Deconjugation of bile salts: does it occur outside the contents of the intestinal tract in the rat?

Several different methods have been applied to measure the extent of bile salt deconjugation (deamidation), if any, outside the gastro-intestinal tract of the rat. A breath test has been applied to the rat using peroral or intravenous administration of cholyl-glycine-1-14C. Results for normal rats have been compared with rats with a continuous recirculation of bile to a tail vein. Bile salts labelled with 2,4-3H in the sterol moiety and conjugated with glycine-1-14C have been infused in rats and recirculated via a bile duct tail-vein shunt. The 3H:14C ratio in the bile has been used as an indication of deconjugation. In these experiments the radioactivity pattern of the bile salts has been determined after thin-layer chromatography. Different labelled bile salts have also been infused intraperitoneally and the composition of bile secreted through bile fistulae studied. In none of these experiments, in which the gastro-intestinal content was bypassed and a return of bile salts to the liver in the physiological range ensured, was any deconjugation of glycine-conjugated bile salts observed. When the liver, however, was stressed by anaesthesia and the intraportal infusion of deoxycholyl-2,4-3H-glycine in unphysiological levels, deconjugation occurred as indicated by the appearance in bile of labelled taurine conjugates. In these rats the dose of deoxycholylglycine was clearly toxic as evidenced by partial or complete cholestasis and eventually death of the animal.

Deconjugation of glycine-amidated bile salts does not occur in germfree rats

After oral administration to germfree rats of cholyl-glycine-1-14C, deoxycholyl-glycine-1-14C and nor-ursocholyl-glycine-1-14C no significant amounts of 14CO2 are expired. This indicates that these bile salts are not significantly deamidated under physiological conditions in the rat organism outside the gastro-intestinal tract.

Effects of cholic acid, 7 beta-hydroxy- and 12 beta-hydroxy-isocholic acid on bile flow, lipid secretion and bile acid synthesis in the rat

The effects of three epimeric trihydroxy-cholanoic acids, cholic acid (C), 7 beta-hydroxy-(7 beta) and 12 beta-hydroxy-(12 beta) isocholic acids on bile flow, lipid secretion, bile synthesis and bile micellar properties were studied in the rat with a bile fistula. The bile salts were infused intraduodenally starting 72 hours after cannulation when endogeneous bile salt synthesis had plateaued after the bile salt pool was drained. The bile salts were infused at two levels approximately 2 and 4 mumol min-1 kg-1. All three bile salts were absorbed and secreted almost quantitatively into the bile. Cholic acid was secreted in the conjugated form, 7 beta conjugated to approximately 60% and 12 beta completely in the unconjugated form. The bile salts did not undergo any significant biotransformations during the one passage from the intestine through the liver. Bile flow increased from the preinfusion level for all three bile salts infused in the order 7 beta greater than 12 beta greater than C. The bile flow increased linearly with bile salt secretion more for 7 beta than for C and 12 beta. Infusion of C increased the secretion into bile of phospholipid (PL) and cholesterol (CH) over the preinfusion values. Infusion of 7 beta as well as 12 beta resulted in a parallel decrease in the secretion of PL as well as CH compared to the preinfusion values. The infusion of C and 7 beta at the two levels used decreased the secretion of newly synthesized bile salt below the control level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolism of cholate, 7 beta-hydroxy- and 12 beta-hydroxy-isocholates in the rat

The three epimeric trihydroxy bile salts cholate (C), 7 beta-hydroxy-(7 beta) and 12 beta-hydroxy-(12 beta) isocholate were fed to rats by intubation or in the diet. All three bile salts were well absorbed 7 beta greater than C greater than 12 beta and underwent heavy biotransformations in the enterohepatic circulation 12 beta greater than 7 beta C. The result is a low concentration of unchanged administered bile salt in the bile salt pools, 12 beta less than 7 beta less than C, the percentage figures being 3, 20 and 35%, respectively, after 7 days feeding. In spite of this, the composition of the bile changes, less phospholipid and cholesterol being excreted in the bile per mumol bile salt after feeding, 7 beta and 12 beta compared to C. No significant increase in the faecal fat was seen in rats fed the beta-hydroxy bile salts. Only minor amounts of the radioactivity from the beta-hydroxy bile salts were secreted into the urine, and no more when compared to C.

Effects of feeding ursocholic acid to germfree rats

Germfree rats were fed 24-14C-ursocholic acid (UC) mixed into the diets for 10 days. The bile was then drained by cannulation for 6 hours to collect the bile salt pool. No biotransformation of the labelled UC occurred and it constituted approximately equal to 75% of an enlarged bile salt pool. Less phospholipid and cholesterol were secreted into the bile per mumol bile salt compared to normal rats. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the bile was determined by equilibrium dialysis and found to be increased. Faecal excretion of labelled triolein added to the diet was unaffected by feeding ursocholic acid. Excretion of 14C-octadecane and 14C-cholesterol increased significantly under the same conditions. Ursocholic acid feeding thus resulted in a selective malabsorption of octadecane and cholesterol.

Release of membrane from milk fat globules by conjugated bile salts

We investigated the capacity of conjugated bile salts to remove the membrane, a barrier to lipolysis, from milk fat globules. Cow, goat, and human globules were subjected to varying concentrations of the bile salt taurodeoxycholate at 37 degrees C for 2 min, and the released material was obtained by centrifugation at 2 degrees C and 50,000 g for 1 h. Sedimented pellets were analyzed for phospholipid and protein and were characterized further by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Pellets were examined in the electron microscope. Measurable amounts of membrane were sedimented from globules incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 min in 0.5 mM taurodeoxycholate. Taurocholate also exhibited this membrane-releasing ability. However, disintegration of milk fat globule membrane appears to be the principal effect of these salts at 37 degrees C. Our results show that conjugated bile salts within their normal concentration range (2-6 mM) in digesta of term and preterm infants are capable of removing membrane from milk fat globules.

One-step purification of procolipase from human pancreatic juice by immobilized antibodies against human colipase86

Purified antibodies to human colipase86 were coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The immunoadsorption column thus obtained was used to purify procolipase from human pancreatic juice in one step by immunoaffinity chromatography. A single form of procolipase was obtained, having similar biological properties as previously characterized procolipases from horse and pig. The sequence of the N-terminal propeptide was determined to be Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro-Arg. In bovine, equine and porcine procolipases the corresponding N-terminal sequence is Val-Pro-Asp-Pro-Arg.

The primary sequence of human pancreatic colipase

The amino acid sequence of an activated colipase purified from human pancreas was determined. The protein consists of a single polypeptide chain of 86 amino acids (human colipase86) and has a molecular weight of 9289. The sequence was determined by automated Edman degradation of the reduced and S-carboxymethylated protein and of two CNBr peptides. Sequence determination of porcine procolipase II was also performed, which showed that in the original sequence determination apparently two residues were missed. These residues were determined to be a leucine at position 37 and a serine in position 50. For comparison with porcine and equine procolipases, the residues composing human colipase are numbered from 6 to 91. No human procolipase has been isolated so far. The colipases from man, pig, horse and chicken show a high degree of homology: human colipase differs from the other proteins by substitutions of 19 (porcine), 24 (equine A) and 21 (equine B) residues, respectively.

Evolutionary studies on pancreatic colipase

In this evolutionary study the following criteria have been used to prove the existence of colipase: 1. It restores the activity of human and porcine pancreatic lipase inhibited by bile salt. 2. It cross-reacts with antisera to human and porcine colipases. 3. Its restoration of lipase activity, inhibited by bile salt, in the tributyrin assay system, is prevented by antiserum to colipase. 4. It is a heat-stable, low-molecular-weight protein (molecular weight about 10 000 by gel-filtration). The occurrence of colipase has been verified in the exocrine pancreatic cells from hagfish (Myxine glutinosa), ratfish (Chimaera monstrosa), rayfish (Raja radiata). Greenland shark (Somnius microcephalus) and dogfish (Squalus acanthius). No colipase activity could be found in the gastric juice of crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). These results indicate that colipase envolved in the vertebrates before the organized exocrine pancreatic gland and occurred simultaneously with the bile salts/bile alcohols.

Product activation of pancreatic lipase. Lipolytic enzymes as probes for lipid/water interfaces

During the action of pancreatic lipase and colipase on racemic 1,2-didodecanoylglycerol monolayers in the absence of bile salts, biphasic kinetics was observed under conditions of high lipid packing. Similar kinetics has earlier been reported using phospholipid-emulsified triolein droplets (Borgström, B. (1980) Gastroenterology 78, 954-962). These kinetics are characterized by a lag time tau d, dependent on products accumulation at the substrate/water interface. This lag time is differentiated from the previously described enzyme concentration independent lag time tau i in systems of low lipid packing (Verger, R., Mieras, M. C. E., and de Haas, G. H. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 4023-4034). Both tau i and tau d reflect a rate-limiting step due to the slow enzyme penetration into the substrate interface. The variation of tau d under different conditions (change in pH and concentration of Ca2+, enzyme, bovine serum albumin, and lipolytic products) lead us to propose a model for the product activation during lipolysis. We will discuss the use of the pancreatic lipase-colipase system to probe the lipid packing of emulsified triglyceride particles and lipoproteins using tau d as a reference value.

