Optimum amino acid complement for protein synthesis by rat mammary cells in tissue culture

Isoleucine, leucine, methionine, and threonine effects on mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in mammary tissue

Improved representation of postabsorptive N metabolism in lactating dairy cows requires a better understanding of protein synthesis regulation in the mammary glands. This study aimed to determine the quantitative effects of Ile, Leu, Met, and Thr on the phosphorylation state of signaling proteins that regulate protein synthesis. The experiment used a composite design with a central point, 2 axial points per AA, and a complete 2(4) factorial. All of the other AA were provided at the concentrations in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The experiment was replicated with tissues from 5 lactating cows. Mammary tissue slices (0.12 ± 0.02 g) were incubated for 4h. Total and site-specific phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; Ser2448), eukaryotic elongation factor (eEF) 2 (Thr56), ribosomal protein S6 (Ser235/236), and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (Ser51) were determined by western immunoblotting. Tissue concentrations of the 4 AA studied responded linearly to media supply. Addition of Ile, Leu, Met, or Thr had no effect on eukaryotic initiation factor 2α phosphorylation. Isoleucine and Thr positively affected mTOR phosphorylation. However, the 2 AA had an antagonistic relationship. Similarly, Ile linearly increased ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation, and Thr inhibited the Ile effect. In addition, eEF2 phosphorylation was linearly decreased by Ile and Leu. Threonine curvilinearly decreased eEF2 phosphorylation, Ile and Leu negatively interacted on eEF2, and Thr tended to inhibit Leu effects on eEF2. This work demonstrated saturable responses and interactions between AA on activation of the mTOR pathway. Incorporation of these concepts into milk protein response models will help to improve milk and milk protein yield predictions and increase postabsorptive N efficiency and reduce N excretion by dairy cows.

Amino acids supply in culture media is not a limiting factor in the matrix synthesis of engineered cartilage tissue

Increased amino acid supplementation (0.5 x, 1.0 x, and 5.0 x recommended concentrations or additional proline) was hypothesized to increase the collagen content in engineered cartilage. No significant differences were found between groups in matrix content or dynamic modulus. Control constructs possessed the highest compressive Young's modulus on day 42. On day 42, compared to controls, decreased type II collagen was found with 0.5 x, 1.0 x, and 5.0 x supplementation and significantly increased DNA content found in 1.0 x and 5.0 x. No effects were observed on these measures with added proline. These results lead us to reject our hypothesis and indicate that the low collagen synthesis in engineered cartilage is not due to a limited supply of amino acids in media but may require a further stimulatory signal. The results of this study also highlight the impact that culture environment can play on the development of engineered cartilage.

Extracellular amino acid effects on milk protein synthesis and intracellular amino acid pools with bovine mammary cells in culture

Increases in free intracellular amino acids are associated with increased protein synthesis. Responses in synthesis of beta-casein and beta-lactoglobulin and of intracellular amino acid pools to graded concentrations of amino acids in the medium were observed. Mammary tissue from two Holstein cows was dispersed and cultured for 18 h with Eagle's minimal essential medium containing 1, 3, 5, or 7 times the basic concentration of amino acids. Synthesis of beta-casein and beta-lactoglobulin increased with concentration of amino acids in the medium. Intracellular pools of amino acids not provided by the medium (serine, proline, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, ornithine) generally decreased with increased concentrations of amino acids in the medium, the exception being ornithine which increased with extracellular amino acids. Lysine, histidine, tyrosine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, arginine, and threonine intracellular pools increased with increased amino acids in medium. Intracellular cystine responded with a small linear increase to increased amino acids in the medium, while intracellular tryptophan and methionine did not respond, indicating potential limitations from these amino acids.

Effects of increased supply of essential amino acids on the metabolism of the isolated perfused guinea-pig mammary gland

The effects of high rates of infusion of essential amino acids on amino acid uptake by the isolated perfused guinea-pig mammary gland were studied. Infusion of methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine and tryptophan (designated group 1) resulted in significant increases in the uptakes of tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine. Methionine, tryptophan and other essential amino acids were not significantly affected. Infusion of threonine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine and arginine (designated group 2) resulted in significant increases in uptake of all these amino acids. Group 1 amino acid uptake was not significantly affected. Infusion of all the essential amino acids (i.e. groups 1 and 2 together) resulted in significant increases in all their uptakes. Using as index 'the predicted rate of protein synthesis', infusion of group 1 and 2 together led to an apparent 27% increase in protein synthesis. The above results are discussed in relation to the control of milk protein synthesis by limiting essential amino acids.