title: L-aspartate aminotransferase and L-asparaginase in rat lymph node: a histoenzymological and immunohistochemical study.
abstract: L-asparaginase and L-aspartate aminotransferase are both involved in the synthesis of L-aspartic acid. It has been observed that L-asparaginase is involved in the immunosuppressor morphine-dependent syndrome in lymphoid cells whereas L-aspartic acid blocks the development of this syndrome. The aim of the present study was to clarify the localization of L-AATase activity and L-asparaginase in rat lymph nodes using histoenzymological and immunohistochemical methods, respectively. No positive reaction was demonstrated for L-AATase while L-asparaginase shown to be present in lymphocytes and lymphoblastic cells. These observations lead us to suggest that L-asparaginase is the enzyme mainly responsible for the synthesis of the L-aspartic acid necessary for satisfying the living requirements of lymphoid cells. Therapeutically administered L-asparaginase could exert its action intracellularly after crossing the cell membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gragera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Miguel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñiz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arenas-Díaz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Gómez de Segura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000201:enzymology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001215:Asparaginase