| Distribution of free D-aspartic acid and D-aspartate oxidase in frog Rana esculenta tissues. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20108220 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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In this paper, we examined the distribution pattern of D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), as well as D-aspartate oxidase (D-AspO), D-amino acid oxidase (D-AAO), and L-amino acid oxidase (L-AAO) activities in different tissues of frog, Rana esculenta. High concentrations of free D-Asp were found in the testes (0.21+/-0.02 micromol/g b.w), in the liver (0.20+/-0.03 micromol/g b.w), and in the Harderian gland (HG) (0.19+/-0.03 micromol/g b.w). A higher activity of both D-AspO and D-AAO with respect to L-AAO was endogenously present in all examined frog tissues, particularly within the kidney, liver, and brain. Our in vivo experiments, consisting of i.p. injections of 2.0 micromol/g b.w. D-Asp in frogs, revealed that all examined tissues can take up and accumulate D-Asp and that this amino acid specifically triggers D-AspO activity. Indeed, no increase in both D-AAO and L-AAO was found in all frog tissues after D-Asp treatment. The optimum pH for D-AspO activity was around 8.2 and the optimum temperature was about 37 degrees C. Furthermore, its activity linearly increased with increasing D-Asp incubation times. In vitro experiments assaying the substrate specificity of D-AspO indicated that the enzyme had greater affinity for N-methyl-D-aspartate than for D-Asp and D-glutamate. This study provides evidence of the presence of free D-Asp in frog R. esculenta tissues, along with its role in triggering D-AspO activity. These findings suggest that D-AspO could play an essential role in decreasing excessive amounts of D-Asp in frog tissues, a phenomenon that, if left unchecked, could have detrimental physiological effects on the animal. |
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Authors:
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Marcello Di Giovanni; Lavinia Burrone; Gabriella Chieffi Baccari; Enza Topo; Alessandra Santillo |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological genetics and physiology Volume: 313 ISSN: 1932-5231 ISO Abbreviation: J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol Publication Date: 2010 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-04-07 Completed Date: 2010-07-12 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101297745 Medline TA: J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 137-43 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, via Vivaldi, Caserta, Italy. marcello.digiovanni@unina2.it |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Brain / enzymology D-Aspartate Oxidase / metabolism* D-Aspartic Acid / metabolism* Kidney / enzymology Liver / enzymology Male Rana esculenta |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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1783-96-6/D-Aspartic Acid; EC 1.4.3.1/D-Aspartate Oxidase |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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