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Separation and determination of carnitine and its esters in human serum.

A colorimetric method for the determination of carnitine and its derivatives is described. Free carnitine, acetylcarnitine and palmitoylcarnitine were extracted with chloroform-methanol. After evaporation, the residue was dissolved in n-butanol and water; palmitoylcarnitine in the organic phase, and free carnitine and acetylcarnitine by passing the aqueous phase through a column of Amberlite CG-120 (H+). Separated carnitine derivatives were hydrolyzed to free carnitine which was followed by the Amberlite column chromatography. After eluting with 2N NH4OH solution, the samples were esterified and determined colorimetrically.

Carnitine

Pyruvate metabolism in bovine epididymal spermatozoa.

Treating bovine epididymal spermatozoa with rutamycin or rotenone inhibited both respiration and motility supported by endogenous substrates. When oxidative phosphorylation had been blocked with various inhibitors, pyruvate was metabolized to yield ATP and restored motility. Fructose, which is metabolized via glycolysis to yield ATP, was also able to resuscitate the cells. Other substrates tested (lactate, acetate, alpha-ketoglutarate, or glyoxylate) were unable to restore motility in rutamycin-treated cells. In the presence of pyruvate, the phosphorylation uncoupler, carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethyoxphenylhydrazone, reduced motility and ATP to common levels in untreated cells or cells treated with rutamycin or rotenone. Pyruvate is thus metabolized to produce ATP by a pathway independent of oxidative phosphorylation associated with the electron transport chain. 5-Methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid, an inhibitor of lipoyldehydrogenase, prevented the increase of motility and ATP in rutamycin-treated cells, indicating that alpha-keto acid oxidation is involved in the production of ATP from pyruvate when rutamycin is present. With pyruvate present, bongkrekic acid, antimycin A, and anaerobiosis eliminated motility, reduced ATP to low levels, and also significantly reduced the rate of pyruvate metabolism. Acetate was produced from pyruvate only when cellular ATP concentrations were low. Decreases in free carnitine concentrations showed that pyruvate initially used was converted to acetylcarnitine. The results indicate that the intramitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase X, which is unique to spermatozoa, allows the NADH resulting from pyruvate oxidation to reduce other pyruvate molecules to lactate. Pyruvate thus competes with, and can substitute for, the NADH dehydrogenase of the electron transport chain. Pyruvate rapidly repletes the acetylcarnitine pool under a variety of conditions.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Lipid oxidation by heart mitochondria from young adult and senescent rats.

1. State-3 (i.e. ADP-stimulated) rates of O(2) uptake with palmitoylcarnitine, palmitoyl-CoA plus carnitine, pyruvate plus malonate plus carnitine and octanoate as respiratory substrate were all diminished in heart mitochondria isolated from senescent (24-month-old) rats compared with mitochondria from young adults (6 months old). By contrast, State-3 rates of O(2) uptake with pyruvate plus malate or glutamate plus malate were the same for mitochondria from each age group. 2. Measurements of enzyme activities in disrupted mitochondria showed a decline with senescence in the activity of acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.2 and 6.2.1.3), carnitine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.7) and 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.35), but no change in the activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.21) or acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.3). 3. Measurement of dl-[(3)H]carnitine (in)/acetyl-l-carnitine (out) exchange in intact mitochondria showed decreased rates when the animals used were senescent. However, this followed from a decreased intramitochondrial pool of exchangeable carnitine, such that calculated first-order rate constants for exchange were identical in mitochondria from the two age groups. 4. The decline in acyl-CoA synthetase activity is thought to be the reason for the diminished rate of O(2) uptake with octanoate in senescence. The decline in carnitine acetyltransferase activity is considered to be the cause of the diminished rate of O(2) uptake with acetylcarnitine or with pyruvate plus malonate plus carnitine as substrate. The mechanism of the diminished rate of O(2) uptake with palmitoylcarnitine in senescence is discussed.

