title: Evidence for increased anionic arginase activity in pig enterocytes during development.
abstract: We have recently reported that the flux of L-arginine through arginase in enterocytes is increased in weaned pigs when compared with suckling animals (Blachier et al. 1993, Eur. J. Biochem. 216, 109-117). The aim of the present study was to characterize arginase activities at both stages of development. Enterocytes isolated from suckling animals were found to possess an anionic (50%) and a non-anionic (50%) form of arginase as judged from activities recovered from DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. In enterocytes isolated from weaned animals, anionic arginase was the major form representing 89% of arginase activity. This isoform is characterized by increased affinity for L-arginine (2 fold) and increased maximal velocity (39 fold) when compared with the anionic form originating from suckling piglet enterocytes. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that pig enterocytes are equipped with at least 2 isoforms of arginase and that anionic form of arginase activity appeared to be mainly responsible for the capacity of weaned pig enterocytes to catabolize L-arginine.
authors.affiliation: Unite d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Systeme Digestif, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: M'Rabet-Touil
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lerminiaux
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Duee
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blachier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013552:Swine; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008345:Manganese; D014508:Urea; D001119:Arginase