A nonpyrrolysine member of the widely distributed trimethylamine methyltransferase family is a glycine betaine methyltransferase

DOE PAGES

Ticak, Tomislav; Kountz, D. J.; Girosky, K. E.; ...

2014-10-13

COG5598 comprises a large number of proteins related to MttB, the trimethylamine:corrinoid methyltransferase. MttB has a genetically encoded pyrrolysine residue proposed essential for catalysis. MttB is the only known trimethylamine methyltransferase, yet the great majority of members of COG5598 lack pyrrolysine, leaving the activity of these proteins an open question. Here, we describe the function of one of the nonpyrrolysine members of this large protein family. Three nonpyrrolysine MttB homologs are encoded in Desulfitobacterium hafniense, a Gram-positive strict anaerobe present in both the environment and human intestine. D. hafniense was found capable of growth on glycine betaine with electron acceptorsmore » such as nitrate or fumarate, producing dimethylglycine and CO 2 as products. Examination of the genome revealed genes for tetrahydrofolate-linked oxidation of a methyl group originating from a methylated corrinoid protein, but no obvious means to carry out corrinoid methylation with glycine betaine. DSY3156, encoding one of the nonpyrrolysine MttB homologs, was up-regulated during growth on glycine betaine. The recombinant DSY3156 protein converts glycine betaine and cob(I)alamin to dimethylglycine and methylcobalamin. To our knowledge, DSY3156 is the first glycine betaine:corrinoid methyltransferase described, and a designation of MtgB is proposed. Additionally, DSY3157, an adjacently encoded protein, was shown to be a methylcobalamin:tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase and is designated MtgA. Homologs of MtgB are widely distributed, especially in marine bacterioplankton and nitrogen-fixing plant symbionts. Lastly, they are also found in multiple members of the human microbiome, and may play a beneficial role in trimethylamine homeostasis, which in recent years has been directly tied to human cardiovascular health.« less

Role of choline and glycine betaine in the formation of N,N-dimethylpiperidinium (mepiquat) under Maillard reaction conditions.

PubMed

Bessaire, Thomas; Tarres, Adrienne; Stadler, Richard H; Delatour, Thierry

2014-01-01

This study is the first to examine the role of choline and glycine betaine, naturally present in some foods, in particular in cereal grains, to generate N,N-dimethylpiperidinium (mepiquat) under Maillard conditions via transmethylation reactions involving the nucleophile piperidine. The formation of mepiquat and its intermediates piperidine - formed by cyclisation of free lysine in the presence of reducing sugars - and N-methylpiperidine were monitored over time (240°C, up to 180 min) using high-resolution mass spectrometry in a model system comprised of a ternary mixture of lysine/fructose/alkylating agent (choline or betaine). The reaction yield was compared with data recently determined for trigonelline, a known methylation agent present naturally in coffee beans. The role of choline and glycine betaine in nucleophilic displacement reactions was further supported by experiments carried out with stable isotope-labelled precursors (¹³C- and deuterium-labelled). The results unequivocally demonstrated that the piperidine ring of mepiquat originates from the carbon chain of lysine, and that either choline or glycine betaine furnishes the N-methyl groups. The kinetics of formation of the corresponding demethylated products of both choline and glycine betaine, N,N-demethyl-2-aminoethanol and N,N-dimethylglycine, respectively, were also determined using high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Osmoregulation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens: accumulation of a novel disaccharide is controlled by osmotic strength and glycine betaine.

PubMed Central

Smith, L T; Smith, G M; Madkour, M A

1990-01-01

We have investigated the mechanism of osmotic stress adaptation (osmoregulation) in Agrobacterium tumefaciens biotype I (salt-tolerant) and biotype II (salt-sensitive) strains. Using natural-abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we identified all organic solutes that accumulated to significant levels in osmotically stressed cultures. When stressed, biotype I strains (C58, NT1, and A348) accumulated glutamate and a novel disaccharide, beta-fructofuranosyl-alpha-mannopyranoside, commonly known as mannosucrose. In the salt-sensitive biotype II strain K84, glutamate was observed but mannosucrose was not. We speculate that mannosucrose confers the extra osmotic tolerance observed in the biotype I strains. In addition to identifying the osmoregulated solutes that this species synthesizes, we investigated the ability of A. tumefaciens to utilize the powerful osmotic stress protectant glycine betaine when it is supplied in the medium. Results from growth experiments, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a 14C labeling experiment demonstrated that in the absence of osmotic stress, glycine betaine was metabolized, while in stressed cultures, glycine betaine accumulated intracellularly and conferred enhanced osmotic stress tolerance. Furthermore, when glycine betaine was taken up in stressed cells, its accumulation caused the intracellular concentration of mannosucrose to drop significantly. The possible role of osmoregulation of A. tumefaciens in the transformation of plants is discussed. PMID:2254260

Serratia entomophila bet gene induction and the impact of glycine betaine accumulation on desiccation tolerance.

PubMed

Sheen, T R; O'Callaghan, M; Smalley, D J; Ronson, C W; Hurst, M R H

2013-02-01

The genes involved in choline transport and oxidation to glycine betaine in the biopesticidal bacterium Serratia entomophila were characterized, and the potential of osmoprotectants, coupled with increased NaCl concentrations, to improve the desiccation tolerance of this species was investigated. Serratia entomophila carries sequences similar to the Escherichia coli betTIBA genes encoding a choline transporter and dehydrogenase, a betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase and a regulatory protein. Disruption of betA abolished the ability of Ser. entomophila to utilize choline as a carbon source. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR analysis revealed that betA transcription was reduced compared to that of the upstream genes in the operon, and that NaCl and choline induced bet gene expression. Glycine betaine and choline increased the NaCl tolerance of Ser. entomophila, and osmotically preconditioned cultures survived better than control cultures following desiccation and immediately after application to agricultural soil. Addition of glycine betaine and NaCl to growth medium can greatly enhance the desiccation survival of Ser. entomophila, and its initial survival in soil. Serratia entomophila is sensitive to desiccation and does not persist under low soil moisture conditions. Techniques described here for enhancing the desiccation survival of Ser. entomophila can be used to improve formulations of this bacterium, and allow its application under a wider range of environmental conditions. © 2012 AgResearch.

Electron paramagnetic resonance and FT-IR spectroscopic studies of glycine anhydride and betaine hydrochloride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halim Başkan, M.; Kartal, Zeki; Aydın, Murat

2015-12-01

Gamma irradiated powders of glycine anhydride and betaine hydrochloride have been investigated at room temperature by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). In these compounds, the observed paramagnetic species were attributed to the R1 and R2 radicals, respectively. It was determined that the free electron interacted with environmental protons and 14N nucleus in both radicals. The EPR spectra of gamma irradiated powder samples remained unchanged at room temperature for two weeks after irradiation. Also, the Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), FT-Raman and thermal analyses of both compounds were investigated. The functional groups in the molecular structures of glycine anhydride and betaine hydrochloride were identified by vibrational spectroscopies (FT-IR and FT-Raman).

Arsenic accumulation in livers of pinnipeds, seabirds and sea turtles: subcellular distribution and interaction between arsenobetaine and glycine betaine.

PubMed

Fujihara, Junko; Kunito, Takashi; Kubota, Reiji; Tanabe, Shinsuke

2003-12-01

Concentrations of total arsenic and individual arsenic compounds were determined in liver samples of pinnipeds (northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus and ringed seal Pusa hispida), seabirds (black-footed albatross Diomedea nigripes and black-tailed gull Larus crassirostris) and sea turtles (hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata and green turtle Chelonia mydas). Among these species, the black-footed albatross contained the highest hepatic arsenic concentration (5.8+/-3.7 microg/g wet mass). Arsenobetaine was the major arsenic species found in the liver of all these higher tropic marine animals. To investigate the cause of high accumulation of arsenobetaine, subcellular distribution of arsenic and relationship between arsenobetaine and glycine betaine concentrations were examined in the livers of these animals. There was no relationship between total arsenic concentration and its subcellular distribution in liver tissues. However, a significant negative correlation was found between arsenobetaine and glycine betaine concentrations in the liver of six species examined. This result may indicate that arsenobetaine is accumulated in these marine animals as an osmolyte along with glycine betaine, which is a predominant osmolyte in marine animals because the chemical structure and properties of arsenobetaine are similar to those of glycine betaine.

Aspects of Weak Interactions between Folate and Glycine Betaine.

PubMed

Bhojane, Purva P; Duff, Michael R; Bafna, Khushboo; Rimmer, Gabriella P; Agarwal, Pratul K; Howell, Elizabeth E

2016-11-15

Folate, or vitamin B 9 , is an important compound in one-carbon metabolism. Previous studies have found weaker binding of dihydrofolate to dihydrofolate reductase in the presence of osmolytes. In other words, osmolytes are more difficult to remove from the dihydrofolate solvation shell than water; this shifts the equilibrium toward the free ligand and protein species. This study uses vapor-pressure osmometry to explore the interaction of folate with the model osmolyte, glycine betaine. This method yields a preferential interaction potential (μ 23 /RT value). This value is concentration-dependent as folate dimerizes. The μ 23 /RT value also tracks the deprotonation of folate's N3-O4 keto-enol group, yielding a pK a of 8.1. To determine which folate atoms interact most strongly with betaine, the interaction of heterocyclic aromatic compounds (as well as other small molecules) with betaine was monitored. Using an accessible surface area approach coupled with osmometry measurements, deconvolution of the μ 23 /RT values into α values for atom types was achieved. This allows prediction of μ 23 /RT values for larger molecules such as folate. Molecular dynamics simulations of folate show a variety of structures from extended to L-shaped. These conformers possess μ 23 /RT values from -0.18 to 0.09 m -1 , where a negative value indicates a preference for solvation by betaine and a positive value indicates a preference for water. This range of values is consistent with values observed in osmometry and solubility experiments. As the average predicted folate μ 23 /RT value is near zero, this indicates folate interacts almost equally well with betaine and water. Specifically, the glutamate tail prefers to interact with water, while the aromatic rings prefer betaine. In general, the more protonated species in our small molecule survey interact better with betaine as they provide a source of hydrogens (betaine is not a hydrogen bond donor). Upon deprotonation of the small

Aspects of Weak Interactions between Folate and Glycine Betaine

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Folate, or vitamin B9, is an important compound in one-carbon metabolism. Previous studies have found weaker binding of dihydrofolate to dihydrofolate reductase in the presence of osmolytes. In other words, osmolytes are more difficult to remove from the dihydrofolate solvation shell than water; this shifts the equilibrium toward the free ligand and protein species. This study uses vapor-pressure osmometry to explore the interaction of folate with the model osmolyte, glycine betaine. This method yields a preferential interaction potential (μ23/RT value). This value is concentration-dependent as folate dimerizes. The μ23/RT value also tracks the deprotonation of folate’s N3–O4 keto–enol group, yielding a pKa of 8.1. To determine which folate atoms interact most strongly with betaine, the interaction of heterocyclic aromatic compounds (as well as other small molecules) with betaine was monitored. Using an accessible surface area approach coupled with osmometry measurements, deconvolution of the μ23/RT values into α values for atom types was achieved. This allows prediction of μ23/RT values for larger molecules such as folate. Molecular dynamics simulations of folate show a variety of structures from extended to L-shaped. These conformers possess μ23/RT values from −0.18 to 0.09 m–1, where a negative value indicates a preference for solvation by betaine and a positive value indicates a preference for water. This range of values is consistent with values observed in osmometry and solubility experiments. As the average predicted folate μ23/RT value is near zero, this indicates folate interacts almost equally well with betaine and water. Specifically, the glutamate tail prefers to interact with water, while the aromatic rings prefer betaine. In general, the more protonated species in our small molecule survey interact better with betaine as they provide a source of hydrogens (betaine is not a hydrogen bond donor). Upon deprotonation of the small molecule

Enhanced synthesis of choline and glycine betaine in transgenic tobacco plants that overexpress phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase

PubMed Central

McNeil, Scott D.; Nuccio, Michael L.; Ziemak, Michael J.; Hanson, Andrew D.

2001-01-01

Choline (Cho) is the precursor of the osmoprotectant glycine betaine and is itself an essential nutrient for humans. Metabolic engineering of Cho biosynthesis in plants could therefore enhance both their resistance to osmotic stresses (drought and salinity) and their nutritional value. The key enzyme of the plant Cho-synthesis pathway is phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase, which catalyzes all three of the methylations required to convert phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine. We show here that overexpressing this enzyme in transgenic tobacco increased the levels of phosphocholine by 5-fold and free Cho by 50-fold without affecting phosphatidylcholine content or growth. Moreover, the expanded Cho pool led to a 30-fold increase in synthesis of glycine betaine via an engineered glycine betaine pathway. Supplying the transgenics with the Cho precursor ethanolamine (EA) further enhanced Cho levels even though the supplied EA was extensively catabolized. These latter results establish that there is further scope for improving Cho synthesis by engineering an increased endogenous supply of EA and suggest that this could be achieved by enhancing EA synthesis and/or by suppressing its degradation. PMID:11481443

Glycine Betaine Catabolism Contributes to Pseudomonas syringae Tolerance to Hyperosmotic Stress by Relieving Betaine-Mediated Suppression of Compatible Solute Synthesis

PubMed Central

Li, Shanshan; Yu, Xilan

2013-01-01

Many bacteria can accumulate glycine betaine for osmoprotection and catabolize it as a growth substrate, but how they regulate these opposing roles is poorly understood. In Pseudomonas syringae B728a, expression of the betaine catabolism genes was reduced by an osmotic upshift to an intermediate stress level, consistent with betaine accumulation, but was increased by an upshift to a high stress level, as confirmed by an accompanying increase in degradation of radiolabeled betaine. Deletion of the gbcAB betaine catabolism genes reduced osmotolerance at a high osmolarity, and this reduction was due to the relief of betaine-mediated suppression of compatible solute synthesis. This conclusion was supported by the findings that, at high osmolarity, the ΔgbcAB mutant accumulated high betaine levels and low endogenous solutes and exhibited reduced expression of the solute synthesis genes. Moreover, the ΔgbcAB mutant and a mutant deficient in the synthesis of the compatible solutes NAGGN and trehalose exhibited similar reductions in osmotolerance and also in fitness on bean leaves. Activation of betaine catabolism at high osmotic stress resulted, in part, from induction of gbdR, which encodes the transcriptional activator GbdR. Betaine catabolism was subject to partial repression by succinate under hyperosmotic stress conditions, in contrast to strong repression in the absence of stress, suggesting that betaine functions both in nutrition and as an intracellular signal modulating solute synthesis under hyperosmotic stress conditions. Collectively, these results begin to provide a detailed mechanistic understanding of how P. syringae transitions from reliance on exogenously derived betaine to the use of endogenous solutes during adaptation to hyperosmotic conditions. PMID:23524610

Trehalose/2-sulfotrehalose biosynthesis and glycine-betaine uptake are widely spread mechanisms for osmoadaptation in the Halobacteriales

PubMed Central

Youssef, Noha H; Savage-Ashlock, Kristen N; McCully, Alexandra L; Luedtke, Brandon; Shaw, Edward I; Hoff, Wouter D; Elshahed, Mostafa S

2014-01-01

We investigated the mechanisms of osmoadaptation in the order Halobacteriales, with special emphasis on Haladaptatus paucihalophilus, known for its ability to survive in low salinities. H. paucihalophilus genome contained genes for trehalose synthesis (trehalose-6-phosphate synthase/trehalose-6-phosphatase (OtsAB pathway) and trehalose glycosyl-transferring synthase pathway), as well as for glycine betaine uptake (BCCT family of secondary transporters and QAT family of ABC transporters). H. paucihalophilus cells synthesized and accumulated ∼1.97–3.72 μmol per mg protein of trehalose in a defined medium, with its levels decreasing with increasing salinities. When exogenously supplied, glycine betaine accumulated intracellularly with its levels increasing at higher salinities. RT-PCR analysis strongly suggested that H. paucihalophilus utilizes the OtsAB pathway for trehalose synthesis. Out of 83 Halobacteriales genomes publicly available, genes encoding the OtsAB pathway and glycine betaine BCCT family transporters were identified in 38 and 60 genomes, respectively. Trehalose (or its sulfonated derivative) production and glycine betaine uptake, or lack thereof, were experimentally verified in 17 different Halobacteriales species. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that trehalose synthesis is an ancestral trait within the Halobacteriales, with its absence in specific lineages reflecting the occurrence of gene loss events during Halobacteriales evolution. Analysis of multiple culture-independent survey data sets demonstrated the preference of trehalose-producing genera to saline and low salinity habitats, and the dominance of genera lacking trehalose production capabilities in permanently hypersaline habitats. This study demonstrates that, contrary to current assumptions, compatible solutes production and uptake represent a common mechanism of osmoadaptation within the Halobacteriales. PMID:24048226

Glycine Betaine, Carnitine, and Choline Enhance Salinity Tolerance and Prevent the Accumulation of Sodium to a Level Inhibiting Growth of Tetragenococcus halophila

PubMed Central

Robert, Hervé; Le Marrec, Claire; Blanco, Carlos; Jebbar, Mohamed

2000-01-01

Natural-abundance 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance was used to probe the intracellular organic solute content of the moderately halophilic bacterium Tetragenococcus halophila. When grown in complex growth media supplemented or not with NaCl, T. halophila accumulates glycine betaine and carnitine. Unlike other moderate halophiles, T. halophila was not able to produce potent osmoprotectants (such as ectoines and glycine betaine) through de novo synthesis when cultured in defined medium under hyperosmotic constraint. Addition of 2 mM carnitine, glycine betaine, or choline to defined medium improved growth parameters, not only at high salinity (up to 2.5 M NaCl) but also in media lacking NaCl. These compounds were taken up when available in the surrounding medium. The transport activity occurred at low and high salinities and seems to be constitutive. Glycine betaine and carnitine were accumulated by T. halophila in an unmodified form, while exogenously provided choline led to an intracellular accumulation of glycine betaine. This is the first evidence of the existence of a choline-glycine betaine pathway in a lactic acid bacterium. An assay showed that the compatible solutes strikingly repressed the accumulation of glutamate and slightly increased the intracellular potassium level only at high salinity. Interestingly, osmoprotectant-treated cells were able to maintain the intracellular sodium concentration at a relatively constant level (200 to 300 nmol/mg [dry weight]), independent of the NaCl concentration of the medium. In contrast, in the absence of osmoprotectant, the intracellular sodium content increased sharply from 200 to 2,060 nmol/mg (dry weight) when the salinity of the medium was raised from 1 to 2 M. Indeed, the imported compatible solutes play an actual role in regulating the intracellular Na+ content and confer a much higher salt tolerance to T. halophila. PMID:10653711

Overexpression of ALDH10A8 and ALDH10A9 Genes Provides Insight into Their Role in Glycine Betaine Synthesis and Affects Primary Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana.

PubMed

Missihoun, Tagnon D; Willée, Eva; Guegan, Jean-Paul; Berardocco, Solenne; Shafiq, Muhammad R; Bouchereau, Alain; Bartels, Dorothea

2015-09-01

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases oxidize betaine aldehyde to glycine betaine in species that accumulate glycine betaine as a compatible solute under stress conditions. In contrast, the physiological function of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase genes is at present unclear in species that do not accumulate glycine betaine, such as Arabidopsis thaliana. To address this question, we overexpressed the Arabidopsis ALDH10A8 and ALDH10A9 genes, which were identified to code for betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases, in wild-type A. thaliana. We analysed changes in metabolite contents of transgenic plants in comparison with the wild type. Using exogenous or endogenous choline, our results indicated that ALDH10A8 and ALDH10A9 are involved in the synthesis of glycine betaine in Arabidopsis. Choline availability seems to be a factor limiting glycine betaine synthesis. Moreover, the contents of diverse metabolites including sugars (glucose and fructose) and amino acids were altered in fully developed transgenic plants compared with the wild type. The plant metabolic response to salt and the salt stress tolerance were impaired only in young transgenic plants, which exhibited a delayed growth of the seedlings early after germination. Our results suggest that a balanced expression of the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase genes is important for early growth of A. thaliana seedlings and for salt stress mitigation in young seedlings. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Osmotic Control of opuA Expression in Bacillus subtilis and Its Modulation in Response to Intracellular Glycine Betaine and Proline Pools

PubMed Central

Hoffmann, Tamara; Wensing, Annette; Brosius, Margot; Steil, Leif; Völker, Uwe

2013-01-01

Glycine betaine is an effective osmoprotectant for Bacillus subtilis. Its import into osmotically stressed cells led to the buildup of large pools, whose size was sensitively determined by the degree of the osmotic stress imposed. The amassing of glycine betaine caused repression of the formation of an osmostress-adaptive pool of proline, the only osmoprotectant that B. subtilis can synthesize de novo. The ABC transporter OpuA is the main glycine betaine uptake system of B. subtilis. Expression of opuA was upregulated in response to both sudden and sustained increases in the external osmolarity. Nonionic osmolytes exerted a stronger inducing effect on transcription than ionic osmolytes, and this was reflected in the development of corresponding OpuA-mediated glycine betaine pools. Primer extension analysis and site-directed mutagenesis pinpointed the osmotically controlled opuA promoter. Deviations from the consensus sequence of SigA-type promoters serve to keep the transcriptional activity of the opuA promoter low in the absence of osmotic stress. opuA expression was downregulated in a finely tuned manner in response to increases in the intracellular glycine betaine pool, regardless of whether this osmoprotectant was imported or was newly synthesized from choline. Such an effect was also exerted by carnitine, an effective osmoprotectant for B. subtilis that is not a substrate for the OpuA transporter. opuA expression was upregulated in a B. subtilis mutant that was unable to synthesize proline in response to osmotic stress. Collectively, our data suggest that the intracellular solute pool is a key determinant for the osmotic control of opuA expression. PMID:23175650

The Effect of Ethylene Glycol, Glycine Betaine, and Urea on Lysozyme Thermal Stability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwinefus, Jeffrey J.; Leslie, Elizabeth J.; Nordstrom, Anna R.

2010-01-01

The four-week student project described in this article is an extension of protein thermal denaturation experiments to include effects of added cosolutes ethylene glycol, glycine betaine, and urea on the unfolding of lysozyme. The transition temperatures and van't Hoff enthalpies for unfolding are evaluated for six concentrations of each cosolute,…

Glycine betaine improves oxidative stress tolerance and biocontrol efficacy of antagonistic yeast Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effect of H2O2-induced oxidative stress on the viability of the yeast antagonist, Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum, as well as the effect of exogenous glycine betaine (GB) on yeast viability under oxidative stress, was determined. GB treatment improved the tolerance of C. infirmominiatum to ox...

Glycine betaine improves oxidative stress tolerance and biocontrol efficacy of the antagonistic yeast Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effect of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress on the viability of the yeast antagonist, Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum, as well as the effect of exogenous glycine betaine (GB) on yeast viability under oxidative stress, was determined. GB treatment improved the tolerance of C. infirmom...

Structure of choline oxidase in complex with the reaction product glycine betaine.

PubMed

Salvi, Francesca; Wang, Yuan-Fang; Weber, Irene T; Gadda, Giovanni

2014-02-01

Choline oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis, which is involved in the biosynthesis of glycine betaine from choline, has been extensively characterized in its mechanistic and structural properties. Despite the knowledge gained on the enzyme, the details of substrate access to the active site are not fully understood. The `loop-and-lid' mechanism described for the glucose-methanol-choline enzyme superfamily has not been confirmed for choline oxidase. Instead, a hydrophobic cluster on the solvent-accessible surface of the enzyme has been proposed by molecular dynamics to control substrate access to the active site. Here, the crystal structure of the enzyme was solved in complex with glycine betaine at pH 6.0 at 1.95 Å resolution, allowing a structural description of the ligand-enzyme interactions in the active site. This structure is the first of choline oxidase in complex with a physiologically relevant ligand. The protein structures with and without ligand are virtually identical, with the exception of a loop at the dimer interface, which assumes two distinct conformations. The different conformations of loop 250-255 define different accessibilities of the proposed active-site entrance delimited by the hydrophobic cluster on the other subunit of the dimer, suggesting a role in regulating substrate access to the active site.

Biosynthesis of the Osmoprotectant Ectoine, but Not Glycine Betaine, Is Critical for Survival of Osmotically Stressed Vibrio parahaemolyticus Cells

PubMed Central

Ongagna-Yhombi, Serge Y.

2013-01-01

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a halophile present in marine and estuarine environments, ecosystems characterized by fluctuations in salinity and temperature. One strategy to thrive in such environments is the synthesis and/or uptake of compatible solutes. The V. parahaemolyticus genome contains biosynthesis systems for both ectoine and glycine betaine, which are known to act as compatible solutes in other species. We showed that V. parahaemolyticus had a 6% NaCl tolerance when grown in M9 minimal medium with 0.4% glucose (M9G) with a >5-h lag phase. By using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) analysis, we determined that cells synthesized ectoine and glutamate in a NaCl-dependent manner. The most effective compatible solutes as measured by a reduction in lag-phase growth in M9G with 6% NaCl (M9G 6% NaCl) were in the order glycine betaine > choline > proline = glutamate > ectoine. However, V. parahaemolyticus could use glutamate or proline as the sole carbon source, but not ectoine or glycine betaine, which suggests that these are bona fide compatible solutes. Expression analysis showed that the ectA and betA genes were more highly expressed in log-phase cells, and expression of both genes was induced by NaCl up-shock. Under all conditions examined, the ectA gene was more highly expressed than the betA gene. Analysis of in-frame deletions in betA and ectB and in a double mutant showed that the ectB mutant was defective for growth, and this defect was rescued by the addition of glycine betaine, proline, ectoine, and glutamate, indicating that these compounds are compatible solutes for this species. The presence of both synthesis systems was the predominant distribution pattern among members of the Vibrionaceae family, suggesting this is the ancestral state. PMID:23770911

Detection of the osmoregulator betaine in methanogens.

PubMed

Robertson, D E; Noll, D; Roberts, M F; Menaia, J A; Boone, D R

1990-02-01

Trimethyl glycine (glycine betaine) was detected by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at high intracellular concentrations in several methanogens (Methanogenium cariaci, "Methanogenium anulus" AN9, Methanohalophilus zhilinae, Methanohalophilus mahii, and Methanococcus voltae) grown on marine media containing yeast extract. 13C labeling studies with Methanogenium cariaci suggested that the betaine which accumulated inside the cells was not synthesized de novo but was transported in from the medium. Proof of such a transport system was provided by growing Methanogenium cariaci on yeast-free medium supplemented with betaine. Under these conditions, betaine was the dominant osmoregulator.

Glycine Betaine: Reserve Form of Choline in Penicillium fellutanum in Low-Sulfate Medium

PubMed Central

Park, Yong-Il; Buszko, Marian L.; Gander, John E.

1999-01-01

In spite of choline’s importance in fungal metabolism, its sources in cytoplasm have not been fully established. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of mycelial extracts from day-5 Penicillium fellutanum cultures showed that, as well as choline-O-sulfate, intracellular glycine betaine is another reserve form of choline, depending on the availability of sulfate in the culture medium. These observations are discussed relative to the multiple roles of choline and its precursors in P. fellutanum. PMID:10049905

Detection of the osmoregulator betaine in methanogens.

PubMed Central

Robertson, D E; Noll, D; Roberts, M F; Menaia, J A; Boone, D R

1990-01-01

Trimethyl glycine (glycine betaine) was detected by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at high intracellular concentrations in several methanogens (Methanogenium cariaci, "Methanogenium anulus" AN9, Methanohalophilus zhilinae, Methanohalophilus mahii, and Methanococcus voltae) grown on marine media containing yeast extract. 13C labeling studies with Methanogenium cariaci suggested that the betaine which accumulated inside the cells was not synthesized de novo but was transported in from the medium. Proof of such a transport system was provided by growing Methanogenium cariaci on yeast-free medium supplemented with betaine. Under these conditions, betaine was the dominant osmoregulator. PMID:2306094

A Glycine Betaine Importer Limits Salmonella Stress Resistance and Tissue Colonization by Reducing Trehalose Production

PubMed Central

Pilonieta, M. Carolina; Nagy, Toni A.; Jorgensen, Dana R.; Detweiler, Corrella S.

2012-01-01

SUMMARY Mechanisms by which Salmonella establish chronic infections are not well understood. Microbes respond to stress by importing or producing compatible solutes, small molecules that stabilize proteins and lipids. The Salmonella locus opuABCD (also called OpuC) encodes a predicted importer of the compatible solute glycine betaine. Under stress conditions, if glycine betaine cannot be imported, S. enterica produce the disaccharide trehalose, a highly effective compatible solute. We demonstrate that strains lacking opuABCD accumulate more trehalose under stress conditions than wild-type strains. ΔopuABCD mutant strains are more resistant to high salt, low pH and hydrogen peroxide, conditions that mimic aspects of innate immunity, in a trehalose-dependent manner. In addition, ΔopuABCD mutant strains require the trehalose production genes to out-compete wild-type strains in mice and macrophages. These data suggest that in the absence of opuABCD, trehalose accumulation increases bacterial resistance to stress in broth and mice. Thus, opuABCD reduces bacterial colonization via a mechanism that limits trehalose production. Mechanisms by which microbes limit disease may reveal novel pathways as therapeutic targets. PMID:22375627

Osmotic Shock Induced Protein Destabilization in Living Cells and Its Reversal by Glycine Betaine.

