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THE OCCURRENCE OF A GLYCINE CLEAVAGE SYSTEM IN MAMMALIAN BRAIN 1
Author(s) -
Bruin W. J.,
Frantz B. May,
Sallach H. J.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1973.tb00281.x
Subject(s) - glycine cleavage system , glycine , dithiothreitol , serine , chemistry , biochemistry , catabolism , glyoxylate cycle , nad+ kinase , stereochemistry , cleavage (geology) , enzyme , biology , amino acid , paleontology , fracture (geology)
A major catabolic route for glycine in liver is its conversion to methylene tetra‐hydrofolate (methylene THF), CO 2 and NH 3 , catalysed by the glycine cleavage system described by Y oshida and K ikuchi (1970). In view of the role of glycine as a putative neuro‐transmitter, the occurrence of this system in mammalian brain was investigated. Our studies demonstrated: (a) that the production of 14 CO 2 from [1‐ 14 C]glycine required the presence of tetrahydrofolate, NAD, dithiothreitol and pyridoxal phosphate in the reaction mixture; (b) that besides CO 2 l ‐serine was the other major product of the reaction; (c) that glyoxylate did not function as an intermediate in this reaction; and (d) that enzymatic activity appeared to be associated with membranes. All of these properties resembled those previously described for the hepatic system.