Population studies on mitochondrial glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase

Chromosomal localization of human aspartate aminotransferase genes by in situ hybridization

The localization of the human genes for cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) has been determined by chromosomal in situ hybridization with specific human cDNA probes previously characterized in our laboratory. The cytosolic AspAT gene is localized on chromosome 10 at the interface of bands q241-q251. Mitochondrial AspAT is characterized by a multigene family located on chromosomes 12 (p131-p132), 16 (q21), and 1 (p32-p33 and q25-q31). Genomic DNA from ten blood donors was digested by ten restriction enzymes, and Southern blots were hybridized with the two specific probes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was revealed in only one case for cytosolic AspAT, with PvuII, while no polymorphism for mitochondrial AspAT was found.

Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase in Japanese

A survey of a number of unselected sera indicated the presence of a variant allele of mitochondrial glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (Got2m) in Japanese with appreciable frequency, which was confirmed in white blood cells. The mode of an autosomal codominant inheritance was confirmed by two independent family studies.

Measurement of aminotransferases: Part 1. Aspartate aminotransferase

Aminotransferases are ubiquitous enzymes of mammalian cells and several are of important diagnostic use. The application of aspartate aminotransferase activity measurements in serum from individuals suffering from myocardial infarction brought about a new dimension in clinical laboratory testing in the 1950s. This review focuses on measurement techniques for aspartate aminotransferase and their application (a subsequent article will review other aminotransferases). Assay techniques measuring enzyme activity are direct spectrophotometric measurements, manometric techniques, assays using dye substances, coupled enzyme techniques, and radiometric procedures. Of these procedures, the one employing malate dehydrogenase and NADH is the most important and is covered in particular detail. The estimation of the mitochondrial isoenzyme of aspartate aminotransferase is also of clinical interest, in particular for estimating severity of disease or in specific applications (e.g., chronic alcoholism). Methods reviewed for estimation of this enzyme are electrophoresis, chromatography, differential kinetic behavior, and immunochemical separation. Determination of the enzyme protein by techniques independent of its catalytic activity are also reviewed.

Observations on the isoenzymes of aspartate aminotransferase in equine tissues and serum

The distribution of the isoenzymes of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, E.C. 2.6.1.1.) in equine tissues has been studied to ascertain whether the organ of origin may be identified when the total AST activity of serum is raised. Most tissues contain 3 isoenzymes of cytoplasmic origin (cAST) with isoelectric points of 5.6, 5.7 and 5.9, and one isoenzyme of mitochondrial (mAST) origin with an isoelectric point of 9. Serum from horses with azoturia contained an additional cytoplasmic subform with an isoelectric point of 5.8. This form could not be generated by ageing, freezing and thawing or binding of the enzyme to gamma globulins or lipids. The ratio of cAST to mAST when separated by ion exchange chromatography varies widely between tissues, with no cAST detection in lung and no mAST detection in serum. Ageing of equine muscle homogenates caused the formation of 2 artefactual subforms with isoelectric points of 6.0 and 6.1. It is concluded that, although the ratio of mitochondrial to cytoplasmic AST varies between tissues, there is no tissue specificity of either cytoplasmic or mitochondrial isoenzymes and examination of serum would not indicate the source.

Mapping studies on human mitochondrial glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase

Data from six primary hybrids and twenty-two subclones have confirmed the assignment of the mitochondrial form of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase to chromosome 16. Family studies have provided independent confirmation of this and have suggested the gene order PGP-16qh-GOT2-HP. These studies were made easier by the development of a new stain for the detection of GOT activity.

Two relative efficiencies of polymorphic enzymes for characterizing cell lines, detecting contaminations, and monitoring transplants

A new calculation of the relative efficiency of polymorphic enzyme markers, called the REB, was determined and compared with one of Fisher's determinations of the relative efficiency called REA here. The REA estimates the chance of failing, and 1-REA of succeeding, to show a phenotypic difference between two randomly selected persons or cultured cell lines (Case 1). In this study it was shown that the REA also estimates the chance of detecting a cell line mislabeling or similar mixup (Case 2) and a cell line cross-contamination leading to the complete replacement of an original line by contaminating line (Case 3). The new REB determines the probability of failing, and 1 - REB of succeeding, to detect a contamination of an original line by another line leading to their coexistence, or at least a sufficiently long period of transitional coexistence before one overgrows the other. The REA and REB also apply to determining the efficiency of polymorphic markers in detecting donor and recipient cells in tissue transplants.

Human mitochondrial glutamic-oxaloacetic-transaminase, GOTM: formal genetics

The polymorphism of human GOTM was investigated in red blood cells by means of routine starch gel electrophoresis. The formal model of two common alleles, GOTM1 and GOTM2, at an autosomal locus GOTM was confirmed by examination of 640 mother-child pairs. The frequency of GOTM1 in this sample from southwestern Germany was calculated to be 0.981 +/- 0.003.

Relationship between subunit size and number of rare electrophoretic alleles in human enzymes

Data from published sources were used to compare the numbers of different electrophoretic alleles of 29 monomeric and dimeric human enzymes to their respective subunit molecular weights. Only those human enzymes were considered for which the total sample sizes were in excess of 2000 individuals. Correlations between these two variables were determined within sample size ranges of 2000 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 3000 and 4000 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 5000 individuals, and separately by quaternary class. There was no statistically significant correlation observed for the smaller sample size range in monomers; however, the correlations for the larger sample size range in monomers and both ranges in dimers were significant. Since there is no relationship between subunit size and heterozygosity, the relationships are due primarily to the incidence of rare alleles. These findings demonstrate the effect of locus-specific mutation rates, expected as a consequence of variation of cistron sizes, and imply that other forces are responsible for the relative frequencies of common alleles at some of the loci.

Genetic markers in Malaysians: variants of soluble and mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and salivary and pancreatic amylase, phosphoglucomutase III and saliva esterase polymorphisms

Malaysians of Malay, Chinese, and Indian ancestries were electrophoretically phenotyped for Amy1 and saliva esterase region 1 (Set-1) from saliva, Amy2 from plasma, soluble and mitochondrial GOT and PGM3 from leukocyte and placenta. Kadazans and Bajaus, the indigenous people of Sabah, East Malaysia were surveyed for Amy2. Three types of variants were observed for Amy1, one type for Amy2. Only Indians were found to be polymorphic for Amy1. Two GOTs 2-1 and three GOTm 2-1 variants were found among 281 Chinese while three GOTm 2-1 variants were found among 311 Malays. Malaysian Malays, Chinese, and Indians were found to be polymorphic for Set-1 and PGM3. The gene frequencies in Malays are Set-1F=0.601 +/- 0.021, Set-1S = 0.399 +/- 0.021; PGM13 = 0.788 +/- 0.020, PGM23 = 0.212 +/- 0.020; in Chinese Set-1F = 0.497 +/- 0.028, Set-1S = 0.503 +/- 0.028; PGM13 = 0.745 +/- 0.24, PGM23 = 0.255 +/- 0.024; in Indians, Set-1F = 0.449 +/- 0.031, Set-1S = 0.551 +/- 0.031; PGM13 = 0.755 +/- 0.029, PGM23 = 0.245 +/- 0.029.

The primary structure of aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart muscle. Digestion with a proteinase having specificity for lysine residues

Carboxymethylated aspartate aminotransferase was digested with a proteinase claimed to be specific for lysine residues. Complete cleavage occurred at 12 of the 19 lysine residues in the protein, but at the remaining seven residues cleavage was either restricted or absent. In addition, cleavage was observed at three of the 26 arginine residues. These results are discussed with reference to the amino acid residues adjacent to points of complete or restricted cleavage. The complete primary structure of aspartate aminotransferase, based on these and other studies, is given. Evidence for the assignment of some acid and amide side chains has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50050 (11 pp.) at the British Library (Lending Division), Boston Spa, Wetherby, W. Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1975) 145, 5. The evidence for the assignment of residue 366 was less conclusive than for the other acid and amide side chains and is, therefore, given in the main paper.

Genetically determined polymorphism of a form of hexokinase, HK III, found in human leucocytes

1. A form of hexokinase which appears to correspond to HK III, seen in liver, spleen and lung, has been identified in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes. HK III activity has not been demonstrated in lymphocytes, permanent lymphoblastoid cell lines or in cultured fibroblasts. 2. In fresh leucocyte preparations HK III usually appeared as a single band, but in extracts of post-mortem tissues multibanded patterns were seen. Leucocyte preparations also give multi-banded patterns after storage for more than a few hours. 3. In certain individuals the HK III showed a two-banded pattern even in fresh preparations. Repeat samples and family studies suggested that this pattern was genetically determined and represented a heterozygote for a common allele HK1III and a less common variant HK2III. Out of a total of 330 English people successfully tested 10 probable heterozygotes were found. 4. It is suggested that HK III may be a monomeric enzyme whose genetic determination is independent of that of the other main forms of hexokinase.