PubMed

Stadmiller, Samantha S; Gorensek-Benitez, Annelise H; Guseman, Alex J; Pielak, Gary J

2017-04-21

Many organisms can adapt to changes in the solute content of their surroundings (i.e., the osmolarity). Hyperosmotic shock causes water efflux and a concomitant reduction in cell volume, which is countered by the accumulation of osmolytes. This volume reduction increases the crowded nature of the cytoplasm, which is expected to affect protein stability. In contrast to traditional theory, which predicts that more crowded conditions can only increase protein stability, recent work shows that crowding can destabilize proteins through transient attractive interactions. Here, we quantify protein stability in living Escherichia coli cells before and after hyperosmotic shock in the presence and absence of the osmolyte, glycine betaine. The 7-kDa N-terminal src-homology 3 domain of Drosophila signal transduction protein drk is used as the test protein. We find that hyperosmotic shock decreases SH3 stability in cells, consistent with the idea that transient attractive interactions are important under physiologically relevant crowded conditions. The subsequent uptake of glycine betaine returns SH3 to the stability observed without osmotic shock. These results highlight the effect of transient attractive interactions on protein stability in cells and provide a new explanation for why stressed cells accumulate osmolytes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of Betaines by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry 1

PubMed Central

Rhodes, David; Rich, Patrick J.; Myers, Ann C.; Reuter, Carol C.; Jamieson, Gene C.

1987-01-01

A rapid, sensitive, and selective method for the determination of betaines is described and discussed. The method entails derivatizing the quaternary ammonium compounds to increase their sensitivity to detection by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Sensitivity of detection increases markedly as the length of the carbon chain of the alcohol used to esterify the betaine carboxylic acid group is increased (C4 > C3 > C2 > C1 > C0). The lower limit of detection of glycine betaine as the n-propyl ester is 0.05 nanomole per microliter of glycerol. Betaine aldehyde can be readily derivatized to the di-n-butyl or di-n-propyl acetal derivatives which exhibit lower limits of detection of about 5 picomoles and 10 picomoles per microliter of glycerol, respectively. Accurate quantification of these compounds is accomplished by the use of deuterium labeled internal standards or quaternary ammonium compound homologs of distinct mass. Methods for the synthesis of these internal standards are reported. Some applications of these methods are illustrated with stable isotope tracer studies on the kinetics of metabolism of choline to betaine aldehyde and glycine betaine in spinach leaf discs, and the identification of several Zea mays genotypes which appear deficient in glycine betaine. Tracer studies with deuterium labeled betaine aldehyde suggest that the deficiency of glycine betaine in one sweet corn hybrid is probably not due to a deficiency in the capacity to oxidize betaine aldehyde. PMID:16665522

The betaine profile of cereal flours unveils new and uncommon betaines.

PubMed

Servillo, Luigi; D'Onofrio, Nunzia; Giovane, Alfonso; Casale, Rosario; Cautela, Domenico; Ferrari, Giovanna; Castaldo, Domenico; Balestrieri, Maria Luisa

2018-01-15

We report the LC-ESI-MS/MS determination of betaines in commercial flours of cereals and pseudocereals most utilized in human nutrition. Results showed that glycine betaine, trigonelline, proline betaine, N ε -trimethyllysine were metabolites common to all examined flours, whereas an uncommon betaine, valine betaine, and glutamine betaine were present only in flours of barley, rye, oat, durum wheat, winter wheat, Triticum dicoccum and Triticum monococcum. Valine betaine and glutamine betaine, the latter never reported before in plants and animals, are not evenly distributed in the Poaceae family, but their presence or absence in flours depends on the subfamily to which the plant belongs. Interestingly, we also report for the first time the occurrence of pipecolic acid betaine (homostachydrine) and its precursor 1,2-N-methylpipecolic acid in rye flour. These two metabolites were not detected in any other cereal or pseudocereal flour, suggesting their potential role as markers of rye flour occurrence in cereal-based foods. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Halogenides of dimethylglycine in comparison with respective salts of glycine, sarcosine and betaine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrosyan, A. M.; Ghazaryan, V. V.; Giester, G.; Fleck, M.; Tylczyński, Z.; Wiesner, M.

2018-04-01

We investigated salts formation in the DMG(dimethylglycine)sbnd HClsbnd H2O, DMGsbnd HBrsbnd H2O and DMGsbnd HIsbnd H2O systems. In addition to previously known dimethylglycinium chloride (DMGH)Cl, we obtained and characterized (structurally and spectroscopically) the following crystals: (DMGH)Br, (DMGH)I as well as the first salts of DMG with dimeric (DMG⋯DMGH) cation: (DMG⋯DMGH)Cl, (DMG⋯DMGH)Br, (DMG⋯DMGH)I. Obtained results are compared with results of known or newly obtained respective salts of glycine, sarcosine (monomethylglycine) and betaine (trimethylglycine).

Metabolic Shift of Escherichia coli under Salt Stress in the Presence of Glycine Betaine

PubMed Central

Metris, A.; George, S. M.; Mulholland, F.; Carter, A. T.

2014-01-01

An important area of food safety focuses on bacterial survival and growth in unfavorable environments. In order to understand how bacteria adapt to stresses other than nutrient limitation in batch cultures, we need to develop mechanistic models of intracellular regulation and metabolism under stress. We studied the growth of Escherichia coli in minimal medium with added salt and different osmoprotectants. To characterize the metabolic efficiency with a robust parameter, we identified the optical density (OD) values at the inflection points of measured “OD versus time” growth curves and described them as a function of glucose concentration. We found that the metabolic efficiency parameter did not necessarily follow the trend of decreasing specific growth rate as the salt concentration increased. In the absence of osmoprotectant, or in the presence of proline, the metabolic efficiency decreased with increasing NaCl concentration. However, in the presence of choline or glycine betaine, it increased between 2 and 4.5% NaCl before declining at 5% NaCl and above. Microarray analysis of the transcriptional network and proteomics analysis with glycine betaine in the medium indicated that between 4.5 and 5% NaCl, the metabolism switched from aerobic to fermentative pathways and that the response to osmotic stress is similar to that for oxidative stress. We conclude that, although the growth rate appeared to decrease smoothly with increasing NaCl, the metabolic strategy of cells changed abruptly at a threshold concentration of NaCl. PMID:24858086

Quantifying why urea is a protein denaturant, whereas glycine betaine is a protein stabilizer

PubMed Central

Guinn, Emily J.; Pegram, Laurel M.; Capp, Michael W.; Pollock, Michelle N.; Record, M. Thomas

2011-01-01

To explain the large, opposite effects of urea and glycine betaine (GB) on stability of folded proteins and protein complexes, we quantify and interpret preferential interactions of urea with 45 model compounds displaying protein functional groups and compare with a previous analysis of GB. This information is needed to use urea as a probe of coupled folding in protein processes and to tune molecular dynamics force fields. Preferential interactions between urea and model compounds relative to their interactions with water are determined by osmometry or solubility and dissected using a unique coarse-grained analysis to obtain interaction potentials quantifying the interaction of urea with each significant type of protein surface (aliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbon (C); polar and charged N and O). Microscopic local-bulk partition coefficients Kp for the accumulation or exclusion of urea in the water of hydration of these surfaces relative to bulk water are obtained. Kp values reveal that urea accumulates moderately at amide O and weakly at aliphatic C, whereas GB is excluded from both. These results provide both thermodynamic and molecular explanations for the opposite effects of urea and glycine betaine on protein stability, as well as deductions about strengths of amide NH—amide O and amide NH—amide N hydrogen bonds relative to hydrogen bonds to water. Interestingly, urea, like GB, is moderately accumulated at aromatic C surface. Urea m-values for protein folding and other protein processes are quantitatively interpreted and predicted using these urea interaction potentials or Kp values. PMID:21930943

Quantifying why urea is a protein denaturant, whereas glycine betaine is a protein stabilizer.

PubMed

Guinn, Emily J; Pegram, Laurel M; Capp, Michael W; Pollock, Michelle N; Record, M Thomas

2011-10-11

To explain the large, opposite effects of urea and glycine betaine (GB) on stability of folded proteins and protein complexes, we quantify and interpret preferential interactions of urea with 45 model compounds displaying protein functional groups and compare with a previous analysis of GB. This information is needed to use urea as a probe of coupled folding in protein processes and to tune molecular dynamics force fields. Preferential interactions between urea and model compounds relative to their interactions with water are determined by osmometry or solubility and dissected using a unique coarse-grained analysis to obtain interaction potentials quantifying the interaction of urea with each significant type of protein surface (aliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbon (C); polar and charged N and O). Microscopic local-bulk partition coefficients K(p) for the accumulation or exclusion of urea in the water of hydration of these surfaces relative to bulk water are obtained. K(p) values reveal that urea accumulates moderately at amide O and weakly at aliphatic C, whereas GB is excluded from both. These results provide both thermodynamic and molecular explanations for the opposite effects of urea and glycine betaine on protein stability, as well as deductions about strengths of amide NH--amide O and amide NH--amide N hydrogen bonds relative to hydrogen bonds to water. Interestingly, urea, like GB, is moderately accumulated at aromatic C surface. Urea m-values for protein folding and other protein processes are quantitatively interpreted and predicted using these urea interaction potentials or K(p) values.

Betaine synthesis in chenopods: localization in chloroplasts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, A.D.; May A.M.; Grumet, R.

1985-06-01

Plants from several families (Chenopodiaceae, Gramineae, Compositae) accumulate betaine (glycine betaine) in response to salt or water stress via the pathway: choline betainal (betaine aldehyde) betaine. Betaine accumulation is probably a metabolic adaptation to stress. Intact protoplasts from leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) oxidized ( UC)choline to betainal and betaine, as did protoplast lysates. Upon differential centrifugation, the ( UC)choline-oxidizing activity of lysates sedimented with chloroplasts. Chloroplasts purified from protoplast lysates by a Percoll cushion procedure retained strong ( UC)choline-oxidizing activity, although the proportion of the intermediate, ( UC)betainal, in the reaction products was usually higher than for protoplasts. Isolatedmore » chloroplasts also readily oxidized ( UC)betainal to betaine. Light increased the oxidation of both ( UC)choline and ( UC)betainal by isolated chloroplasts. Similar results were obtained with another chenopod (Beta vulgaris) but not with pea (Pisum sativum), a species that accumulates no betaine. The chloroplast site for betaine synthesis in chenopods contrasts with the mitochondrial site in mammals.« less

Cloning and molecular characterization of the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase involved in the biosynthesis of glycine betaine in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

PubMed

Delgado-Gaytán, María F; Rosas-Rodríguez, Jesús A; Yepiz-Plascencia, Gloria; Figueroa-Soto, Ciria G; Valenzuela-Soto, Elisa M

2017-10-01

The enzyme betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) catalyzes the irreversible oxidation of betaine aldehyde to glycine betaine (GB), a very efficient osmolyte accumulated during osmotic stress. In this study, we determined the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA for the BADH from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (LvBADH). The cDNA was 1882 bp long, with a complete open reading frame of 1524 bp, encoding 507 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 54.15 kDa and a pI of 5.4. The predicted LvBADH amino acid sequence shares a high degree of identity with marine invertebrate BADHs. Catalytic residues (C-298, E-264 and N-167) and the decapeptide VTLELGGKSP involved in nucleotide binding and highly conserved in BADHs were identified in the amino acid sequence. Phylogenetic analyses classified LvBADH in a clade that includes ALDH9 sequences from marine invertebrates. Molecular modeling of LvBADH revealed that the protein has amino acid residues and sequence motifs essential for the function of the ALDH9 family of enzymes. LvBADH modeling showed three potential monovalent cation binding sites, one site is located in an intra-subunit cavity; other in an inter-subunit cavity and a third in a central-cavity of the protein. The results show that LvBADH shares a high degree of identity with BADH sequences from marine invertebrates and enzymes that belong to the ALDH9 family. Our findings suggest that the LvBADH has molecular mechanisms of regulation similar to those of other BADHs belonging to the ALDH9 family, and that BADH might be playing a role in the osmoregulation capacity of L. vannamei. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Betaines and dimethylsulfoniopropionate as major osmolytes in cnidaria with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates.

PubMed

Yancey, Paul H; Heppenstall, Marina; Ly, Steven; Andrell, Raymond M; Gates, Ruth D; Carter, Virginia L; Hagedorn, Mary

2010-01-01

Most marine invertebrates and algae are osmoconformers whose cells accumulate organic osmolytes that provide half or more of cellular osmotic pressure. These solutes are primarily free amino acids and glycine betaine in most invertebrates and small carbohydrates and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in many algae. Corals with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) have been reported to obtain from the symbionts potential organic osmolytes such as glycerol, amino acids, and DMSP. However, corals and their endosymbionts have not been fully analyzed for osmolytes. We quantified small carbohydrates, free amino acids, methylamines, and DMSP in tissues of the corals Fungia scutaria, Pocillopora damicornis, Pocillopora meandrina, Montipora capitata, Porites compressa, and Porites lobata (all with symbionts) plus Tubastrea aurea (asymbiotic) from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu (Hawaii). Glycine betaine, at 33-69 mmol/kg wet mass, was found to constitute 90% or more of the measured organic solutes in all except the Porites species. Those were dominated by proline betaine and dimethyltaurine. DMSP was found at 0.5-3 mmol/kg in all species with endosymbionts. Freshly isolated Symbiodinium from Fungia, P. damicornis, and P. compressa were also analyzed. DMSP and glycine betaine dominated in the first two; Porites endosymbionts had DMSP, proline betaine, and dimethyltaurine. In all specimens, glycerol and glucose were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography only at 0-1 mmol/kg wet mass. An enzymatic assay for glycerol plus glycerol 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate yielded 1-10 mmol/kg. Cassiopeia andromeda (upside-down jelly; Scyphozoan) and Aiptasia puchella (solitary anemone; Anthozoan) were also analyzed; both have endosymbiotic dinoflagellates. In both, glycine betaine, taurine, and DMSP were the dominant osmolytes. In summary, methylated osmolytes dominate in many Cnidaria; in those with algal symbionts, host and symbiont have similar methylated amino

Escherichia coli O157:H7 Converts Plant-Derived Choline to Glycine Betaine for Osmoprotection during Pre- and Post-harvest Colonization of Injured Lettuce Leaves

PubMed Central

Scott, Russell A.; Thilmony, Roger; Harden, Leslie A.; Zhou, Yaguang; Brandl, Maria T.

2017-01-01

Plant injury is inherent to the production and processing of fruit and vegetables. The opportunistic colonization of damaged plant tissue by human enteric pathogens may contribute to the occurrence of outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to produce. Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EcO157) responds to physicochemical stresses in cut lettuce and lettuce lysates by upregulation of several stress response pathways. We investigated the tolerance of EcO157 to osmotic stress imposed by the leakage of osmolytes from injured lettuce leaf tissue. LC-MS analysis of bacterial osmoprotectants in lettuce leaf lysates and wound washes indicated an abundant natural pool of choline, but sparse quantities of glycine betaine and proline. Glycine betaine was a more effective osmoprotectant than choline in EcO157 under osmotic stress conditions in vitro. An EcO157 mutant with a deletion of the betTIBA genes, which are required for biosynthesis of glycine betaine from imported choline, achieved population sizes twofold lower than those of the parental strain (P < 0.05) over the first hour of colonization of cut lettuce in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The cell concentrations of the betTIBA mutant also were 12-fold lower than those of the parental strain (P < 0.01) when grown in hypertonic lettuce lysate, indicating that lettuce leaf cellular contents provide choline for osmoprotection of EcO157. To demonstrate the utilization of available choline by EcO157 for osmoadaptation in injured leaf tissue, deuterated (D-9) choline was introduced to wound sites in MAP lettuce; LC-MS analysis revealed the conversion of D9-choline to D-9 glycine betaine in the parental strain, but no significant amounts were observed in the betTIBA mutant. The EcO157 ΔbetTIBA-ΔotsBA double mutant, which is additionally deficient in de novo synthesis of the compatible solute trehalose, was significantly less fit than the parental strain after their co-inoculation onto injured lettuce leaves and MAP cut lettuce

Effects of genotype and environment on the contents of betaine, choline, and trigonelline in cereal grains.

PubMed

Corol, Delia-Irina; Ravel, Catherine; Raksegi, Mariann; Bedo, Zoltan; Charmet, Gilles; Beale, Michael H; Shewry, Peter R; Ward, Jane L

2012-05-30

This study examined the environmental and genetic variation in methyl donor contents and compositions of 200 cereal genotypes. Glycine betaine, choline, and trigonelline contents were determined by (1)H NMR, and significant differences were observed between cereal types (G) and across harvesting years and growing locations (E). Glycine betaine was the most abundant methyl donor in all of the 200 lines grown on a single site, and concentrations ranged from 0.43 ± 0.09 mg/g dm in oats to 2.57 ± 0.25 mg/g dm in diploid Einkorn varieties. In bread wheat genotypes there was a 3-fold difference in glycine betaine content. Choline contents, in the same lines, were substantially lower, and mean concentrations ranged from 0.17 mg/g dm in oats to 0.27 mg/g dm in durum wheat. Trigonelline was by far the least abundant of the methyl donors studied. Despite this, however, there were large differences between cereal types. Twenty-six wheat genotypes were grown in additional years at four European locations. The average glycine betaine content was highest in grains grown in Hungary and lowest in those grown in the United Kingdom. Across the six environments, there was a 3.8-fold difference in glycine betaine content. Glycine betaine levels, although moderately heritable (0.36), were found to be the most susceptible to the environmental conditions. Free choline concentrations were less variable across genotypes, but heritability of this component was the lowest of all methyl donor components (0.25) and showed a high G × E interaction. Trigonelline showed the most variation due to genotype. Heritability of this metabolite was the highest (0.59), but given that it is at a very low concentration in wheat, it is probably not attractive to plant breeders.

Betaine enhances antidepressant-like, but blocks psychotomimetic effects of ketamine in mice.

PubMed

Lin, Jen-Cheng; Lee, Mei-Yi; Chan, Ming-Huan; Chen, Yi-Chyan; Chen, Hwei-Hsien

2016-09-01

Ketamine is emerging as a new hope against depression, but ketamine-associated psychotomimetic effects limit its clinical use. An adjunct therapy along with ketamine to alleviate its adverse effects and even potentiate the antidepressant effects might be an alternative strategy. Betaine, a methyl derivative of glycine and a dietary supplement, has been shown to have antidepressant-like effects and to act like a partial agonist at the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Accordingly, betaine might have potential to be an adjunct to ketamine treatment for depression. The antidepressant-like effects of ketamine and betaine were evaluated by forced swimming test and novelty suppressed feeding test in mice. Both betaine and ketamine produced antidepressant-like effects. Furthermore, we determined the effects of betaine on ketamine-induced antidepressant-like and psychotomimetic behaviors, motor incoordination, hyperlocomotor activity, and anesthesia. The antidepressant-like responses to betaine combined with ketamine were stronger than their individual effects. In contrast, ketamine-induced impairments in prepulse inhibition, novel object recognition test, social interaction, and rotarod test were remarkably attenuated, whereas ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion and loss of righting reflex were not affected by betaine. These findings revealed that betaine could enhance the antidepressant-like effects, yet block the psychotomimetic effects of ketamine, suggesting that betaine can be considered as an add-on therapy to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and suitable for the treatment of depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Homeostasis and catabolism of choline and glycine betaine: lessons from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PubMed

Wargo, Matthew J

2013-04-01

Most sequenced bacteria possess mechanisms to import choline and glycine betaine (GB) into the cytoplasm. The primary role of choline in bacteria appears to be as the precursor to GB, and GB is thought to primarily act as a potent osmoprotectant. Choline and GB may play accessory roles in shaping microbial communities, based on their limited availability and ability to enhance survival under stress conditions. Choline and GB enrichment near eukaryotes suggests a role in the chemical relationships between these two kingdoms, and some of these interactions have been experimentally demonstrated. While many bacteria can convert choline to GB for osmoprotection, a variety of soil- and water-dwelling bacteria have catabolic pathways for the multistep conversion of choline, via GB, to glycine and can thereby use choline and GB as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. In these choline catabolizers, the GB intermediate represents a metabolic decision point to determine whether GB is catabolized or stored as an osmo- and stress protectant. This minireview focuses on this decision point in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which aerobically catabolizes choline and can use GB as an osmoprotectant and a nutrient source. P. aeruginosa is an experimentally tractable and ecologically relevant model to study the regulatory pathways controlling choline and GB homeostasis in choline-catabolizing bacteria. The study of P. aeruginosa associations with eukaryotes and other bacteria also makes this a powerful model to study the impact of choline and GB, and their associated regulatory and catabolic pathways, on host-microbe and microbe-microbe relationships.

Homeostasis and Catabolism of Choline and Glycine Betaine: Lessons from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Most sequenced bacteria possess mechanisms to import choline and glycine betaine (GB) into the cytoplasm. The primary role of choline in bacteria appears to be as the precursor to GB, and GB is thought to primarily act as a potent osmoprotectant. Choline and GB may play accessory roles in shaping microbial communities, based on their limited availability and ability to enhance survival under stress conditions. Choline and GB enrichment near eukaryotes suggests a role in the chemical relationships between these two kingdoms, and some of these interactions have been experimentally demonstrated. While many bacteria can convert choline to GB for osmoprotection, a variety of soil- and water-dwelling bacteria have catabolic pathways for the multistep conversion of choline, via GB, to glycine and can thereby use choline and GB as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. In these choline catabolizers, the GB intermediate represents a metabolic decision point to determine whether GB is catabolized or stored as an osmo- and stress protectant. This minireview focuses on this decision point in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which aerobically catabolizes choline and can use GB as an osmoprotectant and a nutrient source. P. aeruginosa is an experimentally tractable and ecologically relevant model to study the regulatory pathways controlling choline and GB homeostasis in choline-catabolizing bacteria. The study of P. aeruginosa associations with eukaryotes and other bacteria also makes this a powerful model to study the impact of choline and GB, and their associated regulatory and catabolic pathways, on host-microbe and microbe-microbe relationships. PMID:23354714

Synergistic behavior of glycine betaine-urea mixture: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Narendra; Kishore, Nand

2013-09-01

Glycine betaine (GB) is one of the most important osmolyte which is known to stabilize proteins as well as counteract the denaturing effect of urea. There have been many studies indicating protein stabilization and counteraction of the effect of urea by GB. However, the exact mechanism of counteraction is still debated and is of important research interest. In this study, distribution functions, hydrogen bonds, and energetics were analysed to understand different interactions between GB and urea, and their solvation properties in presence of each other. The results show that in the GB-urea mixture, GB acted as a stronger osmolyte and urea became a weaker denaturing agent than its individual counterparts. The increase in the solvation of urea and GB in GB-urea mixture and their mutual interactions through hydrogen bonding and coulombic energy resulted in more involvement of GB and urea with solvent as well as with themselves. This might result in the increase of the exclusion of GB from protein surface and decrease in the protein-urea interactions in the mixture. This synergistic behavior might be the prime reason for the counteraction of denaturing effect of urea by GB.

Relationship of dimethylglycine, choline, and betaine with oxoproline in plasma of pregnant women and their newborn infants.

PubMed

Friesen, Russell W; Novak, Elizabeth M; Hasman, David; Innis, Sheila M

2007-12-01

Choline and glycine are inter-related through their roles in methyl metabolism. Choline is metabolized to betaine, which donates a methyl group to homocysteine to form methionine, also generating dimethylglycine, which is further metabolized to glycine. Choline is transported across the placenta and is higher in fetal than maternal plasma. Placental glycine transfer, however, is limited and poor glycine status has been suggested in preterm infants. Insufficient glycine for glutathione (GSH) synthesis results in increased metabolism of gamma-glutamyl cysteine to 5-oxoproline. We measured plasma 5-oxoproline as a metabolic indicator to address whether choline, via dimethylglycine, contributes physiologically relevant amounts of glycine in pregnancy. Blood was collected from healthy term pregnant women and their newborn infants at delivery (n = 46) and nonpregnant healthy women (n = 19) as a reference group. Plasma choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, homocysteine, methionine, and 5-oxoproline were quantified by HPLC-tandem MS. Plasma choline was 45% higher, but betaine was 63% lower and dimethylglycine was 28% lower in pregnant than nonpregnant women (P < 0.01). Higher white blood cell choline dehydrogenase messenger RNA levels in a random subset of pregnant (n = 8) than nonpregnant women (n = 7) (P < 0.01) suggest increased betaine and dimethylglycine turnover rather than decreased synthesis. Plasma choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine were higher (P < 0.001) in fetal plasma (36.4 +/- 13, 29.4 +/- 1.0, and 2.44 +/- 0.12 micromol/L, respectively) than maternal plasma (15.3 +/- 0.42, 14.1 +/- 0.6 and 1.81 +/- 0.12 micromol/L, respectively). Concentrations of 5-oxoproline and dimethylglycine were inversely (P < 0.05) correlated in maternal (Spearman rho = -0.35) and fetal plasma (Spearman rho = -0.32), suggesting that choline, via dimethylglycine, contributes glycine for GSH synthesis in human development.

The metabolism and biotechnological application of betaine in microorganism.

PubMed

Zou, Huibin; Chen, Ningning; Shi, Mengxun; Xian, Mo; Song, Yimin; Liu, Junhong

2016-05-01

Glycine betaine (betaine) is widely distributed in nature and can be found in many microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Due to its particular functions, many microorganisms utilize betaine as a functional chemical and have evolved different metabolic pathways for the biosynthesis and catabolism of betaine. As in animals and plants, the principle role of betaine is to protect microbial cells against drought, osmotic stress, and temperature stress. In addition, the role of betaine in methyl group metabolism has been observed in a variety of microorganisms. Recent studies have shown that betaine supplementation can improve the performance of microbial strains used for the fermentation of lactate, ethanol, lysine, pyruvate, and vitamin B12, during which betaine can act as stress protectant or methyl donor for the biosynthesis of structurally complex compounds. In this review, we summarize the transport, synthesis, catabolism, and functions of betaine in microorganisms and discuss potential engineering strategies that employ betaine as a methyl donor for the biosynthesis of complex secondary metabolites such as a variety of vitamins, coenzymes, and antibiotics. In conclusion, the biocompatibility, C/N ratio, abundance, and comprehensive metabolic information of betaine collectively indicate that this molecule has great potential for broad applications in microbial biotechnology.

Betaine chemistry, roles, and potential use in liver disease.

PubMed

Day, Christopher R; Kempson, Stephen A

2016-06-01

Betaine is the trimethyl derivative of glycine and is normally present in human plasma due to dietary intake and endogenous synthesis in liver and kidney. Betaine is utilized in the kidney primarily as an osmoprotectant, whereas in the liver its primary role is in metabolism as a methyl group donor. In both organs, a specific betaine transporter mediates cellular uptake of betaine from plasma. The abundance of both betaine and the betaine transporter in liver greatly exceeds that of other organs. The remarkable contributions of betaine to normal human and animal health are summarized together with a discussion of the mechanisms and potential beneficial effects of dietary betaine supplements on liver disease. A significant amount of data from animal models of liver disease indicates that administration of betaine can halt and even reverse progression of the disruption of liver function. Betaine is well-tolerated, inexpensive, effective over a wide range of doses, and is already used in livestock feeding practices. The accumulated data indicate that carefully controlled additional investigations in humans are merited. The focus should be on the long-term use of betaine in large patient populations with liver diseases characterized by development of fatty liver, especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biosynthetic pathways of glycinebetaine in Thalassiosira pseudonana; functional characterization of enzyme catalyzing three-step methylation of glycine.

PubMed

Kageyama, Hakuto; Tanaka, Yoshito; Takabe, Teruhiro

2018-06-01

Betaine (trimethylglycine) is an important compatible solute that accumulates in response to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. Biosynthetic pathways of betaine have been extensively studied, but it remains to be clarified on algae. A diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana CCMP1335 is an important component of marine ecosystems. Here we show that the genome sequence of Thalassiosira suggests the presence of two biosynthetic pathways for betaine, via three step methylation of glycine and via two step oxidation of choline. The choline oxidation via choline dehydrogenase was suggested and its sequential characteristics were analyzed. A candidate gene TpORF1 for glycine methylation encodes a protein consisted of 574 amino acids with two putative tandem repeat methyltransferase domains. The TpORF1 was expressed in E. coli, and the purified protein was shown to synthesize betaine via three step methylation of glycine and designated as TpGSDMT. The proteins containing C-terminal half or N-terminal half were expressed in E. coli and exhibited the methyl transferase activities with different substrate specificity for glycine, sarcosine and dimethylglycine. Upregulation of TpGSDMT transcription and betaine levels were observed at high salinity, suggesting the importance of TpGSDMT for salt tolerance in T. pseudonana cells. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

RNAi-directed downregulation of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (OsBADH1) results in decreased stress tolerance and increased oxidative markers without affecting glycine betaine biosynthesis in rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Tang, Wei; Sun, Jiaqi; Liu, Jia; Liu, Fangfang; Yan, Jun; Gou, Xiaojun; Lu, Bao-Rong; Liu, Yongsheng

2014-11-01

As an important osmoprotectant, glycine betaine (GB) plays an essential role in resistance to abiotic stress in a variety of organisms, including rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, GB content is too low to be detectable in rice, although rice genome possesses several orthologs coding for betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) involved in plant GB biosynthesis. Rice BADH1 (OsBADH1) has been shown to be targeted to peroxisome and its overexpression resulted in increased GB biosynthesis and tolerance to abiotic stress. In this study, we demonstrated a pivotal role of OsBADH1 in stress tolerance without altering GB biosynthesis capacity, using the RNA interference (RNAi) technique. OsBADH1 was ubiquitously expressed in different organs, including roots, stems, leaves and flowers. Transgenic rice lines downregulating OsBADH1 exhibited remarkably reduced tolerance to NaCl, drought and cold stresses. The decrease of stress tolerance occurring in the OsBADH1-RNAi repression lines was associated with an elevated level of malondialdehyde content and hydrogen peroxidation. No GB accumulation was detected in transgene-positive and transgene-negative lines derived from heterozygous transgenic T0 plants. Moreover, transgenic OsBADH1-RNAi repression lines showed significantly reduced seed set and yield. In conclusion, the downregulation of OsBADH1, even though not causing any change of GB content, was accounted for the reduction of ability to dehydrogenate the accumulating metabolism-derived aldehydes and subsequently resulted in decreased stress tolerance and crop productivity. These results suggest that OsBADH1 possesses an enzyme activity to catalyze other aldehydes in addition to betaine aldehyde (the precursor of GB) and thus alleviate their toxic effects under abiotic stresses.

Potential nutritional and physiological functions of betaine in livestock.

PubMed

Eklund, M; Bauer, E; Wamatu, J; Mosenthin, R

2005-06-01

The present review summarises the potential nutritional and physiological functions of betaine as a feed additive in relation to performance criteria in livestock production. Betaine, the trimethyl derivative of the amino acid glycine, is a metabolite of plant and animal tissues. In plants, betaine is particularly synthesised and accumulated as an osmoprotectant against salt and temperature stress. In animals, betaine is the product of choline oxidation or it originates from nutritional sources. Over the past decades, numerous studies have been carried out to investigate the potential effects of betaine supplementation on animal performance. Due to its chemical structure, betaine shows the characteristics of a dipolar zwitterion resulting in osmoprotective properties. Promoting effects on the intestinal tract against osmotic stress occurring during diarrhoea or coccidiosis have been reported following betaine supplementation in pigs and poultry. There is also some evidence that dietary betaine may improve the digestibility of specific nutrients. As a product of choline oxidation, betaine is involved in transmethylation reactions of the organism. Betaine as a methyl donor provides its labile methyl groups for the synthesis of several metabolically active substances such as creatine and carnitine. Supplementation with betaine may decrease the requirement for other methyl donors such as methionine and choline. There is also some evidence for enhanced methionine availability after dietary supplementation of betaine resulting in improved animal performance. Alterations in the distribution pattern of protein and fat in the body have been reported following betaine supplementation. A more efficient use of dietary protein may result from a methionine-sparing effect of betaine, but also direct interactions of betaine with metabolism-regulating factors have to be considered. Though the mode of action of betaine as a carcass modifier remains open, there is, however, growing

Suppressed expression of choline monooxygenase in sugar beet on the accumulation of glycine betaine.

PubMed

Yamada, Nana; Takahashi, Hiroyuki; Kitou, Kunihide; Sahashi, Kosuke; Tamagake, Hideto; Tanaka, Yoshito; Takabe, Teruhiro

2015-11-01

Glycine betaine (GB) is an important osmoprotectant and synthesized by two-step oxidation of choline. Choline monooxygenase (CMO) catalyzes the first step of the pathway and is believed to be a rate limiting step for GB synthesis. Recent studies have shown the importance of choline-precursor supply for GB synthesis. In order to investigate the role of CMO for GB accumulation in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), transgenic plants carrying the antisense BvCMO gene were developed. The antisense BvCMO plants showed the decreased activity of GB synthesis from choline compared to wild-type (WT) plants which is well related to the suppressed level of BvCMO protein. However, GB contents were similar between transgenic and WT plants with the exception of young leaves and storage roots. Transgenic plants showed enhanced susceptibility to salt stress than WT plants. These results suggest the importance of choline-precursor-supply for GB accumulation, and young leaves and storage root are sensitive sites for GB accumulation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Liposome-like nanocapsules of dual drug-tailed betaine for cancer therapy.

PubMed

Fang, Shuo; Niu, Yuge; Zhang, Wei; Zhang, Yemin; Yu, Liangli; Zhang, Yingyi; Li, Xinsong

2015-09-30

A novel dual drug-tailed betaine conjugate amphiphile has been firstly synthesized in which the polar headgroup is derived from glycine betaine and the hydrophobic tails are chlorambucil molecules. The newly prepared conjugate undergoes self-assembly to form stable liposome-like nanocapsules as an effective carrier with high drug loading capacity. The nanocapsules showed higher cytotoxic effects to cancer cell lines than those of free chlorambucil in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth effectively in vivo. This strategy that utilizes new dual drug-tailed betaine conjugate amphiphile to construct a self-assembled nanoparticle drug delivery system may have great potential in cancer chemotherapy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Betaine in sub-acute and sub-chronic rat studies.

PubMed

Hayes, K C; Pronczuk, Andrzej; Cook, Melvyn W; Robbins, Mark C

2003-12-01

To evaluate the sub-acute and sub-chronic effect of large doses of betaine, this trimethyl glycine compound was fed to rats. Initial studies at BIBRA in the UK evaluated intakes of 0, 1, 2, and 5% betaine added to a maintenance chow designed for use in toxicology studies. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were followed for up to 90 days. No toxicity occurred, but at higher betaine intakes several serum chemistries were altered slightly, the MCV, MCH, and MCHC of red cells were reduced, and hepatocytes developed fatty droplets in direct proportion to betaine intake. Females were more affected than males. In a second study to assess reversibility in females, betaine effects were induced for 28 days, followed by a 28 day betaine-free period. All perturbations, except the reduced MCV and MCH, were reversed. As a follow up to BIBRA investigations, both 28 and 90 day feeding trials were conducted at Brandeis University using a rat chow with higher levels of energy, protein, and fat, with betaine added at 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 5.0% of the diet. A similar broad range of clinical chemistries and physiological parameters were monitored, and hepatic lipid droplets were investigated in more detail. Liver lipid was actually reduced by betaine, and no significant adverse effects of clinical importance resulted from any dose. However, the MCV was again reduced at 5% betaine in the 28 day study. By 90 days all parameters were normal and comparable to controls. Based on these collective data, it was concluded that even at these high doses, betaine is nontoxic. Differences observed between the BIBRA and Brandeis studies were attributed to differences in the dietary formulations. Significant betainexdietxgrowth interactions were thought to reflect primary disparities in protein and energy concentrations, more than the addition of betaine per se.

Dielectric and structural properties of ferroelectric betaine arsenate films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balashova, E. V.; Krichevtsov, B. B.; Zaitseva, N. V.; Yurko, E. I.; Svinarev, F. B.

2014-12-01

Ferroelectric films of betaine arsenate and partially deuterated betaine arsenate have been grown by evaporation on LiNbO3, α-Al2O3, and NdGaO3 substrates with a preliminarily deposited structure of interdigitated electrodes, as well as on the Al/glass substrate. This paper presents the results of the examination of the block structure of the films in a polarizing microscope, the X-ray diffraction analysis of their crystal structure, and the investigation of the dielectric properties in a measuring field oriented both parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the film. The transition of the films to the ferroelectric state at T = T c is accompanied by anomalies of the capacitance of the structure, an increase in the dielectric loss, and the appearance of dielectric hysteresis loops. The growth of the films from a solution of betaine arsenate in a heavy water leads to an increase in the ferroelectric transition temperature from T c = 119 K in the films without deuterium to T c = 149 K, which corresponds to the degree of deuteration of approximately 60-70%. The dielectric and structural properties of the films are compared with those of the betaine arsenate single crystals and the previously studied films of betaine phosphite and glycine phosphite.

Comparative study of urea and betaine solutions by dielectric spectroscopy: liquid structures of a protein denaturant and stabilizer.

PubMed

Hayashi, Yoshihito; Katsumoto, Yoichi; Oshige, Ikuya; Omori, Shinji; Yasuda, Akio

2007-10-11

We performed dielectric spectroscopy measurements on aqueous solutions of glycine betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine), which is known to be a strong stabilizer of globular proteins, over a wide concentration range (3-62 wt %) and compared the results with our previously published data for aqueous solutions of urea, a representative protein denaturant. The hydration number of betaine (9), calculated on the basis of the reduction in the dielectric relaxation strength of bulk water with addition of betaine, is significantly larger than that of urea (2). Furthermore, the dielectric relaxation time increased with betaine concentration, while that remained nearly constant for the urea-water system over a wide concentration range. This difference between urea and betaine is probably related to their opposite effects on the protein stabilization.

Na+-dependent and Na+-independent betaine transport across the apical membrane of rat renal epithelium.

PubMed

Cano, Mercedes; Calonge, María L; Ilundáin, Anunciación A

2015-10-01

The low renal excretion of betaine indicates that the kidney efficiently reabsorbs the betaine filtered by the glomeruli but the mechanisms involved in such a process have been scarcely investigated. We have detected concentrative and non-concentrative betaine transport activity in brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from rat renal cortex and medulla. The concentrative system is the Sodium/Imino-acid Transporter 1 (SIT1) because it is Na+- and Cl--dependent, electrogenic and is inhibited by an anti-SIT1 antibody. Its apparent affinity constant for betaine, Kt, is 1.1±0.5 mM and its maximal transport velocity, Vmax, 0.5±0.1 nmol betaine/mg protein/s. Inhibitors of the Na+/Cl-/betaine uptake are L-proline (75%) and cold betaine, L-carnitine and choline (40-60%). Neither creatine, TEA, taurine, β-alanine, GABA nor glycine significantly inhibited Na+/Cl-/betaine uptake. The non-concentrative betaine transport system is Na+- and H+-independent, electroneutral, with a Kt for betaine of 47±7 μM and a Vmax of 7.8±1 pmol betaine/mg protein/s. Its transport activity is nearly abolished by betaine, followed by L-carnitine (70-80%) and proline (40-50%), but a difference from the Na+/Cl-/betaine transport is that it is inhibited by TEA (approx. 50%) and unaffected by choline. The underlying carrier functions as an antiporter linking betaine entry into the BBMV with the efflux of either L-carnitine or betaine, an exchange unaffected by the anti-SIT1 antibody. As far as we know this is the first work reporting that betaine crosses the apical membrane of rat renal epithelium by SIT1 and by a Na+- and H+-independent transport system. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization and Regulation of the Osmolyte Betaine Synthesizing Enzymes GSMT and SDMT from Halophilic Methanogen Methanohalophilus portucalensis

PubMed Central

Lai, Shu-Jung; Lai, Mei-Chin

2011-01-01

The halophilic methanoarchaeon Methanohalophilus portucalensis can synthesize the osmolyte betaine de novo in response to extracellular salt stress. Betaine is generated by the stepwise methylation of glycine to form sarcosine, N, N-dimethylglycine and betaine by using S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) as the methyl donor. The complete gene cluster of Mpgsmt-sdmt was cloned from Southern hybridization and heterologous expressed in E. coli respectively. The recombinant MpGSMT and MpSDMT both retained their in vivo functional activities in E. coli BL21(DE3)RIL to synthesize and accumulate betaine and conferred elevated survival ability in betaine transport deficient mutant E. coli MKH13 under high salt stress. The dramatic activating effects of sodium and potassium ions on the in vitro methyltransferase activities of MpGSMT, but not MpSDMT or bacterial GSMT and SDMT, revealed that GSMT from halophilic methanoarchaeon possesses novel regulate mechanism in betaine biosynthesis pathway. The circular dichroism spectra showed the fluctuated peaks at 206 nm were detected in the MpGSMT under various concentrations of potassium or sodium ions. This fluctuated difference may cause by a change in the β-turn structure located at the conserved glycine- and sarcosine-binding residue Arg167 of MpGSMT. The analytical ultracentrifugation analysis indicated that the monomer MpGSMT switched to dimeric form increased from 7.6% to 70% with KCl concentration increased from 0 to 2.0 M. The level of potassium and sodium ions may modulate the substrate binding activity of MpGSMT through the conformational change. Additionally, MpGSMT showed a strong end product, betaine, inhibitory effect and was more sensitive to the inhibitor AdoHcy. The above results indicated that the first enzymatic step involved in synthesizing the osmolyte betaine in halophilic archaea, namely, GSMT, may also play a major role in coupling the salt-in and compatible solute (osmolyte) osmoadaptative strategies in

Interactions of glycine betaine with proteins: insights from volume and compressibility measurements.

PubMed

Shek, Yuen Lai; Chalikian, Tigran V

2013-01-29

We report the first application of volume and compressibility measurements to characterization of interactions between cosolvents (osmolytes) and globular proteins. Specifically, we measure the partial molar volumes and adiabatic compressibilities of cytochrome c, ribonuclease A, lysozyme, and ovalbumin in aqueous solutions of the stabilizing osmolyte glycine betaine (GB) at concentrations between 0 and 4 M. The fact that globular proteins do not undergo any conformational transitions in the presence of GB provides an opportunity to study the interactions of GB with proteins in their native states within the entire range of experimentally accessible GB concentrations. We analyze our resulting volumetric data within the framework of a statistical thermodynamic model in which each instance of GB interaction with a protein is viewed as a binding reaction that is accompanied by release of four water molecules. From this analysis, we calculate the association constants, k, as well as changes in volume, ΔV(0), and adiabatic compressibility, ΔK(S0), accompanying each GB-protein association event in an ideal solution. By comparing these parameters with similar characteristics determined for low-molecular weight analogues of proteins, we conclude that there are no significant cooperative effects involved in interactions of GB with any of the proteins studied in this work. We also evaluate the free energies of direct GB-protein interactions. The energetic properties of GB-protein association appear to scale with the size of the protein. For all proteins, the highly favorable change in free energy associated with direct protein-cosolvent interactions is nearly compensated by an unfavorable free energy of cavity formation (excluded volume effect), yielding a modestly unfavorable free energy for the transfer of a protein from water to a GB/water mixture.

Mechanistic insights into osmolyte action in protein stabilization under harsh conditions: N-methylacetamide in glycine betaine-urea mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Narendra; Kishore, Nand

2014-10-01

Glycine betaine (GB), a small naturally occurring osmolyte, stabilizes proteins and counteracts harsh denaturing conditions such as extremes of temperature, cellular dehydration, and presence of high concentration of urea. In spite of several studies on understanding mechanism of protein stabilization and counteraction of these harsh conditions by osmolytes, studies centred on GB, one of the most important osmolyte, are scarce, hence, there is need for more investigations. To explore mechanism of protein stabilization and counteraction of denaturing property of urea by GB, molecular dynamics studies of N-methylacetamide (NMA), a model peptide representing denatured state of a protein, in the presence of GB, urea, and GB-urea mixture were carried out. The results show that GB and urea work such that the strength of GB as a protecting osmolyte is increased and the denaturing ability of urea is decreased in the GB-urea mixture. It can be inferred that GB counteracts urea by decreasing its hydrophobic interactions with proteins. The mutual interactions between GB and urea also play an important role in protein stabilization. This study provides insights on osmolyte induced counteraction of denaturing property of urea.

Betaine deficiency in maize

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lerma, C.; Rich, P.J.; Ju, G.C.

1991-04-01

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a betaine-accumulating species, but certain maize genotypes lack betaine almost completely; a single recessive gene has been implicated as the cause of this deficiency. This study was undertaken to determine whether betaine deficiency in diverse maize germplasm is conditioned by the same genetic locus, and to define the biochemical lesion(s) involved. Complementation tests indicated that all 13 deficient genotypes tested shared a common locus. One maize population (P77) was found to be segregating for betaine deficiency, and true breeding individuals were used to produce related lines with and without betaine. Leaf tissue of both betaine-positivemore » and betaine-deficient lines readily converted supplied betaine aldehyde to betaine, but only the betaine-containing line was able to oxidize supplied choline to betaine. This locates the lesion in betaine-deficient plants at the choline {r arrow} betaine aldehyde step of betaine synthesis. Consistent with this location, betaine-deficient plants were shown to have no detectable endogenous pool of betaine aldehyde.« less

Effects of betaine on lipopolysaccharide-induced memory impairment in mice and the involvement of GABA transporter 2

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Betaine (glycine betaine or trimethylglycine) plays important roles as an osmolyte and a methyl donor in animals. While betaine is reported to suppress expression of proinflammatory molecules and reduce oxidative stress in aged rat kidney, the effects of betaine on the central nervous system are not well known. In this study, we investigated the effects of betaine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced memory impairment and on mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory molecules, glial markers, and GABA transporter 2 (GAT2), a betaine/GABA transporter. Methods Mice were continuously treated with betaine for 13 days starting 1 day before they were injected with LPS, or received subacute or acute administration of betaine shortly before or after LPS injection. Then, their memory function was evaluated using Y-maze and novel object recognition tests 7 and 10-12 days after LPS injection (30 μg/mouse, i.c.v.), respectively. In addition, mRNA expression levels in hippocampus were measured by real-time RT-PCR at different time points. Results Repeated administration of betaine (0.163 mmol/kg, s.c.) prevented LPS-induced memory impairment. GAT2 mRNA levels were significantly increased in hippocampus 24 hr after LPS injection, and administration of betaine blocked this increase. However, betaine did not affect LPS-induced increases in levels of mRNA related to inflammatory responses. Both subacute administration (1 hr before, and 1 and 24 hr after LPS injection) and acute administration (1 hr after LPS injection) of betaine also prevented LPS-induced memory impairment in the Y-maze test. Conclusions These data suggest that betaine has protective effects against LPS-induced memory impairment and that prevention of LPS-induced changes in GAT2 mRNA expression is crucial to this ameliorating effect. PMID:22053950

Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase expression during physiological cardiac hypertrophy induced by pregnancy.

PubMed

Rosas-Rodríguez, Jesús Alfredo; Soñanez-Organis, José Guadalupe; Godoy-Lugo, José Arquimides; Espinoza-Salazar, Juan Alberto; López-Jacobo, Cesar Jeravy; Stephens-Camacho, Norma Aurora; González-Ochoa, Guadalupe

2017-08-26

Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (betaine aldehyde: NAD(P) + oxidoreductase, (E.C. 1.2.1.8; BADH) catalyze the irreversible oxidation of betaine aldehyde (BA) to glycine betaine (GB) and is essential for polyamine catabolism, γ-aminobutyric acid synthesis, and carnitine biosynthesis. GB is an important osmolyte that regulates the homocysteine levels, contributing to a vascular risk factor reduction. In this sense, distinct investigations describe the physiological roles of GB, but there is a lack of information about the GB novo synthesis process and regulation during cardiac hypertrophy induced by pregnancy. In this work, the BADH mRNA expression, protein level, and activity were quantified in the left ventricle before, during, and after pregnancy. The mRNA expression, protein content and enzyme activity along with GB content of BADH increased 2.41, 1.95 and 1.65-fold respectively during late pregnancy compared to not pregnancy, and returned to basal levels at postpartum. Besides, the GB levels increased 1.53-fold during pregnancy and remain at postpartum. Our results demonstrate that physiological cardiac hypertrophy induced BADH mRNA expression and activity along with GB production, suggesting that BADH participates in the adaptation process of physiological cardiac hypertrophy during pregnancy, according to the described GB role in cellular osmoregulation, osmoprotection and reduction of vascular risk. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Betaine Deficiency in Maize 1

PubMed Central

Lerma, Claudia; Rich, Patrick J.; Ju, Grace C.; Yang, Wen-Ju; Hanson, Andrew D.; Rhodes, David

1991-01-01

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a betaine-accumulating species, but certain maize genotypes lack betaine almost completely; a single recessive gene has been implicated as the cause of this deficiency (D Rhodes, PJ Rich [1988] Plant Physiol 88: 102-108). This study was undertaken to determine whether betaine deficiency in diverse maize germplasm is conditioned by the same genetic locus, and to define the biochemical lesion(s) involved. Complementation tests indicated that all 13 deficient genotypes tested shared a common locus. One maize population (P77) was found to be segregating for betaine deficiency, and true breeding individuals were used to produce related lines with and without betaine. Leaf tissue of both betaine-positive and betaine-deficient lines readily converted supplied betaine aldehyde to betaine, but only the betaine-containing line was able to oxidize supplied choline to betaine. This locates the lesion in betaine-deficient plants at the choline → betaine aldehyde step of betaine synthesis. Consistent with this location, betaine-deficient plants were shown to have no detectable endogenous pool of betaine aldehyde. PMID:16668098

Reversible, partial inactivation of plant betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase by betaine aldehyde: mechanism and possible physiological implications.

PubMed

Zárate-Romero, Andrés; Murillo-Melo, Darío S; Mújica-Jiménez, Carlos; Montiel, Carmina; Muñoz-Clares, Rosario A

2016-04-01

In plants, the last step in the biosynthesis of the osmoprotectant glycine betaine (GB) is the NAD(+)-dependent oxidation of betaine aldehyde (BAL) catalysed by some aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 10 enzymes that exhibit betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) activity. Given the irreversibility of the reaction, the short-term regulation of these enzymes is of great physiological relevance to avoid adverse decreases in the NAD(+):NADH ratio. In the present study, we report that the Spinacia oleracea BADH (SoBADH) is reversibly and partially inactivated by BAL in the absence of NAD(+)in a time- and concentration-dependent mode. Crystallographic evidence indicates that the non-essential Cys(450)(SoBADH numbering) forms a thiohemiacetal with BAL, totally blocking the productive binding of the aldehyde. It is of interest that, in contrast to Cys(450), the catalytic cysteine (Cys(291)) did not react with BAL in the absence of NAD(+) The trimethylammonium group of BAL binds in the same position in the inactivating or productive modes. Accordingly, BAL does not inactivate the C(450)SSoBADH mutant and the degree of inactivation of the A(441)I and A(441)C mutants corresponds to their very different abilities to bind the trimethylammonium group. Cys(450)and the neighbouring residues that participate in stabilizing the thiohemiacetal are strictly conserved in plant ALDH10 enzymes with proven or predicted BADH activity, suggesting that inactivation by BAL is their common feature. Under osmotic stress conditions, this novel partial and reversible covalent regulatory mechanism may contribute to preventing NAD(+)exhaustion, while still permitting the synthesis of high amounts of GB and avoiding the accumulation of the toxic BAL. © 2016 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited.

Biosynthesis and accumulation of osmoprotective compounds by halophytic plants of the genus Limonium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, A.D.; Rathinasabapathi, B.; Gage, D.A.

1991-05-01

Analyses of quaternary ammonium compounds in leaf and root tissues of halophytic Limonium spp. using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry revealed that only 3 out of 21 spp. accumulated glycine betaine, the common angiosperm osmolyte. The 18 other spp. accumulated {beta}-alanine betaine instead. However, all the Limonium spp. studied accumulated choline-O-sulfate and their leaf disks metabolized ({sup 14}C) choline to choline-O-sulfate. Only the glycine betaine accumulators oxidized ({sup 14}C) choline to glycine betaine and only {beta}-alanine betaine accumulators converted {beta}-({sup 14}C)alanine to {beta}-alanine betaine. When {beta}-alanine betaine and glycine betaine accumulators were salinized with NaCl, the levels of their respectivemore » betaines and of choline sulfate were closely correlated with solute potential. Glycine betaine accumulators had less choline-O-sulfate than {beta}-alanine betaine accumulators and increasing the SO{sub 4}{sup 2}/Cl ratio in the medium increased choline-O-sulfate and caused a matching decrease in glycine betaine. Thus, it appears that {beta}-alanine betaine has replaced glycine betaine in most members of this genus, eliminating a possible competition between glycine betaine and choline-O-sulfate for choline.« less

Regulated partitioning of fixed carbon (14C), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and glycine betaine determined salinity stress tolerance of gamma irradiated pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp].

PubMed

Kumar, Pankaj; Sharma, Vasundhara; Atmaram, Chobhe Kapil; Singh, Bhupinder

2017-03-01

Soil salinity is a major constraint that limits legume productivity. Pigeonpea is a salt sensitive crop. Seed gamma irradiation at a very low dose (2.5 Gy) is known to enhance seedling establishment, plant growth and yield of cereals and other crops. The present study conducted using two genetically diverse varieties of pigeonpea viz., Pusa-991 and Pusa-992 aimed at establishing the role of pre-sowing seed gamma irradiation at 0, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 kGy on plant growth, seed yield and seed quality under salt stress at 0, 80 and 100 mM NaCl (soil solution EC equivalent 1.92, 5.86 and 8.02 dS/m, respectively) imposed right from the beginning of the experiment. Changes in carbon flow dynamics between shoot and root and concentration of osmolyte, glycine betaine, plant uptake and shoot and root partitioning of Na + and K + and activity of protein degrading enzyme protease were measured under the combined effect of gamma irradiation and salt stress. Positive affect of pre-sowing exposure of seed to low dose of gamma irradiation (<0.01 kGy) under salt stress was evident in pigeonpea. Pigeonpea variety, Pusa-992 showed a better salt tolerance response than Pusa-991 and that the radiated plants performed better than the unirradiated plants even at increasing salinity level. Seed yield and seed protein and iron content were also positively affected by the low dose gamma irradiation under NaCl stress. Multiple factors interacted to determine physiological salt tolerance response of pigeonpea varieties. Gamma irradiation caused a favourable alteration in the source-sink (shoot-root) partitioning of recently fixed carbon ( 14 C) under salt stress in pigeonpea. Gamma irradiation of seeds prior to sowing enhanced glycine betaine content and reduced protease activity at 60-day stage under various salt stress regimes. Lower partitioning of Na + and relatively higher accumulation of K + under irradiation treatment was the other important determinants that

Osmosensor and osmoregulator properties of the betaine carrier BetP from Corynebacterium glutamicum in proteoliposomes.

PubMed

Rübenhagen, R; Rönsch, H; Jung, H; Krämer, R; Morbach, S

2000-01-14

The secondary glycine betaine uptake system BetP of Corynebacterium glutamicum was purified from Escherichia coli membranes in strep-tagged form after heterologous expression of the betP gene and was reconstituted in E. coli lipids. BetP retained its kinetic properties (V(max) and K(m) for betaine and Na(+)) as compared with intact cells. The influence of driving forces (Na(+) gradient and/or electrical potential) on betaine uptake was quantified in proteoliposomes. BetP was effectively regulated by the external osmolality and was stimulated by the local anesthetic tetracaine. A shift of the optimum of osmotic stimulation to higher osmolalities was linearly correlated with an increasing share of phosphatidyl glycerol, the major lipid of the C. glutamicum plasma membrane in the E. coli lipid proteoliposomes. This finding correlates with results demonstrating an identical shift when betP was expressed in E. coli instead of C. glutamicum. These data indicate that (i) BetP comprises all elements of osmosensing and osmoregulatory mechanisms of betaine uptake, (ii) osmoregulation of BetP is directly related to protein/membrane interactions, (iii) the turgor pressure presumably plays no major role in osmoregulation of BetP, and (iv) the regulatory properties of BetP may be related to the physical state of the surrounding membrane.

Cereal foods are the major source of betaine in the Western diet--analysis of betaine and free choline in cereal foods and updated assessments of betaine intake.

