Lysine deficiency reduces transcription activity and concentration of chromatin proteins reversibly in rat liver.
The reversible effect of dietary lysine deficiency was studied in young adult rats. During 6 days on a lysine diet the rats maintained the same body weight. During 2 days of recovery body weight gain was that of the controls. Liver nuclei were isolated, incubated with micrococcus nuclease and chromatin fractionated in to a 2 000 X g pellet, 102 000 X g pellet and supernatant fraction. Chromatin-bound RNA polymerase 1 plus III activity decreased by 15% per mg of fractional and nuclear DNA and by 30% per total liver. The corresponding decrease of RNA polymerase II activity was 30% and 40%. Recovery from lysine deficiency was complete after 2 days of refeeding the amino acid. Chromatin proteins of the 102 000 X g pellet were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulfate and by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Quantitative but no qualitative differences between the proteins of the dietary groups were observed. Relative to DNA the non-histone proteins decreased in the lysine deficient group by 43% and histones by 10%. It is concluded that RNA synthesis is restored to its original level within 2 days of refeeding lysine after 6 days of lysine deficiency.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000032:analysis*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000032:analysis*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003720:Densitometry; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006657:Histones / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008239:Lysine / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000596:Amino Acids; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D006657:Histones; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D008239:Lysine