Skip to main content
Log in

Regional distribution of membrane-bound γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in mouse brain

Comparison with rabbit brain

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Neurochemical Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Activity of membrane-bound γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) was examined in various regions of mouse brain, in capillaries of the cerebral cortex and in telencephalic choroid plexuses. The level of activity in the capillaries was double and that of the choroid plexus nine times that of the γ-GTP activity found in the brain, septum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebellum, frontal cortex, pons, medulla oblongata, and amygdala. Histochemically the γ-GTP activity was demonstrated in the surface membranes of choroidal cells and in the endothelium of small capillaries.

The activities of γ-GTP of cerebral cortex, choroid plexus, and capillaries from rabbit were 5–17 times greater than those from corresponding areas of mouse brain. While 30 mM methionine stimulated (in vitro) the enzyme from mouse brain, no such effect was observed with the enzyme activity from rabbit brain. The γ-GTP activity from the capillaries of cerebral cortex of both mouse and rabbit was not effected by the presence of methionine.

These findings suggest existence of differences in the specificity of γ-GTP activity in these two species.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Meister, A. 1973. On the enzymology of amino acid transport. Science 180:33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Meister, A., Tate, S. S., andRoss, L. L. 1976. Membrane-bound γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. Pages 315–347,in Martanosi, A. (ed.), The Enzymes of Biological Membranes, Vol. 3, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Prusiner, S., Doak, C. W., andKirk, G. 1976. A novel mechanism for group translocation: Substrate-product reutilization by γ-glutamyl transpeptidase in peptide and amino acid transport. J. Cell. Physiol. 89:853–864.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Samuels, S. 1977. Transport of the large-neutral amino acids by the γ-glutamyl cycle: A proposal. J. Theor. Biol. 64:729–738.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Albert, Z., Orlowski, M., Rzucidlo, Z., andOrlowska, J. 1966. Studies on γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and its histochemical localization in the central nervous system of man and different animal species. Acta Histochem. 25:312–320.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lisý, V., andLodin, Z. 1977. In vitro influencing of brain γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity by some amino acids. Collection Czechoslov. Chem. Commun. 42:2967–2974.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Okonkwo, P. O., Orlowski, M., andGreen, J. P. 1974. Enzymes of the γ-glutamyl cycle in the choroid plexus and brain. J. Neurochem. 22: 1053–1058.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Orlowski, M., andWilk, S. 1975. Intermediates of the γ-glutamyl cycle in mouse tissues. Influence of administration of amino acids on pyrrolidone carboxylate and γ-glutamyl amino acids. Eur. J. Biochem. 53:581–590.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Grandgeorge, M., andMorélis, P. 1976. Purification partielle et etude de la γ-glutamyl transpeptidase des capillaires cerebraux de Mouton. Biochimie 58:275–284.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Orlowski, M., Sessa, G., andGreen, J. P. 1974. γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase in brain capillaries: possible site of a blood-brain barrier for amino acids. Science 184:66–68.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sessa, G., andPerez, M. 1975. Biochemical changes in rat brain associated with the development of the blood-brain barrier. J. Neurochem. 25:779–782.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sessa, G., Orlowski, M., andGreen, J. P. 1976. Isolation from bovine brain of a fraction containing capillaries and a fraction containing membrane fragments of the choroid plexus. J. Neurobiol. 7:51–61.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lorenzo, A. V. 1974. Amino acid transport mechanisms of the cerebrospinal fluid. Fed. Proc. 33:2079–2085.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Tate, S. S., Ross, L. L., andMeister, A. 1973. The γ-glutamyl cycle in choroid plexus: its possible function in amino acid transport. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70:1447–1449.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Prusiner, P. E., andPrusiner, S. B. 1978. Partial purification and kinetics of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase from bovine choroid plexus. J. Neurochem. 30:1253–1259.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Šťastný, F., andRychter, Z. 1976. Quantitative development of choroid plexus in chick embryo cerebral ventricles. Acta Neurol. Scand. 53:251–259.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mršulja, B. B., Mršulja, B. J., Fujimoto, T., Klatzo, I., andSpatz, M. 1976. Isolation of brain capillaries: A simplified technique. Brain Res. 110:361–365.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Orlowski, M., Okonkwo, P. O., andGreen, J. P. 1973. Activation of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase by monovalent cations. FEBS Lett. 31:237–240.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tate, S. S., andMeister, A. 1974. Interaction of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase with amino acids, dipeptides, and derivatives and analogs of glutathione. J. Biol. Chem. 249:7593–7602.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. R., Farr, A. L. L., andRandall, R. J. 1951. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193:265–275.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Reyes, E., andPalmer, G. C. 1976. Biochemical localization of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase within cellular elements of the rat cerebral cortex. Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol. 14:759–762.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Reyes, E., andPrather, E. E. 1976. Subcellular and regional localization of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase in sheep brain. Neurochem. Res. 1:251–259.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Smith, R. L., andHeizer, W. D. 1978. Gamma-glutamyl transferase of rat and human intestine: greater enhancement of activity by dipeptides than by amino acids or longer peptides. Biochem. Med. 19:383–394.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Sershen, H., andLajtha, A. 1976. Perinatal changes of transport systems for amino acids in slices of mouse brain. Neurochem. Res. 1:417–428.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Christensen, H. N. 1973. On the development of amino acid transport systems. Fed. Proc. 32:19–28.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ford, D. H. 1976. Blood-brain barrier: A regulatory mechanism. Pages 1–42, inEhrenpreis, S., andKopin, I. J. (eds.), Review of Neuroscience, Vol. II, Raven Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rapoport, S. I. 1976. Transport of sugars, amino acids and other substances at the blood-brain barrier. Pages 177–206,in Rapoport, S. I. (ed.), Blood-Brain Barrier in Physiology and Medicine, Raven Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Levin, E. 1977. Are the terms blood-brain barrier and brain capillary permeability synonymous? Pages 191–199,in Bito, L. Z., Davson, H., andFenstermacher, J. D. (eds.), The Ocular and Cerebrospinal Fluids, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lisý, V., Šťastný, F. & Lodin, Z. Regional distribution of membrane-bound γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in mouse brain. Neurochem Res 4, 747–753 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00964471

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00964471

Keywords

Navigation