PubMed

Ross, Alastair B; Zangger, Alicia; Guiraud, Seu Ping

2014-02-15

Betaine and its precursor choline are important components of one-carbon metabolism, remethylating homocysteine into methionine and providing methyl groups for DNA methylation. Cereals are the main source of betaine in the diet, though there is little literature available on the content of betaine in cereal products, nor on betaine intake from cereals. Betaine and free-choline concentrations were measured by liquid-chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in a wide range of commercially available cereal foods and cereal fractions. Whole grain wheat and related fractions were the best overall common source of betaine, while the pseudocereal quinoa had the highest amount of betaine measured (3900 μg/g). Based on estimates of dietary intake data cereal foods provide approximately 60-67% of betaine in Western diets, and 20-40% of betaine in South-East Asian diets. Average intake of betaine was 131 mg/d, well below those used in intervention studies using betaine to lower blood homocysteine. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biochemical diversity of betaines in earthworms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liebeke, Manuel; Bundy, Jacob G., E-mail: j.bundy@imperial.ac.uk

2013-01-25

Highlights: ► We develop a method for rapid untargetted analysis of betaines. ► We profile betaines in a comparative study of ten earthworm species. ► Earthworms contain a surprisingly high number of different betaine metabolites. ► Earthworms contain betaines normally seen only in plants or marine animals. -- Abstract: The ability to accumulate osmoprotectant compounds, such as betaines, is an important evolutionary feature in many organisms. This is particularly the case for organisms that live in variable environments, which may have fluctuations in moisture and salinity levels. There is, surprisingly, very little known about betaines in soil invertebrates in general,more » and there is almost no information about earthworms – a group that are important ‘ecosystem engineers’ and key indicators of soil health. Here, we describe a fast and reliable {sup 1}H–{sup 13}C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) 2D NMR approach for the metabolic profiling of a series of betaines and related metabolites in tissue extracts, and list {sup 1}H and {sup 13}C chemical shifts for the trimethylammonium signal for 23 such compounds. The analysis of ten different species from three different families (Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae and Glossoscolecidae) showed an unexpected diversity of betaines present in earthworms. In total ten betaines were identified, including hydroxyproline-betaine, proline-betaine, taurine-betaine, GABA-betaine and histidine-betaine, and a further eleven as-yet unassigned putative betaine metabolites detected. The findings clearly indicate a hitherto-unappreciated important role for betaine metabolism in earthworms.« less

High homocysteine induces betaine depletion

PubMed Central

Imbard, Apolline; Benoist, Jean-François; Esse, Ruben; Gupta, Sapna; Lebon, Sophie; de Vriese, An S; de Baulny, Helene Ogier; Kruger, Warren; Schiff, Manuel; Blom, Henk J.

2015-01-01

Betaine is the substrate of the liver- and kidney-specific betaine-homocysteine (Hcy) methyltransferase (BHMT), an alternate pathway for Hcy remethylation. We hypothesized that BHMT is a major pathway for homocysteine removal in cases of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy). Therefore, we measured betaine in plasma and tissues from patients and animal models of HHcy of genetic and acquired cause. Plasma was collected from patients presenting HHcy without any Hcy interfering treatment. Plasma and tissues were collected from rat models of HHcy induced by diet and from a mouse model of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency. S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet), S-adenosyl-homocysteine (AdoHcy), methionine, betaine and dimethylglycine (DMG) were quantified by ESI—LC–MS/MS. mRNA expression was quantified using quantitative real-time (QRT)-PCR. For all patients with diverse causes of HHcy, plasma betaine concentrations were below the normal values of our laboratory. In the diet-induced HHcy rat model, betaine was decreased in all tissues analysed (liver, brain, heart). In the mouse CBS deficiency model, betaine was decreased in plasma, liver, heart and brain, but was conserved in kidney. Surprisingly, BHMT expression and activity was decreased in liver. However, in kidney, BHMT and SLC6A12 expression was increased in CBS-deficient mice. Chronic HHcy, irrespective of its cause, induces betaine depletion in plasma and tissues (liver, brain and heart), indicating a global decrease in the body betaine pool. In kidney, betaine concentrations were not affected, possibly due to overexpression of the betaine transporter SLC6A12 where betaine may be conserved because of its crucial role as an osmolyte. PMID:26182429

High homocysteine induces betaine depletion.

PubMed

Imbard, Apolline; Benoist, Jean-François; Esse, Ruben; Gupta, Sapna; Lebon, Sophie; de Vriese, An S; de Baulny, Helene Ogier; Kruger, Warren; Schiff, Manuel; Blom, Henk J

2015-04-28

Betaine is the substrate of the liver- and kidney-specific betaine-homocysteine (Hcy) methyltransferase (BHMT), an alternate pathway for Hcy remethylation. We hypothesized that BHMT is a major pathway for homocysteine removal in cases of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy). Therefore, we measured betaine in plasma and tissues from patients and animal models of HHcy of genetic and acquired cause. Plasma was collected from patients presenting HHcy without any Hcy interfering treatment. Plasma and tissues were collected from rat models of HHcy induced by diet and from a mouse model of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency. S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet), S-adenosyl-homocysteine (AdoHcy), methionine, betaine and dimethylglycine (DMG) were quantified by ESI-LC-MS/MS. mRNA expression was quantified using quantitative real-time (QRT)-PCR. For all patients with diverse causes of HHcy, plasma betaine concentrations were below the normal values of our laboratory. In the diet-induced HHcy rat model, betaine was decreased in all tissues analysed (liver, brain, heart). In the mouse CBS deficiency model, betaine was decreased in plasma, liver, heart and brain, but was conserved in kidney. Surprisingly, BHMT expression and activity was decreased in liver. However, in kidney, BHMT and SLC6A12 expression was increased in CBS-deficient mice. Chronic HHcy, irrespective of its cause, induces betaine depletion in plasma and tissues (liver, brain and heart), indicating a global decrease in the body betaine pool. In kidney, betaine concentrations were not affected, possibly due to overexpression of the betaine transporter SLC6A12 where betaine may be conserved because of its crucial role as an osmolyte. © 2015 Author(s).

Heat-induced formation of mepiquat by decarboxylation of pipecolic acid and its betaine derivative. Part 1: Model system studies.

PubMed

Yuan, Yuan; Tarres, Adrienne; Bessaire, Thomas; Stadler, Richard H; Delatour, Thierry

2017-07-15

This study describes, for the first time, the role of pipecolic acid betaine and pipecolic acid, naturally present in some foods, in the formation of the plant growth regulator N,N-dimethylpiperidinium (mepiquat) under dry thermal conditions. The formation of mepiquat and intermediate compounds was investigated in model systems using high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mepiquat is released with a yield of up to 0.66mol% after thermal treatment (>150°C) of pipecolic acid betaine. Similar conversion rates are attained with the congener piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (dl-pipecolic acid), albeit in the presence of alkylating agents, such as choline, glycine betaine or trigonelline, that are fairly widespread in food crops. These new pathways to mepiquat indicate that the occurrence of low levels of this thermally induced compound is probably more widespread in processed foods than initially suspected (see Part 2 of this study on the occurrence of mepiquat in selected foodstuffs). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rice choline monooxygenase (OsCMO) protein functions in enhancing glycine betaine biosynthesis in transgenic tobacco but does not accumulate in rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica).

PubMed

Luo, Di; Niu, Xiangli; Yu, Jinde; Yan, Jun; Gou, Xiaojun; Lu, Bao-Rong; Liu, Yongsheng

2012-09-01

Glycine betaine (GB) is a compatible quaternary amine that enables plants to tolerate abiotic stresses, including salt, drought and cold. In plants, GB is synthesized through two-step of successive oxidations from choline, catalyzed by choline monooxygenase (CMO) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), respectively. Rice is considered as a typical non-GB accumulating species, although the entire genome sequencing revealed rice contains orthologs of both CMO and BADH. Several studies unraveled that rice has a functional BADH gene, but whether rice CMO gene (OsCMO) is functional or a pseudogene remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we report the functional characterization of rice CMO gene. The OsCMO gene was isolated from rice cv. Nipponbare (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) using RT-PCR. Northern blot demonstrated the transcription of OsCMO is enhanced by salt stress. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing OsCMO results in increased GB content and elevated tolerance to salt stress. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrates that a functional OsCMO protein with correct size was present in transgenic tobacco but rarely accumulated in wild-type rice plants. Surprisingly, a large amount of truncated proteins derived from OsCMO was induced in the rice seedlings in response to salt stresses. This suggests that it is the lack of a functional OsCMO protein that presumably results in non-GB accumulation in the tested rice plant. Expression and transgenic studies demonstrate OsCMO is transcriptionally induced in response to salt stress and functions in increasing glycinebetaine accumulation and enhancing tolerance to salt stress. Immunoblotting analysis suggests that no accumulation of glycinebetaine in the Japonica rice plant presumably results from lack of a functional OsCMO protein.

Choline but not its derivative betaine blocks slow vacuolar channels in the halophyte Chenopodium quinoa: implications for salinity stress responses.

PubMed

Pottosin, Igor; Bonales-Alatorre, Edgar; Shabala, Sergey

2014-11-03

Activity of tonoplast slow vacuolar (SV, or TPC1) channels has to be under a tight control, to avoid undesirable leak of cations stored in the vacuole. This is particularly important for salt-grown plants, to ensure efficient vacuolar Na(+) sequestration. In this study we show that choline, a cationic precursor of glycine betaine, efficiently blocks SV channels in leaf and root vacuoles of the two chenopods, Chenopodium quinoa (halophyte) and Beta vulgaris (glycophyte). At the same time, betaine and proline, two major cytosolic organic osmolytes, have no significant effect on SV channel activity. Physiological implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Betaine improves nonalcoholic fatty liver and associated hepatic insulin resistance: a potential mechanism for hepatoprotection by betaine

PubMed Central

Kathirvel, Elango; Morgan, Kengathevy; Nandgiri, Ganesh; Sandoval, Brian C.; Caudill, Marie A.; Bottiglieri, Teodoro; French, Samuel W.

2010-01-01

Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is a common liver disease, associated with insulin resistance. Betaine has been tested as a treatment for NAFL in animal models and in small clinical trials, with mixed results. The present study aims to determine whether betaine treatment would prevent or treat NAFL in mice and to understand how betaine reverses hepatic insulin resistance. Male mice were fed a moderate high-fat diet (mHF) containing 20% of calories from fat for 7 (mHF) or 8 (mHF8) mo without betaine, with betaine (mHFB), or with betaine for the last 6 wk (mHF8B). Control mice were fed standard chow containing 9% of calories from fat for 7 mo (SF) or 8 mo (SF8). HepG2 cells were made insulin resistant and then studied with or without betaine. mHF mice had higher body weight, fasting glucose, insulin, and triglycerides and greater hepatic fat than SF mice. Betaine reduced fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and hepatic fat. In the mHF8B group, betaine treatment significantly improved insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Hepatic betaine content significantly decreased in mHF and increased significantly in mHFB. Betaine treatment reversed the inhibition of hepatic insulin signaling in mHF and in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, including normalization of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) phosphorylation and of downstream signaling pathways for gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis. Betaine treatment prevents and treats fatty liver in a moderate high-dietary-fat model of NAFL in mice. Betaine also reverses hepatic insulin resistance in part by increasing the activation of IRS1, with resultant improvement in downstream signaling pathways. PMID:20724529

A novel method to analyze betaine in chicken liver: effect of dietary betaine and choline supplementation on the hepatic betaine concentration in broiler chicks.

PubMed

Saarinen, M T; Kettunen, H; Pulliainen, K; Peuranen, S; Tiihonen, K; Remus, J

2001-02-01

Betaine was measured from liver tissue by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method developed for this study. The method involves homogenization of liver in acetate buffer at pH 6 and precipitation of protein with trichloroacetic acid, which was removed by diethyl ether extraction. Betaine was separated using a cation exchange column in Ca(2+) form and detected with a refractive index detector. This method also allows the determination of S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) from the same liver extract but with different HPLC conditions. Broiler chicks were fed with experimental diets supplemented with four different doses of betaine or choline ranging from 0 to 5 mol equiv. After a 3 week feeding period, the livers were analyzed for betaine and S-AM. Dietary betaine was twice as efficient in increasing the hepatic betaine concentration as dietary choline. The hepatic S-AM concentrations were similar in all dietary treatments.

The effect of dietary betaine on intestinal and plasma levels of betaine in uninfected and coccidia-infected broiler chicks.

PubMed

Fetterer, R H; Augustine, P C; Allen, P C; Barfield, R C

2003-07-01

Chicks fed betaine supplemented diets and infected with Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria maxima had markedly higher levels of betaine in the duodenum and mid-gut than unsupplemented, infected chicks. Uninfected chicks fed betaine exhibited almost twice the levels of betaine in the gut as infected chicks. Plasma betaine levels were lower in E. maxima-infected chicks than in E. acervulina-or Eimeria tenella-infected chicks. Betaine supplementation reversed the decrease in weight gain in E. maxima- infected chicks but had no effect on the decrease in weight gains in E acervulina- and E. tenella-infected chicks. Coccidia-infected birds on normal diets regularly exhibit increases in plasma NO(2)(+)NO(3). This increase was abolished in E.tenella-infected birds on betaine supplement. Betaine feeding did not alter this effect in E. acervulina- and E. maxima-infected birds. Results indicate that betaine supplementation has a positive effect on gut betaine levels in birds infected with E. acervulina and E. maxima. In all treatment groups, infection lowered the levels of betaine.

Dietary betaine supplementation to gestational sows enhances hippocampal IGF2 expression in newborn piglets with modified DNA methylation of the differentially methylated regions.

PubMed

Li, Xi; Sun, Qinwei; Li, Xian; Cai, Demin; Sui, Shiyan; Jia, Yimin; Song, Haogang; Zhao, Ruqian

2015-10-01

The adequate supply of methyl donors is critical for the normal development of brain. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of maternal betaine supplementation on hippocampal gene expression in neonatal piglets and to explore the possible mechanisms. Gestational sows were fed control or betaine-supplemented (3 g/kg) diets throughout the pregnancy. Immediately after birth, male piglets were killed, and the hippocampus was dissected for analyses. The mRNA abundance was determined by reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein content was measured by Western blot, and DNA methylation was detected by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation assay. Prenatal betaine supplementation did not alter the body weight or the hippocampus weight, but increased the hippocampal DNA content as well as the mRNA expression of proliferation-related genes. Prenatal betaine supplementation increased serum level of methionine (P < 0.05) and up-regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA and protein expression of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase, glycine N-methyltransferase and DNA methyltransferase 1 in the neonatal hippocampus. Hippocampal expression of insulin growth factor II (IGF2) and its receptors IGF1R and IGF2R were all significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) in betaine-treated group, together with a significant activation (P < 0.01) of the downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Moreover, the differentially methylated region (DMR) 1 and 2 on IGF2 locus was found to be hypermethylated (P < 0.05) in the hippocampus of betaine-treated piglets. These results indicate that maternal betaine supplementation enhances betaine/methionine metabolism and DNA methyltransferase expression, causes hypermethylation of DMR on IGF2 gene, which was associated with augmented expression of IGF2 and cell proliferation/anti-apoptotic markers in the hippocampus of neonatal piglets.

Betaine Attenuates Alcohol-Induced Pancreatic Steatosis.

PubMed

Yang, Wenjuan; Gao, Jinhang; Tai, Yang; Chen, Meng; Huang, Luming; Wen, Shilei; Huang, Zhiyin; Liu, Rui; Li, Jing; Tang, Chengwei

2016-07-01

To explore the effect of betaine on alcoholic pancreatic steatosis and its mechanism. Rats were randomly assigned to control, ethanol, or ethanol + betaine groups. Changes in pancreatic morphology; serum lipid levels; and pancreatic lipid, amylase and lipase levels were determined. The serum and adipose tissue adiponectin level was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Adiponectin receptor-1 (AdipoR1), AdipoR2, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), SREBP-2, and fatty acid synthetase expression levels were quantified. The SREBP-1c expression in SW1990 cells treated with various concentrations of ethanol or ethanol plus betaine and/or adiponectin was assessed. Alcohol-induced changes in pancreatic morphology were attenuated by betaine. Pancreatic triglyceride, free fatty acid and expression levels of SREBP-1c and fatty acid synthetase were elevated after ethanol feeding but remained at control levels after betaine supplementation. Alcohol-induced decreases in serum and adipose tissue adiponectin, pancreatic AdipoR1, amylase, and lipase were attenuated by betaine. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were elevated after alcohol consumption and remained higher after betaine supplementation compared with controls. Betaine and/or adiponectin suppressed alcohol-induced SREBP-1c upregulation in vitro. Betaine attenuated alcoholic-induced pancreatic steatosis most likely by suppressing pancreatic SREBP-1c both directly and through the restoration of adiponectin signaling.

Steady-state kinetic mechanism of the NADP+- and NAD+-dependent reactions catalysed by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PubMed Central

Velasco-García, R; González-Segura, L; Muñoz-Clares, R A

2000-01-01

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) catalyses the irreversible oxidation of betaine aldehyde to glycine betaine with the concomitant reduction of NAD(P)(+) to NADP(H). In Pseudomonas aeruginosa this reaction is a compulsory step in the assimilation of carbon and nitrogen when bacteria are growing in choline or choline precursors. The kinetic mechanisms of the NAD(+)- and NADP(+)-dependent reactions were examined by steady-state kinetic methods and by dinucleotide binding experiments. The double-reciprocal patterns obtained for initial velocity with NAD(P)(+) and for product and dead-end inhibition establish that both mechanisms are steady-state random. However, quantitative analysis of the inhibitions, and comparison with binding data, suggest a preferred route of addition of substrates and release of products in which NAD(P)(+) binds first and NAD(P)H leaves last, particularly in the NADP(+)-dependent reaction. Abortive binding of the dinucleotides, or their analogue ADP, in the betaine aldehyde site was inferred from total substrate inhibition by the dinucleotides, and parabolic inhibition by NADH and ADP. A weak partial uncompetitive substrate inhibition by the aldehyde was observed only in the NADP(+)-dependent reaction. The kinetics of P. aeruginosa BADH is very similar to that of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, suggesting that both enzymes fulfil a similar amphibolic metabolic role when the bacteria grow in choline and when they grow in glucose. PMID:11104673

Low folate status enhances pregnancy changes in plasma betaine and dimethylglycine concentrations and the association between betaine and homocysteine.

PubMed

Fernàndez-Roig, Sílvia; Cavallé-Busquets, Pere; Fernandez-Ballart, Joan D; Ballesteros, Monica; Berrocal-Zaragoza, Maria Isabel; Salat-Batlle, Judith; Ueland, Per M; Murphy, Michelle M

2013-06-01

Folate, choline, and betaine participate in homocysteine metabolism. It is not known whether they interact during pregnancy. The objective was to investigate how folate status affects choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine during pregnancy. Fasting plasma folate, cobalamin, free choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, and total homocysteine (tHcy) were measured longitudinally at <12, 15, 24-27, and 34 gestational weeks (GW); at labor (nonfasting); and in the cord in participants (n = 522) from the Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort (NUTrició i Creixement Intrauterí Retardat phase). Timing, dose, and duration of folic acid supplement use were recorded. Folate status was classified as below (low) or above (high) median plasma folate at baseline (27.6 nmol/L) and at 24-27 GW (11.4 nmol/L). Associations between folate or betaine with tHcy were investigated by using multiple linear regression analysis. Plasma betaine decreased by 34.8% (1.0%) throughout pregnancy, and dimethylglycine increased by 39.7% (2.7%) between 24-27 GW and labor (all P < 0.001). Compared with high folate status, low status was associated with a higher dimethylglycine/betaine ratio from 15 GW and with lower plasma betaine and higher dimethylglycine from 24 to 27 GW, for the rest of pregnancy. Regression analysis showed that by 24-27 GW, both plasma folate and betaine were inversely associated with tHcy when folate status was low and that the association between betaine and tHcy depended on folate status at 24-27 and 34 GW (interaction terms: P < 0.001 and P < 0.01). Betaine was inversely associated with tHcy at labor regardless of folate status. Low folate status enhances the reduction in betaine and the increase in dimethylglycine during pregnancy and strengthens the association between betaine and tHcy. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01778205.

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes of spinach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, A.D.; Weretilnyk, E.A.; Weigel, P.

1986-04-01

Betaine is synthesized in spinach chloroplasts via the pathway Choline ..-->.. Betaine Aldehyde ..-->.. Betaine; the second step is catalyzed by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH). The subcellular distribution of BADH was determined in leaf protoplast lysates; BADH isozymes were separated by 6-9% native PAGE. The chloroplast stromal fraction contains a single BADH isozyme (number1) that accounts for > 80% of the total protoplast activity; the extrachloroplastic fraction has a minor isozyme (number2) which migrates more slowly than number1. Both isozymes appear specific for betaine aldehyde, are more active with NAD than NADP, and show a ca. 3-fold activity increase inmore » salinized leaves. The phenotype of a natural variant of isozyme number1 suggests that the enzyme is a dimer.« less

Choline and betaine in health and disease.

PubMed

Ueland, Per Magne

2011-02-01

Choline is an essential nutrient, but is also formed by de novo synthesis. Choline and its derivatives serve as components of structural lipoproteins, blood and membrane lipids, and as a precursor of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Pre-and postnatal choline availability is important for neurodevelopment in rodents. Choline is oxidized to betaine that serves as an osmoregulator and is a substrate in the betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase reaction, which links choline and betaine to the folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism. Choline and betaine are important sources of one-carbon units, in particular, during folate deficiency. Choline or betaine supplementation in humans reduces concentration of total homocysteine (tHcy), and plasma betaine is a strong predictor of plasma tHcy in individuals with low plasma concentration of folate and other B vitamins (B₂, B₆, and B₁₂) in combination TT genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C->T polymorphism. The link to one-carbon metabolism and the recent availability of food composition data have motivated studies on choline and betaine as risk factors of chronic diseases previously studied in relation to folate and homocysteine status. High intake and plasma level of choline in the mother seems to afford reduced risk of neural tube defects. Intake of choline and betaine shows no consistent relation to cancer or cardiovascular risk or risk factors, whereas an unfavorable cardiovascular risk factor profile was associated with high choline and low betaine concentrations in plasma. Thus, choline and betaine showed opposite relations with key components of metabolic syndrome, suggesting a disruption of mitochondrial choline oxidation to betaine as part of the mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome.

Fairfield Porter...A Life in Art, 1907 1975.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Mark M.

2003-01-01

Focuses on the life and career of Fairfield Porter who was a painter working in the style of Intimist inspired Realist. Provides background information on Porter and examples of his artwork. Describes the exhibit "Fairfield Porter: A Life in Art, 1907 1975." (CMK)

Salt-induction of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity in sugar beet. [Beta vulgaris L

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCue, K.F.; Hanson, A.D.

1991-05-01

In Chenopodiaceae such as sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), glycine betaine (betaine) accumulates in response to drought or salinity stress and functions in the cytoplasm as a compatible osmolyte. The last enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway, betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), increases as much as 4-fold in response to rising salinity in the external medium. This increase is accompanied by an increase in both protein and mRNA levels. The steady state increases in BADH were examined at a series of NaCl concentrations from 100 to 500 mM NaCl. BADH protein levels were examined by native PAGE, and by western blot analysismore » using antibodies raised against BADH purified from spinach. mRNA levels were examined by northern plot analysis of total RNA isolated from the leaves and hybridized with a sugar beet BADH cDNA clone. The time course for BADH mRNA induction was determined in a salt shock experiment utilizing 400 mM NaCl added to the external growth medium. Disappearance of BADH was examined in a salt relief experiment using plants step-wise salinized to 500 mM NaCl and then returned to 0 mM NaCl.« less

Patent Retrieval in Chemistry based on Semantically Tagged Named Entities

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

their corresponding synonyms. An ex- ample query for TS-15 is: (" Betaine " OR "Glycine betaine " OR "Glycocol betaine " OR "Glycylbetaine" OR ...) AND...task in an automatic way based on noun- phrase detection incorporating the OpenNLP chun- 3 Informative Term Synonyms Source Betaine Glycine betaine ...Glycocol betaine , Glycylbetaine etc. ATC Peripheral Artery Disease Peripheral Artery Disorder, Peripheral Arterial Disease etc. MeSH Diels-Alder reaction

Hepatic and renal betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase activity in pigs as affected by dietary intakes of sulfur amino acids, choline, and betaine.

PubMed

Emmert, J L; Webel, D M; Biehl, R R; Griffiths, M A; Garrow, L S; Garrow, T A; Baker, D H

1998-02-01

In Exp. 1, young pigs were fed a basal diet containing .17% methionine (Met) (.14% digestible Met), and .48% cystine (.38% digestible cystine) for 14 d (34 to 48 d of age). Treatment additions were .25% DL-Met, .34% betaine, .30% choline, or .25% DL-Met and .34% betaine. Methionine, but not betaine or choline supplementation, increased (P < .05) weight gain and feed efficiency. Hepatic betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) activity was increased (P < .05) by betaine and choline supplementation but was not affected by Met deficiency. Renal BHMT activity was increased (P < .05) by Met deficiency and was further increased (P < .05) by betaine supplementation. In Exp. 2, 10-kg pigs were fed the basal diet from Exp. 1 supplemented with enough DL-Met to bring the total basal Met to .24% (.20% digestible Met). Treatment additions consisted of .20% DL-Met or .34% betaine, and diets were fed for 16 d (34 to 50 d of age). Feed efficiency increased (P < .05) in response to Met, but not to betaine, supplementation. Hepatic BHMT activity increased (P < .05) in response to betaine and Met, but no changes in renal BHMT activity occurred. Although statistically significant changes in hepatic and renal BHMT activity occurred in both experiments, the magnitude of the responses was probably not physiologically important. Therefore, in contrast to previous findings with rats and chicks, it does not seem that hepatic and renal BHMT activity in pigs is influenced substantially by Met deficiency, or by surfeit levels of choline or betaine.

Betaine

MedlinePlus

... the eye, abnormal bone structure, osteoporosis (weak bones), blood clots, or decreased weight or rate of weight gain and slowed development in children. Betaine is in a class of medications called nutrients. It works by decreasing the amount of homocysteine in the blood.

Intestinal uptake of betaine in vitro and the distribution of methyl groups from betaine, choline, and methionine in the body of broiler chicks.

PubMed

Kettunen, H; Peuranen, S; Tiihonen, K; Saarinen, M

2001-02-01

The efficiency of betaine absorption into small intestinal slices of broiler chicks was studied in vitro with 14C-labeled betaine. The relative proportion of Na+-coupled betaine uptake, as well as the total uptake capacity was larger in the duodenum than in the jejunum. Dietary betaine increased the Na+-coupled uptake in the duodenum. In in vivo-experiments, methyl-14C-labeled betaine, methionine, or choline was fed to broiler chicks. Betaine appeared in the blood more rapidly, and reached a higher total concentration than choline or methionine. The data suggest that choline and methionine were associated with plasma lipoproteins whereas betaine remained free in the plasma. The label distribution in liver, kidney, and intestinal tissues was studied 24 h after label ingestion. Most of the label from betaine was found in the aquaeous phase in the muscle, while in the liver and jejunum the label from betaine was distributed more evenly between the aquaeous, lipid, and protein phases. Label from choline accumulated in the lipid fraction, particularly so in the liver, whereas label from methionine showed a more variable distribution pattern. The distribution results are interpreted in terms of specific roles of betaine, choline, and methionine in methyl group metabolism.

Identification of a 3rd Na+ Binding Site of the Glycine Transporter, GlyT2.

PubMed

Subramanian, Nandhitha; Scopelitti, Amanda J; Carland, Jane E; Ryan, Renae M; O'Mara, Megan L; Vandenberg, Robert J

2016-01-01

The Na+/Cl- dependent glycine transporters GlyT1 and GlyT2 regulate synaptic glycine concentrations. Glycine transport by GlyT2 is coupled to the co-transport of three Na+ ions, whereas transport by GlyT1 is coupled to the co-transport of only two Na+ ions. These differences in ion-flux coupling determine their respective concentrating capacities and have a direct bearing on their functional roles in synaptic transmission. The crystal structures of the closely related bacterial Na+-dependent leucine transporter, LeuTAa, and the Drosophila dopamine transporter, dDAT, have allowed prediction of two Na+ binding sites in GlyT2, but the physical location of the third Na+ site in GlyT2 is unknown. A bacterial betaine transporter, BetP, has also been crystallized and shows structural similarity to LeuTAa. Although betaine transport by BetP is coupled to the co-transport of two Na+ ions, the first Na+ site is not conserved between BetP and LeuTAa, the so called Na1' site. We hypothesized that the third Na+ binding site (Na3 site) of GlyT2 corresponds to the BetP Na1' binding site. To identify the Na3 binding site of GlyT2, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Surprisingly, a Na+ placed at the location consistent with the Na1' site of BetP spontaneously dissociated from its initial location and bound instead to a novel Na3 site. Using a combination of MD simulations of a comparative model of GlyT2 together with an analysis of the functional properties of wild type and mutant GlyTs we have identified an electrostatically favorable novel third Na+ binding site in GlyT2 formed by Trp263 and Met276 in TM3, Ala481 in TM6 and Glu648 in TM10.

Substitutions of S101 decrease proton and hydride transfers in the oxidation of betaine aldehyde by choline oxidase.

PubMed

Gadda, Giovanni; Yuan, Hongling

2017-11-15

Choline oxidase oxidizes choline to glycine betaine, with two flavin-mediated reactions to convert the alcohol substrate to the carbon acid product. Proton abstraction from choline or hydrated betaine aldehyde in the wild-type enzyme occurs in the mixing time of the stopped-flow spectrophotometer, thereby precluding a mechanistic investigation. Mutagenesis of S101 rendered the proton transfer reaction amenable to study. Here, we have investigated the aldehyde oxidation reaction catalyzed by the mutant enzymes using steady-state and rapid kinetics with betaine aldehyde. Stopped-flow traces for the reductive half-reaction of the S101T/V/C variants were biphasic, corresponding to the reactions of proton abstraction and hydride transfer. In contrast, the S101A enzyme yielded monophasic traces like wild-type choline oxidase. The rate constants for proton transfer in the S101T/C/V variants decreased logarithmically with increasing hydrophobicity of residue 101, indicating a behavior different from that seen previously with choline for which no correlation was determined. The rate constants for hydride transfer also showed a logarithmic decrease with increasing hydrophobicity at position 101, which was similar to previous results with choline as a substrate for the enzyme. Thus, the hydrophilic character of S101 is necessary not only for efficient hydride transfer but also for the proton abstraction reaction. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

40 CFR 721.10516 - Perfluorinated alkylthio betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Perfluorinated alkylthio betaine... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10516 Perfluorinated alkylthio betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance... perfluorinated alkylthio betaine (PMN P-10-405) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant...

40 CFR 721.10516 - Perfluorinated alkylthio betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Perfluorinated alkylthio betaine... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10516 Perfluorinated alkylthio betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance... perfluorinated alkylthio betaine (PMN P-10-405) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant...

Ferroelectric films of deuterated glycine phosphite: Structure and dielectric properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balashova, E. V.; Krichevtsov, B. B.; Svinarev, F. B.; Lemanov, V. V.

2013-05-01

Polycrystalline textured films of deuterated glycine phosphite consisting of single-crystal blocks with lateral dimensions ˜(50-100) μm and a thickness d ˜ (1-5) μm have been grown by evaporation on NdGaO3(100) and α-Al2O3 substrates with preliminarily deposited interdigitated electrodes, as well as on Al substrates. The c* ( Z) crystallographic axis in the blocks is normal to the film plane, and the a ( X) axis and the polar axis b ( Y) are oriented in the film plane. The temperature dependences of the capacitance of the structures measured with the interdigitated electrode system reveal a strong dielectric anomaly at the film transition to the ferroelectric state. The phase transition temperature T c depends on the degree of deuteration D of the glycine phosphite. The maximum value T c = 275 K obtained in the structures studied corresponds to a degree of deuteration of the glycine phosphite D ˜ 50%. The frequency behavior of the dielectric hysteresis loops in glycine phosphite films differs radically from that of the previously studied films of deuterated betaine phosphite, which evidences that polarization switching in these structures proceeds by different mechanisms. It has been that application of a dc bias to the electrodes changes the shape of the dielectric hysteresis loops and shifts them along the electric field axis. The shift of the loops depends on the sign, magnitude, and time of application of the bias. Possible mechanisms underlying the induced unipolarity are discussed.

40 CFR 721.10127 - Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10127 Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance and... dimethyl betaine (PMN P-06-693) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses...

40 CFR 721.10127 - Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10127 Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance and... dimethyl betaine (PMN P-06-693) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses...

40 CFR 721.10127 - Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10127 Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance and... dimethyl betaine (PMN P-06-693) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses...

40 CFR 721.10127 - Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10127 Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance and... dimethyl betaine (PMN P-06-693) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses...

40 CFR 721.10127 - Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10127 Alkenyl dimethyl betaine (generic). (a) Chemical substance and... dimethyl betaine (PMN P-06-693) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses...

The effect of betaine on the foam stability: Molecular simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Fengfeng; Liu, Guokui; Yuan, Shiling

2017-06-01

Zwitterionic betaines are widely used as foam boosters due to these can enhance the stability of foam films. In this paper, mechanistic insights of betaine to improve the stability of alkyl-polyoxyethylene carboxylate (AEC) foam are provided by molecular simulation. In the simulation, we observe the electropositive nitrogen atoms in betaine interact with the electronegative sulfur atoms, an electrostatic structure is formed at the air/water interface. Interaction energies of the mixed surfactants are calculated by the quantum chemistry methods. The calculations show betaine-AEC and betaine-betaine possess attractive interaction, and that AEC-AEC has repulsion to each other. In the other words, the repulsion between the headgroups of anionic surfactants is relaxed by betaine. Additionally, the influence of concentration of betaine on the stability of foam films is also simulated. The RDF and coordination numbers show that the electrostatic structures become denser with the increasing concentration of betaine. Therefore, entry barrier is enhanced accordingly. The SMD simulation also demonstrates the same variation tendency of entry barrier. The simulation details provide vital supplements to experiments.

Betaine deficiency in maize: Metabolic basis and relation to osmotic adjustment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rhodes, D.; Hanson, A.D.; Lerma, C.

1990-05-01

A single recessive gene causes betaine deficiency in certain maize inbred lines. As betaine may act as a cytosolic osmolyte, deficiency might be expected to reduce osmotic adjustment. Two near-isogenic maize lines differing for betaine, as well as groups of diverse betaine-containing and deficient inbreds, were tested under field water-stress conditions. The betaine-deficient isogenic line, and the group of deficient inbreds as a whole, showed significantly (P<0.05) less osmotic adjustment than their respective betaine-containing counterparts. When leaves from field-grown plants of the isogenic lines were supplied with ({sup 14}C)choline, the betaine-containing line produced ({sup 14}C)betaine whereas the deficient line didmore » not.« less

Modulatory effect of betaine on expression dynamics of HSPs during heat stress acclimation in goat (Capra hircus).

PubMed

Dangi, Satyaveer Singh; Dangi, Saroj K; Chouhan, V S; Verma, M R; Kumar, Puneet; Singh, Gyanendra; Sarkar, Mihir

2016-01-10

Changing climatic scenario with expected global rise in surface temperature compelled more focus of research over decoding heat stress response mechanism of animals and mitigation of heat stress. Recently betaine, a trimethyl form of glycine has been found to ameliorate heat stress in some species of animals. To overcome deleterious effect of heat stress, an attempt was taken to investigate the effect of betaine supplementation on heat stress mitigation in goats. Eighteen female Barbari goats were taken and randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6) such as control, HS (Heat stressed), HS+B (Heat stressed administered with betaine). Except for the control group, other groups were exposed to repeated heat stress (42 °C) for 6 h for sixteen consecutive days. Blood samples were collected at the end of heat exposure on day 1 (Initial heat stress acclimation - IHSA), day 6 (Short term heat stress acclimation - STHSA) and day 16 (Long term heat stress acclimation - LTHSA). When the groups were compared between different heat stress acclimatory phases, expression of all HSPs (HSP60, HSP70, HSP90 and HSP105/110) showed a similar pattern with a first peak on IHSA, reaching a basal level on STHSA followed by second peak on LTHSA. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of HSPs was observed to be higher (P<0.05) in HS group than HS+B group except HSP90 on IHSA and HSP60 on STHSA. HSP105/110 expression was highest (P<0.05) on LTHSA. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that HSPs were mainly localized both in nucleus and cytoplasm of PBMCs. In conclusion, heat stress increases HSPs expression and betaine administration was shown to have a dwindling effect on expression of HSPs, suggesting a possible role of this chemical chaperone on heat stress amelioration. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Alleviation of hepatic fat accumulation by betaine involves reduction of homocysteine via up-regulation of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT).

PubMed

Ahn, Chul Won; Jun, Doo Sung; Na, Jong Deok; Choi, Yeo Jin; Kim, Young Chul

2016-08-26

We investigated the anti-lipogenic effect of betaine in rats fed methionine and choline-deficient diet (MCD). Intake of MCD for 3 wk resulted in a significant accumulation of hepatic lipids, which was prevented by betaine supplementation in drinking water (1%). Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), and liver kinase B1 (LKB1) was inhibited by MCD intake, and these changes were all inhibited by betaine feeding. Meanwhile, betaine supplementation reversed the reduction of methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and the elevation of homocysteine levels in the liver, which could be attributable to the induction of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) and methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT). Different cell lines were used to clarify the role of homocysteine on activation of the AMPK pathway. Homocysteine treatment decreased pAMPK, pACC, pSREBP-1c and pLKB1 in HepG2 cells. Metformin-induced activation of AMPK was also inhibited by homocysteine. Treatment with hydroxylamine, a cystathionine β-synthase inhibitor, resulted in a reduction of pAMPK, pACC and pSREBP-1c, accompanied by an elevation of intracellular homocysteine. Betaine treatment prevented the homocysteine-induced reduction of pAMPK, pACC, pSREBP-1c and pLKB1 in H4IIE cells, but not in HepG2 cells. Also the elevation of cellular homocysteine and inhibition of protein expression of BHMT were prevented by betaine only in H4IIE cells which express BHMT. The results suggest that the beneficial effect of betaine against hepatic lipid accumulation may be attributed, at least in part, to the depletion of homocysteine via up-regulation of BHMT in hepatocytes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of Betaine in Jujube by Capillary Electrophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Likun; Liu, Haixing; Peng, Xuewei

2017-12-01

This paper presents the determination of betaine content in jujube by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method. The borax solution was chosen as buffer solution, and its concentration was 40 mmol at a constant voltage of 20kV and injecting pressure time of 10s at 14°C. Linearity was kept in the concent ration range of 0.0113∼1.45mg of betaine with correlation coefficient of 0.9. The content of betaine in jujube was 85.91 mg/g (RSD = 16.6%) (n = 6). The recovery of betaine in jujube sample was in the range of 86.2% - 116.6% (n=3). This method is specific, simple and rapid and accurate, which is suitable for the detection of the content of betaine in jujube.

Genetic variants associated with glycine metabolism and their role in insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Xie, Weijia; Wood, Andrew R; Lyssenko, Valeriya; Weedon, Michael N; Knowles, Joshua W; Alkayyali, Sami; Assimes, Themistocles L; Quertermous, Thomas; Abbasi, Fahim; Paananen, Jussi; Häring, Hans; Hansen, Torben; Pedersen, Oluf; Smith, Ulf; Laakso, Markku; Dekker, Jacqueline M; Nolan, John J; Groop, Leif; Ferrannini, Ele; Adam, Klaus-Peter; Gall, Walter E; Frayling, Timothy M; Walker, Mark

2013-06-01

Circulating metabolites associated with insulin sensitivity may represent useful biomarkers, but their causal role in insulin sensitivity and diabetes is less certain. We previously identified novel metabolites correlated with insulin sensitivity measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. The top-ranking metabolites were in the glutathione and glycine biosynthesis pathways. We aimed to identify common genetic variants associated with metabolites in these pathways and test their role in insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes. With 1,004 nondiabetic individuals from the RISC study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 14 insulin sensitivity-related metabolites and one metabolite ratio. We replicated our results in the Botnia study (n = 342). We assessed the association of these variants with diabetes-related traits in GWAS meta-analyses (GENESIS [including RISC, EUGENE2, and Stanford], MAGIC, and DIAGRAM). We identified four associations with three metabolites-glycine (rs715 at CPS1), serine (rs478093 at PHGDH), and betaine (rs499368 at SLC6A12; rs17823642 at BHMT)-and one association signal with glycine-to-serine ratio (rs1107366 at ALDH1L1). There was no robust evidence for association between these variants and insulin resistance or diabetes. Genetic variants associated with genes in the glycine biosynthesis pathways do not provide consistent evidence for a role of glycine in diabetes-related traits.

Genetic Variants Associated With Glycine Metabolism and Their Role in Insulin Sensitivity and Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Xie, Weijia; Wood, Andrew R.; Lyssenko, Valeriya; Weedon, Michael N.; Knowles, Joshua W.; Alkayyali, Sami; Assimes, Themistocles L.; Quertermous, Thomas; Abbasi, Fahim; Paananen, Jussi; Häring, Hans; Hansen, Torben; Pedersen, Oluf; Smith, Ulf; Laakso, Markku; Dekker, Jacqueline M.; Nolan, John J.; Groop, Leif; Ferrannini, Ele; Adam, Klaus-Peter; Gall, Walter E.; Frayling, Timothy M.; Walker, Mark

2013-01-01

Circulating metabolites associated with insulin sensitivity may represent useful biomarkers, but their causal role in insulin sensitivity and diabetes is less certain. We previously identified novel metabolites correlated with insulin sensitivity measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. The top-ranking metabolites were in the glutathione and glycine biosynthesis pathways. We aimed to identify common genetic variants associated with metabolites in these pathways and test their role in insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes. With 1,004 nondiabetic individuals from the RISC study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 14 insulin sensitivity–related metabolites and one metabolite ratio. We replicated our results in the Botnia study (n = 342). We assessed the association of these variants with diabetes-related traits in GWAS meta-analyses (GENESIS [including RISC, EUGENE2, and Stanford], MAGIC, and DIAGRAM). We identified four associations with three metabolites—glycine (rs715 at CPS1), serine (rs478093 at PHGDH), and betaine (rs499368 at SLC6A12; rs17823642 at BHMT)—and one association signal with glycine-to-serine ratio (rs1107366 at ALDH1L1). There was no robust evidence for association between these variants and insulin resistance or diabetes. Genetic variants associated with genes in the glycine biosynthesis pathways do not provide consistent evidence for a role of glycine in diabetes-related traits. PMID:23378610

Betaine synthesis from radioactive precursors in attached, water-stressed barley leaves

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, A.D.; Scott, N.A.

1980-08-01

In wilted barley leaves, betaine accumulates at about 200 nanomoles per 10 centimeters leaf per day. Results with /sup 14/C-labeled precursors were qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with de novo synthesis of this betaine from serine via ethanolamine, choline, and betaine aldehyde and indicated that water stress may increase the activities of all steps in this pathway except the last. Doses (I micromole) of each /sup 14/C-labeled precursor were supplied as droplets to the tips of attached, 10-centimeter, second-leaf blades of turgid and wilted plants, and the incorporation of /sup 14/C into betaine was followed. From the rates of betaine labeling,more » estimates were made of the potential capacities (nanomoles per 10 centimeters leaf per day) for the methylation and oxidation steps. Labeling of betaine from absolute value /sup 14/C choline, absolute value /sup 14/C ethanolamine, and absolute value /sup 14/C serine was about 7- to 10-fold greater in leaves wilted for 2 days than in turgid leaves, whereas label from absolute value /sup 14/C betaine aldehyde appeared in betaine at about the same rate in both turgid and wilted leaves. In leaves wilted for 2 days, the potential capacities for converting absolute value /sup 14/C ethanolamine, absolute value /sup 14/C choline, and absolute value /sup 14/C betaine aldehyde to betaine all approached or exceeded the rate of betain accumulation (about 200 nanomoles per 10 centimeters leaf per day); in turgid leaves, only the potential for converting betaine aldehyde to betaine exceeded this rate. The rate of conversion of absolute value /sup 14/C ethanolamine to betaine increased 4-fold after 6 to 10 hours of wilting, which was soon enough to account for the onset of betaine accumulation.« less

Betaine synthesis and accumulation in barley during field water-stress

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitz, W.D.; Ladyman, J.A.R.; Hanson, A.D.

1982-01-01

The timing and extent of betaine accumulation by mature leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were followed in irrigated (I) and non-irrigated (N-I) plots under rain-shelters. In the N-I crop, leaf water potential (/sup psi/leaf) began to fall at the five-leaf stage, continued to drop steadily until maturity, and reached a minimum of about -35 bars. Betaine accumulation started in the N-I crop about a week after the decline in /sup psi/leaf began and continued until about 10 days post-anthesis. The maximum betaine concentration attained by N-I leaves (100 ..mu..mol/g dry wt) was three times that in I leaves. Betainemore » accumulation by upper leaves was due mainly to de novo synthesis in these leaves, because: (1) there was little /sup 14/C-import into upper leaves when (/sup 14/C)betaine was applied to lower leaves, and (2) attached upper leaves of N-I plants rapidly converted supplied (/sup 14/C)ethanolamine to (/sup 14/C)betaine during the peak period of betaine accumulation. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) behaved as an intermediate in the conversion of (/sup 14/C)ethanolamine to betaine. The estimated peak metabolic cost of betaine biosynthesis via PC by stressed leaves (about 2 mg hexose/g dry wt/day) approached the cost of protein turnover in the same leaves (3 to 5 mg hexose/g dry wt/day) as estimated from (/sup 3/H) lysine incorporation. In N-I plants, cessation of betaine synthesis preceded the onset of senescence by several days, indicating that continuous betaine production is not mandatory for leaf function at lowered /sup psi/leaf. These field results are consistent with an adaptive value for betaine accumulation in barley during prolonged water stress. A search for genetic variation in betaine-accumulating potential in barley is now warranted.« less

Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Icksoo, E-mail: icksoolee@dankook.ac.kr

2015-01-09

Highlights: • Betaine enhances cytochrome c oxidase activity and mitochondrial respiration. • Betaine increases mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular energy levels. • Betaine’s anti-tumorigenic effect might be due to a reversal of the Warburg effect. - Abstract: Betaine protects cells from environmental stress and serves as a methyl donor in several biochemical pathways. It reduces cardiovascular disease risk and protects liver cells from alcoholic liver damage and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Its pretreatment can rescue cells exposed to toxins such as rotenone, chloroform, and LiCl. Furthermore, it has been suggested that betaine can suppress cancer cell growth in vivo and in vitro.more » Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes generate the mitochondrial membrane potential, which is essential to produce cellular energy, ATP. Reduced mitochondrial respiration and energy status have been found in many human pathological conditions including aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. In this study we investigated whether betaine directly targets mitochondria. We show that betaine treatment leads to an upregulation of mitochondrial respiration and cytochrome c oxidase activity in H2.35 cells, the proposed rate limiting enzyme of ETC in vivo. Following treatment, the mitochondrial membrane potential was increased and cellular energy levels were elevated. We propose that the anti-proliferative effects of betaine on cancer cells might be due to enhanced mitochondrial function contributing to a reversal of the Warburg effect.« less

The effect of dietary betaine in Eimeria acervulina-infected chicks.

PubMed

Matthews, J O; Southern, L L

2000-01-01

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary betaine in broiler chicks with either chronic (CHR; 2.5 x 10(5) sporulated oocysts on Day 1, 4, 7, and 10) or acute (ACT; 1.0 x 10(6) sporulated oocysts on Day 1) Eimeria acervulina infections. Three hundred (Experiment 1) or 600 (Experiment 2), 4-d-old male chicks were used in the 14-d experiments. In both experiments, a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments was used: two levels of betaine (0 or 0.075%) and three levels of coccidiosis infection (uninfected, CHR, or ACT). Each treatment was replicated five (Experiment 1) or 10 (Experiment 2) times with 10 chicks per replicate. In Experiment 1, the ACT infection decreased (P < 0.01) average daily gain and gain:feed, and the CHR infection decreased (P < 0.02) average daily gain. The ACT and CHR infections decreased (P < 0.06) Day 7 plasma carotenoids and Day 14 plasma total protein, and the ACT infection also decreased (P < 0.06) Day 7 plasma total protein. Average daily gain and Day 7 plasma total protein were increased in CHR chicks fed betaine but were decreased in uninfected chicks fed betaine (CHR x betaine; P < 0.09). Chicks fed betaine had decreased (P < 0.06) Day 7 plasma carotenoids. In Experiment 2 the CHR and ACT infections decreased (P < 0.01) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, grain:feed ratio, Days 7 and 14 plasma carotenoids, and Day 7 plasma total protein. Chicks fed betaine had increased (P < 0.07) average daily gains, gain:feed ratios, and lesion scores. Day 14 plasma carotenoids and plasma total protein were decreased in uninfected chicks fed betaine but were increased in CHR chicks fed betaine (CHR x betaine; P < 0.04); plasma carotenoids also were increased in ACT chicks fed betaine (ACT x betaine; P < 0.05). Betaine did not consistently affect growth performance, plasma constituents, or lesion score in CHR or ACT coccidiosis-infected chicks.

Modulation of Colitis-associated Colon Tumorigenesis by Baicalein and Betaine.

PubMed

Kim, Dong Hwan; Sung, Bokyung; Chung, Hae Young; Kim, Nam Deuk

2014-09-01

In this review, we will summarize the current understanding of modulation of colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis by two natural products, baicalein and betaine, which have anti-inflammatory activities. Baicalein and betaine have been shown to provide various health benefits to organism in many ways. Baicalein is a phenolic flavonoid derived originally from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. From ancient times, baicalein has widely been used in oriental medicines as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapy. Betaine, trimethylglycine, is an essential biochemical molecule of the methionine/homocysteine cycle and is synthesized by conversion of choline. Betaine is an important human nutrient obtained from various foods including sugar beet and lycium. Betaine has provided various health benefits including disease prevention. However, the action mechanisms of their activity remain poorly understood. Recent studies reported the effects of baicalein and betaine on cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells and chemically induced colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice. Administrations of baicalein and betaine containing diets significantly inhibited the incidence of tumors and hyperplasia with down-regulation of inflammation. Therefore, baicalein and betaine might be applicable to the prevention of inflammation-associated colon carcinogenesis.

Plasma Lipids and Betaine Are Related in an Acute Coronary Syndrome Cohort

PubMed Central

Lever, Michael; George, Peter M.; Atkinson, Wendy; Molyneux, Sarah L.; Elmslie, Jane L.; Slow, Sandy; Richards, A. Mark; Chambers, Stephen T.

2011-01-01

Background Low plasma betaine has been associated with unfavorable plasma lipid profiles and cardiovascular risk. In some studies raised plasma betaine after supplementation is associated with elevations in plasma lipids. We aimed to measure the relationships between plasma and urine betaine and plasma lipids, and the effects of lipid-lowering drugs on these. Methodology Fasting plasma samples were collected from 531 subjects (and urine samples from 415) 4 months after hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome episode. In this cross-sectional study, plasma betaine and dimethylglycine concentrations and urine excretions were compared with plasma lipid concentrations. Subgroup comparisons were made for gender, with and without diabetes mellitus, and for drug treatment. Principal Findings Plasma betaine negatively correlated with triglyceride (Spearman's rs = −0.22, p<0.0001) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (rs = −0.27, p<0.0001). Plasma betaine was a predictor of BMI (p<0.05) and plasma non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride (p<0.001) independently of gender, age and the presence of diabetes. Using data grouped by plasma betaine decile, increasing plasma betaine was linearly related to decreases in BMI (p = 0.008) and plasma non-HDL cholesterol (p = 0.002). In a non-linear relationship betaine was negatively associated with elevated plasma triglycerides (p = 0.004) only for plasma betaine >45 µmol/L. Subjects taking statins had higher plasma betaine concentrations (p<0.001). Subjects treated with a fibrate had lower plasma betaine (p = 0.003) possibly caused by elevated urine betaine loss (p<0.001). The ratio of coenzyme Q to non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher in subjects with higher plasma betaine, and in subjects taking a statin. Conclusion Low plasma betaine concentrations correlated with an unfavourable lipid profile. Betaine deficiency may be common in the study population

Betaine: a promising antioxidant agent for enhancement of broiler meat quality.

PubMed

Alirezaei, M; Reza Gheisari, H; Reza Ranjbar, V; Hajibemani, A

2012-01-01

1. Antioxidant and methyl donor effects of betaine in experimental animal models have recently been demonstrated. The present study was therefore designed to examine the antioxidant effects of betaine on the antioxidant status and meat quality of breast muscles in broilers. 2. Cobb broilers were randomly divided into Control, Methionine low, Methionine low plus betaine, and Betaine groups. 3. The activity of the main antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) in the Betaine and the Methionine low plus betaine groups significantly increased compared to the Methionine low and Control groups. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher in the Betaine group compared to the Methionine low group, and lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in the Control and the Methionine low groups. 4. The present study indicates that adding betaine (1 g/kg) to a diet deficient in methionine can significantly improve antioxidant defences and meat quality, decreasing lipid peroxidation in the breast muscles of broiler chickens.

Bicarbonate dependency of betaine synthesis in cultured LLC-PK1 cells.

PubMed

Moeckel, G W; Lien, Y H

1994-03-01

Betaine, one of the major renal organic osmolytes, is synthesized from choline by choline dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.1) and betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.8) in the kidney. A recent in vitro study has shown that betaine synthesis by renal cortical homogenate is dependent on millimolar amounts of bicarbonate. The present study was aimed to investigate the bicarbonate dependency of betaine formation in cultured LLC-PK1 cells. The data show that betaine formation increases in accordance with a rise in extracellular bicarbonate levels. The measured quantities of [14C]betaine synthesis ranged from 13.4 +/- 1.5 (4.6 mM HCO3-) to 38.0 +/- 1.4 pmol.micrograms protein-1.h-1 (24 mM HCO3-). The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide, added to the incubation medium to block bicarbonate transport, reduced betaine synthesis from choline by 41-49%. We conclude that betaine synthesis in LLC-PK1 cells is dependent on extracellular bicarbonate levels and is reduced by the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. Because betaine accumulates in renal medulla during antidiuresis, our observations suggest a possible link between acid-base homeostasis and concentration mechanisms in the kidney.

Betaine improved adipose tissue function in mice fed a high-fat diet: a mechanism for hepatoprotective effect of betaine in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhigang; Yao, Tong; Pini, Maria; Zhou, Zhanxiang; Fantuzzi, Giamila

2010-01-01

Adipose tissue dysfunction, featured by insulin resistance and/or dysregulated adipokine production, plays a central role not only in disease initiation but also in the progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Promising beneficial effects of betaine supplementation on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been reported in both clinical investigations and experimental studies; however, data related to betaine therapy in NAFLD are still limited. In this study, we examined the effects of betaine supplementation on hepatic fat accumulation and injury in mice fed a high-fat diet and evaluated mechanisms underlying its hepatoprotective effects. Male C57BL/6 mice weighing 25 ± 0.5 (SE) g were divided into four groups (8 mice/group) and started on one of four treatments: control diet, control diet supplemented with betaine, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet supplemented with betaine. Betaine was supplemented in the drinking water at a concentration of 1% (wt/vol) (anhydrous). Our results showed that long-term high-fat feeding caused NAFLD in mice, which was manifested by excessive neutral fat accumulation in the liver and elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase levels. Betaine supplementation alleviated hepatic pathological changes, which were concomitant with attenuated insulin resistance as shown by improved homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance values and glucose tolerance test, and corrected abnormal adipokine (adiponectin, resistin, and leptin) productions. Specifically, betaine supplementation enhanced insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue as shown by improved extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and protein kinase B activations. In adipocytes freshly isolated from mice fed a high-fat diet, pretreatment of betaine enhanced the insulin signaling pathway and improved adipokine productions. Further investigation using whole liver tissues revealed that betaine supplementation alleviated the high-fat diet

Quantifying Additive Interactions of the Osmolyte Proline with Individual Functional Groups of Proteins: Comparisons with Urea and Glycine Betaine, Interpretation of m-Values

PubMed Central

Diehl, Roger C.; Guinn, Emily J.; Capp, Michael W.; Tsodikov, Oleg V.; Record, M. Thomas

2013-01-01

To quantify interactions of the osmolyte L-proline with protein functional groups and predict its effects on protein processes, we use vapor pressure osmometry to determine chemical potential derivatives dµ2/dm3 = µ23 quantifying preferential interactions of proline (component 3) with 21 solutes (component 2) selected to display different combinations of aliphatic or aromatic C, amide, carboxylate, phosphate or hydroxyl O, and/or amide or cationic N surface. Solubility data yield µ23 values for 4 less-soluble solutes. Values of µ23 are dissected using an ASA-based analysis to test the hypothesis of additivity and obtain α-values (proline interaction potentials) for these eight surface types and three inorganic ions. Values of µ23 predicted from these α-values agree with experiment, demonstrating additivity. Molecular interpretation of α-values using the solute partitioning model yields partition coefficients (Kp) quantifying the local accumulation or exclusion of proline in the hydration water of each functional group. Interactions of proline with native protein surface and effects of proline on protein unfolding are predicted from α-values and ASA information and compared with experimental data, with results for glycine betaine and urea, and with predictions from transfer free energy analysis. We conclude that proline stabilizes proteins because of its unfavorable interactions with (exclusion from) amide oxygens and aliphatic hydrocarbon surface exposed in unfolding, and that proline is an effective in vivo osmolyte because of the osmolality increase resulting from its unfavorable interactions with anionic (carboxylate and phosphate) and amide oxygens and aliphatic hydrocarbon groups on the surface of cytoplasmic proteins and nucleic acids. PMID:23909383

The importance of picking Porter: the Royal Institution, George Porter and the two cultures, 1959–64

PubMed Central

Cole, Rupert

2015-01-01

This paper examines the cultural reasons why in 1964 the Royal Institution (RI) selected George Porter, who became the only person so far to have been Director of the Royal Institution (1966–85), President of the Royal Society (1985–90) and President of the British Association (1985–86) at the same time, to succeed William Lawrence Bragg as the institution's scientific director and resident professor. Porter was established as first choice by an inner group of RI Managers before the formal selection process began. In this article I argue that Porter won their favour by presenting himself, during his tenure as the RI's Professor of Chemistry (1963–66), as a candidate who fitted well with the Managers' ideas about the future role of the RI—ideas that were deeply influenced by the prevailing technocratic visions of ‘science and society’, particularly C. P. Snow's writings on the ‘two cultures’.

Differential chemosensory feeding behaviour by three co-occurring mysids (Crustacea, Mysidacea) from southeastern Tasmania.