Acetylcarnitine

Improved radiochemical assay for carnitine and its derivatives in plasma and tissue extracts.

We describe the measurement of carnitine and short-chain and long-chain acylcarnitines in perchloric acid extracts of liver and muscle. [1-14C]Acetyl-CoA is used, and labeled acetylcarnitine is measured with a sensitivity of less than 1 to 50 nmol of L-carnitine per 50-microliter sample. Samples frozen at -20 degrees C lost no carnitine during several months. Analytical recovery of carnitine (5 nmol) added to 50-microliter perchloric acid extracts of liver was 103 +/- 2%. This method may be suitable for clinical applications such as screening patients with muscle and metabolic disorders.

Acetylcarnitine

The effects of clofibrate feeding on the metabolism of palmitate and erucate in isolated hepatocytes.

The metabolism of palmitate and erucate has been investigated in hepatocytes isolated from control rats and from rats fed 0.3% clofibrate. Clofibrate increased the oxidation of [1-14C]palmitate 1.5 to 2-fold while the esterification was decreased. At a high concentration of palmitate (1.5 mM), the total rate of fatty acid metabolism was stimulated. Clofibrate stimulated both the oxidation (3.5 to 5-fold) and the esterfication (1.7-fold) of [14-14C]erucate. Erucate undergoes chain-shortening in isolated liver cells. This chain-shortening was stimulated at least 2-fold by clofibrate feedings. The isolated mitochondrial fraction from clofibrate-fed rats showed an increased capacity for oxidation of short-chain acylcarnitines (including acetylcarnitine), while the oxidation of palmitoyl- and erucoylcarnitine showed little change. It is suggested that erucate is shortened by the recently detected beta-oxidation system of peroxisomes.

Acyltransferases

Effects of rumen fluid transplantation on longissimus dorsi muscle development in Xizang sheep: An association analysis based on transcriptomic and serum metabolomic profiles.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of rumen fluid transplantation (RFT) on the growth and development of the longissimus dorsi muscle in female Xizang sheep. After RFT, muscle lightness differed significantly between the two groups, with the LDC group showing significantly higher lightness than the LDT group. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between groups in other muscle phenotypic traits, including drip loss, pH, cooking loss, shear force, redness, and yellowness. Antioxidant-related indices (SOD, GSH-PX, MDA, CAT, and T-AOC) also showed no significant differences between groups. Histological analysis revealed that muscle fiber length, width, and density were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group. Transcriptomic analysis identified 515 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 419 were downregulated. KEGG analysis indicated that genes involved in muscle development-related pathways, such as cell adhesion and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, were predominantly downregulated. Key serum metabolites (L-kynurenine, IPA, allantoin, and propionylcarnitine) showed highly significant positive correlations with muscle fiber growth indices. In contrast, metabolites such as l-carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and citrulline were negatively correlated with muscle fiber growth, but positively correlated with the expression of muscle structure-related genes (COL11A1 and EFNA5) and with meat lightness. Overall, this study provides new insights into the potential molecular basis by which RFT influences muscle growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which RFT affects muscle development and meat quality-related traits remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Animals

Origin of the acetyl moiety of acetylcholine synthesized in rat striatal synaptosomes.

