branched chain amino acids

The most well-studied epigenetic marker in humans is the 5-methyl modification of cytosine in DNA, which has great potential as a disease biomarker in liquid biopsies of cell-free DNA. Currently, quantification of DNA methylation relies heavily on bisulfite conversion followed by PCR amplification and NGS or microarray analysis. PCR is subject to potential bias in differential amplification of bisulfite-converted methylated versus unmethylated sequences. Here, we combine bisulfite conversion with single-molecule kinetic fingerprinting to develop an amplification-free assay for DNA methylation at the branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) promoter...

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnancy, however, its effects has not been fully elucidated. Here, we conducted targeted metabolomics profiling to study the relationship. METHODS: This study enrolled 111 pregnant women, including sufficient group (n = 9), inadequate group (n = 49) and deficient group (n = 53). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based targeted metabonomics were used to characterize metabolite profiles associated with vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy...

Glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 is among the main families of enzymes acting on starch; recently, subfamily 47 of GH13 (GH13_47) has been established. The crystal structure and function of a GH13_47 enzyme from Bacteroides ovatus has only been reported to date. This enzyme has α-amylase activity, while the GH13_47 enzymes comprise approximately 800-900 amino acid residues which are almost double those of typical α-amylases. It is important to know how different the GH13_47 enzymes are from other α-amylases...

BACKGROUND: Although sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) improve heart failure (HF)-related symptoms and outcomes in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In HF with reduced EF, dapagliflozin altered ketone and fatty acid metabolites vs placebo; however, metabolite signatures of SGLT2is have not been well elucidated in HFpEF. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess whether SGLT2i treatment altered systemic metabolic pathways and their relationship to outcomes in HFpEF...

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is the most important virus that threatens sericulture industry. At present, there is no effective treatment for BmNPV infection in silkworms, and lncRNA plays an important role in biological immune response and host-virus interaction, but there are relatively few studies in silkworms. In this study, the four midgut tissue samples of the resistance strain NB (NB) and susceptible strain 306 (306) and the NB and 306 continuously infected with BmNPV for 96 hours are used for whole transcriptome sequencing to analyze the differences in the genetic background of NB and 306 and the differences after inoculation of BmNPV, and the significantly different mRNA, miRNA and lnRNA between NB and 306 after BmNPV inoculation were screened...

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are vital components of human and animal nutrition that contribute to the building blocks of proteins. In this study, 170 protease-producing strains were isolated and screened from soy-fermented foods. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NY130 was obtained from Cheonggukjang with high production of BCAAs. Optimal production of protease from B. amyloliquefaciens NY130 (protease NY130) was achieved at 42 °C and pH 6.0 for 21 h. It was purified and determined as 27- and 40 kDa...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have dramatically increased. The intestinal flora and its derived metabolites are demonstrated to play vital roles in the etiology and onset of T2DM. Shouhuitongbian (SHTB) is a traditional Chinese formula to treat constipation. SHTB is composed of seven herbs and components of Colla corii asini (CCA) that are obtained from the hide of Equus asinus L.. Some of herbs in SHTB such as Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Cassia obtusifolia L...

BACKGROUND: Exposure to famine in the prenatal period is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease, including obesity and type-2 diabetes. We employed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic profiling to provide a deeper insight into the metabolic changes associated with survival of prenatal famine exposure during the Dutch Famine at the end of World War II and explore their link to disease. METHODS: NMR metabolomics data were generated from serum in 480 individuals prenatally exposed to famine (mean 58...

OBJECTIVE: To delineate the efficacy and safety profile of hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR) for uremic toxin removal in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). METHODS: Patients who have been on MHD for a period of at least 3 months were enrolled. Each subject underwent one HFR and one hemodiafiltration (HDF) treatment. Blood samples were collected before and after a single HFR or HDF treatment to test uremic toxin levels and to calculate clearance rate...

