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Culture Models for the Study of Amino Acid Transport and Metabolism

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Cell Culture Techniques

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 56))

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Abstract

Glutamine (Gln) plays an important role in satisfying brain metabolic demands and as a precursor for the synthesis of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In vitro cultured cell studies have shown that carrier-mediated Gln transport between astrocytes and neurons represents a key factor in the glutamate–GABA–glutamine cycle. Gln transport in astrocytes involves the following systems: sodium-dependent: system N; system ASC; system A and sodium-independent: system L, whereas in neurons only systems A and L are active. Gln-specific carriers primarily mediate not only inward transport, but can also largely contribute to outwardly transport. Therefore, both uptake and release studies are important for the investigation of Gln transport and metabolism. In this unit, methods are presented for radiolabel Gln uptake and efflux experiments in primary astrocyte cultures. These methods can be useful for the investigation of Gln transport by different systems in any tested conditions. We also review here the basic properties of the glutamate–GABA–glutamine cycle, including aspects of transport and metabolism. Furthermore, a section is devoted to the characteristics of the transport systems N, ASC, A and L and to the functional and molecular identifications of the Gln-specific carriers.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter was supported by grants R01ES010563 (MA) and R01ES07331 (MA) from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; and grant W81XWH-05-0239 from the Department of Defense (MA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Marta Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz

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  1. Marta Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz
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  2. Michael Aschner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marta Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Garland Avenue 2215-B, Nashville, 37232, Tennessee, USA

    Michael Aschner

  2. Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques, Neurochemistry & Neuropharmacology, CSIC, C/ Rosselló 161, Barcelona, 08036, Spain

    Cristina Suñol

  3. Inst. for Health & Consumer Protection, ECVAM In-Vitro Methods Unit, European Commission JRC, Via Enrico Fermi 1, Ispra, 21026, Varese, Italy

    Anna Bal-Price

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Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz, M., Aschner, M. (2011). Culture Models for the Study of Amino Acid Transport and Metabolism. In: Aschner, M., Suñol, C., Bal-Price, A. (eds) Cell Culture Techniques. Neuromethods, vol 56. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-077-5_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-077-5_21

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-076-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-077-5

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