PubMed

Metillo, Ephrime B; Ritz, David A

2003-02-01

Three mysid species showed differences in chemosensory feeding as judged from stereotyped food capturing responses to dissolved mixtures of feeding stimulant (either betaine-HCl or glycine) and suppressant (ammonium). The strongest responses were to 50:50 mixtures of both betaine-ammonium and glycine-ammonium solutions. In general, the response curve to the different mixtures tested was bell-shaped. Anisomysis mixta australis only showed the normal curve in response to the glycine-ammonium mixture. The platykurtic curve for Tenagomysis tasmaniae suggests a less optimal response to the betaine-HCl-ammonium solution. Paramesopodopsis rufa reacted more strongly to the betaine-ammonium than to the glycine-ammonium solutions, and more individuals of this species responded to both solutions than the other two species. It is suggested that these contrasting chemosensitivities of the three coexisting mysid species serve as a means of partitioning the feeding niche.

Betaine and Secondary Events in an Acute Coronary Syndrome Cohort

PubMed Central

Lever, Michael; George, Peter M.; Elmslie, Jane L.; Atkinson, Wendy; Slow, Sandy; Molyneux, Sarah L.; Troughton, Richard W.; Richards, A. Mark; Frampton, Christopher M.; Chambers, Stephen T.

2012-01-01

Background Betaine insufficiency is associated with unfavourable vascular risk profiles in metabolic syndrome patients. We investigated associations between betaine insufficiency and secondary events in acute coronary syndrome patients. Methods Plasma (531) and urine (415) samples were collected four months after discharge following an acute coronary event. Death (34), secondary acute myocardial infarction (MI) (70) and hospital admission for heart failure (45) events were recorded over a median follow-up of 832 days. Principal Findings The highest and lowest quintiles of urinary betaine excretion associated with risk of heart failure (p = 0.0046, p = 0.013 compared with middle 60%) but not with subsequent acute MI. The lowest quintile of plasma betaine was associated with subsequent acute MI (p = 0.014), and the top quintile plasma betaine with heart failure (p = 0.043), especially in patients with diabetes (p<0.001). Top quintile plasma concentrations of dimethylglycine (betaine metabolite) and top quintile plasma homocysteine both associated with all three outcomes, acute MI (p = 0.004, <0.001), heart failure (p = 0.027, p<0.001) and survival (p<0.001, p<0.001). High homocysteine was associated with high or low betaine excretion in >60% of these subjects (p = 0.017). Median NT-proBNP concentrations were lowest in the middle quintile of plasma betaine concentration (p = 0.002). Conclusions Betaine insufficiency indicates increased risk of secondary heart failure and acute MI. Its association with elevated homocysteine may partly explain the disappointing results of folate supplementation. In some patients, especially with diabetes, elevated plasma betaine also indicates increased risk. PMID:22649561

Identification of a 3rd Na+ Binding Site of the Glycine Transporter, GlyT2

PubMed Central

Subramanian, Nandhitha; Scopelitti, Amanda J.; Carland, Jane E.; Ryan, Renae M.; O’Mara, Megan L.; Vandenberg, Robert J.

2016-01-01

The Na+/Cl- dependent glycine transporters GlyT1 and GlyT2 regulate synaptic glycine concentrations. Glycine transport by GlyT2 is coupled to the co-transport of three Na+ ions, whereas transport by GlyT1 is coupled to the co-transport of only two Na+ ions. These differences in ion-flux coupling determine their respective concentrating capacities and have a direct bearing on their functional roles in synaptic transmission. The crystal structures of the closely related bacterial Na+-dependent leucine transporter, LeuTAa, and the Drosophila dopamine transporter, dDAT, have allowed prediction of two Na+ binding sites in GlyT2, but the physical location of the third Na+ site in GlyT2 is unknown. A bacterial betaine transporter, BetP, has also been crystallized and shows structural similarity to LeuTAa. Although betaine transport by BetP is coupled to the co-transport of two Na+ ions, the first Na+ site is not conserved between BetP and LeuTAa, the so called Na1' site. We hypothesized that the third Na+ binding site (Na3 site) of GlyT2 corresponds to the BetP Na1' binding site. To identify the Na3 binding site of GlyT2, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Surprisingly, a Na+ placed at the location consistent with the Na1' site of BetP spontaneously dissociated from its initial location and bound instead to a novel Na3 site. Using a combination of MD simulations of a comparative model of GlyT2 together with an analysis of the functional properties of wild type and mutant GlyTs we have identified an electrostatically favorable novel third Na+ binding site in GlyT2 formed by Trp263 and Met276 in TM3, Ala481 in TM6 and Glu648 in TM10. PMID:27337045

Prediction and Biochemical Demonstration of a Catabolic Pathway for the Osmoprotectant Proline Betaine

PubMed Central

Kumar, Ritesh; Zhao, Suwen; Vetting, Matthew W.; Wood, B. McKay; Sakai, Ayano; Cho, Kyuil; Solbiati, José; Almo, Steven C.; Sweedler, Jonathan V.; Jacobson, Matthew P.; Gerlt, John A.; Cronan, John E.

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Through the use of genetic, enzymatic, metabolomic, and structural analyses, we have discovered the catabolic pathway for proline betaine, an osmoprotectant, in Paracoccus denitrificans and Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Genetic and enzymatic analyses showed that several of the key enzymes of the hydroxyproline betaine degradation pathway also function in proline betaine degradation. Metabolomic analyses detected each of the metabolic intermediates of the pathway. The proline betaine catabolic pathway was repressed by osmotic stress and cold stress, and a regulatory transcription factor was identified. We also report crystal structure complexes of the P. denitrificans HpbD hydroxyproline betaine epimerase/proline betaine racemase with l-proline betaine and cis-hydroxyproline betaine. PMID:24520058

Betaine reduces hepatic lipidosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in Sprague-Dawley rats.

PubMed

Junnila, M; Barak, A J; Beckenhauer, H C; Rahko, T

1998-10-01

Carbon tetrachloride-injected rats were given liquid diets with and without betaine for 7 d. Hepatic lipidosis was induced by 4 daily injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Animals were killed and their livers and blood taken for analysis of betaine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Liver samples were also processed and stained for histological examination. Supplemental betaine reduced triglyceride in the liver and centrilobular hepatic lipidosis induced by the CCl4 injections. In both the control and experimental groups receiving betaine, liver betaine, BHMT and SAM were significantly higher than in their respective groups not receiving betaine. This study provides evidence that betaine protects the liver against CCl4-induced lipidosis and may be a useful therapeutic and prophylactic agent in ameliorating the harmful effects of CCl4.

The trimethylammonium headgroup of choline is a major determinant for substrate binding and specificity in choline oxidase.

PubMed

Gadda, Giovanni; Powell, Nichole L N; Menon, Prashanthi

2004-10-15

Choline oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of choline to glycine betaine via two sequential flavin-linked transfers of hydride equivalents to molecular oxygen and formation of a betaine aldehyde intermediate. In the present study, choline and glycine betaine analogs were used as substrates and inhibitors for the enzyme to investigate the structural determinants that are relevant for substrate recognition and specificity. Competitive inhibition patterns with respect to choline were determined for a number of substituted amines at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C. The Kis values for the carboxylate-containing ligands glycine betaine, N,N-dimethylglycine, and N-methylglycine increased monotonically with decreasing number of methyl groups, consistent with the trimethylammonium portion of the ligand being important for binding. In contrast, the acetate portion of glycine betaine did not contribute to binding, as suggested by lack of changes in the Kis values upon substituting glycine betaine with inhibitors containing methyl, ethyl, allyl, and 2-amino-ethyl side chains. In agreement with the inhibition data, the specificity of the enzyme for the organic substrate (kcat/Km value) decreased when N,N-dimethylethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine, and the isosteric substrate 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol were used as substrate instead of choline; a contribution of approximately 7 kcal mol(-1) toward substrate discrimination was estimated for the interaction of the trimethylammonium portion of the substrate with the active site of choline oxidase.

Connie Porter: Telling It the Way It Was.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elliot, Ian

1994-01-01

Profiles Connie Porter, best-selling children's author of six books featuring Addy Walker, a fictional African American slave girl who escapes to the North in 1864. The books, for girls aged 7 through 12, are part of a collection featuring 5 girls in different periods of American history. Discusses Porter's writing and research processes. (MDM)

Exogenous Proline and Glycine Betaine Mediated Upregulation of Antioxidant Defense and Glyoxalase Systems Provides Better Protection against Salt-Induced Oxidative Stress in Two Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties

PubMed Central

Hasanuzzaman, Mirza; Alam, Md. Mahabub; Rahman, Anisur; Hasanuzzaman, Md.; Nahar, Kamrun; Fujita, Masayuki

2014-01-01

The present study investigates the roles of exogenous proline (Pro, 5 mM) and glycine betaine (GB, 5 mM) in improving salt stress tolerance in salt sensitive (BRRI dhan49) and salt tolerant (BRRI dhan54) rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties. Salt stresses (150 and 300 mM NaCl for 48 h) significantly reduced leaf relative water (RWC) and chlorophyll (chl) content and increased endogenous Pro and increased lipid peroxidation and H2O2 levels. Ascorbate (AsA), glutathione (GSH) and GSH/GSSG, ascorbate peroxidae (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and glyoxalase I (Gly I) activities were reduced in sensitive variety and these were increased in tolerant variety due to salt stress. The glyoxalase II (Gly II), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were increased in both cultivars by salt stress. Exogenous Pro and GB application with salt stress improved physiological parameters and reduced oxidative damage in both cultivars where BRRI dhan54 showed better tolerance. The result suggests that exogenous application of Pro and GB increased rice seedlings' tolerance to salt-induced oxidative damage by upregulating their antioxidant defense system where these protectants rendered better performance to BRRI dhan54 and Pro can be considered as better protectant than GB. PMID:24991566

Hepatic betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase activity in the chicken is influenced by dietary intake of sulfur amino acids, choline and betaine.

PubMed

Emmert, J L; Garrow, T A; Baker, D H

1996-08-01

There is much interest in the metabolism of homocysteine, because elevated plasma homocysteine [hyperhomocyst(e)inemia] is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Four chick assays were conducted to determine the effects of varying dietary sulfur amino acids, choline and betaine on the activity of hepatic betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), an enzyme likely to be important in modulating plasma homocysteine. In Experiment 1, chicks were fed a purified crystalline amino acid diet containing adequate sulfur amino acids and choline. Excess dietary methionine, or the combination of excess cystine with choline or betaine, caused a small increase (P < 0.05) in BHMT activity. In Experiment 2, use of a methionine-deficient purified diet resulted in a threefold increase (P < 0.05) in BHMT activity, and addition of choline or betaine further increased (P < 0.05) BHMT activity. In Experiment 3, use of a methionine-deficient corn-peanut meal diet increased BHMT (P < 0.05) relative to that of chicks supplemented with adequate methionine, and addition of surfeit choline to the methionine-deficient basal diet caused a further increase (P < 0.05). In Experiment 4, addition of both surfeit choline and surfeit betaine to the methionine-deficient corn-peanut meal diet caused an increase (P < 0.05) in BHMT activity relative to that observed in chicks fed the methionine-deficient basal diet. These assays show that large increases in BHMT activity can be produced under methionine-deficient conditions, especially in the presence of excess choline or betaine.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with a state of betaine-insufficiency.

PubMed

Sookoian, Silvia; Puri, Puneet; Castaño, Gustavo O; Scian, Romina; Mirshahi, Faridodin; Sanyal, Arun J; Pirola, Carlos J

2017-04-01

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops from a complex process, which includes changes in the liver methylome. Betaine plays a pivotal role in the regulation of methylogenesis. We performed a two-stage case-control study, which included patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD to explore circulating levels of betaine and its association with the histological spectrum. We also explored the association between a missense rs1805074, p.Ser646Pro variant in DMGDH (dimethylglycine dehydrogenase mitochondrial) and NAFLD severity (n=390). In the discovery phase (n=48), betaine levels were associated with the disease severity (P=.0030), including liver inflammation (Spearman R:-0.51, P=.001), ballooning degeneration (R: -0.50, P=.01) and fibrosis (R: -0.54, P=.0008). Betaine levels were significantly decreased in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in comparison with nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL). Further replication (n=51) showed that betaine levels were associated with advanced NAFLD (P=.0085), and patients with NASH had a 1.26-fold decrease in betaine levels compared with those with NAFL. The rs1805074 was significantly associated with the disease severity (P=.011). NAFLD severity is associated with a state of betaine-insufficiency. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Betaine and Beet Molasses Enhance L-Lactic Acid Production by Bacillus coagulans

PubMed Central

Xu, Ke; Xu, Ping

2014-01-01

Lactic acid is an important chemical with various industrial applications, and it can be efficiently produced by fermentation, in which Bacillus coagulans strains present excellent performance. Betaine can promote lactic acid fermentation as an effective osmoprotectant. Here, positive effect of betaine on fermentation by B. coagulans is revealed. Betaine could enhance lactic acid production by protecting l-LDH activity and cell growth from osmotic inhibition, especially under high glucose concentrations and with poor organic nitrogen nutrients. The fermentation with 0.05 g/L betaine could produce 17.9% more lactic acid compared to the fermentation without betaine. Beet molasses, which is rich in sucrose and betaine, was utilized in a co-feeding fermentation and raised the productivity by 22%. The efficient lactic acid fermentation by B. coagulans is thus developed by using betaine and beet molasses. PMID:24956474

Betaine and beet molasses enhance L-lactic acid production by Bacillus coagulans.

PubMed

Xu, Ke; Xu, Ping

2014-01-01

Lactic acid is an important chemical with various industrial applications, and it can be efficiently produced by fermentation, in which Bacillus coagulans strains present excellent performance. Betaine can promote lactic acid fermentation as an effective osmoprotectant. Here, positive effect of betaine on fermentation by B. coagulans is revealed. Betaine could enhance lactic acid production by protecting l-LDH activity and cell growth from osmotic inhibition, especially under high glucose concentrations and with poor organic nitrogen nutrients. The fermentation with 0.05 g/L betaine could produce 17.9% more lactic acid compared to the fermentation without betaine. Beet molasses, which is rich in sucrose and betaine, was utilized in a co-feeding fermentation and raised the productivity by 22%. The efficient lactic acid fermentation by B. coagulans is thus developed by using betaine and beet molasses.

Assessing the industry using Porter's five forces.

PubMed

2014-01-01

To develop a business and plan for the future, there is a need to assess the current situation. One way of doing this is to use Porter's five forces framework. This was the brainchild of Harvard Business School's Michael Porter and developed in 1979. Looking at the competitive intensity of an industry, the model assesses internal and external factors that act together to determine the direction of the business; taken together, this gives an indication of the attractiveness of the industry.

Determination of Betaine in Lycii Cortex by Capillary Electrophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Xuewei; Liu, Haixing

2017-12-01

This paper presents the determination of betaine content in Lycii Cortex by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method. The borax solution was chosen as buffer solution, and its concentration was 40 mmol at a constant voltage of 20kV and injecting pressure time of 10s at 14°C. Linearity was kept in the concent ration range of 0.0113∼1.45mg of betaine with correlation coefficient of 0.9. The content of betaine in Lycii Cortex was 61.9 mg/g (RSD = 13.4%) (n = 7). The recovery was in the range of 86.6% - 118.1% (n=4). This method is specific, simple and rapid and accurate, which is suitable for the detection of the content of betaine in Lycii Cortex.

Betaine increases the butyrylcholinesterase activity in rat plasma.

PubMed

Šišková, K; Dubničková, M; Pašková, Ľ; Rajdl, D; Ďuračková, Z; Muchová, J; Pauliková, I; Racek, J

2016-01-01

The physiological function of butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8, BChE) is not clearly understood, but a role was suggested in the fat utilization process, resulting in positive correlation between plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and BChE activity. Consequently we tested the hypothesis that regular intake of betaine, a natural compound intervening in the liver TG metabolism could influence the BChE activity. The BChE activity was estimated spectrophotometrically in plasma of rats fed with betaine enriched standard (B) or high-fat diet (HFB). The results confirmed decreased TG plasma levels after betaine treatment independently on the type of diet (0.15+/-0.03 (B) vs. 0.27+/-0.08 (control) mmol/l; p=0.003 and 0.13+/-0.03 (HFB) vs. 0.27+/-0.08 (control) mmol/l; p=0.005). The BChE activity increased significantly with betaine administration, however the change was more distinct in the HFB group (0.84+/-0.34 (HFB) vs. 0.22+/-0.04 (control) O.D./min/mg; p<0.001 and 0.41+/-0.11 (B) vs. 0.22+/-0.04 (control) O.D./min/mg; p=0.001). In conclusion, betaine intake led to elevated BChE activity in plasma and this effect was potentiated by the HF diet. Since betaine is in general used as a supplement in the treatment of liver diseases accompanied by TG overload, its impact on the BChE activity in the role of the liver function marker should be taken into account.

Egg quality of quails fed low methionine diet supplemented with betaine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratriyanto, A.; Indreswari, R.; Dewanti, R.; Wahyuningsih, S.

2018-03-01

This experiment investigated the effect of betaine supplementation to low methionine diet on egg quality of quails. A total of 340 laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was divided into 4 dietary treatments with 5 replicates of 17 quails each. The experiment was assigned in a completely randomized design. The four dietary treatments were the low methionine diet (0.3% methionine) without betaine supplementation and the low methionine diet supplemented with 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21% betaine. The experimental diets were applied for 8 weeks and the egg quality traits were measured at the age of 16 and 20 weeks. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, and when the treatment indicated significant effect, it was continued to orthogonal polynomial test to determine the optimum level of betaine. Increasing dietary levels of betaine increased the fat content of the egg with the linear regression of y = 11.0949 + 4.1914x (R2 = 0.18). However, supplementation of betaine did not affect protein content, yolk, albumen, and eggshell percentage. It can be concluded that betaine supplementation up to 0.21% to low methionine diet only had little effect in improving the quality traits of quail eggs.

Association of betaine with blood pressure in dialysis patients.

PubMed

Wang, Lulu; Zhao, Mingming; Liu, Wenjin; Li, Xiurong; Chu, Hong; Bai, Youwei; Sun, Zhuxing; Gao, Chaoqing; Zheng, Lemin; Yang, Junwei

2018-02-01

Mechanisms underlying elevated blood pressure in dialysis patients are complex as a variety of non-traditional factors are involved. We sought to explore the association of circulating betaine, a compound widely distributed in food, with blood pressure in dialysis patients. We used baseline data of an ongoing cohort study involving patients on hemodialysis. Plasma betaine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography in 327 subjects. Blood pressure level was determined by intradialytic ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The mean age of the patients was 52.6 ± 11.9 years, and 58.4% were male. Average interdialytic ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 138.4 ± 22.7 mm Hg and 84.4 ± 12.5 mm Hg, respectively. Mean plasma betaine level was 37.6 μmol/L. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant associations of betaine with both systolic blood pressure (β = -3.66, P = .003) and diastolic blood pressure (β = -2.00, P = .004). The associations persisted even after extensive adjustment for cardiovascular covariates. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between betaine and blood pressure was mainly limited to female patients. Our data suggest that alteration of circulating betaine possibly contributes to blood pressure regulation in these patients. ©2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of betaine on pig finishing performance and carcass composition.

PubMed

Lawrence, B V; Schinckel, A P; Adeola, O; Cera, K

2002-02-01

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of betaine supplementation of finishing diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of swine. Experiment 1 included 288 pigs in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of barrows and gilts of two genetic populations fed diets with 1.25 g/kg supplemental betaine from either 83 or 104 kg to 116 kg and control pigs fed betaine-devoid diets. Pigs were housed three pigs per pen with eight replicate pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based with 300 ppm added choline. Genetic populations differed (P < 0.05) in fat depth (2.24 vs 2.93 cm) and longissimus muscle depth (53.8 vs 49.1 mm) at 116 kg. Betaine reduced feed intake (P < 0.05); however, real-time ultrasound measurements were not affected. In Exp. 2, 400 pigs were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of sex (barrow or gilts), betaine (0 or 1 g/kg of diet), and crude protein (CP) (0.70% lysine = 12.7% CP or 0.85% lysine = 15.0% CP) when fed from 60 to 110 kg live weight. Pigs had been assigned to either a high- or low-protein feeding regimen at an average initial weight of 11.3 kg and were maintained on their respective protein levels throughout the experiment. For a 56-d period from 61.7 kg to 113.6 kg, pigs were fed diets with 300 ppm added choline. Within each protein level, pigs were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 or 1 g/kg betaine. Pigs were group-housed (four to five pigs per pen). Pig weight and feed intake were recorded every 28 d. Real-time ultrasound measurements were recorded initially and at d 28 on 64 pigs, and on all pigs prior to slaughter. Growth rate was fastest and feed intake greatest for barrows (P < 0.05) and for pigs receiving 12.7% crude protein. A crude protein x betaine interaction (P < 0.05) was observed from d 28 to 56 with pigs fed the 15% CP diet growing fastest when supplemented with 1 g/kg betaine, and pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet

Accelerated isothermal nucleic acid amplification in betaine-free reaction.

PubMed

Ma, Cuiping; Wang, Yifan; Zhang, Pansong; Shi, Chao

2017-08-01

Betaine was used as a common additive to isothermal nucleic acid amplification reactions because of lowering the melting temperature (Tm) of DNA. Herein, we reported a novel finding that betaine was inhibiting the reaction efficiency of isothermal amplification reactions. In this work, we have verified this finding by classical loop-mediated isothermal amplification that the addition of 0.8 M betaine inhibited the efficiency of reaction dropping to approximately 1%. Additionally, we clarified the mechanism of betaine hindering isothermal amplification reactions with a molecular barrier to lower associate rate constant K1 for intermolecular hybridization. This finding would be very significant for studies on the interaction between small molecule substance and DNA, and the development of point-of-care testing because of simplifying reaction system and increasing reaction efficiency. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structural and functional analysis of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Halavaty, Andrei S; Rich, Rebecca L; Chen, Chao; Joo, Jeong Chan; Minasov, George; Dubrovska, Ievgeniia; Winsor, James R; Myszka, David G; Duban, Mark; Shuvalova, Ludmilla; Yakunin, Alexander F; Anderson, Wayne F

2015-05-01

When exposed to high osmolarity, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) restores its growth and establishes a new steady state by accumulating the osmoprotectant metabolite betaine. Effective osmoregulation has also been implicated in the acquirement of a profound antibiotic resistance by MRSA. Betaine can be obtained from the bacterial habitat or produced intracellularly from choline via the toxic betaine aldehyde (BA) employing the choline dehydrogenase and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) enzymes. Here, it is shown that the putative betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase SACOL2628 from the early MRSA isolate COL (SaBADH) utilizes betaine aldehyde as the primary substrate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) as the cofactor. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that the affinity of NAD(+), NADH and BA for SaBADH is affected by temperature, pH and buffer composition. Five crystal structures of the wild type and three structures of the Gly234Ser mutant of SaBADH in the apo and holo forms provide details of the molecular mechanisms of activity and substrate specificity/inhibition of this enzyme.

Structural and functional analysis of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus aureus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Halavaty, Andrei S.; Rich, Rebecca L.; Chen, Chao

When exposed to high osmolarity, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) restores its growth and establishes a new steady state by accumulating the osmoprotectant metabolite betaine. Effective osmoregulation has also been implicated in the acquirement of a profound antibiotic resistance by MRSA. Betaine can be obtained from the bacterial habitat or produced intracellularly from choline via the toxic betaine aldehyde (BA) employing the choline dehydrogenase and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) enzymes. Here, it is shown that the putative betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase SACOL2628 from the early MRSA isolate COL ( SaBADH) utilizes betaine aldehyde as the primary substrate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADmore » +) as the cofactor. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that the affinity of NAD +, NADH and BA for SaBADH is affected by temperature, pH and buffer composition. Finally, five crystal structures of the wild type and three structures of the Gly234Ser mutant of SaBADH in the apo and holo forms provide details of the molecular mechanisms of activity and substrate specificity/inhibition of this enzyme.« less

Structural and functional analysis of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus aureus

DOE PAGES

Halavaty, Andrei S.; Rich, Rebecca L.; Chen, Chao; ...

2015-04-25

When exposed to high osmolarity, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) restores its growth and establishes a new steady state by accumulating the osmoprotectant metabolite betaine. Effective osmoregulation has also been implicated in the acquirement of a profound antibiotic resistance by MRSA. Betaine can be obtained from the bacterial habitat or produced intracellularly from choline via the toxic betaine aldehyde (BA) employing the choline dehydrogenase and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) enzymes. Here, it is shown that the putative betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase SACOL2628 from the early MRSA isolate COL ( SaBADH) utilizes betaine aldehyde as the primary substrate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADmore » +) as the cofactor. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that the affinity of NAD +, NADH and BA for SaBADH is affected by temperature, pH and buffer composition. Finally, five crystal structures of the wild type and three structures of the Gly234Ser mutant of SaBADH in the apo and holo forms provide details of the molecular mechanisms of activity and substrate specificity/inhibition of this enzyme.« less

Gene Porter Bridwell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1994-01-01

Gene Porter Bridwell served as the director of the Marshall Space Flight Center from January 6, 1994 until February 3, 1996, when he retired from NASA after thirty-four years service. Bridwell, a Marshall employee since 1962, had been Marshall's Space Shuttle Projects Office Director and Space Station Redesign Team deputy manager. Under Bridwell, Marshall worked to develop its role as a Center of Excellence for propulsion and for providing access to space.

Alleviation of Carbon-Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Betaine Supplementation in Chickens

PubMed Central

Tsai, Meng-Tsz; Chen, Ching-Yi; Pan, Yu-Hui; Wang, Siou-Huei; Mersmann, Harry J.; Ding, Shih-Torng

2015-01-01

Betaine is a food component with well-reported hepatoprotection effects. However, the effects and mechanisms of betaine on liver fibrosis development are still insufficient. Because metabolic functions of chicken and human liver is similar, we established a chicken model with carbon Tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced fibrosis for studying antifibrotic effect of betaine in vivo and in vitro. Two-week-old male chicks were supplemented with betaine (1%, w/v) in drinking water for 2 weeks prior to the initiation of CCl4 treatment (i.p.) until sacrifice. Primary chicken hepatocytes were treated with CCl4 and betaine to mimic the in vivo supplementation. The supplementation of betaine significantly alleviated liver fibrosis development along with the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, hepatic inflammation cytokine, and transforming growth factor-β1 expression levels. These inhibitive effects were also accompanied with the attenuation of hepatic stellate cell activation. Furthermore, our in vitro studies confirmed that betaine provides antioxidant capacity for attenuating the hepatocyte necrosis by CCl4. Altogether, our results highlight the antioxidant ability of betaine, which alleviates CCl4-induced fibrogenesis process along with the suppression of hepatic stellate cells activation. Since betaine is a natural compound without toxicity, we suggest betaine can be used as a potent nutritional or therapeutic factor for reducing liver fibrosis. PMID:26491462

Choline and betaine food sources and intakes in Taiwanese.

PubMed

Chu, Da-Ming; Wahlqvist, Mark L; Chang, Hsing-Yi; Yeh, Nai-Hua; Lee, Meei-Shyuan

2012-01-01

Choline and betaine are involved in several similar health-relevant metabolic pathways, but the foods sources are different. We have assessed their intakes (individual, sums and ratios) from a dominantly Chinese food cultural point of view. A representative free-living Taiwanese population aged 13-64 years was drawn from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) 1993-1996. Food intake was derived from interviews as 24-hour recalls. The USDA database, with adaptations for Taiwan, provided choline and betaine food compositions. Major food contributors of these nutrients were identified and compared with data from the US Framingham offspring study. Mean and variance reduced median nutrient intakes were calculated. Top ten major food contributors of choline in Taiwan were eggs, pork, chicken, fish, soybean and its products, dark leafy vegetables, dairy, fruit, wheat products and light leafy vegetables in sequence. For betaine, the top ten were dark leafy vegetables, wheat products, fish, pork, bread, chicken, cake/cookies, grain-based alcoholic beverages, rice and its products and sauces. The main contributors of choline in Taiwan and the USA were, respectively, eggs and red meat; and for betaine, greens were similarly best contributor. The rankings of the main food contributors of choline and betaine differed substantially between Taiwan and the USA. The total daily intakes (mean±SE, mg) in Taiwan for choline were 372±19 (median=348) in men and 265±9 (median 261) for women; for betaine, values were 101±3 (median 93) in men and 78±8 (median 76) for women. These allow for health outcome considerations.

Dietary choline and betaine intakes vary in an adult multiethnic population.

