Metabolic Turnover in the Nervous System

412 Pages·1971·11.59 MB·English

by  S. Yamagami, Robert L. Herrmann, N. M. Poljakova, Isaac Schenkein, Louis Sokoloff, A. Lajtha, N. Marks, J. R. Smythies, Adil E. Shamoo, Irving L. Schwartz, W. N. Scott

HANDBOOK OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
VOLUME V
METABOLIe TURNOVER
IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
PARTB
HANDBOOK OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
Edited by Abel Lajtha
Volume I Chemieal Arehiteeture of the Nervous System
Volume II Struetural Neuroehemistry
Volume III Metabolie Reaetions in the Nervous System
Volume IV Control Mechanisms in the Nervous System
Volume V Metabolie Turnover in the Nervous System
Part A: Chapters 1·12
Part B: Chapters 13·21
Volume VI Alterations of Chemieal Equilibrium in the
Nervous System
Volume VII Pathologieal Chemistry of the Nervous System
HANDBOOI( OF
NEUROCHEMISTRY
Edited by Abel Lajtha
N ew Y ork State Research Institute
for N eurochemistry and Drug Addiction
Ward's Island
New York, New York
VOLUMEV
METABOUCTURNOVER
IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
PARTB
g:>PLENUM PRESS· NEW YORK-LONDON· 1971
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 68.28097
ISBN 978-1-4615-7171-1 ISBN 978-1-4615-7169-8 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4615-7169-8
© 1971 Plenum Press, New York
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1971
A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation
227 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y.lOOll
United Kingdom edition published by Plenum Press, London
A Division of Plenum Publishing Company, Ltd.
Davis House (4th Floor), 8 Scrubs Lane, Harlesden, NWlO 6SE, London, England
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
form without written permission from the publisher
Contributors to this volume:
William A. Brodsky Departments of Physiology and Biophysics,
Mount Sinai Medical and Graduate Schools of
the City University of New Y ork, New York
(pages 645 and 683)
R. R. Fritz Division of Molecular Biology, Department of
Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical
Branch, Galveston, Texas (page 439)
Robert L. Herrmann Department of Biochemistry, Boston University
School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (page
481)
A. Lajtha New York State Research Institute for Neuro-
chemistry and Drug Addiction, Ward's Island,
New York (pages 49 and 551)
N. Marks New York State Research Institute for Neuro-
chemistry and Drug Addiction, Ward's Island,
New York (pages 49 and 551)
A. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the Ukrainian
Academy of Science, Kiev, U .S.S.R. (page 489)
N. M. Poljakova Institute of Biochemistry of the Ukrainian
Academy ofScience, Kiev, U .S.S.R. (page 489)
D. A. Rappoport Division of Molecular Biology, Department of
Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical
Branch, Galveston, Texas (page 439)
Isaac Schenkein Irvington House Institute, Department of Medi-
eine, New York University School of Medicine,
New York, New York (page 503)
Irving L. Schwartz Departments of Physiology and Biophysics,
Mount Sinai Medical and Graduate Schools
of the City University of New Y ork, and The
Medical Research Center, Brookhaven National
Laboratory, Upton, New York (pages 645 and
683)
v
W. N. Scott The Departments of Physiology, Biophysics, and
Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai Medical and
Graduate Schools of the City University of New
Y ork, New Y ork; The Institute for Medical
Research and Studies, New York, New Yark;
and The Medical Research Center, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Upton, New Y ork (page
683)
Adil E. Shamoo Departments of Physiology and Biophysics,
Mount Sinai Medical and Graduate Schools of
the City University of New Y ork (page 645)
J. R. Smythies Department of Psychiatry, University of Edin-
burgh, and Neuroscience Program, University
of Alabama (page 631)
Louis Sokoloff Section on Developmental Neurochemistry,
Laboratory of Cerebra I Metabolism, National
Institute of Mental H~alth, United States Depart-
ment of Health, Education and Welfare, Public
Health Service, Bethesda, Maryland (page 525)
H. R. Wyssbrod The Departments of Physiology, Biophysics, and
Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai Medical and
Graduate Schools of the City University of New
Y ork, New Y ork; The Institute far Medical
Research and Studies, New York, New Y ork; and
The Medical Research Center, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Upton, New York (page
683)
S. Yamagami Division of Molecular Biology, Department of
Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical
Branch, Galveston, Texas (page 439)
vi
PREFACE
Volume V deals with the problems of turnover in the nervous system.
"Turnover" is defined in different ways, and the term is used in different
contexts. It is used rather broadly in the present volume, and intentionally so.
The turnover of macromolecules is only one aspect; here "turnover" in-
dicates the simultaneous and coordinated formation and breakdown of
macromolecular species. The complexities of cerebral protein turnover are
shown in aseparate chapter dealing with the synthesis ofproteins, in another
on breakdown, and in still another on the relationship ofthese two (showing
how the two halves of turnover are controlled). The fact that most likely the
two halves of protein turnover, synthesis and breakdown, are separated
