Enzyme studies with the livers of chicks fed semi‐synthetic diets containing crystalline amino acids and diammonium citrate

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Abstract
The levels of glutamate dehydrogenase [NAD(P)], (GDH), aspartate trans‐aminase (AspT) and alanine transaminase (AlT) were measured in livers from chicks fed on a semi‐synthetic diet containing crystalline essential amino acids as the sole nitrogen source (diet A). The effects of a supplement of 12.0% glutamic acid (diet H) or 11.07% diammonium citrate (DAC) (diet B) or 12.0% glutamic acid plus 1.0% proline with an additional 0.6% glycine (diet C) on these enzymes were studied and the results compared with the levels found for control chicks given a typical diet based on cereal protein (diet J). The abilities of livers from chicks given diets A, B and C to synthesise [14C] glutamic acid from [14C]2‐oxoglutaric acid and diammonium citrate (DAC) were assessed. The levels of GDH, AspT and AlT found in the livers of chicks given the control diet were 54.1, 966 and 123.7 units/mg protein respectively. Non‐essential nitrogen added as glutamic acid or as DAC did not cause induction of the enzymes studied above control levels. Glutamic acid (diets H and B) caused a depression of GDH levels (37.4 and 38.9 units/mg protein respectively) but had no effect on AspT and AlT compared with the controls, whereas DAC caused a decrease in AlT (43.9 units/mg protein) but had no effect on AspT and GDH; diet A depressed AlT and AspT levels (64.4 and 735 units/mg protein respectively). The livers of chicks given diets A, C and B varied in their ability to synthesise glutamic acid, 39.3%, 31.9% and 24.0% respectively of the radioactivity being recovered as glutamic acid.