Metabolism of nonessential 15N-labeled amino acids and the measurement of human whole-body protein synthesis rates

Effects of winter military training on energy balance, whole-body protein balance, muscle damage, soreness, and physical performance

Physiological consequences of winter military operations are not well described. This study examined Norwegian soldiers (n = 21 males) participating in a physically demanding winter training program to evaluate whether short-term military training alters energy and whole-body protein balance, muscle damage, soreness, and performance. Energy expenditure (D218O) and intake were measured daily, and postabsorptive whole-body protein turnover ([15N]-glycine), muscle damage, soreness, and performance (vertical jump) were assessed at baseline, following a 4-day, military task training phase (MTT) and after a 3-day, 54-km ski march (SKI). Energy intake (kcal·day−1) increased (P < 0.01) from (mean ± SD (95% confidence interval)) 3098 ± 236 (2985, 3212) during MTT to 3461 ± 586 (3178, 3743) during SKI, while protein (g·kg−1·day−1) intake remained constant (MTT, 1.59 ± 0.33 (1.51, 1.66); and SKI, 1.71 ± 0.55 (1.58, 1.85)). Energy expenditure increased (P < 0.05) during SKI (6851 ± 562 (6580, 7122)) compared with MTT (5480 ± 389 (5293, 5668)) and exceeded energy intake. Protein flux, synthesis, and breakdown were all increased (P < 0.05) 24%, 18%, and 27%, respectively, during SKI compared with baseline and MTT. Whole-body protein balance was lower (P < 0.05) during SKI (–1.41 ± 1.11 (–1.98, –0.84) g·kg−1·10 h) than MTT and baseline. Muscle damage and soreness increased and performance decreased progressively (P < 0.05). The physiological consequences observed during short-term winter military training provide the basis for future studies to evaluate nutritional strategies that attenuate protein loss and sustain performance during severe energy deficits.

MS-based metabolomics facilitates the discovery of in vivo functional small molecules with a diversity of biological contexts

In vivo small molecules as necessary intermediates are involved in numerous critical metabolic pathways and biological processes associated with many essential biological functions and events. There is growing evidence that MS-based metabolomics is emerging as a powerful tool to facilitate the discovery of functional small molecules that can better our understanding of development, infection, nutrition, disease, toxicity, drug therapeutics, gene modifications and host-pathogen interaction from metabolic perspectives. However, further progress must still be made in MS-based metabolomics because of the shortcomings in the current technologies and knowledge. This technique-driven review aims to explore the discovery of in vivo functional small molecules facilitated by MS-based metabolomics and to highlight the analytic capabilities and promising applications of this discovery strategy. Moreover, the biological significance of the discovery of in vivo functional small molecules with different biological contexts is also interrogated at a metabolic perspective.

Nonprotein nitrogen is absorbed from the large intestine and increases nitrogen balance in growing pigs fed a valine-limiting diet

Nitrogen absorption from the large intestine, largely as ammonia and possibly as amino acids (AAs), is generally thought to be of little nutritional value to nonruminant animals and humans. Ammonia-nitrogen absorbed from the large intestine, however, may be recycled into the small intestine as urea and incorporated into microbial AAs, which may then be used by the host. A cecal infusion study was performed to determine the form in which nitrogen is absorbed from the large intestine and the impact of large intestine nitrogen supply on nitrogen balance in growing pigs. Eighteen cecally cannulated barrows (initial body weight: 22.4 ± 1.2 kg) were used to determine the effect of supplying nitrogen into the large intestine from either casein or urea on whole-body nitrogen retention and urea kinetics. Treatments were cecal infusions of saline (control), casein, or urea with nitrogen infused at a rate of 40% of nitrogen intake. In a subsample of 9 pigs, (15)N(15)N-urea was infused via i.v. during the nitrogen-balance period to determine urea kinetics. All pigs were fed a valine-limiting cornstarch-soybean meal-based diet. More than 80% of infused nitrogen was apparently absorbed. Urea flux and urinary nitrogen excretion increased (P ≤ 0.05) by the same amount for both nitrogen sources, but this increase did not fully account for the increase in nitrogen absorption from the large intestine. Whole-body nitrogen retention improved with nitrogen infusions (129 vs. 114 g/d; P < 0.01) and did not differ (P > 0.05) between nitrogen sources. Absorption of nitrogen from the large intestine appears to be in the form of nonprotein nitrogen, which appears to be returned to the small intestine via urea and used there for microbial AA production and should therefore be considered when determining nitrogen and AA supply and requirements.