spatially and the mechanisms involved are different further emphasizes the
complexity of macromolecular turnover.
"Turnover" is used in a different context when the turnover of a cycle
is discussed; but he re again a number of complex metabolic reactions have
to be interrelated and controlled; some such cycles are discussed briefly in
this volume, additional cycles have been discussed with metabolism, and
some cycles still await elucidation or discovery.
A different type of reaction which can also be interpreted as "turnover"
is the exchange of a compound in the brain for another identical or similar
one from outside this tissue, with no prior metabolic transformation of the
compound to be replaced. Replacement via exchange involves processes of
diffusion and transport; these are also treated in the present volume, along
with a fairly detailed theoretical background for them, since they have special
importance in the nervous system, which represents perhaps the highest
complexity of membran es and is perhaps the richest in membrane structures
among all the organs.
Other subjects discussed in Volume V are processes ,that often are not
strictly considered part of the processes of turnover, such as hormonal
factors affecting metabolism, growth, and development.
Some years ago the question could be asked whether there is turnover
ofthe major components ofthe nervous system, especially because this organ
functions as storage of memory. Since it is a depository for information
of a permanent nature, it would not be unreasonable to ass urne that most of
its structures are permanent. More recent studies, so me ofwhich are reviewed
in the present volume, have shown, however, that not only does metabolic
activity of all kinds proceed with great rapidity and intensity in the nervous
vii
viii Preface
system, but the turnover of most compounds occurs at fairly high rates, so
that one can assume that only a very small portion ofthis organ is permanent.
What portion of this activity-turnover, metabolism, exchange, etc.-
is specific for the brain and not present in other organs is a difficult question
to answer at the present time, although there are a number of compounds
and perhaps specific metabolic reactions that are present only in nervous
structures and no other elements in the organism. Certainly most com-
ponents and most reactions present in the brain are also present in other
organs; this perhaps shows the unity of life processes. A somewhat more
pertinent question, and one that is easier to answer, is whether the processes
that one can study in nervous tissues are the ones responsible for the function
of the brain. The more we learn about the nervous system, the more we find
that its functions, its control processes, and its malfunctions can be under-
stood in terms of biology and thai the reactions that are described in the
present volume have a great deal to do with the requirements and functions
ofthe nervous system. As perhaps also in other areas, the more we know, the
better we understand, the more remains to be found out and understood. This,
however, should not-and, I am sure, does not-in any way discourage
present and future workers in this field. What is really shown here is that
even formidable problems are not unapproachable and their solution will
not escape us forever. The rapid growth of investigations in this area clearly
emphasizes that the hope of understanding and the importance of acquiring
knowledge in this area are recognized increasingly by many.
Abel Lajtha
New York, New York
July 1971
CONTENTS OF PART B
Chapter 13
Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
by D. A. Rappoport, R. R. Fritz, and S. Yamagami
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
11. Cell Proliferation and Differentiation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
A. Early Differentiation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442
III. Changes in DNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443
IV. Changes in RNA . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444
V. Changes in Protein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
VI. Myelination......................................... 456
VII. Hormones.......................................... 462
A. Thyroxine and Growth Hormone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462
B. Other Hormones ....................... . . . . . . . . . . 465
VIII. Nutrition........................................... 466
IX. Interpretation of Gene Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 468
X. References.......................................... 471
Chapter 14
Aging .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
by Robert L. Herrmann
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
11. Morphology of Aging Brain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
A. Histological Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
B. Alterations in Subcellular Constituents .............. 481
III. Metabolism of Aging Brain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
A. Nucleoprotein Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
B. Alterations in Other Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483
C. Alteration in Specific Enzyme Levels ...... . . . . . . . . . . 484
D. Accumulation of Certain Tissue Components . . . . .. . . . . 485
IV. Possible Mechanisms of Aging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485
V. References.......................................... 486
ix