title: The metabolism of L-arginine and its significance for the biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor: cultured endothelial cells recycle L-citrulline to L-arginine.
abstract: We have investigated the mechanism by which cultured endothelial cells generate L-arginine (L-Arg), the substrate for the biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. When Arg-depleted endothelial cells were incubated in Krebs' solution for 60 min, L-Arg levels were significantly (9.7-fold) elevated. The generation of L-Arg coincided with a substantial decrease (90%) in intracellular L-glutamine (L-Gln), whereas all other amino acids were virtually unaffected. Changes in calcium, pH, or oxygen tension had no effect on L-Arg generation, which was, however, prevented when the cells were incubated in culture medium containing L-Gln. L-Arg generated by endothelial cells labeled with L-[14C]Arg was derived from an unlabeled intracellular source, for the specific activity of the intracellular L-Arg pool decreased substantially (8.8-fold) over 60 min. Arg-depleted endothelial cells did not form urea or metabolize L-ornithine but converted L-citrulline (L-Cit) to L-Arg possibly via formation of L-argininosuccinic acid. Nondepleted cells stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187 showed only a transient accumulation of L-Cit, indicating that L-Cit is recycled to L-Arg during the biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The generation of L-Arg by Arg-depleted endothelial cells was partially (45%) blocked by protease inhibitors, and various Arg-containing dipeptides were rapidly cleaved to yield L-Arg. Thus, cultured endothelial cells recycle L-Cit to L-Arg and possibly liberate peptidyl L-Arg. The Arg-Cit cycle appears to be the equivalent in the endothelial cell to the formation of urea by the liver. The biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor may, therefore, not only produce a powerful vasodilator but also relieve the endothelial cell of excess nitrogen.
authors.affiliation: William Harvey Research Institute, Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Anggård
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002956:Citrulline / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014508:Urea; D001120:Arginine