title: Biosynthesis of carnosine and related peptides by glial cells in primary culture.
abstract: Synthesis of carnosine (beta-alanylhistidine) and related peptides by glial cells in primary culture could be demonstrated. After incubation with [3H]beta-alanine, the radiolabeled dipeptides could be isolated from the cell extract and the culture medium. With gamma-amino[3H]butyric acid, however, rapid degradation of the tracer without significant synthesis of homocarnosine (gamma-aminobutyrylhistidine) was observed. Aminooxyacetic acid, a known inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyryl:alpha-ketoglutarate aminotransferase, inhibits the degradation of gamma-amino[3H]butyric acid very strongly and of [3H]beta-alanine partially. After preincubation of the cells with this inhibitor, incorporation of gamma-amino[3H]butyric acid into homocarnosine and related peptides could be demonstrated.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002336:Carnosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; C005038:homocarnosine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002336:Carnosine; D000409:Alanine