Branched-chain amino acids catabolism

METABOLIC DISORDERS OF BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACID CATABOLISM... 

The catabolism of leucine, valine, and isoleucine presents many analogies to fatty acid catabolism. Metabolic disorders of branched-chain amino acid catabolism include hypervalinemia, maple syrup urine disease, intermittent branched-chain ketonuria, isovaleric acidemia, and methylmalonic aciduria. 

These results confirmed that branched-chain amino acid catabolism via the BCDH reaction provides the fatty acid precursors for natural avermectin biosynthesis in S. avermitilis. In contrast, B. subtilis appears to possess two mechanisms for branched-chain precursor supply. The dual substrate pyruvate/branched-chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase (aceA) and an a-keto acid dehydrogenase (bfmB), which also has some ability to metabolize pyruvate, appears to be primarily involved in supplying the branched-chain initiators of long, branched-chain fatty acid biosynthesis [32,42], Two mutations are therefore required to generate the bkd phenotype in B. subtilis [31,42],... 

The control of branched-chain amino acid catabolism lies within the activity of branched-chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase. This enzyme-like pyruvate dehydrogenase can occur in an active nonphosphorylated or an inactive phosphorylated form. The enzyme is phosphorylated by a specific kinase in the mitochondrion, the location of both the kinase and the branched-chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase. The kinase is inhibited by branched-chain a-keto acids thus, when these are in excess, the enzyme will be nonphosphorylated and active, allowing catabolism of the excess keto acids and, therefore, catabolism of excess branched-chain amino acids. The mitochondrion also contains a branched-chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase phosphatase, which returns the phosphorylated enzyme back to the active form. Thus, the major control of branched-chain amino-acid catabolism is the activity of the branched-chain a-keto-acid dehydrogenase, which is controlled by phosphorylation, primarily by the specific kinase, and dephosphorylation. 

Kasinski A, Doering CB, Danner DJ. Leucine toxicity in a neuronal cell model with inhibited branched chain amino acid catabolism. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2004 122(2) 180-7. 

Biotin (6.24) consists of an imidazole ring fused to a tetrahydrothiophene ring with a valeric acid side chain. Biotin acts as a co-enzyme for carboxylases involved in the synthesis and catabolism of fatty acids and for branched-chain amino acids and gluconeogenesis. 

FIGURE 18-28 Catabolic pathways for the three branched-chain amino acids valine, isoleucine, and leucine. The three pathways, which occur in extrahepatic tissues, share the first two enzymes, as shown here. The branched-chain -keto acid dehydrogenase complex... 

Leucine is exclusively ketogenic in its catabolism, forming acetyl CoA and acetoacetate (see Figure 20.10). The initial steps in the catabolism of leucine are similar to those of the other branched-chain amino acids, isoleucine and valine (see below). 

The branched-chain amino acids, isoleucine, leucine, and valine, are essential amino acids. In contrast to other amino acids, they are metabolized primarily by the peripheral tissues (particularly muscle), rather than by the liver. Because these three amino acids have a similar route of catabolism, it is convenient to describe them as a group (see Figure 20.10). 

Free amino acids are further catabolized into several volatile flavor compounds. However, the pathways involved are not fully known. A detailed summary of the various studies on the role of the catabolism of amino acids in cheese flavor development was published by Curtin and McSweeney (2004). Two major pathways have been suggested (1) aminotransferase or lyase activity and (2) deamination or decarboxylation. Aminotransferase activity results in the formation of a-ketoacids and glutamic acid. The a-ketoacids are further degraded to flavor compounds such as hydroxy acids, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids. a-Ketoacids from methionine, branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine), or aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) serve as the precursors to volatile flavor compounds (Yvon and Rijnen, 2001). Volatile sulfur compounds are primarily formed from methionine. Methanethiol, which at low concentrations, contributes to the characteristic flavor of Cheddar cheese, is formed from the catabolism of methionine (Curtin and McSweeney, 2004 Weimer et al., 1999). Furthermore, bacterial lyases also metabolize methionine to a-ketobutyrate, methanethiol, and ammonia (Tanaka et al., 1985). On catabolism by aminotransferase, aromatic amino acids yield volatile flavor compounds such as benzalde-hyde, phenylacetate, phenylethanol, phenyllactate, etc. Deamination reactions also result in a-ketoacids and ammonia, which add to the flavor of... 

Figure 11 The putative catabolic pathway of L-leucine and its implications for strain improvement. For a promising host strain, the pathway to be blocked is indicated with thick double lines and the pathways to be fortified are indicated with thick arrows. Abbreviations for enzymes participating in the L-leucine catabolism and the acylation of tylosin VDH, valine (branched-chain amino acid) dehydrogenase BCDFI, branched-chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase IVD (AcdH), isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) MCC, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase EH, enoyl-CoA hydratase AcyA, mac-rolide 3-O-acyltransferase AcyBl, macrolide 4"-(9-acyltransferase.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the methylmalonyl-CoAmutase reaction. Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is required during the degradation of odd-chain fatty acids and of branched-chain amino acids. Odd-chained fatty acids lead to propionyl-CoA as the last step of P-oxida-tion. Methylmalonyl-CoA can be derived from propionyl-CoA by a carboxylase reaction similar to that of fatty acid biosynthesis. The cofactor for this carboxylation reaction is biotin, just as for acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The reaction of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase uses a free radical intermediate to insert the methyl group into the dicar-boxylic acid chain. The product is succinyl-CoA, a Krebs cycle intermediate. The catabolisms of branched-chain lipids and of the branched-chain amino acids also require the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, because these pathways also generate propionyl-CoA. 

