Regulation of argininosuccinate synthetase level by corticosteroid and pancreatic hormones during perinatal period

Abstract

The urea cycle takes place in the hepatocyte of ureothelic animals. The conversion of ammonia into urea involves five reactions. The first 2 take place in the matrix of the mitochondria, the last 2 occur in the cytosol. Argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) is the third reaction of the urea cycle. It catalyses the condensation of citrulline and aspartate into argininosuccinate. We have previously reported that rat AS activity was present in the cytosol and the outer membrane of the mitochondria. We have shown that, at the activity level, the colocation of AS was changing during fetal and neonatal development and was under the control of corticosteroid and pancreatic hormones. However, an unresolved issue was whether both AS had the same specific activity and that their location was changing during ontogenesis or that the specific activities of mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes were different and/or modified during this period. In the present report, we compared the compartmentalization of AS activity and protein level in the fetus, the new-born and the adult rat and the role of corticosteroid and pancreatic hormones. Specific activities of both AS remained unchanged during ontogenesis. Glucocorticoids induced an increase in mitochondrial AS while glucagon appeared to induce a concomitant decrease in the level of mitochondrial AS and an increase in cytosolic AS.

Glutamine Increases Argininosuccinate Synthetase mRNA Levels in Rat'Hepatocytes

“…Cell suspension and homogenization were performed as previously described [SJ. ASS activity was measured as described by Demarquoy et al [16]. Proteins were determined by the method of Lowry [17].…”

Reassessing Gout Management through the Lens of Gut Microbiota

“…The scientific name for uric acid (UA) is 2,6,8-trioxypurine, and UA is found in nearly all organisms and is excreted as a crystal slurry. In mammals, UA is exclusively produced from purine metabolism, while urea results from protein breakdown [3].…”