title: Determination of leucine metabolism and protein turnover in sheep, using gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: 1. Whole-body protein synthetic rates in non-pregnant ewes were determined by the continuous infusion of L-[15N]- and [1-13C]leucine and measuring the plasma enrichment of leucine, alpha-ketoisocaproate (alpha-KIC) and expired carbon dioxide by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. 2. The mean whole-body protein synthesis estimated from plasma leucine flux corrected for oxidation was 5.38 (SE 0.54) g/kg per d. 3. Under the conditions of the present study leucine oxidation was 0.323 (SE 0.067) mmol/kg per d and accounted for 10.71 (SE 2.26) % of plasma [13C]leucine flux. Deamination of leucine was 0.55 (SE 0.035) mmol/kg per d and accounted for approximately 17% of plasma [15N]leucine flux. 4. The rate of alpha-KIC reamination to leucine, calculated by subtracting 13C flux from 15N flux, was 0.228 (SE 0.101) mmol/kg per d. 5. The rate of whole-body protein degradation was 4.49 (SE 0.54) g/kg per d and there was a net protein gain of 0.89 (SE 0.21) g/kg per d.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Krishnamurti
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Janssens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007930:Leucine / Q000097:blood*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D007930:Leucine