title: 13C NMR study of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase activity in tumor rats.
abstract: Alanine and lactate, as major gluconeogenic substrates, must be converted into oxaloacetate by way of pyruvate carboxylase before their entry into gluconeogenesis. Although it is well known that hepatic gluconeogenesis from these substrates is increased in tumor hosts, the involvement of pyruvate carboxylase has not been demonstrated. In the present study, we examined pyruvate carboxylase activity in the perfused livers of tumor rats using 13C NMR spectroscopy with [3-13C]-alanine as the gluconeogenic substrate. A substantial increase in hepatic [3-13C]-aspartate production was found in the tumor rats. Since aspartate accumulation directly reflects fluxes of alanine through pyruvate carboxylase, the observed increase in hepatic production of [3-13C]-aspartate in tumor rats indicates that pyruvate carboxylase activity is significantly enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleps
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nyhus
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011766:Pyruvate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D011766:Pyruvate Carboxylase; D000409:Alanine