Metabolism of protein and RNA in liver of rats deprived of tryptophan.
Rat lost body weight after the second day of feeding a tryptophan free diet. After 15 days of tryptophan deprivation, they had lost 17% of body weight, whereas pair-fed controls had gained weight. Liver weights of deprived rats were significantly lower than those of controls. Water, protein, RNA, and DNA in the livers were not significantly changed after 15 days of tryptophan deprivation. Amounts of free typtophan and alanine in livers of derpived rats decreased to 40% of the controls after 15 days, whereas amounts of most other amino acids were nearly constant. Protein synthesis in livers of deprived rats for 15 days was impaired to about 55% of controls. Incorporation of orotic acid into different types of cytoplasmatic and nuclear RNA remained unaffected up to the tenth day. After 15 days of deprivation, more orotic acid had been incorporated into RNA fractions that correspond to the precursor ribosomal fractions.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009963:Orotic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
D000596:Amino Acids; D011506:Proteins; D009963:Orotic Acid; D012313:RNA; D014364:Tryptophan; D004247:DNA