Biomaterial Database

Argininosuccinate synthetase activity in cultured human lymphocytes. 1977

O Lockridge, and E B Spector, and A D Bloom

The activity of argininosuccinate synthetase (E.C. 6.3.4.5), a urea cycle enzyme, was measured in cultured human lymphocytes using a new radioactive assay. Control cells had a maximum specific activity of 15.7 +/- 8.7 nmoles per hour per milligram of protein and an apparent Km for citrulline of 2 X 10(-4) M, whereas cells derived from a patient with citrullinemia had no detectable activity. A nutritional variant, selected out of the citrullinemic lymphocyte population by ability to grow in citrulline, had a maximum specific activity of 10.7 +/- 3.8 nmoles/hr/mg and an apparent Km for citrulline of 2 X 10(-2) M. These measurements confirm the observation that citrullinemia is associated with a defect in argininosuccinate synthetase activity and provide further evidence that citrullinemia is expressed in cultured lymphocytes. The emergence of a nutritional variant with a partial defect in argininosuccinate synthetase enzyme suggests that this citrullinemic patient has a heterogeneous population of cells, some totally defective and others only partially defective in argininosuccinate synthetase. The new activity assay is described in detail.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008025	Ligases	A class of enzymes that catalyze the formation of a bond between two substrate molecules, coupled with the hydrolysis of a pyrophosphate bond in ATP or a similar energy donor. (Dorland, 28th ed) EC 6.	Ligase,Synthetases,Synthetase
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002956	Citrulline
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000592	Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors	Disorders affecting amino acid metabolism. The majority of these disorders are inherited and present in the neonatal period with metabolic disturbances (e.g., ACIDOSIS) and neurologic manifestations. They are present at birth, although they may not become symptomatic until later in life.	Amino Acidopathies, Congenital,Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders, Inborn,Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Error,Amino Acid Metabolism, Inherited Disorders,Amino Acidopathies, Inborn,Congenital Amino Acidopathies,Inborn Errors, Amino Acid Metabolism,Inherited Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism,Amino Acidopathy, Congenital,Amino Acidopathy, Inborn,Congenital Amino Acidopathy,Inborn Amino Acidopathies,Inborn Amino Acidopathy
D001124	Argininosuccinate Synthase	An enzyme of the urea cycle that catalyzes the formation of argininosuccinic acid from citrulline and aspartic acid in the presence of ATP. Absence or deficiency of this enzyme causes the metabolic disease CITRULLINEMIA in humans. EC 6.3.4.5.	Argininosuccinate Synthetase,Synthase, Argininosuccinate,Synthetase, Argininosuccinate
D014644	Genetic Variation	Genotypic differences observed among individuals in a population.	Genetic Diversity,Variation, Genetic,Diversity, Genetic,Diversities, Genetic,Genetic Diversities,Genetic Variations,Variations, Genetic