A novel oral tracer procedure for measurement of habitual myofibrillar protein synthesis

RATIONALE

Conventionally, myofibrillar protein synthesis is measured over time periods of hours. In clinical studies, interventions occur over weeks. Functional measures over such periods may be more representative. We aimed to develop a novel method to determine myofibrillar protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR) to estimate habitual rates, while avoiding intravenous tracer infusions.

METHODS

Four healthy males were given 100 g water enriched to 70 Atom % with (2)H2O as a single oral bolus. Vastus-lateralis needle biopsies were performed and plasma samples collected, 3-13 days post-dose. (2)H enrichment in body water was measured in plasma using continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Myofibrillar protein was isolated from muscle biopsies and acid hydrolysed. (2)H enrichment of protein-bound and plasma-free alanine was measured by gas chromatography (GC)/pyrolysis/IRMS. Myofibrillar protein FSR was calculated (% day(-1)).

RESULTS

The tracer bolus raised the initial enrichment of body water to 1514 ppm (2)H excess. Water elimination followed a simple exponential. The average elimination half-time was 8.3 days. Plasma alanine, labelled during de novo synthesis, followed the same elimination kinetics as water. The weighted average myofibrillar protein FSR from the four subjects was 1.38 % day(-1) (range, 1.0-1.9 % day(-1) ).

CONCLUSIONS

Myofibrillar protein FSR was measured in free-living healthy individuals over 3-13 days. Using a single oral (2)H2O bolus, endogenous labelling of alanine occurred in a predictable manner giving estimates of synthesis comparable with published values. Furthermore, the protocol does not compromise the ability to measure other important metabolic processes such as total energy expenditure.

Measurement of the rate of protein turnover and synthesis in the marsupial Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus)

Rates of protein turnover and synthesis were measured in wild-caught Honey possums (Tarsipes rostratus) in the southwest of Western Australia and compared between males and females with and without pouch young. Possums were injected with 50 microg of (15)N-glycine and ammonia collected within 24 h was used as the nitrogen end-product in a single-injection protocol. The overall mean rate of protein synthesis measured was 7.7+/-0.5 g kg(-0.75) day(-1), which falls within the range of values reported for other marsupial species. Whole body rates of nitrogen flux and protein synthesis did not vary significantly between males and females with and without young, but females with pouch young showed significantly lower rates of protein synthesis when expressed in relation to metabolic body size. This difference was no longer apparent, however, if the mass of the females was corrected for the estimated mass of the young in the pouch averaging 9.3+/-1.6 g kg(-0.75) day(-1) and suggesting that the young should not be considered as part of the metabolic body pool. Whole body rates of protein degradation were significantly reduced in females carrying pouch young, suggesting that protein may be being diverted from the pool to milk production. Calculations indicate that the daily fraction of the female's nitrogen synthesis rate that needs to be diverted to pouch young to sustain their growth is less than 5%, and may not be detectable with the current methodology.

Glycine turnover and decarboxylation rate quantified in healthy men and women using primed, constant infusions of [1,2-(13)C2]glycine and [(2)H3]leucine

Glycine plays several roles in human metabolism, e.g. as a 1-carbon donor, in purine synthesis, and as a component of glutathione. Glycine is decarboxylated via the glycine cleavage system (GCS) that yields concurrent generation of a 1-carbon unit as 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (methyleneTHF). Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) catalyzes the interconversion of glycine and serine, another 1-carbon donor. The quantitative role of glycine in human 1-carbon metabolism has received little attention. The aim of this protocol was to quantify whole body glycine flux, glycine to serine flux, and rate of glycine cleavage in humans. A primed, constant infusion with 9.26 micromol x kg(-1) x h(-1) [1,2-(13)C2]glycine and 1.87 micromol x kg(-1) x h(-1) [(2)H3]leucine was used to quantify the kinetic behavior of glycine in young, healthy volunteers (n = 5) in a fed state. The isotopic enrichment of infused tracers and metabolic products in plasma, as well as breath (13)CO2 enrichment, were determined for use in kinetic analysis. Serine synthesis by direct conversion from glycine via SHMT occurred at 193 +/- 28 micromol x kg(-1) x h(-1) (mean +/- SEM), which comprised 41% of the 463 +/- 55 micromol x kg(-1) x h(-1) total glycine flux. Nearly one-half (46%) of the glycine-to-serine conversion occurred using GCS-derived methyleneTHF 1-carbon units. Based on breath (13)CO2 measurement, glycine decarboxylation (190 +/- 41 micromol x kg(-1) x h(-1)) accounted for 39 +/- 6% of whole body glycine flux. This study is the first to our knowledge to quantify human glycine cleavage and glycine-to-serine SHMT kinetics. GCS is responsible for a substantial proportion of whole body glycine flux and constitutes a major route for the generation of 1-carbon units.

