title: Molecular cloning of rat kynurenine aminotransferase: identity with glutamine transaminase K.
abstract: The enzyme kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) catalyses the conversion of L-kynurenine to kynurenic acid. A combination of polymerase chain reaction techniques and hybridization screening was used to isolate a cDNA clone encompassing the entire coding region of KAT from rat kidney. Identification of the cDNA as coding for KAT was based both on the comparison of amino acid sequences obtained from purified rat KAT and on the expression of KAT activity in COS-1 cells transfected with the cDNA. RNA blot analysis indicated that KAT mRNA is widely expressed in rat tissues. Cultured cells transfected with the cDNA for KAT also showed glutamine transaminase K activity. Based mainly on sequence data, these results demonstrate that rat kidney KAT is identical with glutamine transaminase K.
authors.affiliation: BioScience Center, Pharmacia Research Center, Nerviano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarcz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benatti
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D008190:Lyases; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D000637:Transaminases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D000637:Transaminases; C020656:glutamine-pyruvate aminotransferase; C427605:glutamine - phenylpyruvate transaminase; C021481:kynurenine-oxoglutarate transaminase; D008190:Lyases