Biotin, an essential water-soluble B-complex vitamin, is the coenzyme for four human carboxylases (Fig. 12-2) These include the three mitochondrial enzymes pyruvate carboxylase, which converts pyruvate to oxaloacetate and is the initial step of gluconeogenesis propionyl-CoA carboxylase, which catabolizes several branched-chain amino acids and odd-chain fatty acids and 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase, which is involved in the catabolism of leucine and the principally cytosolic enzyme, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which is responsible for the... 

Leucine is a branched chain-amino acid that is essential or required in the diet. Mitochondrial catabolism of excess leucine occurs by the pathway shown in Figure 20-3. The initial transamination step (removal of the amino group) is followed by a decarboxylation reaction to produce isovaleric acid. It is this decarboxylation of the a-keto analogs of the three... 

Figure 32-3. Schematic representation of fuel mobilization during fasting. Catabolism of muscle proteins provides alanine for gluconeogenesis and glutamine for utilization by the gut and kidney, while branched chain amino acids are primarily oxidized within the muscle. Breakdown of adipocyte triacylglycerols provides glycerol and free fatty acids (not shown) the free fatty acids provide fuel for liver, muscle and most other peripheral tissues. The liver utilizes both alanine and glycerol to synthesize glucose which is required for the brain and for red blood cells (not shown). Adapted from Besser and Thirner (2002).

Reviews by Ruderman (19) and Adibi (20,21) indicate that the branched-chain amino acids, particularly leucine, have an important role along with alanine in gluconeogenesis. Leucine and the other two branched-chain amino acids are catabolized in skeletal muscle. The nitrogen that is removed from the branched-chain amino acids in skeletal muscle is combined with pyruvate and returned to the liver as alanine. In the liver the nitrogen is removed for urea production and the carbon chain is utilized as substrate for synthesis of glucose. Adibi et al. (22) reported that during the catabolic conditions of starvation, oxidation of leucine and fatty acids increases in skeletal muscles. While glucose oxidation is reduced, the capacity for oxidation of the fatty acid palmltate more than doubled, and leucine oxidation increased by a factor of six. 

The effects of exercise on branched-chain amino acids may be unique. The branched-chain amino acids are essential in the diet and are uniquely catabolized in skeletal muscles. These amino acids may provide an energy source for muscles or may serve an intermediate role in maintaining blood glucose through production of alanine via transamination with pyruvate in muscles (19). 

The liver also plays an essential role in dietary amino acid metabolism. The liver absorbs the majority of amino acids, leaving some in the blood for peripheral tissues. The priority use of amino acids is for protein synthesis rather than catabolism. By what means are amino acids directed to protein synthesis in preference to use as a fuel The K jyj value for the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is lower than that of the enzymes taking part in amino acid catabolism. Thus, amino acids are used to synthesize aminoacyl-tRNAs before they are catabolized. When catabolism does take place, the first step is the removal of nitrogen, which is subsequently processed to urea. The liver secretes from 20 to 30 g of urea a day. The a-ketoacids are then used for gluconeogenesis or fatty acid synthesis. Interestingly, the liver cannot remove nitrogen from the branch-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine). Transamination takes place in the muscle. 

In biochemical terms, the following effects on HE can be expected from branched-chain amino acids (7.) decrease in protein catabolism of the musculature and liver, (2.) improvement of protein synthesis in the musculature (particularly induced by leucine), (3.)... 

Hence branched-chain amino acids are important energy carriers, providing a suitable protein input for patients insufficiently supphed with or intolerant to proteins as well as for cases of increased catabolism in latent or manifest HE. 

The cirrhosis patient is in a vicious circle regarding protein metabolism cirrhosis hepatic encephalopathy protein restriction malnutrition catabolism Thus, prolonged protein restriction and catabolism may considerably worsen the prognosis of cirrhosis. In this hazardous situation, the dietary and therapeutic use of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), i.e. valine, leucine and isoleucine, is a logical therapeutic intervention. 

Net breakdown of muscle can occur with either exercise or prolonged fasting. The mechanisms that control the breakdown of the various types of protein found in muscle are not well understood. It has, however, been established that while the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) released tend to be oxidized for energy in the muscle cell, other released amino acids enter the bloodstream for catabolism, and perhaps gluconeogenesis, in the liver Examination of the amino acids released from skeletal muscle reveals an apparent anomaly alanine accounts for or ly about 6% of the amino acids of muscle, but for about 35% of the amino acids released from muscle during exerdse. 

---