Low-abundance plasma and urinary [(15)N]urea enrichments analyzed by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

We report a method for determining plasma und urinary [(15)N]urea enrichments in an abundance range between 0.37 and 0.52 (15)N atom% (0-0.15 atom% excess (APE) (15)N) using a dimethylaminomethylene derivative. Compared with conventional off-line preparation and (15)N analysis of urea, this method requires only small sample volumes (0.5 ml of plasma and 25 microl of urine). The (15)N/(14)N ratio of urea derivatives was measured by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Two peaks were separated; one was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as the complete derivatized urea. Calibration of the complete urea derivative was performed by linear regression of enrichment values of known standard mixtures. Replicate standard (6-465 per thousand delta(15)N) derivatizations showed a relative standard deviation ranging from 0.1 to 7%. In order to test the feasibility of the method, human subjects and rats ingested a single meal containing either 200 mg of [(15)N]glycine (95 AP (15)N) or 0.4 mg of [(15)N]-alpha-lysine (95 AP (15)N), respectively. Urine and plasma were collected at hourly intervals over 7 h after the meal intake. After (15)N glycine intake, maximum urinary urea (15)N enrichments were 330 and 430 per thousand delta(15)N (0.12 and 0.16 APE (15)N) measured by GC/C/IRMS, whereas plasma [(15)N]glycine enrichments were 2.5 and 3.3 APE (15)N in the two human subjects 2 h after the meal. (15)N enrichments of total urine and urine samples devoid of ammonia were higher enriched than urinary [(15)N]urea measured by GC/C/IRMS, reflecting the presence of other urinary N-containing substances (e.g. creatinine). In rats plasma urea (15)N enrichments were 15-20 times higher than those in urinary urea (10-20 per thousand delta(15)N). The different [(15)N]urea enrichments observed after ingestion of [(15)N]-labeled glycine and lysine confirm known differences in the metabolism of these amino acids.

Maximal growth occurs at a broad range of essential amino acids to total nitrogen ratios in kittens

Kittens fed diets containing 2.0 and 3.0 times (x) the NRC (1986) essential amino acid (EAA) requirement (EAArq) and 210 to 560 g crude protein (CP)/kg diet had growth rates and plasma amino acid patterns that were not significantly different than kittens fed a control diet (CD) containing 1.5 x EAArq and 350 g CP/kg diet. Growth rates of kittens fed diets containing only EAA (with nontoxic levels of arginine and methionine) and 280 to 460 g CP/kg diet were equivalent to those of kittens fed CD. Kittens fed only EAA and 140 and 210 g CP/kg diet had growth rates that were significantly lower than kittens fed CD. Since the growth rate of kittens fed 1.5 x EAArq and 210 g CP/kg diet in a previous experiment was equivalent to kittens fed CD (Taylor et al., 1997), it is suggested that the requirement for CP is higher (up to 280 g CP/kg diet) when only EAA are fed. The higher crude protein requirement appears to be primarily a consequence of the high obligatory nitrogen loss as urea (especially from arginine) incurred in the conversion of nitrogen from EAA to dispensable amino acids in the liver and secondarily because of a slow rate of catabolism of the EAA. A 3-dimensional plot of weight gains vs. CP levels and EAA to total nitrogen (E:T) ratios of kittens shows a broad range of CP levels and E:T ratios that support optimal growth in the kitten. It is suggested that similar patterns would occur in the chick, rat and other species if adverse effects caused by excesses of specific amino acids are avoided.

Mechanism governing short-term fed-state adaptation to dietary protein restriction

The mechanism governing short-term adaptation to dietary protein restriction was investigated in nine normal adults by measuring their metabolic response to a standard mixed meal, first while they were adapted to a conventional, high-protein diet (day 1) and then again after they had eaten two low-protein meals (day 2). Urea appearance (measured as the sum of its urinary excretion and the change in body urea pool size), body retention of 15N-alanine included in each test meal, and whole-body protein turnover were calculated over the 9 hours following meal consumption on each day. Postprandial urea nitrogen appearance was 5.05 +/- 0.26 g/9 h on day 1 and decreased to 4.16 +/- 0.31 on day 2 (P < .05). Whole-body N flux (Q), protein synthesis (S), and protein breakdown (B) all decreased significantly on day 2 as assessed using either urea or ammonium end-product enrichments; however, recovery of 15N in the test meal as 15N-urea was similar on both days, approximately 22%. It is concluded that short-term metabolic adaptation occurs within two meals of reduced protein intake. The mechanism appears not to involve selectively an increased "first-pass" retention of dietary amino acids, but rather a general reduction in fed-state whole-body protein breakdown.

Leucine and glutamine metabolism in septic rats

The rate of leucine C-2 incorporation into glutamine was compared in control and septic rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 46, 210-260 g) were fed parenterally for 3 days and then randomized into two groups (control and septic). Sepsis was induced by the injection of 10(10) live Escherichia coli/kg on day 4 into the septic group. Rats in each group were given a continuous (8 h) infusion of one of three different isotopes. The isotopes were given 24 h after inoculation. Leucine oxidation and incorporation into protein were determined with [1-13C]leucine; glutamine flux and oxidation were determined with [5-13C]glutamine, and the fraction of leucine C-2 incorporated into glutamine was determined by giving [1,2-13C]leucine. Results were as follows: sepsis caused a significant increase in the rate of leucine C-2 incorporation into glutamine (66.0 +/- 3.7 as against 29.6 +/- 3.7 mumol/h per kg, P less than 0.01). This increase was due to both an increase in glutamine production (2331 +/- 76 as against 1959 +/- 94 mumol/h per kg, P less than 0.01) and an increase in the proportion of glutamine derived from leucine (2.83 +/- 0.27% as against 1.51 +/- 0.31%, P less than 0.01). The ratio of leucine C-2 incorporated into glutamine to leucine oxidized increased from 7.16 +/- 0.91% to 11.49 +/- 1.12% with sepsis (P less than 0.05).

Effect of reduced dietary intake on energy expenditure, protein turnover, and glucose cycling in man

The effect of a 50% reduction in food intake on energy expenditure, protein metabolism, glucose cycling, and body composition was investigated in eight moderately overweight men. The prestudy mean calorie and protein intake was determined for eight subjects. They were then maintained on this diet for 6 weeks (mean +/- SEM, 3,269 +/- 75 kcal/d, 20.0 +/- 0.5 g N/d, period I), after which the diet was reduced uniformly in the major foodstuffs by 50% for the next 4 weeks (1,555 +/- 38 kcal/d, 9.6 +/- 5 g N/d, period II). At the end of each period we measured (1) body fat and fat free mass by underwater weighing, (2) 24-hour energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry in a calorimeter, (3) whole body protein synthesis and breakdown rates with 15N glycine, and (4) glucose cycling between glucose and glucose-6-phosphate and fructose cycling between fructose-6-phosphate and fructose-1,6 bisphosphate with 6,6-D2- and 2-D1-labeled glucose. The results were subjects lost 4.0 +/- 0.1 kg fat (by underwater weighing) during the 4 weeks on the reduced-energy regimen. Protein turnover and glucose cycling were reduced by 20% and 15%, respectively. Twenty-four-hour energy expenditure was 2,553 +/- 166 kcal/d for period I and 2,369 +/- 69 kcal/d for period II, giving a difference of 184 +/- 34 kcal/d between the two periods. In conclusion, (1) although energy intake was reduced by 50%, the decrease in energy expenditure was small due to the buffering effect of body fat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Non-essential nitrogen and protein utilization in the growing rat

