title: Aminotransferase and the production of alanine during hyperosmotic stress in Paramecium calkinsi.
abstract: When Paramecium calkinsi encounter hyperosmotic stress, intracellular free alanine increases. In vivo assays indicate that the reaction catalyzed by alanine aminotransferase contributes to the build up of alanine in response to hyperosmotic shock. 14C-pyruvate is converted to 14C-alanine in cells grown axenically at 200 mosm. When shifted to 600 mosm, the rate of conversion of pyruvate to alanine increases, and conversion at either 200 or 600 mosm is blocked by 1 mM aminooxyacetic acid (AOA), an inhibitor of aminotransferase. Intracellular free alanine increase is partially inhibited by AOA, and AOA prevents cells living in fresh water from acclimating to higher salinities, an indication that the increase in intracellular alanine is physiologically significant.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Hope College, Holland, Michigan 49422-9000.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cronkite
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Diekman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lewallen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000625:Aminooxyacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007700:Kinetics; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010247:Paramecium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D011773:Pyruvates; D000625:Aminooxyacetic Acid; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000409:Alanine