Absorption of methionine sources in animals-is there more to know?

This literature review evaluates the absorption of methionine (Met) sources such as 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid (HMTBa), its calcium salts (HMTBa-Ca), and DL-methionine (DL-Met) by focusing on the state of knowledge regarding the absorption mechanism, experimental methodology, and factors affecting their absorption. The 2 Met sources differ in mechanism and site of absorption due to differences in their chemical characteristics and enzymatic conversion. This review addresses diffusion- and transport-mediated absorption systems for amino acids and carboxylic compounds, best elucidated by in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental models. Opportunities and limitations in the use of radioisotopes to depict absorption sites as well as host and microbial metabolism are described. Physiological and environmental conditions that lead to changes in gut absorptive capacity and the impact of Met source absorption are also evaluated. This review concludes that any comparison between HMTBa and DL-Met should consider their different behaviors during the absorption phase. Hence, the chemical characteristics of these 2 molecules entail different absorption sites and mechanisms, from passive absorption in the case of HMTBa and HMTBa-Ca to active transporters for DL-Met, HMTBa, and HMTBa-Ca. In addition, the different conversion modes of these 2 molecules further differentiate their absorption modes. Considering these important differences, it is easier to understand the apparent divergence between the conclusions of existing publications. When comparing these 2 molecules, it is recommended to properly adapt to the conditions under which the absorption of Met sources is evaluated.

Critical transporters of methionine and methionine hydroxyl analogue supplements across the intestine: What we know so far and what can be learned to advance animal nutrition

DL-methionine (DL-Met) and its analogue DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL-methionine hydroxyl analogue or DL-MHA) have been used as nutritional supplements in the diets of farmed raised animals. Knowledge of the intestinal transport mechanisms involved in these products is important for developing dietary strategies. This review provides updated information of the expression, function, and transport kinetics in the intestine of known Met-linked transporters along with putative MHA-linked transporters. As a neutral amino acid (AA), the transport of DL-Met is facilitated by multiple apical sodium-dependent/-independent high-/low-affinity transporters such as ASCT2, B⁰AT1 and rBAT/b^0,+AT. The basolateral transport largely relies on the rate-limiting uniporter LAT4, while the presence of the basolateral antiporter y⁺LAT1 is probably necessary for exchanging intracellular cationic AAs and Met in the blood. In contrast, the intestinal transport kinetics of DL-MHA have been scarcely studied. DL-MHA transport is generally accepted to be mediated simply by the proton-dependent monocarboxylate transporter MCT1. However, in-depth mechanistic studies have indicated that DL-MHA transport is also achieved through apical sodium monocarboxylate transporters (SMCTs). In any case, reliance on either a proton or sodium gradient would thus require energy input for both Met and MHA transport. This expanding knowledge of the specific transporters involved now allows us to assess the effect of dietary ingredients on the expression and function of these transporters. Potentially, the resulting information could be furthered with selective breeding to reduce overall feed costs.

Characterization of the segmental transport mechanisms of DL-methionine hydroxy analogue along the intestinal tract of rainbow trout with an additional comparison to DL-methionine

The aim of this study was to identify the unknown transport mechanism of the extensively used monocarboxylate methionine feed supplement DL-methionine hydroxy analogue (DL-MHA) in rainbow trout intestine. Transport across the pyloric caeca (PC), midgut (MG), and hindgut (HG) regions were kinetically studied in Na⁺- and H⁺-dependent manners. Gene expression of monocarboxylate (MCTs) and sodium monocarboxylate transporters (SMCTs) were assessed. Results demonstrated that DL-MHA transport from 0.2-20 mM was Na⁺-dependent and obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with low affinity in PC & MG in apical/basal pH of 7.7/7.7. Changes in apical/basal pH (6.0/6.0, 6.0/7.7, and 7.7/8.7) had insignificant effects on kinetics. In contrast, HG flux kinetics were only obtained in pH 7.7/8.7 or in the presence of lactate with medium affinity. Additionally, DL-MHA transport from 0-150 μM demonstrated the presence of a Na⁺-dependent high-affinity transporter in PC & MG. Conclusively, two distinct carrier-mediated DL-MHA transport mechanisms along the trout gut were found: 1) in PC & MG: apical transport was regulated by Na⁺-requiring systems that possibly contained low- and high-affinity transporters, and basolateral transport was primarily achieved through a H⁺-independent transporter; 2) in HG: uptake was apically mediated by a Na⁺-dependent transporter with medium affinity, and basolateral exit was largely controlled by an H⁺-dependent transporter. Finally, two major methionine feed supplements, DL-MHA and DL-methionine (DL-Met) were compared to understand the differences in their bioefficacy. Flux rates of DL-MHA were only about 42.2-66.0% in PC and MG compared to DL-Met, suggesting intestinal transport of DL-MHA was lower than DL-Met.

Physiological and biochemical aspects of methionine isomers and a methionine analogue in broilers

Methionine is the first limiting amino acid in all poultry corn-soybean based diets. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation of L-methionine (L-Met), DL-methionine (DL-Met), and the methionine analogue, DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL-HMTBA), on biochemical and physiological parameters of broiler chickens. Male Cobb-500 broilers were fed from day of hatch (d 0) to d 35 posthatch using a basal diet deficient in methionine plus cysteine (Met + Cys) (control), or the basal diet supplemented with 0.22% DL-Met, 0.22% L-Met, or 0.31% DL-HMTBA to meet the Met + Cys requirements. Tissue (liver, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) and blood samples were collected at various ages, from d 0 to d 35. Performance of the birds, blood parameters (e.g., acute phase proteins, white blood cell counts), mRNA expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and DNA methylation properties of liver tissues were examined. Both body weight and feed efficiency were improved in methionine supplemented groups compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed among DL-Met, L-Met, and DL-HMTBA for growth performance parameters. L-Met and DL-Met supplementation decreased the acute phase protein, serum amyloid A, while DL-HMTBA had no effect. Methionine supplementation had no effect on white blood cell differentiation count, hepatic total DNA methylation, or DNA methyltransferase activity. L-Met and DL-Met, but not DL-HMTBA, supplementation, resulted in enhanced expression of the ATB^0,+ and B⁰AT transporters in various small intestinal segments. All methionine sources increased expression of MCT1 in the jejunum. In conclusion, methionine supplementation improved growth performance of male broilers. Methionine supplementation was also associated with changes in intestinal nutrient transporter gene expression in certain segments and ages, suggesting that intestinal amino acid absorptive function can be regulated by the source of amino acid and effects are complex and dynamic.

Intestinal cell conversion ofdl-2-hydroxy-(4-methylthio)butanoic acidin vitro: dietary up-regulation by this methionine precursor

dl-2-Hydroxy-(4-methylthio)butanoic acid (HMTBA) is a synthetic source of dietary methionine (Met) widely used in poultry nutrition. HMTBA is transported in the intestinal epithelium by the monocarboxylate transporter 1, after which its biological utilisation relies on its conversion tol-Met. This process involves stereospecific HMTBA oxidation to 2-keto-(4-methylthio)butanoic acid (KMB) and transamination tol-Met. In the present study, we examined HMTBA conversion tol-Met, further incorporation into cellular proteins and the regulation of both processes by HMTBA supplementation in differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. The results showedd- andl-HMTBA oxidation in the enterocytes, this process being up-regulated by HMTBA. The data also revealed that KMB transamination is not linked to a specific amino group donor. However, the branched-chain amino acidl-leucine is the preferred amino group donor. Furthermore, transamination was not affected by HMTBA availability. The incorporation of radioactivity from HMTBA into cellular proteins was not significantly different from that ofl-Met and was not affected by HMTBA supplementation. In conclusion, the results reveal the capacity of Caco-2 cells to convert HMTBA tol-Met and the up-regulation of conversion by nutritional HMTBA supplementation, thus highlighting the contribution of the intestinal epithelium in the utilisation of HMTBA as a dietary source of Met.