STUDIES REGARDING A GLUTAMINE-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN BLOOD AND SPINAL FLUID, INCLUDING A METHOD FOR ITS QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION

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Abstract
Trichloroacetic acid filtrates of blood serum and plasma of human and rabbit blood, ultrafiltrates of plasma and serum and also spinal fluid contain a substance which has the physicochemical properties of glutamine. The rate of hydrolysis of this substance, in various acidities at different temps., paralleled that of glutamine prepared from beet root. The hydrolysis of this substance proceeds as a first order reaction and the specific reaction rates were detd. for various conditions of hydrolysis. Evidence is presented which indicates that the substance is probably glutamine. A method for the quantitative detn. of this substance in serum, plasma or spinal fluid is described. The method consists in the detn. of the ammonia liberated by the hydrolysis of the amide N of glutamine or this substance at 70[degree]C in a 10% trichloroacetic acid filtrate for 1 hr. and 15 mins. and 2 hrs. and 30 mins. All of the glutamine is decomposed in the 1st period. The increase in the ammonia in the 2d period is due to some other substance or substances. Urea, which decomposes very slowly, accounts for most of the ammonia liberated in the 2d period. Corrections are also made for ammonia present in the material and reagents prior to hydrolysis. The Conway micro-diffusion method was used for the ammonia detns.

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