Biomaterial Database

Ammoniagenesis in LLC-PK1 cultures: role of transamination. 1992

G Gstraunthaler, and F Landauer, and W Pfaller

Institute of Physiology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.

The LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cell line has been used as a model system to study renal ammoniagenesis and its regulation by metabolic acidosis in vitro. Experiments were performed on confluent LLC-PK1 epithelia grown for 10-14 days in conventional monolayer technique. After the medium pH was changed from 7.6 to 7.0 for 24-72 h by lowering the bicarbonate concentration in culture medium, LLC-PK1 cells responded with an adaptive increase in glutamine consumption and ammonia production. The rates of glutamine uptake and ammonia generation displayed a ratio of 1:1, i.e., 1 mol ammonia was produced per mole of glutamine consumed. Glutamine consumption and ammonia formation were paralleled by an equimolar production of L-alanine, indicating that transamination appears to be the main ammoniagenic pathway in LLC-PK1 cells. Analysis of the key enzymes of renal ammoniagenesis, phosphate-dependent glutaminase (PDG) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), revealed no changes in enzyme activities up to 72 h of adaptation. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in LLC-PK1 cells also remained unchanged during the adaptation period. Because transamination seems to play a crucial role in channeling the metabolic flux in LLC-PK1 ammoniagenesis, experiments were performed in which transamination was inhibited by (aminooxy)acetate (AOA). After incubation of control and pH 7.0-adapted LLC-PK1 cultures for 24-72 h in 0.2 mM AOA, no alanine production was found, but 2 mol of ammonia were formed per mole of glutamine consumed, again, without adaptive changes in PDG and GDH activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D004847	Epithelial Cells	Cells that line the inner and outer surfaces of the body by forming cellular layers (EPITHELIUM) or masses. Epithelial cells lining the SKIN; the MOUTH; the NOSE; and the ANAL CANAL derive from ectoderm; those lining the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM and the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM derive from endoderm; others (CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM and LYMPHATIC SYSTEM) derive from mesoderm. Epithelial cells can be classified mainly by cell shape and function into squamous, glandular and transitional epithelial cells.	Adenomatous Epithelial Cells,Columnar Glandular Epithelial Cells,Cuboidal Glandular Epithelial Cells,Glandular Epithelial Cells,Squamous Cells,Squamous Epithelial Cells,Transitional Epithelial Cells,Adenomatous Epithelial Cell,Cell, Adenomatous Epithelial,Cell, Epithelial,Cell, Glandular Epithelial,Cell, Squamous,Cell, Squamous Epithelial,Cell, Transitional Epithelial,Cells, Adenomatous Epithelial,Cells, Epithelial,Cells, Glandular Epithelial,Cells, Squamous,Cells, Squamous Epithelial,Cells, Transitional Epithelial,Epithelial Cell,Epithelial Cell, Adenomatous,Epithelial Cell, Glandular,Epithelial Cell, Squamous,Epithelial Cell, Transitional,Epithelial Cells, Adenomatous,Epithelial Cells, Glandular,Epithelial Cells, Squamous,Epithelial Cells, Transitional,Glandular Epithelial Cell,Squamous Cell,Squamous Epithelial Cell,Transitional Epithelial Cell
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D005973	Glutamine	A non-essential amino acid present abundantly throughout the body and is involved in many metabolic processes. It is synthesized from GLUTAMIC ACID and AMMONIA. It is the principal carrier of NITROGEN in the body and is an important energy source for many cells.	D-Glutamine,L-Glutamine,D Glutamine,L Glutamine
D000138	Acidosis	A pathologic condition of acid accumulation or depletion of base in the body. The two main types are RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS and metabolic acidosis, due to metabolic acid build up.	Metabolic Acidosis,Acidoses,Acidoses, Metabolic,Acidosis, Metabolic,Metabolic Acidoses
D000625	Aminooxyacetic Acid	A compound that inhibits aminobutyrate aminotransferase activity in vivo, thereby raising the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid in tissues.	Aminooxyacetate,Carboxymethoxyamine,Acid, Aminooxyacetic
D000637	Transaminases	A subclass of enzymes of the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of an amino group from a donor (generally an amino acid) to an acceptor (generally a 2-keto acid). Most of these enzymes are pyridoxyl phosphate proteins. (Dorland, 28th ed) EC 2.6.1.	Aminotransferase,Aminotransferases,Transaminase
D000641	Ammonia	A colorless alkaline gas. It is formed in the body during decomposition of organic materials during a large number of metabolically important reactions. Note that the aqueous form of ammonia is referred to as AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE.