Journal of Nutrition

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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 108 No. 1 January 1978, pp. 40-45
Copyright © 1978 by American Society for Nutrition
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Effect of Branched-Chain Keto-acids and Dietary Protein Content on the Activity of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Transferase in Rat Tissues1

Winnie Chan and Mackenzie Walser

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

Rats fed branched-chain keto-acids in place of branched-chain amino acids exhibited increased specific activity of branched-chain amino acid transferase (BATase) in muscle, intestine, brain and liver as compared with controls fed sufficient diet to achieve comparable weight gain. This increase was observed whether or not methionine and phenylalanine were also replaced by their N-free analogues. Kidney BATase was unaffected. Rats fed a protein-free diet exhibited higher BATase specific activity in kidney, brain, liver and intestine than rats fed diets containing 6% casein; but little change in specific activity in these organs was seen as casein intake was progressively increased from 6% to 18%. Muscle BATase specific activity was the same between 0 and 18% dietary casein. The results show that branched-chain keto-analogues augment BATase in several tissues, including muscle. In contrast, varying casein intake from 6% to 18% had little effect, although protein-free feeding augments BATase in some organs.

KEY WORDS: • branched-chain amino acid transferase • branched-chain keto-acids • protein intake

1 Supported by Program Project Grant AM 18020 and Training Grant GM 01183 from the USPHS/NIH.

Manuscript received 11 April 1977.




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