title: Glutamate synthase, but not GABA shunt enzymes, contributes to nitrogen metabolism of the sheep abomasal nematode parasites Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta.
abstract: Glutamate synthase (E.C. 1.4.1.14) (GOGAT) activity was not detectable in L3 Haemonchus contortus, but was present in L3 Teladorsagia circumcincta and adult worms of both species. GOGAT activity was inhibited by 80% by azaserine. Activity (nmol min(-1) mg(-1) protein) was 33-59 in adult H. contortus, 51-91 in adult T. circumcincta and 24-41 in L3 T. circumcincta, probably depending on exposure to ammonia, as incubation with 1mM NH(4)Cl doubled GOGAT activity. The pH optimum was 7.5 in both species. Either NAD or NADP acted as co-factor. The mean apparent K(m) for 2-oxoglutarate was 0.7 (0.5-0.9) mM and for glutamine was 1.0 (0.5-1.7) mM for different homogenates. There was no detectable activity in whole parasite homogenates of glutamate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.15) or succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.24), the first and third enzymes of the GABA shunt, respectively, suggesting that the GABA shunt is not important in general metabolism in these species.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umair
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bland
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001377:Azaserine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D005970:Glutamate Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000201:enzymology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D050644:Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014251:Trichostrongyloidea / Q000201:enzymology*; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D001377:Azaserine; D050644:Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase; D005970:Glutamate Synthase; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D009584:Nitrogen