The subcellular localization of the AcCoA compartment supplying the cytoplasmic choline acetyltransferase (ChAc, EC 2.3.1.6) was investigated using a purified preparation of rat striatal synaptosomes (B fraction). It was first demonstrated that the SRA of the [14C]ACh synthesized during a 10 min incubation period was equal to the SRA of the [2-14C] and the [3-14C]pyruvate added to the isolated nerve terminal suspension. The experimental results can be summarised as follows: (i) No modification in the amount of [14C]ACh synthesized from [2-14C]pyruvatetion in the amount of [14C]ACh synthesized from [2-13C]pyruvate could be detected after the addition of high concentrations of either carnitine, acetylcarnitine or acetyl phosphate to the synaptosomal suspension. (ii) Under experimental conditions in which the amount of [1,5-14C]citrate taken up by passive diffusion into the cholinergic nerve endings would allow detection of the possible formation of the labelled ester, no [14C]ACh could be recovered. (iii) The SRA's of the individual carbon atoms of the Krebs cycle intermediary compounds when the cycle is fed with [2-14C] and [3-14C]pyruvate were calculated as a function of the STA's of each of these two precursors (a and a' respectively), of the number of 14CO2 dpm produced in the Krebs cycle from each of these two labelled compounds (D2 and D3 respectively), and as the function of the rate y of exchanges of molecules between the tricarboxylic acid cycle and other metabolic compartments. The experimental value obtained from a 10 min incubation, after the nerve endings had reached a steady metabolic activity, indicate that if the acetyl moiety of ACh was derived from some Krebs cycle intermediary compounds, its SRA could never exceed 55 per cent that of the [2-14C]pyruvate from which it is produced, (iv) No correlation could be found between the rate of [14C]ACh formation and changes in the Krebs cycle activity induced by sodium cyanide, 2-4 dinitrophenol and Ca2+ free medium. (v) The lack of significant [14C]ACh synthesis from [1-14C]acetate in striatal synaptosomes is consistent with the failure of fluoroacetate to modify the amounts of 14CO2 as well as of [14C]ACh formed from [2-14C]pyruvate. These results were interpreted as a confirmation of the presence of a low AcCoA synthetase activity in the nerve terminals. To reconcile all these data, it is proposed that pyruvate is transformed into AcCoA outside the mitochondria by the action of some cytoplasmic pyruvate dehydrogenase-like enzyme.

Acetates

Activity and androgenic control of enzymes associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle, lipid oxidation and mitochondrial shuttles in the epididymis and epididymal spermatozoa of the rat.

1. Enzyme activities (units/g wet wt.) were determined in the caput and cauda epididymidis and in epididymal spermatozoa of the rat. 2. The activity of most enzymes in the cauda was between 50 and 100% of that in the caput, except that ATP citrate lyase was barely detectable in the cauda. 3. Spermatozoa, unlike epididymal tissue, contained sorbitol dehydrogenase but lacked ATP citrate lyase. NADP+-malate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, carnitine acetyltransferase and citrate synthase were 5 to 400 times as active in spermatozoa as in epididymal tissue. 4. 2-Oxoglutarate dehydrogenase was the least active member of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in all tissues and most closely matched the measured flux through the cycle. 5. The concentrations of hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase were equivalent to the more active enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, indicating the capacity for extensive lipid oxidation, and the presence of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase suggests that these tissues can also oxidize ketone bodies. 6. Transfer of reducing equivalents from cytoplasm to mitochondrion is unlikely to occur by means of the glycerol phosphate cycle because mitochondrial glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase is relatively inactive in epididymal tissue, whereas the cytoplasmic enzyme has little activity in spermatozoa, but transfer may be accomplished by the malate-aspartate shuttle. 7. Transfer of acetyl units from mitochondrion to cytoplasm could be effected by the pyruvate-malate cycle in the caput of androgen-maintained rats, but not in the other tissues because of the low activity of ATP citrate lyase. Acetyl unit transfer could take place via acetylcarnitine, mediated by carnitine acetyltransferase. 8. Castration resulted in a decrease in the concentration of nearly all enzymes, although subsequent administration of testosterone restored concentrations to values similar to those in animals maintained by endogenous androgen. The extent to which enzyme concentration was changed by an alteration in androgen status was highly variable, but was most marked in the case of pyruvate carboxylase.

Androgens

Acetyl-coenzyme A deacylase activity in liver is not an artifact. Subcellular distribution and substrate specificity of acetyl-coenzyme A deacylase activities in rat liver.

