixth as emetic. Given orally emetine resinate was considerably less toxic and emetic than the other preparations. The patterns of emetine distribution in the tissues of rats were similar for all the preparations, but the tissue concentrations were much lower with emetine resinate. In infected rats the resinate was as amoebicidal as the hydrochloride or the bismuth iodide complex. It is suggested that emetine resinate might be better than emetine bismuth iodide for the treatment of intestinal amoebiasis.

EFFECTS OF TETRAZOLIUM SALTS ON OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION IN RAT-LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

1. The effects of five different tetrazolium salts on oxidative phosphorylation in rat-liver mitochondria have been investigated. 2. In all cases the mitochondria were uncoupled by very low concentrations of the tetrazolium salts. Further, the transition from a system just exhibiting respiratory control to one in which the mitochondria were totally uncoupled has been shown to occur over very small concentration ranges of the tetrazolium salts. 3. The effectiveness of the five tetrazolium salts as uncoupling agents is discussed in the light of their standard electrode potentials and effectiveness as electron acceptors in dehydrogenase-linked reactions.

INFLUENCE OF ETHANOL ON THE LIVER METABOLISM OF FED AND STARVED RATS

1. The influence of ethanol on the metabolism of livers from fed and starved rats has been studied in liver-perfusion experiments. Results have been obtained on oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, on glucose release and uptake by the liver and on changes in the concentrations of lactate and pyruvate and of beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate in the perfusion medium. 2. Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production were lower in livers from starved rats than in livers from fed rats. Ethanol had no effect on the oxygen consumption of either type of liver. After the addition of ethanol to the perfusion medium carbon dioxide production ceased almost completely, the change being faster in livers from starved rats. 3. With livers from fed rats glucose was released from the liver into the perfusion medium. This release was slightly greater when ethanol was present. With livers from starved rats no release of glucose was observed, and when ethanol was added a marked uptake of glucose from the medium was found. A simultaneous release of glycolytic end products, lactate and pyruvate, into the medium occurred. 4. Acetate was the main metabolite accumulating in the perfusion medium when ethanol was oxidized. With livers from starved rats a slightly increased formation of ketone bodies was found when ethanol was present. 5. The lactate/pyruvate concentration ratio in the perfusion medium increased from 10 to 87 with livers from fed rats and from 20 to 171 with livers from starved rats when the livers were perfused with ethanol in the medium. The beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate concentration ratio increased from 0.8 to 7.6 with livers from fed rats and from 1.0 to 9.5 with livers from starved rats when ethanol was added to the medium. 6. The effects of ethanol are discussed and related to changes in the redox state of the liver that produce new conditions for some metabolic pathways.