title: Elevated argininosuccinate synthetase activity in adult T leukemia cell lines.
abstract: Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) is a ATP-dependent and rate-limiting enzyme of the urea cycle which catalyzes L-citrulline to L-arginine in combination with argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). We demonstrate here that (a) human normal T and B lymphocytes did not express ASS activity, (b) however, three adult T leukemia (ATL) cell lines tested here exhibited significant elevation of ASS activity, and (c) ASL activity remained relatively constant in normal lymphocytes and various leukemia cell lines. These results suggest that the ASS expression of peripheral blood lymphocytes is of value as a diagnostic marker of leukemia including ATL. The implication of these results is discussed.
authors: Institute of Immunological Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sugimura
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kimura
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Arakawa
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Ohno
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Wada
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Kimura
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Saheki
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Azuma
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001123:Argininosuccinate Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D001124:Argininosuccinate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014508:Urea; D001120:Arginine; D001123:Argininosuccinate Lyase; D001124:Argininosuccinate Synthase