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Glutamic Acid as Enhancer of Protein Synthesis Kinetics in Hepatocytes from Old Rats
V Y Brodsky1, L A Malchenko, N N Butorina
1Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117808, Russia. brodsky.idb@bk.ru.
Biochemistry. Biokhimiia
|September 25, 2017
Summary
Glutamic acid restores protein synthesis rhythms in aged rat hepatocytes by enhancing cell-to-cell communication. This amino acid may also benefit aging neurons by improving communication and protein synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Aging in rats is associated with reduced protein synthesis rhythm amplitude in hepatocyte cultures.
- This decline in rhythmic protein synthesis suggests impaired cell-cell communication with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of glutamic acid on protein synthesis rhythms in aged hepatocytes.
- To determine if glutamic acid can restore age-related deficits in cell-cell communication.
Main Methods:
- Hepatocyte cultures from young and old rats were used to measure protein synthesis rhythm amplitudes.
- Glutamic acid was added to culture media, and its effects were observed in vivo and in vitro.
- Metabotropic glutamate receptors were inhibited using α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine to assess receptor involvement.
Main Results:
- Glutamic acid supplementation increased the oscillation amplitudes of protein synthesis rhythm in old rat hepatocytes to levels seen in young rats.
- Similar positive effects of glutamic acid on protein synthesis kinetics were observed in vivo in old rats.
- Inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptors abolished the restorative effects of glutamic acid.
Conclusions:
- Glutamic acid enhances direct cell-cell communication in hepatocytes, counteracting age-related decline.
- Glutamic acid acts as a receptor-dependent transmitter to improve cellular synchronization.
- The findings suggest glutamic acid's potential to influence aging-related communication and protein synthesis deficits in both hepatocytes and neurons.
