Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0038187 (starvation)
 24,951 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The specific activity of leucine transaminase was measured in supernatants of liver, skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius), and kidney homogenates obtained from fed, starved, and protein-deprived rats. After 12 h of starvation, there were slight reductions in leucine transaminase activity of both muscle and kidney tissues. When starvation was prolonged to 1 full day, the activity of this enzyme increased by approximately twofold in both muscle and kidney. Prolongation of fasting to 5 days resulted in an additional increase in specific activity of leucine transaminase in muscle. During the entire 5 days of starvation, leucine transaminase activity remained unaltered in liver of starved rats. Protein deprivation for 1 or 5 days resulted in significant reductions in specific activity of leucine transaminase in skeletal muscle. Protein deprivation did not produce a remarkable effect on the activity of this enzyme in kidney or liver tissue. The results of this study, together with those previously obtained, indicate that within our experimental conditions increased oxidation of leucine in skeletal muscle of starved rats is not initially related to an alteration in activity of leucine transaminase. When caloric deficiency is prolonged, the potential for transamination is also increased. These adaptive changes increase the ability of skeletal muscle to use leucine as a metabolic fuel.
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PMID:Modulation of leucine transaminase activity by dietary means. 111 67

Leucine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.6) and 2-oxoisocaproate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.3) were studied in rat cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brain stem, liver, and muscle in normal and animals starved for 48 hours. In the brain, leucine aminotransferase, valine aminotransferase, and 2-oxoisocaproate dehydrogenase showed a significant increase in starvation only in cerebellum while there was increase in 2-oxoisocaproate dehydrogenase in cerebral cortex only. A significantly high increase in the activity of 2-oxoisocaproate dehydrogenase was observed in muscle in starvation. A significant decrease in the activity of leucine aminotransferase was observed in liver in starvation. The increase in the activity of 2-oxoisocaproate dehydrogenase in muscle and a decrease in the activity of leucine aminotransferase in liver in starvation indicate that the leucine is predominantly metabolized in extra hepatic tissues particularly in muscle. As a result of intraperitoneal administration of 2 ml of leucine (5 mM), a significant increase in 2-oxoisocaproate dehydrogenase occurred in cerebral cortex, liver, and muscle while a profound increase in the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.2) was observed in all the brain regions and liver under these conditions. A significant increase in the content of glutamic acid, alanine, and GABA was observed in all the three regions of the brain after the administration of leucine. A significant increase in the content of glutamine was observed only in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex after leucine administration. These results indicate that leucine in brain might contribute to the formation of glutamate, not only by transamination, but also by promoting glutamate dehydrogenase activity. Thus, there is a change in the metabolism of glutamate family of amino acids and energy depletion. These results are discussed in relation to the brain function.
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PMID:Studies on metabolism of branched chain amino acids in brain and other tissues of rat with special reference to leucine. 714 88

The regulation of branched-chain amino and keto acid metabolism was examined in fetal rat brains at 20 days gestation. When fetal brain slices were incubated with [1-14C]leucine, graded concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate or acetoacetate resulted in a progressive rise in labeled alpha-ketoisocaproic acid accompanied by a fall in 14CO2, whereas the sum of these products remained unchanged. These reciprocal relationships were maintained when leucine concentrations were varied from 0.4 to 4 mM. Increasing concentrations of glucose or pyruvate enhanced the formation of both 14CO2 and alpha-ketoisocaproic acid from [1-14C]leucine, but resulted in a progressive decrease in the conversion of alpha-ketoisocaproic acid to 14CO2. That glucose and ketone bodies probably acted via separate mechanisms was suggested by a further inhibition of alpha-ketoisocaproic acid decarboxylation whenever beta-hydroxybutyrate was added. When mothers were starved from days 18-20, a threefold rise in circulating branched-chain keto acids was reflected concordantly in the fetus and was attended by a significant enhancement of leucine transaminase activity in fetal brain. Because levels of circulating ketone bodies reported during maternal starvation were maximally effective in diminishing the conversion of alpha-ketoisocaproic acid to 14CO4, it is suggested that the inhibitory effects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on the critical dehydrogenase step in branched-chain keto acid metabolism in fetal brain could restrain oxidation of maternally derived alpha-ketoisocaproic acid, thereby permitting salvage for reversible transamination to leucine.
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PMID:Fetal fuels. IV. Regulation of branched-chain amino and keto acid metabolism in fetal brain. 728 22