Biomaterial Database

The distribution of free amino acids in subcellular fractions of guinea-pig brain. 1966

J L Mangan, and V P Whittaker

1. The free amino acids of homogenates of guinea-pig brain in 0.32m-sucrose and of subcellular fractions derived therefrom have been estimated by the method of Moore & Stein. 2. Seven amino acids together accounted for over 80% of the free amino compounds; these are, in decreasing order of abundance: glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyrate, glycine, serine, alanine and threonine. In addition, there are appreciable quantities of amide (presumably glutamine). 3. Control experiments showed that the pattern of free amino acid occurrence in sucrose homogenates was similar to that of brains of animals killed by freezing in liquid nitrogen and extracted immediately without thawing. 4. The subcellular distribution of the amino acids resembled that of soluble cytoplasmic markers; there was no specific localization in a fraction rich in isolated presynaptic nerve terminals of amino acids capable of exciting or depressing central neurones. 5. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the possible role of centrally active amino acids as transmitters.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007770	L-Lactate Dehydrogenase	A tetrameric enzyme that, along with the coenzyme NAD+, catalyzes the interconversion of LACTATE and PYRUVATE. In vertebrates, genes for three different subunits (LDH-A, LDH-B and LDH-C) exist.	Lactate Dehydrogenase,Dehydrogenase, L-Lactate,Dehydrogenase, Lactate,L Lactate Dehydrogenase
D009584	Nitrogen	An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002623	Chemistry Techniques, Analytical	Methodologies used for the isolation, identification, detection, and quantitation of chemical substances.	Analytical Chemistry Techniques,Analytical Chemistry Methods,Analytical Chemistry Method,Analytical Chemistry Technique,Chemistry Method, Analytical,Chemistry Methods, Analytical,Chemistry Technique, Analytical,Method, Analytical Chemistry,Methods, Analytical Chemistry,Technique, Analytical Chemistry,Techniques, Analytical Chemistry
D002845	Chromatography	Techniques used to separate mixtures of substances based on differences in the relative affinities of the substances for mobile and stationary phases. A mobile phase (fluid or gas) passes through a column containing a stationary phase of porous solid or liquid coated on a solid support. Usage is both analytical for small amounts and preparative for bulk amounts.	Chromatographies
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013347	Subcellular Fractions	Components of a cell produced by various separation techniques which, though they disrupt the delicate anatomy of a cell, preserve the structure and physiology of its functioning constituents for biochemical and ultrastructural analysis. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p163)	Fraction, Subcellular,Fractions, Subcellular,Subcellular Fraction