Whole liver and isolated liver mitochondria are able to release free acetate, especially under conditions of increased fatty acid oxidation. In the present paper it is shown that rat liver contains acetyl-CoA deacylase (EC 3.1.2.1) activity (0.72mumol/min per g wet wt. of liver at 30 degrees C and 0.5mm-acetyl-CoA). At 0.5mm-acetyl-CoA 73% of total enzyme activity was found in the mitochondria, 8% in the lysosomal fraction and 19% in the postmicrosomal supernatant. Mitochondrial subfractionation shows that mitochondrial acetyl-CoA deacylase activity is restricted to the matrix space. Mitochondrial acetyl-CoA deacylase showed almost no activity with either butyryl- or hexanoyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA hydrolase activity from purified rat liver lysosomes exhibited a very low affinity for acetyl-CoA (apparent K(m)>15mm compared with an apparent K(m) value of 0.5mm for the mitochondrial enzyme) and reacted at about the same rate with acetyl-, n-butyryl- and hexanoyl-CoA. We could not confirm the findings of Costa & Snoswell [(1975) Biochem. J.152, 167-172] according to which mitochondrial acetyl-CoA deacylase was considered to be an artifact resulting from the combined actions of acetyl-CoA-l-carnitine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.7) and acetylcarnitine hydrolase. The results are in line with the concept that free acetate released by the liver under physiological conditions stems from the intramitochondrial deacylation of acetyl-CoA.

Acetyl-CoA Hydrolase

Changes in the contents of adenine nucleotides and intermediates of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle in flight muscle of the locust upon flight and their relationship to the control of the cycle.

1. The contents of some intermediates of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and adenine nucleotides have been measured in the freeze-clamped locust flight muscle at rest and after 10s and 3min flight. The contents of glucose 6-phosphate, pyruvate, alanine and especially fructose bisphosphate and triose phosphates increased markedly upon flight. The content of acetyl-CoA is decreased after 3min flight whereas that of acetylcarnitine is decreased markedly after 10s flight, but returns towards the resting value after 3min flight. The content of citrate is markedly decreased after both 10s and 3min flight, whereas that of isocitrate is changed very little after 10s and is increased by 50% after 3min. The content of oxaloacetate is very low in insect flight muscle and hence it was measured by a sensitive radiochemical assay. The content of oxaloacetate increased about 2-fold after 3min flight. A similar change was observed in the content of malate. The content of ATP decreased about 15%, whereas those of ADP and AMP increased about 2-fold after 3min flight. 2. Calculations based on O(2) uptake of the intact insect indicate that the rate of the citric acid cycle must be increased >100-fold during flight. Consequently, if citrate synthase catalyses a non-equilibrium reaction, the activity of the enzyme must increase >100-fold during flight. However, changes in the concentrations of possible regulators of citrate synthase, oxaloacetate, acetyl-CoA and citrate (which is an allosteric inhibitor), are not sufficient to account for this change in activity. It is concluded that there may be much larger changes in the free concentration of oxaloacetate than are indicated by the changes in the total content of this metabolite or that other unknown factors must play an additional role in the regulation of citrate synthase activity. 3. The increased content of oxaloacetate could be produced via pyruvate carboxylase, which may be stimulated during the early stages of flight by the increased concentration of pyruvate. 4. The decreases in the concentrations of citrate and alpha-oxoglutarate indicate that isocitrate dehydrogenase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase may be stimulated by factors other than their pathway substrates during the early stages of flight. 5. Calculated mitochondrial and cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH ratios are both increased upon flight. The change in the mitochondrial ratio indicates the importance of the intramitochondrial ATP/ADP concentration ratio in the regulation of the rate of electron transfer in this muscle.

Adenine Nucleotides

Comparison of the intermediary metabolism of fatty acids in denervated and dystrophic murine skeletal muscle.

