Abstract
The activities of five enzymes involved in methionine metabolism were determined in human lymphocytes at their resting phase and during blastogenesis in vitro. Blastogenesis was induced by purified phytohemagglutinin. Enzymes assayed were: 1) methionine adenosyltransferase (MAE) (EC 2.5.1.6); 2) cystathionine synthase (CS) (EC 4.2.1.22); 3) 5-methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine-methyltransferase (MTHF) (EC 2.1.1.13); 4) cystathionase (EC 4.4.1.1.); 5) N5,N10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (CH2-THF) (EC 1.1.1.68). The results were as follows: The specific activity of MAE and MTHF increased two- to fivefold in human lymphocytes after 72 h in culture; thereafter a slight decrease in their specific activity was observed. The specific activity of CS was maximal in unstimulated human lymphocytes and slightly decreased during stimulation. Cystathionase and CH2-THF activities were present in human lymphocytes 96 h after stimulation. Their activity was not measured in the resting lymphocyte. These data suggest that cultured human lymphocytes may serve as a tool for studying inborn genetic errors involving methionine metabolism.
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Faber, J., Finkelstein, J. & Eidelman, A. 155 HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES AS AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL OF SULFUR-CONTAINING AMINO ACID METABOLISM. Pediatr Res 20, 1060 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00210
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00210