The temperature-dependent interfacial inactivation of porcine pancreatic lipase. Effect of colipase and bile salts

This paper confirms and extends the previous observation that colipase and bile salts stabilize pancreatic lipase against inactivation at its water/substrate interface. It is shown that colipase and bile salts above their critical micellar concentration offer better protection than either of them alone. Colipase has no effect on the catalytic efficiency of lipase against an emulsified substrate in the absence or presence of bile salts. Its reported activation of pancreatic lipolysis at high temperatures in the absence of bile salts is, most likely, fully explained by its protective effect on lipase inactivation. Colipase at high concentrations relative to lipase inhibits the enzyme activity in a competitive fashion. The temperature-dependent surface inactivation of lipase has certain consequences for the methodology of lipase activity determination.

Hydrolysis of milk fat globules by pancreatic lipase. Role of colipase, phospholipase A2, and bile salts

Human milk fat globules require colipase to be hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase in the presence of bile salts. This is contrary to a recent report in this Journal (J. Clin. Invest. 67: 1748-1752.) according to which inhibition of lipase by bile salt could be overcome by the addition of colipase or phospholipase A2. This latter finding is shown to be due to contamination of commercially available pancreatic phospholipase A2 by colipase.

Isolated co-lipase deficiency in two brothers

Two normally developed Assyrian brothers with isolated pancreatic co-lipase deficiency are described. They presented at the age of 5-6 years with loose stools. They had steatorrhoea, and analysis of exocrine pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine showed co-lipase deficiency, while amylase, chymotrypsin, trypsin and lipase were normal. Intraduodenal infusion of purified co-lipase improved fat digestion measured by the triolein breath test. Their steatorrhoea diminished on treatment with enteric-coated pancreatic enzymes.

Aqueous lipid phases of relevance to intestinal fat digestion and absorption

The phase behavior of monoglyceride/water systems, with oleic and linoleic acid as the dominating fatty acid residues, was investigated. Increased solubilization of triglycerides (oil) or oleic acid in the cubic liquid-crystalline phase formed by monoglyceride and water resulted in the formation of a reversed hexagonal liquid-crystalline phase followed by an L2-phase. The liquid-crystalline phases have different dispersion properties compared to each other in dilute micellar bile salt solutions. The cubic phase is found to be easily dispersed. The relevance of aqueous lipid phases other than micellar is discussed in relation to intestinal lipid digestion and absorption.

Importance of phospholipids, pancreatic phospholipase A2, and fatty acid for the digestion of dietary fat: in vitro experiments with the porcine enzymes

Long chain triglycerides emulsified with phospholipid are not directly available for hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase in vitro even in the presence of bile salts and colipase. The inhibition can be overcome by pancreatic phospholipase A2. There is a limited hydrolysis of the phospholipid during this period. The inhibition is explained by the finding that lipase does not bind to triglyceride emulsified by phospholipid but remains in the aqueous phase. A limited hydrolysis of the phospholipid by phospholipase A2 results in the binding of lipase to the substrate interface and a rapid rate of hydrolysis of the triglyceride. With time the inhibition of lipase activity can also be overcome by pancreatic lipase. A lag phase is seen before the accelerated hydrolysis of triglyceride reaches a high rate. The length of the lag phase is dependent on factors such as lipase and colipase concentration, pH, Ca++, and concentration of bile salt. During the lag phase no significant hydrolysis of phospholipid occurs. The primary factor is the binding of colipase to the substrate interface. Fatty acid present in the oil phase or produced from it by a limited hydrolysis of phospholipid by phospholipase A2 or triglyceride by lipase, changes the properties of the interface so that colipase can bind and thereby lipase via its binding to colipase. The milieu of small intestinal content favors the concerted action of several factors to make dietary triglyceride available for an effective hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase.

High-resolution proton magnetic resonance study of porcine colipase and its interactions with taurodeoxycholate

A high-resolution 270-MHz proton NMR study of procine colipase I has been performed, and the resonances in the aromatic region of the spectrum have been assigned to amino acid residues by pH titration and decoupling experiments. The apparent pKa values of the three tyrosines were calculated to be 10.2, 10.3, and 11.8 with one of the tyrosines having properties of a "buried" residue. A tentative assignment to the amino acid residues in the primary seuqence of colipase will be discussed. The effects of taurodeoxycholate (TDC) and a positively charged deoxycholate derivative on the aromatic region of the colipase NMR spectrum indicate that all tyrosines and one histidine are affected by the bile-salt binding, suggesting that the TDC molecules bind near these residues to a hydrophobic region on colipase. Measurements and calculations on the line width of the C(18) methyl group resonance suggest that the line-width increase of this resonance upon interaction of TDC with colipase to a large extent can be explained as due to the slower tumbling of the TDC molecules bound to colipase.