Chemotherapy is a major contributor to cachexia, but studies often investigate male animals. Here, we investigated whether sex modifies the effects of chemotherapy on cachexia and BCAA metabolism. Ten-week-old CD2F1 male and female mice were treated with the chemotherapy drug cocktail folfiri (50 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil, 90 mg/kg leucovorin, and 24 mg/kg CPT11) (drug) or vehicle twice a week for 6 weeks. Insulin tolerance tests were conducted and BCAA levels and metabolism were measured in plasma and tissues...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious cause of infectious death worldwide. Recent studies have reported that about 30% of the Mtb proteome was modified post-translationally, indicating that their functions are essential for drug resistance, mycobacterial survival, and pathogenicity. Among them, lysine acetylation, reversibly regulated by acetyltransferase and deacetylase, has important roles involved in energy metabolism, cellular adaptation, and protein interactions. However, the substrate and biological functions of these two important regulatory enzymes remain unclear...

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the predominant host of choice for recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) expression. Recent advancements in gene editing technology have enabled engineering new CHO hosts with higher growth, viability, or productivity. One approach involved knock out (KO) of BCAT1 gene, which codes for the first enzyme in the branched chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism pathway; BCAT1 KO reduced accumulation of growth inhibitory short chain fatty acid (SCFA) byproducts and improved culture growth and titer when used in conjunction with high-end pH-controlled delivery of glucose (HiPDOG) technology and SCFA supplementation during production...

BACKGROUND: Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is one of the most popular strategies used by the general population and athletes to reduce muscle soreness and accelerate the recovery process of muscle damage biomarkers after an intense exercise or training session. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of BCAA supplementation on muscle damage biomarkers and muscle soreness after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD)...

The review is devoted to the mechanisms of free radical lipid peroxidation (LPO) initiated by reactive halogen species (RHS) produced in mammals, including humans, by heme peroxidase enzymes, primarily myeloperoxidase (MPO). It has been shown that RHS can participate in LPO both in the initiation and branching steps of the LPO chain reactions. The initiation step of RHS-induced LPO mainly involves formation of free radicals in the reactions of RHS with nitrite and/or with amino groups of phosphatidylethanolamine or Lys...

Branched-chain amino acid transferase 1 (BCAT1) is highly expressed in multiple cancers and is associated with poor prognosis, particularly in glioblastoma (GBM). However, the post-translational modification (PTM) mechanism of BCAT1 is unknown. Here, we investigated the cross-talk mechanisms between phosphorylation and ubiquitination modifications in regulating BCAT1 activity and stability. We found that BCAT1 is phosphorylated by branched chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) at S5, S9, and T312, which increases its catalytic and antioxidant activity and stability...

AIM: Frailty is defined as extreme vulnerability, a syndrome that exposes the individual to a higher risk of disability. While risk factors for frailty have been gradually uncovered, the full identification of biochemical factors and co-morbidities influencing frailty remains incomplete. METHODS: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed to elucidate the risk factors for the prevalence and progression of frailty. The study included 1035 Japanese female outpatients...

The α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex (KDHc) class of mitochondrial enzymes is composed of four members: pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHc), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDHc), branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDHc), and 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase (OADHc). These enzyme complexes occupy critical metabolic intersections that connect monosaccharide, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism to Krebs cycle flux and oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). This feature also imbues KDHc enzymes with the heightened capacity to serve as platforms for propagation of intracellular and intercellular signaling...

6-(Methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC), a derivative of glucosinolate with a six-carbon chain, is a compound found in wasabi and has diverse health-promoting properties. The biosynthesis of glucosinolates from methionine depends on a crucial step catalyzed methylthioalkylmalate synthases (MAMs), which are responsible for the generation of glucosinolates with varying chain lengths. In this study, our primary focus was the characterization of two methylthioalkyl malate synthases, MAM1-1 and MAM1-2, derived from Eutrema japonicum, commonly referred to as Japanese wasabi...

In the context of climate change and the reduction of mineral nitrogen (N) inputs applied to the field, winter oilseed rape (WOSR) will have to cope with low-N conditions combined with water limitation periods. Since these stresses can significantly reduce seed yield and seed quality, maintaining WOSR productivity under a wide range of growth conditions represents a major goal for crop improvement. N metabolism plays a pivotal role during the metabolic acclimation to drought in Brassica species by supporting the accumulation of osmoprotective compounds and the source-to-sink remobilization of nutrients...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, known for its challenging diagnosis and limited treatment options. The focus on metabolic reprogramming as a key factor in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance has gained prominence. In this review we focus on the impact of metabolic changes on the interplay among stromal, immune, and tumor cells, as glutamine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) emerge as pivotal players in modulating immune cell functions and tumor growth...