Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Argininosuccinase Activity in Brain Tissue

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

A NEWLY recognized form of mental deficiency, probably caused by an inborn error of metabolism, has been described1. The unknown metabolite, now known to be argininosuccinic acid2, found in this disease was present in the plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The concentration of this amino-acid was higher in the cerebrospinal fluid than in the plasma, suggesting that the compound is formed in the brain or some other organ in close association with the fluid. Apart from these patients, argininosuccinic acid has never yet been found, even in traces, in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid or urine of man or rats, nor can it be detected in extracts of rat liver, kidney or brain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allan, J. D., Cusworth, D. C., Dent, C. E., and Wilson, K. V., Lancet, i, 182 (1958).

  2. Westall, R. G., Fourth Int. Congr. Biochem., Vienna (1958).

  3. Ratner, S., Petrack, B., and Rochovansky, O., J. Biol. Chem., 204, 95 (1953).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ratner, S., and Pappas, A., J. Biol. Chem., 179, 1183 (1949).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ratner, S., and Petrack, B., J. Biol. Chem., 200, 175 (1953).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Walker, J. B., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 98, 7 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Westall, R. G., Biochem. J. (in the press).

  8. Ratner, S., “Methods in Enzymology”, 2, 356 (Academic Press, 1955).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Van Slyke, D. D., and Archibald, R. M., J. Biol. Chem., 165, 293 (1946).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Nurnberger, J. I., and Gordon, M. W., “Ultrastracture and Cellular Chemistry or Neural Tissues”, edit. by Waelsch, H., 100 (Hoeber, New York, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sporn, M. B., Dingman, W., Defalco, A., and Davies, R. K., J. Neurochem., 5, 62 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sporn, M. B., Dingman, W., and Defalco, A., J. Neurochem., 4, 141 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Baldwin, E., “Dynamic Aspects of Biochemistry”, second ed., 324 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Unit, University College Hospital Medical School, University Street, London, W.C.1

    S. TOMLINSON & R. G. WESTALL

Authors
  1. S. TOMLINSON
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. G. WESTALL
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

TOMLINSON, S., WESTALL, R. Argininosuccinase Activity in Brain Tissue. Nature 188, 235–236 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/188235a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/188235a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation