title: Metabolism of L-tryptophan to kynurenate and quinolinate in the central nervous system: effects of 6-chlorotryptophan and 4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate.
abstract: The metabolism of L-tryptophan to the neuroactive kynurenine pathway metabolites, L-kynurenine, kynurenate and quinolinate, and the effects of two inhibitors of quinolinate synthesis (6-chlorotryptophan and 4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate) were investigated by mass spectrometric assays in cultured cells and in vivo. Cell lines obtained from astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, macrophage/monocytes, lung, and liver metabolized L-[13C6]-tryptophan to L-[13C6]kynurenine and [13C6]kynurenate, particularly after indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase induction by interferon-gamma. Kynurenine aminotransferase activity was measurable in all cell types examined but was unaffected by interferon-gamma. These results suggest that many cell types can be sources of kynurenate following immune activation. In vivo synthesis of L-[13C6]kynurenine and [13C6]kynurenate from L-[13C6]tryptophan was studied in the CSF of macaques infected with poliovirus, as a model of inflammatory neurologic disease. The effects of 6-chlorotryptophan and 4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate on the synthesis of kynurenate were different. 6-Chlorotryptophan attenuated formation of L-[13C6]kynurenine and [13C6]kynurenate and was converted to 4-chlorokynurenine and 7-chlorokynurenate. It may be an effective prodrug for the delivery of 7-chlorokynurenate, which is a potent antagonist of NMDA receptors. In contrast, 4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate did not reduce accumulation of L-[13C6]kynurenine and [13C6]kynurenate. 6-Chlorotryptophan and 4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate are useful tools to manipulate concentrations of quinolinate and kynurenate in the animal models of neurologic disease to evaluate physiological roles of these neuroactive metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Section on Analytical Biochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1262, USA.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Naritsin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Heyes
mesh_terms: D015095:3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism; D008190:Lyases; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C026380:6-chlorotryptophan; D015095:3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid; C026381:4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilic acid; D007737:Kynurenine; D014364:Tryptophan; D000637:Transaminases; C427605:glutamine - phenylpyruvate transaminase; C021481:kynurenine-oxoglutarate transaminase; D008190:Lyases; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D007736:Kynurenic Acid