Certain aspects of lipid metabolism have been examined in denervated muscle from normal mice and in dystrophic muscle from mice of the Bar Harbor strain 129. A number of parameters show no change or similar changes. For example, the utilization of palmitate-[1-14C] and palmitylcarnitine by mitochondria from denervated and dystrophic hind leg skeletal muscle showed parallel decreased in the oxidation of palmitate (30-42%) and palmitylcarnite (37-66%). A comparable study with acetylcarnitine showed a striking difference with no change evident in mitochondria from denervated muscle and 80-85% decrease in dystrophic muscle. The study of succinate dehydrogenase and the enzymes of beta-oxidation in the above mitochondrial preparation showed similar findings except for acyl CoA dehydrogenase activity (an enzyme with a regulatory role in beta-oxidation) which was significantly diminished (29%) in denervated muscle, whereas no change was observed in dystrophic muscle. The findings show a close parallel in a number of parameters but distinct differences were observed in denervated as compared with dystrophic muscle. It is unlikely that the muscular disorder in murine muscular dystrophy can be explained solely on the basis of denervation or the loss of a neural trophic factor.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases

Equilibrium constants of the reactions of choline acetyltransferase, carnitine acetyltransferase, and acetylcholinesterase under physiological conditions.

The observed equilibrium constant (Kobs) for the reaction of choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) has been determined under physiological conditions. Using sigma and square brackets to indicate total concentrations of all ionic species present: (see article). The value of Kobs has been determined to be 12.3 plus or minus 0.6 at 38 degrees, pH 7.0 and ionic strength 0.25 M. The value at 25 degrees is not significantly different, and the constant has been found to be insensitive to variations in ionic strength (0.03 to 0.375 M), pH (6.5 TO 7.5) OR FREE [Mg-2+] (0 to 5 mM). The Kobs of this reaction reflects the difference between the observed standard free energy change (delta G-oobs) for the hydrolysis of acetylcholine and the delta G-oobs for the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA. Since the delta G-oobs for the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA has been previously determined to be minus 8.54 kcal/mol (minus 35.75 kJ/mol under the same physiological conditions, the delta G-oobs for the reaction of acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7): (SEE ARTICLE). Can be calculated to be minus 6.99 kcal/mol (minus 29.26 kJ/mol) at pH ionic strength 0.25 M and 38 degrees, taking the standard state of liquid water to have unit activity ([H2O] equals 1). The pKa for acetic acid under the same conditions, has been determined to be 4.60 plus or minus 0.01, allowing the Kobs for the pH-independent reaction (see article). To be calculated to be 3.28 times 10-2 M. Choline and carnitine are chemical analogues. The Kobs for the corresponding reaction of carnitine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.7). (SEE ARTICLE). Under the same physiological conditions of pH (7.0), ionic strength (0.25 M), and temperature (38 degrees) has been determined to be 1.73 plus or minus 0.05, making the delta G-oobs for the hydrolysis of acetylcholine only 1.21 kcal/mol (5.06 kJ) less negative than that for the hydrolysis of acetylcarnitine.

Acetyl Coenzyme A

[The effect of carbocromen on the respiratory function of rat heart mitochondria].

Rat heart mitochondria were isolated by a slightly modified method of Sordahl. The influence of carbocromen (Intensaín) on the respiratory function of the tightly coupled or uncoupled mitochondria was tested in the presence of the respiratory substrates pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, D,L-palmitoylcarnitine, L-palmitoylcarnitine, and D,L-acetylcarnitine. Carbocromen (0.089--0.89 mmol/l) did not change the P/O ratio, but reduced the rate of oxygen consumption (QO2) of the coupled mitochondria by about 20% when palmitoylcarnitine was used as respiratory substrate. With ADP in excess (5 mmol/l) carbocromen decreased QO2 in state ST3 by about 35%. This drug induced reduction of QO2 is still much more evident in uncoupled mitochondria (18% with 0.045 mmol/l carbocromen, 70% with 0.89 mmol/l carbocromen). In the presence of pyruvate as substrate the respiratory function of the coupled and uncoupled mitochondria remained nearly unchanged after adding the drug. It is discussed that carbocromen could interact with the complex enzyme dependent transport of long-chain fatty acids through the mitochondrial membrane.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Control of fatty acid metabolism in ischemic and hypoxic hearts.

The effects of whole heart ischemia on fatty acid metabolism were studied in the isolated, perfused rat heart. A reduction in coronary flow and oxygen consumption resulted in lower rates of palmitate uptake and oxidation to CO2. This decrease in metabolic rate was associated with increased tissue levels of long chain acyl coenzyme A and long chain acylcarnitine. Cellular levels of acetyl-CoA, acetylcarnitine, free CoA, and free carnitine decreased. These changes in CoA and its acyl derivatives indicate that beta oxidation became the limiting step in fatty acid metabolism. The rate of beta oxidation was probably limited by high levels of NADH and FADH2 secondary to a reduced supply of oxygen. Tissue levels of neutral lipids showed a slight increase durning ischemia, but incorporation of [U-14C]palmitate into lipid was not altered significantly. Although both substrates for lipid synthesis were present in higher concentrations during ischemia, compartmentalization of long chain acyl-CoA in the mitochondrial matrix and alpha-glycerol phosphate in the cytosol may have accounted for the relatively low rate of lipid synthesis.

Acetyl Coenzyme A

Quantitation of water-soluble acylcarnitines and carnitine acyltransferases in rat tissues.

The water-soluble acylcarnitines isolated from rat heart, skeletal muscle, liver, and testis have been characterized. The following acyl residues derived from the acylcarnitine fraction were found: acetyl, propionyl, isobutyryl, butyryl, alpha-methylbutyryl, isovaleryl, tiglyl, caproyl, beta-methylcrotonyl and methacrylyl. The amounts of these acylcarnitines in heart, liver, testis and skeletal muscle from fed rats were determined. Acetylcarnitine was the most abundant acylcarnitine; however, appreciable quantities of propionyl-, isobutyryl-, isovaleryl-, and tiglyl-carnitine were found. The levels of carnitine octanyltransferse, carnitine acetyltransferase and carnitine palmityltransferase activities were determined in several tissues. In addition, carnitine isovaleryltransferase and isobutyryltransferase activities were measured in heart, skeletal muscle, liver, testis and kidney. In all instances the specific activity of isobutyryltransferase was similar to the specific activity of acetyltransferase. The results are consistent with the proposal that carnitine is involved in the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids.

Acylation

Production of endogenous acetate by the liver in lactating ewes.

The production of endogenous acetate by the liver has been investigated in lactating ewes using animals with indwelling arterial, and portal and hepatic venous cannulae. The capacity of the liver to produce acetate from acetyl-CoA in vitro has also been examined using homogenates prepared from liver biopsy samples. Mean arterial, portal and hepatic venous blood acetate concentrations in four ewes at 4 weeks lactation were 0.40, 1.00 and 1.46 mM respectively. The mean exogenous and endogenous acetate production rates were 56 and 54 mmol/h respectively, giving a total of 110 MMOL/h. The mean portal-hepatic venous difference in free fatty acid concentration was 81 muM. Converting this uptake of free fatty acids by the liver (based on palmitate as a standard) to 2-carbon equivalents, the acetate produced accounted for 70% of the fatty acids taken up. The correlation coefficient (r2) between uptake of free fatty acids and production of acetate by the liver was 0.83 (P less than 0.01). Calculation of the net acetate production in vivo gave a mean value for the production of acetate of 0.75 nmol/min. Calculation of the in vitro enzymic capacity of the liver to produce acetate from acetyl-CoA gave a mean of 0.94 mmol/min. These results indicate that enzymic production of acetate from acetyl-CoA, via carnitine acetyltransferase and acetylcarnitine hydrolase (see Costa and Snoswell 1975a), can adequately account for the substantial production of acetate by the liver in lactating ewes.

Acetates