Protein and RNA biosynthesis in various cellular fractions of the brain of undernourished rats

Thakur, M. L. and Van, T. T. and Uma, S. Srivastava (1992) Protein and RNA biosynthesis in various cellular fractions of the brain of undernourished rats. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 3,. pp. 217-223.

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Abstract

Body and brain weight; DNA, RNA, and protein content; total free nucleotides; amino acids and their specific activities; as well as the in vitro incorporation of l4C-phenylalanine into protein and of 3 H-oro - tate into RNA of homogenates and various cellular brain fractions were measured in well-fed (WF) and undernourished rats during gestation (El) and during growth, gestation, and lactation (Eli). Body weight was significantly decreased in both E1 and Eli while brain weight and DNA content per organ were lower in Eli than in WF and E1 rats. The brain weight : DNA ratio was increased'significantly in Eli animals compared with the WF group. RNA content did not show any significant alterations in homogenates, nuclear, microsomal and pH-5 enzyme fractions but was elevated in mitochondrial and soluble fractions of the brain of E1 rats compared with the WF group. Brain RNA content in Eli animals was decreased in homogenates and all celhdar fractions with the exception of the nuclear .fraction in which it did not change significantly. The RNA :DNA ratio tended to increase (nonsignificantly) in the E1 and Eli groups as compared with the WF controls. Protein content was decreased in homogenates and all cellular fractions of Ell rats while it was reduced only in the mitochondrial and pH-5 enzyme fractions of the E1 group. The RNA :protein ratio fell in the microsomal fi'action and rose in the soluble and pH-5 enzyme fractions of E1 and Eli animals. The protein :DNA ratio increased significantly in homogenates and the nuclear fraction of the Ell Group: 14C-phenylalanine/ mg protein incorporation was augmented in homogenates, mitochondrial, and soluble fractions, was diminished in the microsomal fraction, and did not change in the naclear fi'action of the brain of E1 and Eli rats. 3H-Orotate/mg RNA incorporation was decreased in the nuclear and microsomal fractions and was increased in the soluble and pH-5 enzyme fractions of the brain of E1 and Eli groups. Incorporation was also elevated in brain homogenates of Ell rats and was reduced in the E1 group. It was increased in the mitochondrial fraction of E1 animals but did not show any change in the Eli group. From these results, it can be concluded that dietary stress during gestation alone (El) and during growth, gestation, and lactation (Eli) modulates the metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins in the whole brain and in various cellular brain fractions.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	undernourished rats; brain; cellular fractions; RNA; protein; synthesis
Subjects:	500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics > 07 Life Sciences > 01 Biology > 01 Cell Biology
Divisions:	Dept. of Biochemistry
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2011 09:02
Last Modified:	29 Oct 2018 09:31
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/10134

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