Ascorbic acid deficiency decreases the renal level of kidney fatty acid-binding protein by lowering the alpha2u-globulin gene expression in liver in scurvy-prone ODS rats.

Abstract	The evidence for the role of ascorbic acid in gene expression or protein synthesis in vivo is limited. To investigate this role of ascorbic acid, we surveyed proteins whose tissue levels are changed by ascorbic acid deficiency by using ODS rats with a hereditary defect in ascorbic acid biosynthesis. Male ODS rats (7 wk old, body weight approximately 130 g) were fed a basal diet containing ascorbic acid (300 mg/kg diet) or an ascorbic acid-free diet for 14 d. Ascorbic acid deficiency decreased a renal protein with an apparent molecular mass of 17 kDa. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence of 16 residues of this 17-kDa protein was identical to a kidney fatty acid-binding protein known to be generated by proteolytic degradation of alpha2u-globulin, a major urinary protein of adult male rats. alpha2u-Globulin is synthesized in liver, secreted into blood and excreted into urine, but partially reabsorbed by renal proximal tubules. It exists in kidney in a proteolytically modified form. Ascorbic acid deficiency lowered the renal level of kidney fatty acid-binding protein to 53% (P < 0.05) and lowered the serum level of alpha2u-globulin to 52% (P < 0.05) of the level of the control group, but did not affect the amount of alpha2u-globulin excreted into urine. The hepatic level of alpha2u-globulin mRNA of the ascorbic acid-deficient rats was significantly lower (30%) than that of the control rats. These results suggest that in male ODS rats, ascorbic acid deficiency decreases the renal level of kidney fatty acid-binding protein by lowering alpha2u-globulin gene expression in liver.
Authors	S Ikeda, M Takasu, T Matsuda, A Kakinuma, F Horio
Journal	The Journal of nutrition (J Nutr) Vol. 127 Issue 11 Pg. 2173-8 (Nov 1997) ISSN: 0022-3166 [Print] United States
PMID	9349844 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References	Alpha-Globulins Carrier Proteins DNA Primers Fabp7 protein, rat Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7 Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins Myelin P2 Protein Neoplasm Proteins Nerve Tissue Proteins RNA, Messenger alpha 2u globulin Ascorbic Acid
Topics	Alpha-Globulins (analysis, genetics, metabolism) Amino Acid Sequence Animals Ascorbic Acid (analysis, biosynthesis, physiology) Ascorbic Acid Deficiency (metabolism, physiopathology) Base Sequence Blotting, Northern Carrier Proteins (analysis, metabolism) DNA Primers (analysis, chemistry, genetics) Disease Susceptibility Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7 Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins Female Gene Expression Regulation Kidney (chemistry, metabolism) Liver (chemistry, metabolism) Male Molecular Sequence Data Myelin P2 Protein (analysis, metabolism) Neoplasm Proteins Nerve Tissue Proteins RNA, Messenger (analysis, chemistry, genetics) Rats Rats, Mutant Strains Rats, Wistar Scurvy (metabolism, physiopathology) Weight Gain (physiology)

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