AMPD2 regulates GTP synthesis and is mutated in a potentially treatable neurodegenerative brainstem disorder.

Purine biosynthesis and metabolism, conserved in all living organisms, is essential for cellular energy homeostasis and nucleic acid synthesis. The de novo synthesis of purine precursors is under tight negative feedback regulation mediated by adenosine and guanine nucleotides. We describe a distinct early-onset neurodegenerative condition resulting from mutations in the adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 gene (AMPD2). Patients have characteristic brain imaging features of pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) due to loss of brainstem and cerebellar parenchyma. We found that AMPD2 plays an evolutionary conserved role in the maintenance of cellular guanine nucleotide pools by regulating the feedback inhibition of adenosine derivatives on de novo purine synthesis. AMPD2 deficiency results in defective GTP-dependent initiation of protein translation, which can be rescued by administration of purine precursors. These data suggest AMPD2-related PCH as a potentially treatable early-onset neurodegenerative disease.

IMPDH2 filaments protect from neurodegeneration in AMPD2 deficiency.

Metabolic dysregulation is one of the most common causes of pediatric neurodegenerative disorders. However, how the disruption of ubiquitous and essential metabolic pathways predominantly affect neural tissue remains unclear. Here we use mouse models of a childhood neurodegenerative disorder caused by AMPD2 deficiency to study cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to selective neuronal vulnerability to purine metabolism imbalance. We show that mouse models of AMPD2 deficiency exhibit predominant degeneration of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, despite a general reduction of brain GTP levels. Neurodegeneration-resistant regions accumulate micron-sized filaments of IMPDH2, the rate limiting enzyme in GTP synthesis, while these filaments are barely detectable in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Furthermore, we show that IMPDH2 filament disassembly reduces GTP levels and impairs growth of neural progenitor cells derived from individuals with human AMPD2 deficiency. Together, our findings suggest that IMPDH2 polymerization prevents detrimental GTP deprivation, opening the possibility of exploring the induction of IMPDH2 assembly as a therapy for neurodegeneration.

Role of the interaction between troponin T and AMP deaminase by zinc bridge in modulating muscle contraction and ammonia production.

The N-terminal region of troponin T (TnT) does not bind any protein of the contractile machinery and the role of its hypervariability remains uncertain. In this review we report the evidence of the interaction between TnT and AMP deaminase (AMPD), a regulated zinc enzyme localized on the myofibril. In periods of intense muscular activity, a decrease in the ATP/ADP ratio, together with a decrease in the tissue pH, is the stimulus for the activation of the enzyme that deaminating AMP to IMP and NH3 displaces the myokinase reaction towards the formation of ATP. In skeletal muscle subjected to strong tetanic contractions, a calpain-like proteolytic activity produces the removal in vivo of a 97-residue N-terminal fragment from the enzyme that becomes desensitized towards the inhibition by ATP, leading to an unrestrained production of NH3. When a 95-residue N-terminal fragment is removed from AMPD by trypsin, simulating in vitro the calpain action, rabbit fast TnT or its phosphorylated 50-residue N-terminal peptide binds AMPD restoring the inhibition by ATP. Taking in consideration that the N-terminus of TnT expressed in human as well as rabbit white muscle contains a zinc-binding motif, we suggest that TnT might mimic the regulatory action of the inhibitory N-terminal domain of AMPD due to the presence of a zinc ion connecting the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the enzyme, indicating that the two proteins might physiologically associate to modulate muscle contraction and ammonia production in fast-twitching muscle under strenuous conditions.

Erythrocyte ENT1-AMPD3 Axis is an Essential Purinergic Hypoxia Sensor and Energy Regulator Combating CKD in a Mouse Model.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Hypoxia drives kidney damage and progression of CKD. Although erythrocytes respond rapidly to hypoxia, their role and the specific molecules sensing and responding to hypoxia in CKD remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated in a mouse model that erythrocyte ENT1-AMPD3 is a master energy regulator of the intracellular purinergic hypoxic compensatory response that promotes rapid energy supply from extracellular adenosine, eAMPK-dependent metabolic reprogramming, and O 2 delivery, which combat renal hypoxia and progression of CKD. ENT1-AMPD3-AMPK-BPGM comprise a group of circulating erythroid-specific biomarkers, providing early diagnostic and novel therapeutic targets for CKD. BACKGROUND: Hypoxia drives kidney damage and progression of CKD. Although erythrocytes respond rapidly to hypoxia, their role and the specific molecules sensing and responding to hypoxia in CKD remain unclear. METHODS: Mice with an erythrocyte-specific deficiency in equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 ( eEnt1-/- ) and a global deficiency in AMP deaminase 3 ( Ampd3-/- ) were generated to define their function in two independent CKD models, including angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Unbiased metabolomics, isotopic adenosine flux, and various biochemical and cell culture analyses coupled with genetic studies were performed. Translational studies in patients with CKD and cultured human erythrocytes examined the role of ENT1 and AMPD3 in erythrocyte function and metabolism. RESULTS: eEnt1-/- mice display severe renal hypoxia, kidney damage, and fibrosis in both CKD models. The loss of eENT1-mediated adenosine uptake reduces intracellular AMP and thus abolishes the activation of AMPK α and bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM). This results in reduced 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate and glutathione, leading to overwhelming oxidative stress in eEnt1-/- mice. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) activates AMPD3, resulting in metabolic reprogramming and reduced O 2 delivery, leading to severe renal hypoxia in eEnt1-/- mice. By contrast, genetic ablation of AMPD3 preserves the erythrocyte adenine nucleotide pool, inducing AMPK-BPGM activation, O 2 delivery, and antioxidative stress capacity, which protect against Ang II-induced renal hypoxia, damage, and CKD progression. Translational studies recapitulated the findings in mice. CONCLUSION: eENT1-AMPD3, two highly enriched erythrocyte purinergic components that sense hypoxia, promote eAMPK-BPGM-dependent metabolic reprogramming, O 2 delivery, energy supply, and antioxidative stress capacity, which mitigates renal hypoxia and CKD progression.

The Association of Genetic Markers Involved in Muscle Performance Responding to Lactate Levels during Physical Exercise Therapy by Nordic Walking in Patients with Long COVID Syndrome: A Nonrandomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Several genetic markers have shown associations with muscle performance and physical abilities, but the response to exercise therapy is still unknown. The aim of this study was to test the response of patients with long COVID through an aerobic physical therapy strategy by the Nordic walking program and how several genetic polymorphisms involved in muscle performance influence physical capabilities. Using a nonrandomized controlled pilot study, 29 patients who previously suffered from COVID-19 (long COVID = 13, COVID-19 = 16) performed a Nordic walking exercise therapy program for 12 sessions. The influence of the ACE (rs4646994), ACTN3 (rs1815739), AMPD1 (rs17602729), CKM (rs8111989), and MLCK (rs2849757 and rs2700352) polymorphisms, genotyped by using single nucleotide primer extension (SNPE) in lactic acid concentration was established with a three-way ANOVA (group × genotype × sessions). For ACE polymorphism, the main effect was lactic acid (p = 0.019). In ACTN3 polymorphism, there were no main effects of lactic acid, group, or genotype. However, the posthoc analysis revealed that, in comparison with nonlong COVID, long COVID increased lactic acid concentrations in Nordic walking sessions in CT and TT genotypes (all p < 0.05). For AMPD1 polymorphism, there were main effects of lactic acid, group, or genotype and lactic acid × genotype or lactic acid × group × genotype interactions (all p < 0.05). The posthoc analysis revealed that, in comparison with nonlong COVID, long COVID increased lactic acid concentrations in Nordic walking sessions in CC and CT genotypes (all p < 0.05). Physical therapy strategy through Nordic walking enhanced physical capabilities during aerobic exercise in post-COVID19 patients with different genotypes in ACTN3 c.1729C>T and AMPD1 c.34C>T polymorphisms. These findings suggest that individuals who reported long COVID who presumably exercised less beforehand appeared to be less able to exercise, based on lactate levels, and the effect of aerobic physical exercise enhanced physical capabilities conditioned by several genetic markers in long COVID patients.

Delineating the phenotype and genetic basis of AMPD2-related pontocerebellar hypoplasia.

Pontocerebellar hypoplasia is a group of disorders with a wide range of presentations. We describe here the genetic and phenotypic features of PCH type 9 due to mutations in AMPD2. All patients have severe intellectual disability, and the vast majority manifest abnormal tone, cortical blindness, and microcephaly. Almost all have agenesis of the corpus callosum and severe cerebellar hypoplasia. The course is not progressive, however, few die in the first decade of life. Mutations are spread throughout the gene, and no hot spot can be identified. One of the mutations we report here is the most distal truncating variant known in this gene and is predicted to result in a truncated protein. The phenotype is severe in all cases; thus, no clear genotype-phenotype correlation can be established.

The discovery of 3,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline-1-carboxamides as AMPD2 inhibitors with a novel mechanism of action.

AMP deaminase 2 (AMPD2) has been thought to play an important role in energy homeostasis and immuno-oncology, while selective AMPD2 inhibitors are highly demanded to clarify the physiological function of AMPD2. In this report, we describe selective AMPD2 inhibitors inducing allosteric modulation. Based on hypothesis that compounds that exhibit increased inhibition by preincubation would cause conformational change of the enzyme, starting from HTS hit compound 4, we discovered compound 8 through the SAR study. From X-ray structural information of 8, this chemical series has a novel mechanism of action that changes the substrate pocket to prevent AMP from binding. Further elaboration of compound 8 led to the tool compound 21 which exhibited potent inhibitory activity of AMPD2 in ex vivo evaluation of mouse liver.

Surface AMP deaminase 2 as a novel regulator modifying extracellular adenine nucleotide metabolism.

Adenine nucleotides represent crucial immunomodulators in the extracellular environment. The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 are responsible for the sequential catabolism of ATP to adenosine via AMP, thus promoting an anti-inflammatory milieu induced by the "adenosine halo". AMPD2 intracellularly mediates AMP deamination to IMP, thereby both enhancing the degradation of inflammatory ATP and reducing the formation of anti-inflammatory adenosine. Here, we show that this enzyme is expressed on the surface of human immune cells and its predominance may modify inflammatory states by altering the extracellular milieu. Surface AMPD2 (eAMPD2) expression on monocytes was verified by immunoblot, surface biotinylation, mass spectrometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Flow cytometry revealed enhanced monocytic eAMPD2 expression after TLR stimulation. PBMCs from patients with rheumatoid arthritis displayed significantly higher levels of eAMPD2 expression compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, the product of AMPD2-IMP-exerted anti-inflammatory effects, while the levels of extracellular adenosine were not impaired by an increased eAMPD2 expression. In summary, our study identifies eAMPD2 as a novel regulator of the extracellular ATP-adenosine balance adding to the immunomodulatory CD39-CD73 system.

Xanthine oxidoreductase-mediated injury is amplified by upregulated AMP deaminase in type 2 diabetic rat hearts under the condition of pressure overload.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that upregulated AMP deaminase (AMPD) contributes to diastolic ventricular dysfunction via depletion of the adenine nucleotide pool in a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), Otsuka Long-Evans-Tokushima Fatty rats (OLETF). Meanwhile, AMPD promotes the formation of substrates of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), which produces ROS as a byproduct. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a functional link between upregulated AMPD and XOR is involved in ventricular dysfunction in T2DM rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pressure-volume loop analysis revealed that pressure overloading by phenylephrine infusion induced severer left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (tau: 14.7 ± 0.8 vs 12.5 ± 0.7 msec, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure: 18.3 ± 1.5 vs 12.2 ± 1.3 mmHg, p < 0.05) and ventricular-arterial uncoupling in OLETF than in LETO, non-diabetic rats, though the baseline parameters were comparable in the two groups. While the pressure overload did not affect AMPD activity, it increased XOR activity both in OLETF and LETO, with OLETF showing significantly higher XOR activity than that in LETO (347.2 ± 17.9 vs 243.2 ± 6.1 µg/min/mg). Under the condition of pressure overload, myocardial ATP level was lower, and levels of xanthine and uric acid were higher in OLETF than in LETO. Addition of exogenous inosine, a product of AMP deamination, to the heart homogenates augmented XOR activity. OLETF showed 68% higher tissue ROS levels and 47% reduction in mitochondrial state 3 respiration compared with those in LETO. Overexpression of AMPD3 in H9c2 cells elevated levels of hypoxanthine and ROS and reduced the level of ATP. Inhibition of XOR suppressed the production of tissue ROS and mitochondrial dysfunction and improved ventricular function under the condition of pressure overload in OLETF. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that increases in the activity of XOR and the formation of XOR substrates by upregulated AMPD contribute to ROS-mediated diastolic ventricular dysfunction at the time of increased cardiac workload in diabetic hearts.

m6A RNA Degradation Products Are Catabolized by an Evolutionarily Conserved N6-Methyl-AMP Deaminase in Plant and Mammalian Cells.

N6-methylated adenine (m6A) is the most frequent posttranscriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNA. Turnover of RNA generates N6-methylated AMP (N6-mAMP), which has an unclear metabolic fate. We show that Arabidopsis thaliana and human cells require an N6-mAMP deaminase (ADAL, renamed MAPDA) to catabolize N6-mAMP to inosine monophosphate in vivo by hydrolytically removing the aminomethyl group. A phylogenetic, structural, and biochemical analysis revealed that many fungi partially or fully lack MAPDA, which coincides with a minor role of N6A-RNA methylation in these organisms. MAPDA likely protects RNA from m6A misincorporation. This is required because eukaryotic RNA polymerase can use N6-mATP as a substrate. Upon abrogation of MAPDA, root growth is slightly reduced, and the N6-methyladenosine, N6-mAMP, and N6-mATP concentrations are increased in Arabidopsis. Although this will potentially lead to m6A misincorporation into RNA, we show that the frequency is too low to be reliably detected in vivo. Since N6-mAMP was severalfold more abundant than N6-mATP in MAPDA mutants, we speculate that additional molecular filters suppress the generation of N6-mATP. Enzyme kinetic data indicate that adenylate kinases represent such filters being highly selective for AMP versus N6-mAMP phosphorylation. We conclude that a multilayer molecular protection system is in place preventing N6-mAMP accumulation and salvage.

Mechanism and structure based design of inhibitors of AMP and adenosine deaminase.

Inhibitors of the enzyme adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) show interesting levels of herbicidal activity. An enzyme mechanism-based approach has been used to design new inhibitors of AMPD starting from nebularine (6) and resulting in the synthesis of 2-deoxy isonebularine (16). This compound is a potent inhibitor of the related enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA; IC50 16 nM), binding over 5000 times more strongly than nebularine. It is proposed that the herbicidal activity of compound 16 is due to 5́-phosphorylation in planta to give an inhibitor of AMPD. Subsequently, an enzyme structure-based approach was used to design new non-ribosyl AMPD inhibitors. The initial lead structure was discovered by in silico screening of a virtual library against plant AMPD. In a second step, binding to AMPD was further optimised via more detailed molecular modeling leading to 2-(benzyloxy)-5-(imidazo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-7-yl)benzoic acid (36) (IC50 300 nM). This compound does not inhibit ADA and shows excellent selectivity for plant over human AMPD.

A functional mutation in the AMPD1 promoter region affects promoter activity and breast meat freshness in chicken.

Freshness is an important index to determine the quality deterioration (protein degradation and changes in appearance) of chilled chicken meat and is a primary consideration of consumers. Adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) catalyzes the deamination of adenosine monophosphate to inosine monophosphate in skeletal muscle and is the rate-limiting step in the purine nucleotide cycle. Inosine monophosphate is regarded as an important indicator of meat freshness in chicken. This study investigated the association of polymorphisms in the chicken AMPD1 promoter region with meat freshness during freezing storage. An SNP (c. -905G>A) was found to be associated with the freshness (K-value) of chicken breast meat. Chickens with the AA genotype had significantly lower K-values than those with GG and AG genotypes (P < 0.01). Individuals with the AA genotype also had higher breast meat AMPD1 mRNA levels than did those with the GG and AG genotypes (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). A luciferase assay revealed that genotype AA had greater transcriptional activity than genotype GG. Transcription factor binding site analysis identified distinct putative transcription factor binding sites in the two alleles of mutation site c. -905. In summary, we identified an SNP (c. -905G>A) in the promoter region of the AMPD1 gene that may modulate the binding affinity of different transcription factors to control AMPD1 expression and affect the freshness K-value of chicken meat.

Alternative conformation induced by substrate binding for Arabidopsis thalianaN6-methyl-AMP deaminase.

Adenosine deaminase is involved in adenosine degradation and salvage pathway, and plays important physiological roles in purine metabolism. Recently, a novel type of adenosine deaminase-like protein has been identified, which displays deamination activity toward N6-methyl-adenosine monophosphate but not adenosine or AMP, and was consequently named N6-methyl-AMP deaminase (MAPDA). The underlying structural basis of MAPDA recognition and catalysis is poorly understood. Here, we present the crystal structures of MAPDA from Arabidopsis thaliana in the free and in the ligand-bound forms. The protein contains a conserved (ß/α)8 Tim-barrel domain and a typical zinc-binding site, but it also exhibits idiosyncratic local differences for two flexible helices important for substrate binding. The extensive interactions between the N6-methyl-AMP substrate or the inosine monophosphate product and the enzyme were identified, and subsequently evaluated by the deamination activity assays. Importantly, each structure reported here represents a different stage of the catalytic pathway and their structural differences suggested that the enzyme can exist in two distinct conformational states. The open state switches to the closed one upon the binding of ligands, brought about by the two critical helices. Our structural studies provide the first look of this important metabolic enzyme and shed lights on its catalytic pathway, which holds promise for the structure-based drug design for MAPDA-related diseases.

Multiple gene integration to promote erythritol production on glycerol in Yarrowia lipolytica.

OBJECTIVE: Erythritol (1,2,3,4-butanetetrol) is a 4-carbon sugar alcohol that occurs in nature as a metabolite or storage compound. In this study, a multiple gene integration strategy was employed to enhance erythritol production in Y. lipolytica. RESULTS: The effects on the production of erythritol in Y. lipolytica of seven key genes involved in the erythritol synthesis pathway were evaluated individually, among which transketolase (TKL1) and transaldolase (TAL1) showed important roles in enhancing erythritol production. The combined overexpression of four genes (GUT1, TPI1, TKL1, TAL1) and disruption of the EYD1 gene (encoding erythritol dehydrogenase), resulted in produce approximately 40 g/L erythritol production from glycerol. Further enhanced erythritol synthesis was obtained by overexpressing the RKI1 gene (encoding ribose 5-phosphate isomerase) and the AMPD gene (encoding AMP deaminase), indicating for the first time that these two genes are also related to the enhancement of erythritol production in Y. lipolytica. CONCLUSIONS: A combined gene overexpression strategy was developed to efficiently improve the production of erythritol in Y. lipolytica, suggesting a great capacity and promising potential of this non-conventional yeast in converting glycerol into erythritol.

Purine Nucleotides Metabolism and Signaling in Huntington's Disease: Search for a Target for Novel Therapies.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a multi-system disorder that is caused by expanded CAG repeats within the exon-1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene that translate to the polyglutamine stretch in the HTT protein. HTT interacts with the proteins involved in gene transcription, endocytosis, and metabolism. HTT may also directly or indirectly affect purine metabolism and signaling. We aimed to review existing data and discuss the modulation of the purinergic system as a new therapeutic target in HD. Impaired intracellular nucleotide metabolism in the HD affected system (CNS, skeletal muscle and heart) may lead to extracellular accumulation of purine metabolites, its unusual catabolism, and modulation of purinergic signaling. The mechanisms of observed changes might be different in affected systems. Based on collected findings, compounds leading to purine and ATP pool reconstruction as well as purinergic receptor activity modulators, i.e., P2X7 receptor antagonists, may be applied for HD treatment.

Biochemical and physiological investigations on adenosine 5' monophosphate deaminase from Plasmodium spp.

The interplay between ATP generating and utilizing pathways in a cell is responsible for maintaining cellular ATP/energy homeostasis that is reflected by Adenylate Energy Charge (AEC) ratio. Adenylate kinase (AK), that catalyzes inter-conversion of ADP, ATP and AMP, plays a major role in maintaining AEC and is regulated by cellular AMP levels. Hence, the enzymes AMP deaminase (AMPD) and nucleotidases, which catabolize AMP, indirectly regulate AK activity and in-turn affect AEC. Here, we present the first report on AMPD from Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria. The recombinant enzyme expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied using functional complementation assay and residues vital for enzyme activity have been identified. Similarities and differences between Plasmodium falciparum AMPD (PfAMPD) and its homologs from yeast, Arabidopsis and humans are also discussed. The AMPD gene was deleted in the murine malaria parasite P. berghei and was found to be dispensable during all stages of the parasite life cycle. However, when episomal expression was attempted, viable parasites were not obtained, suggesting that perturbing AMP homeostasis by over-expressing AMPD might be lethal. As AMPD is known to be allosterically modulated by ATP, GTP and phosphate, allosteric activators of PfAMPD could be developed as anti-parasitic agents.

Genetic investigation of purine nucleotide imbalance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Because metabolism is a complex balanced process involving multiple enzymes, understanding how organisms compensate for transient or permanent metabolic imbalance is a challenging task that can be more easily achieved in simpler unicellular organisms. The metabolic balance results not only from the combination of individual enzymatic properties, regulation of enzyme abundance, but also from the architecture of the metabolic network offering multiple interconversion alternatives. Although metabolic networks are generally highly resilient to perturbations, metabolic imbalance resulting from enzymatic defect and specific environmental conditions can be designed experimentally and studied. Starting with a double amd1 aah1 mutant that severely and conditionally affects yeast growth, we carefully characterized the metabolic shuffle associated with this defect. We established that the GTP decrease resulting in an adenylic/guanylic nucleotide imbalance was responsible for the growth defect. Identification of several gene dosage suppressors revealed that TAT1, encoding an amino acid transporter, is a robust suppressor of the amd1 aah1 growth defect. We show that TAT1 suppression occurs through replenishment of the GTP pool in a process requiring the histidine biosynthesis pathway. Importantly, we establish that a tat1 mutant exhibits synthetic sickness when combined with an amd1 mutant and that both components of this synthetic phenotype can be suppressed by specific gene dosage suppressors. Together our data point to a strong phenotypic connection between amino acid uptake and GTP synthesis, a connection that could open perspectives for future treatment of related human defects, previously reported as etiologically highly conserved.

Homozygous variants in AMPD2 and COL11A1 lead to a complex phenotype of pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 9 and Stickler syndrome type 2.

Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 9 (PCH9) is an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the AMPD2 gene. We evaluated the son of a consanguineous couple who presented with profound hypotonia and global developmental delay. Other features included sensorineural hearing loss, asymmetric astigmatism, and high myopia. Clinical whole-exome sequence analysis identified a homozygous missense variant in AMPD2 (NM_001257360.1:c.2201C > T, p.[Pro734Leu]) that has not been previously reported. Given the strong phenotypic overlap with PCH9, including the identification of the typical "Figure 8" appearance of the brainstem on neuroimaging, we suspect this variant was causative of the neurodevelopmental disability in this individual. An additional homozygous nonsense variant in COL11A1 (NM_001854.4:c.1168G > T, p.[Glu390Ter]) was identified. Variants in this alternatively spliced region of COL11A1 have been identified to cause an autosomal recessive form of Stickler syndrome type 2 characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and eye abnormalities, but without musculoskeletal abnormalities. The COL11A1 variant likely also contributed to the individual's phenotype, suggesting two potentially relevant genetic findings. This challenging case highlights the importance of detailed phenotypic characterization when interpreting whole exome data.

Effects of different expression systems on characterization of adenylate deaminase from Aspergillus oryzae.

Adenylate deaminase (AMPD) is an amino hydrolase that catalyzes the irreversible hydrolysis of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP) and ammonia. In this study, the effect of different hosts on the enzymatic properties of AMPD from Aspergillus oryzae GX-08 was investigated and showed that Bacillus subtilis WB600 was more suitable for producing AMPD with a higher activity of 2540 U/mL. After purification, the optimal temperature and pH of recombinant AMPD were 55 °C and pH 6.0, respectively, and its activity was significantly enhanced by 10 mM Fe3+ with an increase of 236%. More importantly, the recombinant AMPD specifically and effectively catalyzed the conversion between AMP and IMP, in which 10 mL of crude AMPD achieved a conversion ratio of 76.4% after 40 min. Therefore, B. subtilis WB600 provides a potential platform for producing AMPD with excellent catalytic ability and catalytic specificity.

Valine acts as a nutritional signal in brain to activate TORC1 and attenuate postprandial ammonia-N excretion in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi).

An emerging concept is that the hypothalamic nutrient sensor can regulate peripheral energy metabolism via a brain-liver circuit. Valine is an essential branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that drives intracellular signaling cascades by the activation of target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) which is critical to protein metabolism in mammals. However, in teleost fish, it remains scarce in this area especially about how the intraventricular (ICV) injection of valine can mediate the protein metabolism in peripheral organs. This study would tentatively explore the effects of ICV injection of valine on protein metabolism in peripheral organs through evaluating the postprandial ammonia-N excretion rate in Chinese perch. The control group was injected with 5-µL PBS, and the Val group was injected with 20-µg L valine dissolved into 5-µL PBS. The ammonia-N excretion rate of Val group was lower than control group at 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection, while the concertation of plasma glucose was increased sharply at 0.5-, 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection. We further checked both mRNA level and the enzyme activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in the liver and adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) in muscle, and we found that they were obviously decreased in Val group at 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection. The phosphorylation level of ribosomal protein S6, a downstream target protein of TORC1, was markedly enhanced in the liver of Val group at 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection. Collectively, these results illustrated that ICV injection of valine can attenuate protein degradation in peripheral organs by depressing the GDH and AMPD enzyme activity; on the other hand, the injected valine can trigger the activation of TORC1 in the liver via a brain-liver circuit and then interdict proteolysis.