THE METABOLISM OFASCARIS LUMBRICOIDESOVARIES: II. AMINO ACID METABOLISM

Abstract

Homogenates of ascaris ovaries contained transamination, deamination, and reductive amination systems. Alanine–glutamic and aspartic–glutamic transaminases were active, whereas weaker transaminations occurred between glycine or serine and α-ketoglutaric or pyruvic acids. Sixteen other amino acids did not participate in transamination with these keto acids. A minor reaction, however, occurred between alanine or glutamic acid and α-ketovaleric acid. No amino acid oxidase activity was detected, and deamination appeared to be limited to a weakly positive glutamic dehydrogenase, which could be coupled to the alanine–glutamic and aspartic–glutamic transaminases to form a transdeaminase system. In the presence of pyruvate and ammonium chloride reductive amination occurred and alanine and aspartic acid were synthesized. This reaction was accelerated by bicarbonate, although oxalacetate could not be substituted successfully for pyruvate in the amination system. The results of the investigation are in accord with the probability that an active protein synthesis occurs in ascaris ovaries.