Three series of nitrogen-balance experiments were carried out on growing rats fed on purified isonitrogenous diets (16 g N/kg) to study the importance of non-essential N and the essential:total N (E:T) ratio for attaining maximum N balance (NB) and biological value (BV) of protein. Minimum dietary levels of asparagine, proline and glutamic acid required for maximum NB and BV were estimated to be 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 g/kg respectively. In an essential amino acid-based diet, the levels of individual amino acids were successively reduced to 110% of the requirement. Reducing the level of arginine, lysine or methionine + cystine resulted in a significant increase in NB and BV while the response of rats given the isoleucine-reduced diet significantly decreased. Addition of asparagine, proline and glutamic acid in the estimated minimum amounts to an essential amino acid-based diet resulted in a significant increase in NB and BV. A further significant increase was found when the levels of arginine, lysine and methionine + cystine in the diet were reduced to 110% of the requirement. The performance of rats fed on the latter diet was similar to that of rats given a diet with the optimum E:T ratio. It is concluded that the optimum protein utilization may be influenced by the presence of some non-essential amino acids and by the surplus of some essential amino acids rather than by the E:T ratio per se.

Quantitative partition of threonine oxidation in pigs: effect of dietary threonine

Kinetic aspects of threonine (Thr) metabolism were examined in eight pigs fed hourly with a diet containing either 0.68% (LT group) or 0.81% (HT group) of Thr (wt/wt), corresponding to 10 and 30% Thr excess, respectively, compared with an "ideal" diet. Primary production (PR) and disposal (DR) rates were obtained for Thr, glycine (Gly), and 2-keto-butyrate (KB) after a 12-h continuous infusion of L-[U-14C]-Thr together with [1-13C]Gly and a 6-h continuous infusion of [1-14C]KB. Transfer of Thr into secondary pools was also monitored, and from these the rates of Thr oxidation through the catabolic pathways of L-Thr 3-dehydrogenase (DR(Thr-Gly)) and threonine dehydratase (DR(Thr-KB)) were estimated. For the LT group the results were (mumol.kg-1.h-1) PR(Thr) 314 +/- 3, PR(Gly) 551 +/- 24, PR(KB) 41 +/- 3, DR(Thr-Gly) 22 +/- 2, and DR(Thr-KB) 7 +/- 1. For the HT group they were PR(Thr) 301 +/- 23, PR(Gly) 598 +/- 55, PR(KB) 39 +/- 4, DR(Thr-Gly) 32 +/- 2, and DR(Thr-KB) 8 +/- 1. The increase in Thr intake (14 mumol.kg-1.h-1, P less than 0.01) induced a commensurate increase in the sum of DR(Thr-Gly) and DR(Thr-KB) (14 mumol.kg-1.h-1, P less than 0.001) when liver was used as the precursor pool. This was mainly due to the increased DR(Thr-Gly) (13 mumol.kg-1.h-1, P less than 0.01); the change in DR(Thr-KB) was not statistically significant. By comparison of intracellular-to-plasma ratios of specific activities (or enrichments) for different tissues with each type of infusion, liver was shown to be the major site of production of Gly and KB from Thr. These data suggest that in fed growing pigs a 30% excess of Thr in the diet does not alter the partition of Thr oxidation, since 80% of Thr oxidation occurs through the L-Thr 3-dehydrogenase pathway for both LT and HT groups.

Protein and energy substrate metabolism in AIDS patients

The objective of this study was to investigate protein and glucose metabolism in ambulatory, asymptomatic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Nine asymptomatic AIDS patients were compared against 13 controls. We measured whole-body protein synthesis (PSRM), breakdown (PBRM), and the fractional fibrinogen synthesis rate with 15N glycine, glucose cycling from the difference between the glucose appearance rates as measured with 2-d (Ra2-d)- and 6,6-d2 (Ra6,6-d)-labeled glucose. All of these parameters are increased with hypermetabolism and decreased with undernutrition. In addition, we also determined the plasma aminogram. The principal findings were (1) whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown and the fibrinogen fractional synthesis rate were significantly lower in the AIDS patients; (2) glucose cycling was markedly lower in the AIDS patients, and most of this effect was due to a decrease in Ra2-d; there was no difference in the endogenous glucose production rate, Ra6,6d; and (3) the plasma aminogram showed decreased total amino acids and a reduced ratio of essential to nonessential amino acids in the AIDS group. We concluded that the AIDS patients showed a starvation-type response. While the depressed protein synthesis and energy substrate cycling are not likely to be the primary cause of immunodeficiency, they may represent an important facilitating factors contributing to the decreased ability of the patient to respond effectively to opportunistic infections.