PubMed

Yonemori, Kim M; Lim, Unhee; Koga, Karin R; Wilkens, Lynne R; Au, Donna; Boushey, Carol J; Le Marchand, Loïc; Kolonel, Laurence N; Murphy, Suzanne P

2013-06-01

Choline and betaine are important nutrients for human health, but reference food composition databases for these nutrients became available only recently. We tested the feasibility of using these databases to estimate dietary choline and betaine intakes among ethnically diverse adults who participated in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study. Of the food items (n = 965) used to quantify intakes for the MEC FFQ, 189 items were exactly matched with items in the USDA Database for the Choline Content of Common Foods for total choline, choline-containing compounds, and betaine, and 547 items were matched to the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference for total choline (n = 547) and 148 for betaine. When a match was not found, choline and betaine values were imputed based on the same food with a different form (124 food items for choline, 300 for choline compounds, 236 for betaine), a similar food (n = 98, 284, and 227, respectively) or the closest item in the same food category (n = 6, 191, and 157, respectively), or the values were assumed to be zero (n = 1, 1, and 8, respectively). The resulting mean intake estimates for choline and betaine among 188,147 MEC participants (aged 45-75) varied by sex (372 and 154 mg/d in men, 304 and 128 mg/d in women, respectively; P-heterogeneity < 0.0001) and by race/ethnicity among Caucasians, African Americans, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and Native Hawaiians (P-heterogeneity < 0.0001), largely due to the variation in energy intake. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of assessing choline and betaine intake and characterize the variation in intake that exists in a multiethnic population.

Inca Trail porters: the health of local tourism employees as a challenge for travel medicine.

PubMed

Bauer, Irmgard L

2003-01-01

Trekking is an activity that forms part of the increasing adventure and outdoor tourism. High altitude trekking in the Himalayas or Andes has been popular for some time. For longer treks, porters are employed to carry necessary equipment. Porters' working conditions are unfortunate and subsequent health problems considerable. Although Himalayan porters have received some attention in the press and research literature, porters on the popular Inca Trail in Peru have been neglected. In light of the growing awareness of health problems of local tourism employees, the purpose of this study was to describe Inca Trail porters' working conditions and their reports on their related health status to provide baseline information for further research and strategies for improvement. For this descriptive study, 101 Inca Trail porters were interviewed (August/September 2001) using a structured interview schedule. Porters were between 17 and 68 years old; estimated body weight ranged from 50 kg to 76 kg. The usual portering job lasts for 4 days with 9 to 10 hours of carrying per day. Estimated weight of loads ranged from 20 kg to 45 kg. Major concerns were lack of fuel, clothes, shelter, and equipment but foremost the lack of sufficient food provisions. A third described their general health as poor or very poor and attributed this to work. Health complaints included respiratory infections, kidney problems, or rheumatism. Thirty-eight porters recalled injuries while on the trail and over 90% had fallen ill on the job with cold, "majurki," and stomach pain due to lack of food or cold food being named most often. Porters' demands for improvement included increased pay and appropriate and sufficient food. The porters' working conditions and subsequent health problems need to be addressed. A range of stakeholders is responsible for the porters' conditions and are in a position to improve current situations. Specific responsibility for health care lies with travel health professionals

Killin'em with kindness: "The porter" and Hemingway's racial cauldron.

PubMed

Dudley, Marc

2010-01-01

"The Porter" brings us close to the nightmare plaguing white America's collective imagination during the 20th century's formative years, when white and black collided and racial definition conflated. Hemingway's piece about a young white boy, his father, and the African-American porter who serves them on an overnight train trip is an exploration of 20th century American race relations. Initially, Hemingway pushes the reader to see the world through the young boy's eyes, through the bifurcated lens of racial stereotype. But through the black porter's intervention, the reader comes to recognize that the lens of racial stereotype is imperfect, faulty even, and that notions of white supremacy and the color line are dangerous illusions.

Commercial porters of eastern Nepal: health status, physical work capacity, and energy expenditure.

PubMed

Malville, N J; Byrnes, W C; Lim, H A; Basnyat, R

2001-01-01

The purpose of the study was to compare full-time hill porters in eastern Nepal with part-time casual porters engaged primarily in subsistence farming. The 50 porters selected for this study in Kenja (elevation 1,664 m) were young adult males of Tibeto-Nepali origin. Following standardized interviews, anthropometry, and routine physical examinations, the porters were tested in a field laboratory for physiological parameters associated with aerobic performance. Exercise testing, using a step test and indirect calorimetry, included a submaximal assessment of economy and a maximal-effort graded exercise test. Energy expenditure was measured in the field during actual tumpline load carriage. No statistically significant differences were found between full-time and part-time porters with respect to age, anthropometric characteristics, health, nutritional status, or aerobic power. Mean VO2 peak was 2.38 +/- 0.27 L/min (47.1 +/- 5.3 ml/kg/min). Load-carrying economy did not differ significantly between porter groups. The relationship between VO2 and load was linear over the range of 10-30 kg with a slope of 9 +/- 4 ml O2/min per kg of load. During the field test of actual work performance, porters expended, on average, 348 +/- 68 kcal/hr in carrying loads on the level and 408 +/- 60 kcal/hr in carrying loads uphill. Most porters stopped every 2 min, on average, to rest their loads briefly on T-headed resting sticks (tokmas). The technique of self-paced, intermittent exercise together with the modest increase in energy demands for carrying increasingly heavier loads allows these individuals to regulate work intensity and carry extremely heavy loads without creating persistent medical problems.

Physicochemical properties of betaine monohydrate-carboxylic acid mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zahrina, I.; Nasikin, M.; Mulia, K.

2018-05-01

Green solvents are widely used to minimize environmental problems associated with the use of volatile organic solvents in many industries. DES are new green solvents in recent. The physicochemical properties of DES can be varied by properly combining of salts with different hydrogen bond donors. The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of varying molar ratios on the physicochemical properties of betaine monohydrate-carboxylic acid (i.e,. propionic or acetic acid) mixtures. Properties of mixtures were measured at 40°C. The viscosity, polarity scale (ENR), density, pH, and water content tend to decrease with the decrease in a molar ratio of betaine monohydrate to acid. Conversely, the ionic conductivity was increased. The physicochemical properties of these mixtures depend on the hydrogen bonding interactions between betaine, water and acid molecules. Betaine monohydratecarboxylic acid mixtures have wide range of polarity, low viscosity, high ionic conductivity, and density higher than 1 g·cm-3 that make them fit for numerous various applications. Additionally, due to these mixtures have acidic pH, it should be properly selected of metal type to minimize corrosion problems in industrial application.

Fluorescence of the Flavin group in choline oxidase. Insights and analytical applications for the determination of choline and betaine aldehyde.

PubMed

Ortega, E; de Marcos, S; Sanz-Vicente, I; Ubide, C; Ostra, M; Vidal, M; Galbán, J

2016-01-15

Choline oxidase (ChOx) is a flavoenzyme catalysing the oxidation of choline (Ch) to betaine aldehyde (BA) and glycine betaine (GB). In this paper a fundamental study of the intrinsic fluorescence properties of ChOx due to Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) is presented and some analytical applications are studied in detail. Firstly, an unusual alteration in the excitation spectra, in comparison with the absorption spectra, has been observed as a function of the pH. This is ascribed to a change of polarity in the excited state. Secondly, the evolution of the fluorescence spectra during the reaction seems to indicate that the reaction takes place in two consecutive, but partially overlapped, steps and each of them follows a different mechanism. Thirdly, the chemical system can be used to determine the Ch concentration in the range from 5×10(-6)M to 5×10(-5)M (univariate and multivariate calibration) in the presence of BA as interference, and the joint Ch+BA concentration in the range 5×10(-6)-5×10(-4)M (multivariate calibration) with mean errors under 10%; a semiquantitative determination of the BA concentration can be deduced by difference. Finally, Ch has been successfully determined in an infant milk sample. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane-Assisted Fabrication of beta-In(2)S(3) Nanowires.

PubMed

Shi, Jen-Bin; Chen, Chih-Jung; Lin, Ya-Ting; Hsu, Wen-Chia; Chen, Yu-Cheng; Wu, Po-Feng

2009-06-06

In this study, beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires were first synthesized by sulfurizing the pure Indium (In) nanowires in an AAO membrane. As FE-SEM results, beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires are highly ordered, arranged tightly corresponding to the high porosity of the AAO membrane used. The diameter of the beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires is about 60 nm with the length of about 6-8 mum. Moreover, the aspect ratio of beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires is up to 117. An EDS analysis revealed the beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires with an atomic ratio of nearly S/In = 1.5. X-ray diffraction and corresponding selected area electron diffraction patterns demonstrated that the beta-In(2)S(3) nanowire is tetragonal polycrystalline. The direct band gap energy (E(g)) is 2.40 eV from the optical measurement, and it is reasonable with literature.

Betaine is accumulated via transient choline dehydrogenase activation during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation.

PubMed

McClatchie, Taylor; Meredith, Megan; Ouédraogo, Mariame O; Slow, Sandy; Lever, Michael; Mann, Mellissa R W; Zeisel, Steven H; Trasler, Jacquetta M; Baltz, Jay M

2017-08-18

Betaine ( N,N,N -trimethylglycine) plays key roles in mouse eggs and preimplantation embryos first in a novel mechanism of cell volume regulation and second as a major methyl donor in blastocysts, but its origin is unknown. Here, we determined that endogenous betaine was present at low levels in germinal vesicle (GV) stage mouse oocytes before ovulation and reached high levels in the mature, ovulated egg. However, no betaine transport into oocytes was detected during meiotic maturation. Because betaine can be synthesized in mammalian cells via choline dehydrogenase (CHDH; EC 1.1.99.1), we assessed whether this enzyme was expressed and active. Chdh transcripts and CHDH protein were expressed in oocytes. No CHDH enzyme activity was detected in GV oocyte lysate, but CHDH became highly active during oocyte meiotic maturation. It was again inactive after fertilization. We then determined whether oocytes synthesized betaine and whether CHDH was required. Isolated maturing oocytes autonomously synthesized betaine in vitro in the presence of choline, whereas this failed to occur in Chdh -/- oocytes, directly demonstrating a requirement for CHDH for betaine accumulation in oocytes. Overall, betaine accumulation is a previously unsuspected physiological process during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation whose underlying mechanism is the transient activation of CHDH. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Dietary betaine affect duodenal histology of broilers challenged with a mixed coccidial infection.

PubMed

Hamidi, H; Pourreza, J; Rahimi, H

2009-02-01

The purpose of this research was to investigate effect of dietary betaine on intestinal morphology after an experimental coccidiosis. Hence a total of 189 male and female broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 9 floor cages. Chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.6 or 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine. All birds were inoculated orally with Eimeria oocysts on day 28. Duodenal morphology parameters and lesions were scored by microscopic observation on intestine samples which were taken at day 42 of age. Adding 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine to diet diminished intestinal lesions (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.6 or 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine significantly (p < 0.01) increased intraepithelial lymphocytes as well. Level of additive betaine had no effect on the ratio of villus height/crypt depth or villus surface area. Lamina propria of duodenum became thicker in the intestine of chickens which received more supplemental betaine via their diet. In conclusion, since the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and thickness of lamina propria represent the condition of gut immune response, it seems that dietary betaine may immunomodulate the gastrointestinal tract of broilers. In addition, betaine effect on villus morphology measured later in life differed from what had been measured already earlier in life of the chicks.

Symbolism--The Main Artistic Style of Katherine Anne Porter's Short Stories

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Ru

2010-01-01

The paper takes Katherine Anne Porter's two short stories: "Flowering Judas", "The Grave" as objects of study. It will try to analyze Porter's writing style through her imaginary conception, vivid psychological description and multiple symbolisms so that we can understand her studies and her attitudes to female psychological…

Porter Takes Reins of the FNL Green Team | Poster

Cancer.gov

Courtesy of the FNL Green Team Melissa Porter, who recently joined the staff of Craig Reynolds, Ph.D., director, Office of Scientific Operations, as administrative manager, has stepped forward to lead the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) Green Team in its efforts to promote a “green” work environment. “I am excited to lead the FNL Green Team and have been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of the FNL Green Team,” Porter said.

Choline and betaine intake and the risk of colorectal cancer in men.

PubMed

Lee, Jung Eun; Giovannucci, Edward; Fuchs, Charles S; Willett, Walter C; Zeisel, Steven H; Cho, Eunyoung

2010-03-01

Dietary choline and betaine have been hypothesized to decrease the risk of cancer because of their role as methyl donors in the one-carbon metabolism. However, it remains unknown whether dietary intake of choline and betaine is associated with colorectal cancer risk. We prospectively examined the associations between dietary choline and betaine intake and risk of colorectal cancer in men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. We followed 47,302 men and identified a total of 987 incident colorectal cancer cases from 1986 to 2004. We assessed dietary and supplemental choline and betaine intake every 4 years using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate multivariate relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. All statistical tests were two-sided. We did not find any statistically significant associations between choline intake or betaine intake and risk of colorectal cancer. Comparing the top quintile with bottom quintile, multivariate relative risks (95% confidence interval) were 0.97 (0.79-1.20; P(trend) = 0.87) for choline intake and 0.94 (0.77-1.16; P(trend) = 0.79) for betaine intake. Similarly, we observed no associations between colorectal cancer risk and choline from free choline, glycerophosphocholine, phosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine, or sphingomyelin. Our data do not support the hypothesis that choline and betaine intake is inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk.

Choline and betaine intake and the risk of colorectal cancer in men

PubMed Central

Lee, Jung Eun; Giovannucci, Edward; Fuchs, Charles S.; Willett, Walter C.; Zeisel, Steven H.; Cho, Eunyoung

2010-01-01

Dietary choline and betaine have been hypothesized to decrease the risk of cancer because of their role as methyl donors in the one-carbon metabolism. However, it remains unknown whether dietary intake of choline and betaine is associated with colorectal cancer risk. We prospectively examined the associations between dietary choline and betaine intake and risk of colorectal cancer in men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. We followed 47,302 men and identified a total of 987 incident colorectal cancer cases from 1986 to 2004. We assessed dietary and supplemental choline and betaine intake every four years using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate multivariate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). All statistical tests were two-sided. We did not find any statistically significant associations between choline intake or betaine intake and risk of colorectal cancer. Comparing the top quintile with bottom quintile, multivariate RRs (95% CI) were 0.97 (0.79-1.20; Ptrend = 0.87) for choline intake and 0.94 (0.77-1.16; Ptrend = 0.79) for betaine intake. Similarly, we observed no associations between colorectal cancer risk and choline from free choline, glycerophosphocholine, phosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine, or sphingomyelin. Our data do not support that choline and betaine intake is inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk. PMID:20160273

Betaine prevents homocysteine-induced memory impairment via matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the frontal cortex.

PubMed

Kunisawa, K; Nakashima, N; Nagao, M; Nomura, T; Kinoshita, S; Hiramatsu, M

2015-10-01

Betaine plays important roles that include acting as a methyl donor and converting homocysteine (Hcy) to methionine. Elevated plasma Hcy levels are known as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and contribute to impairments of learning and memory. Although it is commonly known that betaine plays an important role in Hcy metabolism, the effects of betaine on Hcy-induced memory impairment have not been investigated. Previously, we demonstrated the beneficial effects of betaine on acute stress and lipopolysaccharide-induced memory impairment. In the present study, we investigated whether betaine ameliorates Hcy-induced memory impairment and the underlying mechanisms of this putative effect. Mice were treated with Hcy (0.162mg/kg, s.c.) twice a day for nine days, and betaine (25mg/kg, s.c.) was administered 30min before the Hcy injections. The memory functions were evaluated using a spontaneous alternation performance test (Y-maze) at seven days and a step-down type passive avoidance test (SD) at nine and ten days after Hcy injection. We found that betaine suppressed the memory impairment induced by repeated Hcy injections. However, the blood concentrations of Hcy were significantly increased in the Hcy-treated mice immediately after the passive avoidance test, and betaine did not prevent this increase. Furthermore, Hcy induces redox stress in part by activating matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which leads to BBB dysfunction. Therefore, we tested whether betaine affected MMP-9 activity. Interestingly, treatment with betaine significantly inhibited Hcy-induced MMP-9 activity in the frontal cortex but not in the hippocampus after acute Hcy injection. These results suggest that the changes in MMP-9 activity after betaine treatment might have been partially responsible for the amelioration of the memory deficits and that MMP-9 might be a candidate therapeutic target for HHcy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assay, Purification, and Partial Characterization of Choline Monooxygenase from Spinach.

PubMed Central

Burnet, M.; Lafontaine, P. J.; Hanson, A. D.

1995-01-01

The osmoprotectant glycine betaine is synthesized via the path-way choline -> betaine aldehyde -> glycine betaine. In spinach (Spinacia oleracea), the first step is catalyzed by choline monooxygenase (CMO), and the second is catalyzed by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase. Because betaine aldehyde is unstable and not easily detected, we developed a coupled radiometric assay for CMO. [14C]Choline is used as substrate; NAD+ and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase prepared from Escherichia coli are added to oxidize [14C]betaine aldehyde to [14C]glycine betaine, which is isolated by ion exchange. The assay was used in the purification of CMO from leaves of salinized spinach. The 10-step procedure included polyethylene glycol precipitation, polyethyleneimine precipitation, hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange on choline-Sepharose, dimethyldiethanolamine-Sepharose, and Mono Q, hydroxyapatite, gel filtration, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Following gel filtration, overall purification was about 600-fold and recovery of activity was 0.5%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 45 kD. Taken with the value of 98 kD estimated for native CMO (R. Brouquisse, P. Weigel, D. Rhodes, C.F. Yocum, A.D. Hanson [1989] Plant Physiol 90: 322-329), this indicates that CMO is a homodimer. CMO preparations were red-brown, showed absorption maxima at 329 and 459 nm, and lost color upon dithionite addition, suggesting that CMO is an iron-sulfur protein. PMID:12228495

Mechanical Insight into Resistance of Betaine to Urea-Induced Protein Denaturation.

PubMed

Chen, Jiantao; Gong, Xiangjun; Zeng, Chaoxi; Wang, Yonghua; Zhang, Guangzhao

2016-12-08

It is known that urea can induce protein denaturation that can be inhibited by osmolytes. Yet, experimental explorations on this mechanism at the molecular level are still lacking. We have investigated the resistance of betaine to the urea-induced denaturation of lysozyme in aqueous solutions using low-field NMR. Our study demonstrates that urea molecules directly interact with lysozyme, leading to denaturation. However, betaine molecules interacting with urea more strongly than lysozyme can pull the bound urea molecules from lysozyme so that the protein is protected from denaturation. The number of urea molecules bound to a betaine molecule is given under different conditions. Proton NMR spectroscopy ( 1 H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveal that the interaction between betaine and urea is through hydrogen bonding.

The clinical significance of betaine, an osmolyte with a key role in methyl group metabolism.

PubMed

Lever, Michael; Slow, Sandy

2010-06-01

Betaine is an essential osmolyte and source of methyl groups and comes from either the diet or by the oxidation of choline. Its metabolism methylates homocysteine to methionine, also producing N,N-dimethylglycine. Betaine insufficiency is associated with the metabolic syndrome, lipid disorders and diabetes, and may have a role in vascular and other diseases. Betaine is important in development, from the pre-implantation embryo to infancy. Betaine supplementation improves animal and poultry health, but the effect of long-term supplementation on humans is not known, though reports that it improves athletic performance will stimulate further studies. Subsets of the population that may benefit from betaine supplementation could be identified by the laboratory, in particular those who excessively lose betaine through the urine. Plasma betaine is highly individual, in women typically 20-60 micromol/L and in men 25-75 micromol/L. Plasma dimethylglycine is typically <10 micromol/L. Urine betaine excretion is minimal, even following a large betaine dose. It is constant, highly individual and normally <35 mmol/mole creatinine. The preferred method of betaine measurement is by LC-MS/MS, which is rapid and capable of automation. Slower HPLC methods give comparable results. Proton NMR spectrometry is another option but caution is needed to avoid confusion with trimethylamine-N-oxide. 2010 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dietary Choline and Betaine Intakes Vary in an Adult Multiethnic Population123

PubMed Central

Yonemori, Kim M.; Lim, Unhee; Koga, Karin R.; Wilkens, Lynne R.; Au, Donna; Boushey, Carol J.; Le Marchand, Loïc; Kolonel, Laurence N.; Murphy, Suzanne P.

2013-01-01

Choline and betaine are important nutrients for human health, but reference food composition databases for these nutrients became available only recently. We tested the feasibility of using these databases to estimate dietary choline and betaine intakes among ethnically diverse adults who participated in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study. Of the food items (n = 965) used to quantify intakes for the MEC FFQ, 189 items were exactly matched with items in the USDA Database for the Choline Content of Common Foods for total choline, choline-containing compounds, and betaine, and 547 items were matched to the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference for total choline (n = 547) and 148 for betaine. When a match was not found, choline and betaine values were imputed based on the same food with a different form (124 food items for choline, 300 for choline compounds, 236 for betaine), a similar food (n = 98, 284, and 227, respectively) or the closest item in the same food category (n = 6, 191, and 157, respectively), or the values were assumed to be zero (n = 1, 1, and 8, respectively). The resulting mean intake estimates for choline and betaine among 188,147 MEC participants (aged 45–75) varied by sex (372 and 154 mg/d in men, 304 and 128 mg/d in women, respectively; P-heterogeneity < 0.0001) and by race/ethnicity among Caucasians, African Americans, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and Native Hawaiians (P-heterogeneity < 0.0001), largely due to the variation in energy intake. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of assessing choline and betaine intake and characterize the variation in intake that exists in a multiethnic population. PMID:23616508

Diplodiatoxin, chaetoglobosins, and diplonine associated with a field outbreak of Stenocarpella ear rot in Illinois.

PubMed

Rogers, Kristina D; Cannistra, Joseph C; Gloer, James B; Wicklow, Donald T

2014-05-01

Stenocarpella maydis causes a fungal dry-rot of maize ears and is associated with diplodiosis, a neuromycotoxicosis in cattle grazing harvested maize fields in southern Africa and Argentina. There have been no reports of Stenocarpella metabolites in maize crop residues. Chemical investigations of S. maydis-infected grain from ears exhibiting different levels of ear rot severity following a 2010 field outbreak of Stenocarpella ear rot in Illinois led to the detection of diplodiatoxin and chaetoglobosins M and O as major components in the ethyl acetate extracts by LC-MS. Following post-harvest moist incubation of the S. maydis-infected grain, the amounts of each compound increased (approx. tenfold) and chaetoglobosin K was detected as a dominant toxin. In separate (1)H NMR-based analyses, the neurotoxin diplonine was detected as a minor component in methanol extracts of S. maydis-infected grain as well as cultures of S. maydis isolates from Midwest corn. Proline betaine (=stachydrine) and glycine betaine were also detected in these extracts as major components. This constitutes the first report of chaetoglobosin M, chaetoglobosin O, proline betaine, or glycine betaine from S. maydis, and the first record of diplodiatoxin, diplonine, proline betaine, glycine betaine, or chaetoglobosins M, O, or K being associated with a natural field outreak of S. maydis ear rot.

Replacement value of betaine for DL-methionine in male broiler chicks.

PubMed

Schutte, J B; De Jong, J; Smink, W; Pack, M

1997-02-01

The effect of DL-methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance of 2,400 male broilers in the age period of 1 to 38 d, and on carcass composition of a subsample of 384 birds was examined. Three dose levels of DL-methionine (0, 0.05, and 0.10%) and two doses of betaine (0 and 0.04%) were supplemented in different combinations to methioninedeficient diets. Two types of diets were fed as starters and growers: either corn-soybean diets or practical diets typical for the Dutch broiler industry. All diets were fortified with 220 ppm choline in order to avoid a deficiency in methyl groups. Increasing DL-methionine supplementation significantly improved daily weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Supplemental betaine did not affect bird growth. Betaine slightly improved feed conversion in diets without supplemental DL-methionine, but did not affect this parameter in diets with added DL-methionine. Breast meat yield was significantly increased by about 1.5 percentage points by the addition of 0.05% DL-methionine, whereas 0.04% betaine only tended to increase breast meat yield in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points. The type of diet did not have any effect on the responses obtained. In summary, there was no evidence for betaine to spare DL-methionine as an essential amino acid supplement in broiler diets.

Effects of betaine on biological functions in meat-type ducks exposed to heat stress.

PubMed

Park, S O; Kim, W K

2017-05-01

Heat stress in hot seasons is a major problem in poultry production, particularly in humid areas. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacodynamics of betaine on the blood and cecal short chain fatty acid profile in meat-type ducks exposed to heat stress. Three-hundred-sixty meat-type ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) were randomly allocated into 4 treatments: C (heat stress control without betaine), T1 (700 ppm betaine), T2 (1,000 ppm betaine), and T3 (1,300 ppm betaine). Each treatment had 6 replicated pens with 15 meat-type ducks per pen. The study was conducted for 42 days. Our findings revealed that the betaine group had higher body weight gain compared to the control group under heat stress (P < 0.05). Betaine supplementation resulted in more significant improvement in hematological indicators such as RBCs and platelet counts than the heat stress control group (P < 0.05). Under the heat-wave environment, supplementation of betaine manifested a significant decrease in blood pH (P < 0.05) but not in electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) and gas concentration. The concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the cecum was higher than the control under heat stress conditions. The total SCFA, acetic acid, and propionic acid production was higher in the betaine supplemented groups compared to the heat stress control group (P < 0.05). Results showed that betaine supplementation has beneficial effects in meat-type ducks under heat stress on short chain fatty acid levels, blood biochemical parameters, and body weight. © 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Choline and betaine consumption lowers cancer risk: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies.

PubMed

Sun, Shanwen; Li, Xiao; Ren, Anjing; Du, Mulong; Du, Haina; Shu, Yongqian; Zhu, Lingjun; Wang, Wei

2016-10-19

A number of human and animal in vitro or in vivo studies have investigated the relationship between dietary choline and betaine and cancer risk, suggesting that choline and betaine consumption may be protective for cancer. There are also a few epidemiologic studies exploring this relationship, however, with inconsistent conclusions. The PubMed and Embase were searched, from their inception to March 2016, to identify relevant studies and we brought 11 articles into this meta-analysis eventually. The pooled relative risks (RRs) of cancer for the highest versus the lowest range were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.97) for choline consumption only, 0.86 (95%CI, 0.76 to 0.97) for betaine consumption only and 0.60 (95%CI, 0.40 to 0.90) for choline plus betaine consumption, respectively. Significant protective effect of dietary choline and betaine for cancer was observed when stratified by study design, location, cancer type, publication year, sex and quality score of study. An increment of 100 mg/day of choline plus betaine intake helped reduce cancer incidence by 11% (0.89, 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.92) through a dose-response analysis. To conclude, choline and betaine consumption lowers cancer incidence in this meta-analysis, but further studies are warranted to verify the results.

Comparative biochemistry of betaine biosynthesis and accumulation in diverse dicot families

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCue, K.F.; Weretilnyk, E.A.; Bednarek, S.Y.

1989-04-01

Salt stress elicits betaine accumulation to high levels in species from several diverse dicot families (Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae, and Asteraceae). FAM-MS studies with deuterated precursors showed that species from all these families synthesize betaine from choline. Enzyme assays and immunotitration data showed that all accumulating species contained betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) enzyme activity recognized by antibodies raised against purified BADH isolated from Spinacia oleracea. Immunoblotting indicated that the BADH monomer was in all cases of Mr {approx} 63,000. The similarity of BADH in the different species is consistent with a single evolutionary origin for the betaine pathway. This wasmore » supported by the presence in immunoblots of a cross-reacting band at Mr {approx} 63,000 in Magnolia x Soulangiana, a primitive angiosperm.« less

Betaine accumulation and (/sup 14/C)formate metabolism in water-stressed barley leaves

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanson, A.D.; Nelsen, C.E.

1978-01-01

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants at the three-leaf stage were water-stressed by flooding the rooting medium with polyethylene glycol 6000 with an osmotic potential of -19 bars, or by withholding water. While leaf water potential fell and leaf kill progressed, the betaine (trimethylglycine) content of the second leaf blade rose from about 0.4 micromole to about 1.5 micromoles in 4 days. The time course of betaine accumulation resembled that of proline. Choline levels in unstressed second leaf blades were low (<0.1 micromole per blade) and remained low during water stress. Upon relief of stress, betaine-like proline-remained at a high concentrationmore » in drought-killed leaf zones, but betaine did not disappear as rapidly as proline during recovery. When (methyl-/sup 14/C)choline was applied to second leaf blades of intact plants in the growth chamber, water-stressed plants metabolized 5 to 10 times more /sup 14/C label to betaine than control plants during 22 hours. When infiltrated with tracer quantities of (/sup 14/C)formate and incubated for various times in darkness or light, segments cut from water-stressed leaf blades incorporated about 2- to 10-fold more /sup 14/C into betaine than did segments from unstressed leaves. In segments from stressed leaves incubated with (/sup 14/C)formate for about 18 hours in darkness, betaine was always the principal /sup 14/C-labeled soluble metabolite. This /sup 14/C label was located exclusively in the N-methyl groups of betaine; thus, reducing equivalents were available in stressed leaves for the reductive steps of methyl group biosynthesis from formate. Incorporation of /sup 14/C from formate into choline was also increased in stressed leaf tissue, but choline was not a major product formed from (/sup 14/C)formate. These results are consistent with a net de novo synthesis of betaine from 1- and 2-carbon precursors during water stress and indicate that the betaine so accumulated may be a metabolically inert end product.« less

Betaine attenuates chronic alcohol‑induced fatty liver by broadly regulating hepatic lipid metabolism.

PubMed

Yang, Wenjuan; Huang, Luming; Gao, Jinhang; Wen, Shilei; Tai, Yang; Chen, Meng; Huang, Zhiyin; Liu, Rui; Tang, Chengwei; Li, Jing

2017-10-01

Betaine has previously been demonstrated to protect the liver against alcohol‑induced fat accumulation. However, the mechanism through which betaine affects alcohol‑induced hepatic lipid metabolic disorders has not been extensively studied. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of betaine on alcoholic simple fatty liver and hepatic lipid metabolism disorders. A total of 36 rats were randomly divided into control, ethanol and ethanol + betaine groups. Liver function, morphological alterations, lipid content and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α levels were determined. Hepatic expression levels of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) 1, DGAT2, sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)‑1c, SREBP‑2, fatty acid synthase (FAS), 3‑hydroxy‑3‑methyl‑glutaryl (HMG)‑CoA reductase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor λ coactivator (PGC)‑1α, adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) 1 and AdipoR2 were quantified. Serum and adipose tissue adiponectin levels were assessed using an enzyme‑linked immunoassay. The results demonstrated that alcohol‑induced ultramicrostructural alterations in hepatocytes, including the presence of lipid droplets and swollen mitochondria, were attenuated by betaine. Hepatic triglyceride, free fatty acid, total cholesterol and cholesterol ester contents and the expression of DGAT1, DGAT2, SREBP‑1c, SREBP‑2, FAS and HMG‑CoA reductase were increased following ethanol consumption, however were maintained at control levels following betaine supplementation. Alcohol‑induced decreases in hepatic PGC‑1α mRNA levels and serum and adipose tissue adiponectin concentrations were prevented by betaine. The downregulation of hepatic AdipoR1 which resulted from alcohol exposure was partially attenuated by betaine. No significant differences in liver function, TNF‑α, phospholipid and AdipoR2 levels were observed among the control, ethanol and ethanol + betaine groups. Overall, these results indicated that

Influence of high glycine diets on the activity of glycine-catabolizing enzymes and on glycine catabolism in rats

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petzke, K.J.; Albrecht, V.; Przybilski, H.

1986-05-01

Male albino rats were adapted to isocaloric purified diets that differed mainly in their glycine and casein contents. Controls received a 30% casein diet. In experimental diets gelatin or gelatin hydrolysate was substituted for half of the 30% casein. An additional group was fed a glycine-supplemented diet, which corresponded in glycine level to the gelatin diet but in which the protein level was nearly the same as that of the casein control diet. Another group received a 15% casein diet. Rat liver glycine cleavage system, serine hydroxymethyltransferase and serine dehydratase activities were measured. /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ production from the catabolismmore » of /sup 14/C-labeled glycine was measured in vivo and in vitro (from isolated hepatocytes). Serine dehydratase and glycine cleavage system activities were higher in animals fed 30% casein diets than in those fed 15% casein diets. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity of the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions was highest when a high glycine diet (glycine administered as pure, protein bound in gelatin or peptide bound in gelatin hydrolysate) was fed. /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ formation from (1-/sup 14/C)- and (2-/sup 14/C)glycine both in vivo and in isolated hepatocytes was higher when a high glycine diet was fed than when a casein diet was fed. These results suggest that glycine catabolism is dependent on and adaptable to the glycine content of the diet. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase appears to play a major role in the regulation of glycine degradation via serine and pyruvate.« less

Effect of betaine on hepatic insulin resistance through FOXO1-induced NLRP3 inflammasome.

PubMed

Kim, Dae Hyun; Kim, Seong Min; Lee, Bonggi; Lee, Eun Kyeong; Chung, Ki Wung; Moon, Kyoung Mi; An, Hye Jin; Kim, Kyung Mok; Yu, Byung Pal; Chung, Hae Young

2017-07-01

In the present study, we attempted to elucidate whether molecular modulation of inflammation by betaine through the forkhead box O1 (FOXO1)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome improves insulin resistance. Betaine is a major water-soluble component of Lycium chinense. It mainly functions as an oxidative metabolite of choline by suppressing superoxide-induced free radicals by donating methyl groups. The FOXO1 transcription factor regulates various genes involved in cellular metabolic processes related to cell death as well as oxidative stress responses through binding to the thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). Betaine is known to inhibit FOXO1 phosphorylation through phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) in liver cells exposed to insulin. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of inactivation of insulin-induced FOXO1 by the antioxidant betaine, we used HepG2 cells and the liver of db/db mice treated with betaine at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks. We found that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome genes was reduced by betaine, which resulted in the suppression of reactive species (RS) production in liver cells. In addition, betaine inhibited insulin-induced PI3K/AKT and FOXO1 activation. Therefore, betaine suppressed the cytokine interleukin-1β production by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome via interaction of FOXO1 and TXNIP. Our results suggest that betaine inhibits the FOXO1 binding to TXNIP, leading to the suppression of RS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a diabetic liver. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Association of choline and betaine levels with cancer incidence and survival: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Youn, Jiyoung; Cho, Eunyoung; Lee, Jung Eun

2018-03-22

Evidences suggest possible link between betaine and choline, methyl group donors, and cancer progression. We examined the association between choline and betaine levels and cancer incidence and survival in a meta-analysis of observational studies. We identified observational studies examining the association between choline and/or betaine levels from diet or blood and cancer incidence and survival by searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases for studies published up to Jan, 2018. After applying the selection criteria, 28 observational studies (9 case-control, 1 cross-sectional, and 18 cohort studies) were included. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted, and combined RRs were calculated using random-effects models. Choline levels were not associated with cancer incidence in a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Betaine levels reduced the risk of cancer incidence in a meta-analysis of cohort studies; combined relative risks (RRs) (95% CIs) comparing the top with the bottom categories were 0.93 (0.87-0.99). When we analyzed separately according to exposure assessment method, combined RRs (95% CIs) comparing the top with the bottom categories of betaine levels were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.78-0.95) for dietary betaine and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.77-0.99) for blood levels of betaine. There were no significant associations with cancer survivorship of choline or betaine levels. We concluded that high betaine levels were associated with lower risk of the cancer incidence, especially for colorectal cancer. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

In ovo injection of betaine alleviates corticosterone-induced fatty liver in chickens through epigenetic modifications

PubMed Central

Hu, Yun; Sun, Qinwei; Liu, Jie; Jia, Yimin; Cai, Demin; Idriss, Abdulrahman A.; Omer, Nagmeldin A.; Zhao, Ruqian

2017-01-01

Betaine alleviates high-fat diet-induced fatty liver and prenatal betaine programs offspring hepatic lipid metabolism. Excessive corticosterone (CORT) exposure causes fatty liver in chickens, yet it remains unknown whether and how prenatal betaine modulates the susceptibility of CORT-induced fatty liver later in life. In this study, fertilized eggs were injected with saline or betaine before incubation, and the hatchlings were raised at 8 weeks of age followed by 7 days of subcutaneous CORT injection. CORT-induced fatty liver was less severe in betaine-treated chickens, with significantly reduced oil-red staining and hepatic triglyceride content (P < 0.05). The protective effect of prenatal betaine was associated with significantly up-regulated expression of PPARα and CPT1α, as well as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded genes (P < 0.05). Moreover, betaine rescued CORT-induced alterations in methionine cycle genes, which coincided with modifications of CpG methylation on CPT1α gene promoter and mtDNA D-loop regions. Furthermore, the elevation of hepatic GR protein content after CORT treatment was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the reduction of GR binding to the control region of affected genes was significantly increased (P < 0.05), in betaine-treated chickens. These results indicate that in ovo betaine injection protects the juvenile chickens from CORT-induced fatty liver. PMID:28059170

[Betaine-enriched beet suppresses hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deficiency in rats].

PubMed

Liu, Yiqun; Han, Feng; Sun, Licui; Lu, Jiaxi; Wang, Qin; Sugiyama, Kimio; Huang, Zhenwu

2015-03-01

To investigate the dose-dependent effects of beet powder supplementation on hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deprivation in rats. Methods 48 rats of the Wistar were fed 25% soybean protein diet (25S), choline deprivation in 25S diets (25SCD) with different betaine levels (0. 05% and 0. 1%) and beet powder levels (4. 12% and 8. 24%) corresponds to betaine levels for 10 days, and they were killed by decapitation to obtain blood and livers was subject to analysis the concentration of homocysteine, cysteine and other amino acids, as well as BHMT and CBS activities. The homocysteine concentration was increased from (11. 8 ± 0. 4) µmol/L to (33. 2 ± 0. 6) µmol/L by choline deprived - 25S diets (P < 0. 05). The choline deprivation-induced enhancement of plasma homocysteine concentration in rats fed 25S diet was significantly suppressed by 0. 10% betaine or 8. 24% beet in a dose dependent manner. Supplementation with betaine or beet significant increased hepatic BHMT activity. The results indicated that betaine or beet could completely suppress the hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deficiency resulting from stimulating the homocysteine removal by both remethylation and cystathionine formation.

Deciphering the role of multiple betaine-carnitine-choline transporters in the Halophile Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

PubMed

Ongagna-Yhombi, Serge Y; McDonald, Nathan D; Boyd, E Fidelma

2015-01-01

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a halophile that is the predominant cause of bacterial seafood-related gastroenteritis worldwide. To survive in the marine environment, V. parahaemolyticus must have adaptive strategies to cope with salinity changes. Six putative compatible solute (CS) transport systems were previously predicted from the genome sequence of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633. In this study, we determined the role of the four putative betaine-carnitine-choline transporter (BCCT) homologues VP1456, VP1723, VP1905, and VPA0356 in the NaCl stress response. Expression analysis of the four BCCTs subjected to NaCl upshock showed that VP1456, VP1905, and VPA0356, but not VP1723, were induced. We constructed in-frame single-deletion mutant strains for all four BCCTs, all of which behaved similarly to the wild-type strain, demonstrating a redundancy of the systems. Growth analysis of a quadruple mutant and four BCCT triple mutants demonstrated the requirement for at least one BCCT for efficient CS uptake. We complemented Escherichia coli MHK13, a CS synthesis- and transporter-negative strain, with each BCCT and examined CS uptake by growth analysis and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analyses. These data demonstrated that VP1456 had the most diverse substrate transport ability, taking up glycine betaine (GB), proline, choline, and ectoine. VP1456 was the sole ectoine transporter. In addition, the data demonstrated that VP1723 can transport GB, proline, and choline, whereas VP1905 and VPA0356 transported only GB. Overall, the data showed that the BCCTs are functional and that there is redundancy among them. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Determination of Betaine in Forsythia Suspensa by High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Haixing; Dong, Guoliang; Wang, Lintong

2017-12-01

This paper presents the determination of betaine content of Forsythia suspensa by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method. The borax solution was chosen as buffer solution, and its concentration was 40 mmol with capillary column (75μm×52/60cm) at a constant voltage of 20kV and injecting pressure time of 10s at 20°C. Linearity was kept in the concent ration range of 0.0113-1.45mg·ml-1 of betaine with correlation coefficient of 0.999. The recovery was in the range of 97%-117% (n=5), The content of betaine was 281.5 mg·g-1and RSD value of 9.6% (n=6) in Forsythia suspensa. This method has the advantage of rapid, accurate and good repeatability in separation and determination of betaine in Forsythia suspensa.

Molecular interactions in the betaine monohydrate-polyol deep eutectic solvents: Experimental and computational studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zahrina, Ida; Mulia, Kamarza; Yanuar, Arry; Nasikin, Mohammad

2018-04-01

DES (deep eutectic solvents) are a new class of ionic liquids that have excellent properties. The strength of interaction between molecules in the DES affects their properties and applications. In this work, the strength of molecular interactions between components in the betaine monohydrate salt and polyol (glycerol or/and propylene glycol) eutectic mixtures was studied by experimental and computational studies. The melting point and fusion enthalpy of the mixtures were measured using STA (Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer). The nature and strength of intermolecular interactions were observed by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular dynamics simulation was used to determine the number of H-bonds, percent occupancy, and radial distribution functions in the eutectic mixtures. The interaction between betaine monohydrate and polyol is following order: betaine monohydrate-glycerol-propylene glycol > betaine monohydrate-glycerol > betaine monohydrate-propylene glycol, where the latter is the eutectic mixture with the lowest stability, strength and extent of the hydrogen bonding interactions between component molecules. The presence of intra-molecular hydrogen bonding interactions, the inter-molecular hydrogen bonding interactions between betaine molecule and polyol, and also interactions between polyol and H2O of betaine monohydrate in the eutectic mixtures.

Associations between dietary intake of choline and betaine and lung cancer risk.

PubMed

Ying, Jun; Rahbar, Mohammad H; Hallman, D Michael; Hernandez, Ladia M; Spitz, Margret R; Forman, Michele R; Gorlova, Olga Y

2013-01-01

Evidence from human and animal research indicates that choline metabolic pathways may be activated during a variety of diseases, including cancer. We report results of a case-control study of 2821 lung cancer cases and 2923 controls that assessed associations of choline and betaine dietary intakes with lung cancer. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we report a significant association between higher betaine intake and lower lung cancer risk that varied by smoking status. Specifically, no significant association was observed between betaine intake and lung cancer among never-smokers. However, higher betaine intake was significantly associated with reduced lung cancer risk among smokers, and the protective effect was more evident among current than former smokers: for former and current smokers, the ORs (95% CI) of lung cancer for individuals with highest as compared to lowest quartiles of intake were 0.70(0.55-0.88) and 0.51(0.39-0.66) respectively. Significant linear trend of higher betaine intake and lower lung cancer risk was observed among both former (p(trend) = 0.002) and current (p(trend)<0.0001) smokers. A similar protective effect was also observed with choline intake both in overall analysis as well as among current smokers, with p-values for chi-square tests being 0.001 and 0.004 respectively, but the effect was less evident, as no linear trend was observed. Our results suggest that choline and betaine intake, especially higher betaine intake, may be protective against lung cancer through mitigating the adverse effect of smoking.

Associations between Dietary Intake of Choline and Betaine and Lung Cancer Risk

PubMed Central

Ying, Jun; Rahbar, Mohammad H.; Hallman, D. Michael; Hernandez, Ladia M.; Spitz, Margret R.; Forman, Michele R.; Gorlova, Olga Y.

2013-01-01

Evidence from human and animal research indicates that choline metabolic pathways may be activated during a variety of diseases, including cancer. We report results of a case-control study of 2821 lung cancer cases and 2923 controls that assessed associations of choline and betaine dietary intakes with lung cancer. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we report a significant association between higher betaine intake and lower lung cancer risk that varied by smoking status. Specifically, no significant association was observed between betaine intake and lung cancer among never-smokers. However, higher betaine intake was significantly associated with reduced lung cancer risk among smokers, and the protective effect was more evident among current than former smokers: for former and current smokers, the ORs (95% CI) of lung cancer for individuals with highest as compared to lowest quartiles of intake were 0.70(0.55–0.88) and 0.51(0.39–0.66) respectively. Significant linear trend of higher betaine intake and lower lung cancer risk was observed among both former (ptrend = 0.002) and current (ptrend<0.0001) smokers. A similar protective effect was also observed with choline intake both in overall analysis as well as among current smokers, with p-values for chi-square tests being 0.001 and 0.004 respectively, but the effect was less evident, as no linear trend was observed. Our results suggest that choline and betaine intake, especially higher betaine intake, may be protective against lung cancer through mitigating the adverse effect of smoking. PMID:23383301

Hyperhomocysteinemia induced by guanidinoacetic acid is effectively suppressed by choline and betaine in rats.

PubMed

Setoue, Minoru; Ohuchi, Seiya; Morita, Tatsuya; Sugiyama, Kimio

2008-07-01

Rats were fed 25% casein (25C) diets differing in choline levels (0-0.5%) with and without 0.5% guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) or 0.75% L-methionine for 7 d to determine the effects of dietary choline level on experimental hyperhomocysteinemia. The effects of dietary choline (0.30%) and betaine (0.34%) on GAA- and methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia were also compared. Dietary choline suppressed hyperhomocysteinemia induced by GAA, but not by methionine, in a dose-dependent manner. GAA-induced enhancement of the plasma homocysteine concentration was suppressed by choline and betaine to the same degree, but the effects of these compounds were relatively small on methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia. Dietary supplementation with choline and betaine significantly increased the hepatic betaine concentration in rats fed a GAA diet, but not in rats fed a methionine diet. These results indicate that choline and betaine are effective at relatively low levels in reducing plasma homocysteine, especially under the condition of betaine deficiency without a loading of homocysteine precursor.

Are dietary choline and betaine intakes determinants of total homocysteine concentration?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a decline in cognitive function. Intakes of choline and betaine, as methyl donors, may affect homocysteine concentrations. The objective was to examine whether choline and betaine intakes, assess...

Assessment of urinary betaine as a marker of diabetes mellitus in cardiovascular patients.

PubMed

Schartum-Hansen, Hall; Ueland, Per M; Pedersen, Eva R; Meyer, Klaus; Ebbing, Marta; Bleie, Øyvind; Svingen, Gard F T; Seifert, Reinhard; Vikse, Bjørn E; Nygård, Ottar

2013-01-01

Abnormal urinary excretion of betaine has been demonstrated in patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. We aimed to identify the main predictors of excretion in cardiovascular patients and to make initial assessment of its feasibility as a risk marker of future diabetes development. We used data from 2396 patients participating in the Western Norway B-vitamin Intervention Trial, who delivered urine and blood samples at baseline, and in the majority at two visits during follow-up of median 39 months. Betaine in urine and plasma were measured by liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The strongest determinants of urinary betaine excretion by multiple regression were diabetes mellitus, age and estimated glomerular filtration rate; all p<0.001. Patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 264) had a median excretion more than three times higher than those without. We found a distinct non-linear association between urinary betaine excretion and glycated hemoglobin, with a break-point at 6.5%, and glycated hemoglobin was the strongest determinant of betaine excretion in patients with diabetes mellitus. The discriminatory power for diabetes mellitus corresponded to an area under the curve by receiver-operating characteristics of 0.82, and betaine excretion had a coefficient of reliability of 0.73. We also found a significant, independent log-linear relation between baseline betaine excretion and the risk of developing new diabetes during follow-up. The good discriminatory power for diabetes, high test-retest stability and independent association with future risk of new diabetes should motivate further investigation on the role of betaine excretion in risk assessment and long-term follow-up of diabetes mellitus.

Assessment of Urinary Betaine as a Marker of Diabetes Mellitus in Cardiovascular Patients

PubMed Central

Schartum-Hansen, Hall; Ueland, Per M.; Pedersen, Eva R.; Meyer, Klaus; Ebbing, Marta; Bleie, Øyvind; Svingen, Gard F. T.; Seifert, Reinhard; Vikse, Bjørn E.; Nygård, Ottar

2013-01-01

Abnormal urinary excretion of betaine has been demonstrated in patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. We aimed to identify the main predictors of excretion in cardiovascular patients and to make initial assessment of its feasibility as a risk marker of future diabetes development. We used data from 2396 patients participating in the Western Norway B-vitamin Intervention Trial, who delivered urine and blood samples at baseline, and in the majority at two visits during follow-up of median 39 months. Betaine in urine and plasma were measured by liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The strongest determinants of urinary betaine excretion by multiple regression were diabetes mellitus, age and estimated glomerular filtration rate; all p<0.001. Patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 264) had a median excretion more than three times higher than those without. We found a distinct non-linear association between urinary betaine excretion and glycated hemoglobin, with a break-point at 6.5%, and glycated hemoglobin was the strongest determinant of betaine excretion in patients with diabetes mellitus. The discriminatory power for diabetes mellitus corresponded to an area under the curve by receiver-operating characteristics of 0.82, and betaine excretion had a coefficient of reliability of 0.73. We also found a significant, independent log-linear relation between baseline betaine excretion and the risk of developing new diabetes during follow-up. The good discriminatory power for diabetes, high test-retest stability and independent association with future risk of new diabetes should motivate further investigation on the role of betaine excretion in risk assessment and long-term follow-up of diabetes mellitus. PMID:23936331

Are dietary choline and betaine intakes determinants of total homocysteine concentration?

PubMed

Lee, Jung Eun; Jacques, Paul F; Dougherty, Lauren; Selhub, Jacob; Giovannucci, Edward; Zeisel, Steven H; Cho, Eunyoung

2010-05-01

Elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a decline in cognitive function. Intakes of choline and betaine, as methyl donors, may affect homocysteine concentrations. The objective was to examine whether choline and betaine intakes, assessed from food-frequency questionnaires, are associated with total plasma homocysteine concentrations under both fasting and post-methionine-load conditions in both pre- and post-folic acid fortification periods in the United States. We assessed the association between choline and betaine intakes and fasting and post-methionine-load homocysteine concentrations using the US Department of Agriculture revised food-composition tables and evaluated whether the associations varied by folic acid fortification periods in 1325 male and 1407 female participants in the sixth examination (1995-1998) of the Framingham Offspring Study. A higher choline-plus-betaine intake was associated with lower concentrations of post-methionine-load homocysteine; the multivariate geometric means were 24.1 micromol/L (95% CI: 23.4, 24.9 micromol/L) in the top quintile of intake and 25.0 micromol/L (95% CI: 24.2, 25.7 micromol/L) in the bottom quintile (P for trend = 0.01). We found an inverse association between choline-plus-betaine intake and fasting homocysteine concentrations; the multivariate geometric mean fasting homocysteine concentrations were 9.6 micromol/L (95% CI: 9.3, 9.9 micromol/L) in the top quintile and 10.1 micromol/L (95% CI: 9.8, 10.4 micromol/L) in the bottom quintile (P for trend < 0.001). When we stratified by plasma folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations, the inverse association was limited to participants with low plasma folate or vitamin B-12 concentrations. In the postfortification period, the inverse association between choline-plus-betaine intake and either fasting or post-methionine-load homocysteine was no longer present. Choline and betaine intakes were associated with

Betaine reverses the memory impairments in a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model.

PubMed

Nie, Chunjie; Nie, Huijuan; Zhao, Yin; Wu, Jianzhao; Zhang, Xiaojian

2016-02-26

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second reason for the cognitive decline in aged people, but the effective therapy is still missing. The chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) had been widely found in VaD patients and is thought to be the key reason for cognitive impairment. Betaine is a natural product that had been implicated in many biological processes and had been used for the therapy of some neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we reported that betaine treatment could rescue the memory deficits induced by two-vessel occlusion (2-VO), a widely used CCH rat model. Betaine also restored the expression of PSD93, PSD95 and MAP2 to preserve the synaptic functions. Furthermore, betaine could reduce the oxidative stress by suppressing the MDA and ROS and enhancing the SOD and GSH. Overall, betaine treatment is able to rescue the memory deficits in CCH rats, which provide an experimental basis for the therapy of VaD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cap-independent protein synthesis is enhanced by betaine under hypertonic conditions.

PubMed

Carnicelli, Domenica; Arfilli, Valentina; Onofrillo, Carmine; Alfieri, Roberta R; Petronini, Pier Giorgio; Montanaro, Lorenzo; Brigotti, Maurizio

2017-02-12

Protein synthesis is one of the main cellular functions inhibited during hypertonic challenge. The subsequent accumulation of the compatible osmolyte betaine during the later adaptive response allows not only recovery of translation but also its stimulation. In this paper, we show that betaine modulates translation by enhancing the formation of cap-independent 48 S pre-initiation complexes, leaving cap-dependent 48 S pre-initiation complexes basically unchanged. In the presence of betaine, CrPV IRES- and sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter-2 (SNAT2) 5'-UTR-driven translation is 2- and 1.5-fold stimulated in MCF7 cells, respectively. Thus, betaine could provide an advantage in translation of messengers coding for proteins implicated in the response of cells to different stressors, which are often recognized by ribosomal 40 S subunit through simplified cap-independent mechanisms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Betaine acts on a ligand-gated ion channel in the nervous system of the nematode C. elegans

PubMed Central

Peden, Aude S.; Mac, Patrick; Fei, You-Jun; Castro, Cecilia; Jiang, Guoliang; Murfitt, Kenneth J.; Miska, Eric A.; Griffin, Julian L.; Ganapathy, Vadivel; Jorgensen, Erik M.

2014-01-01

Prior to the advent of synthetic nematocides, natural products such as seaweed were used to control nematode infestations. The nematocidal agent in seaweed is betaine, an amino acid that functions as an osmolyte and methyl donor. However, the molecular mechanisms of betaine toxicity are unknown. Here, we identify the betaine transporter SNF-3 and a betaine receptor ACR-23 in the nematode C. elegans. Mutating snf-3 in a sensitized background causes the animals to be hypercontracted and paralyzed, presumably because of excess extracellular betaine. These behavioral defects are suppressed by mutations in acr-23, which encodes a ligand-gated cation channel of the cys-loop family. ACR-23 is activated by betaine and functions in the mechanosensory neurons to maintain basal levels of locomotion. However, overactivation of the receptor by excess betaine or by the allosteric modulator monepantel causes hypercontraction and death of the nematode. Thus, monepantel targets a betaine signaling pathway in nematodes. PMID:24212673

The regulation of skeletal muscle fiber-type composition by betaine is associated with NFATc1/MyoD.

PubMed

Du, Jingjing; Shen, Linyuan; Zhang, Peiwen; Tan, Zhendong; Cheng, Xiao; Luo, Jia; Zhao, Xue; Yang, Qiong; Gu, Hao; Jiang, An'an; Ma, Jideng; Tang, Qianzi; Jin, Long; Shuai, Surong; Li, Mingzhou; Jiang, Yanzhi; Tang, Guoqing; Bai, Lin; Li, Xuewei; Wang, Jinyong; Zhang, Shunhua; Zhu, Li

2018-06-06

Increasing evidence indicates that muscular dysfunction or alterations in skeletal muscle fiber-type composition not only are involved in muscle metabolism and function but also can limit functional capacity. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms regulating key events during skeletal myogenesis is necessary. Betaine is a naturally occurring component of commonly eaten foods. Here, we showed that 10 mM betaine supplementation in vitro significantly repressed myoblast proliferation and enhanced myoblast differentiation. This effect can be mediated by regulation of miR-29b-3p. Further analysis showed that betaine supplementation in vitro regulated skeletal muscle fiber-type composition through the induction of NFATc1 and the negative regulation of MyoD expression. Furthermore, mice fed with 10 mM betaine in water for 133 days showed no impairment in overall health. Consistently, betaine supplementation increased muscle mass, promoted muscle formation, and modulated the ratio of fiber types in skeletal muscle in vivo. These findings shed light on the diverse biological functions of betaine and indicate that betaine supplementation may lead to new therapies for diseases such as muscular dystrophy or other diseases related to muscle dysfunction. Betaine supplementation inhibits proliferation and promotes differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Betaine supplementation regulates fast to slow muscle fiber-type conversion and is associated with NFATc1/MyoD. Betaine supplementation enhances skeletal myogenesis in vivo. Betaine supplementation does not impair health of mice.

Protective effect of betaine against burn-induced pulmonary injury in rats.

PubMed

Şehirli, Ahmet Özer; Satılmış, Burcu; Tetik, Şermin; Çetinel, Şule; Yeğen, Berrak; Aykaç, Aslı; Şener, Göksel

2016-09-01

This study was designed to determine possible protective effect of betaine treatment against oxidative injury in pulmonary tissue induced with thermal trauma. Under ether anesthesia, shaved dorsum of Wistar albino rats was exposed to a 90°C water bath for 10 seconds to induce burn injury. Betaine was administered orally (250 mg/kg) for a period of 21 days before burn injury, and single dose of betaine was administered after thermal injury. Control group rats were exposed to 25°C water bath for 10 seconds. Upon conclusion of experiment, rats were decapitated and blood was collected for analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Lung tissue samples were taken to determine malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and Na+/K+-ATPase activity, in addition to histological analysis. Burn injury caused significant increase in both cytokine levels and LDH activity. In lung samples, raised MDA levels, MPO activity, and reduced GSH levels and Na+/K+-ATPase activity were found due to burn injury. Treatment of rats with betaine significantly restored GSH level and Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and decreased MDA level and MPO activity. According to the findings of the present study, betaine significantly diminishes burn-induced damage in tissue.

Determination of Betaine in Lycium Barbarum L. by High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Haixing; Wang, Chunyan; Peng, Xuewei

2017-12-01

This paper presents the determination of betaine content in Lycium barbarum L. by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method. The borax solution was chosen as buffer solution, and its concentration was 40 mmol at a constant voltage of 20kV and injecting pressure time of 10s at 20°C. Linearity was kept in the concent ration range of 0.0113∼1.45mg of betaine with correlation coefficient of 0.9. The recovery was in the range of 97.95%∼126% (n=4). The sample content of betaine was 29.3mg/g and RSD 6.4% (n=6). This method is specific, simple and rapid and accurate, which is suitable for the detection of the content of betaine in Lycium barbarum L.

Identification of a Third Osmoprotectant Transport System, the OsmU System, in Salmonella enterica

PubMed Central

Frossard, Stephen M.; Khan, Aftab A.; Warrick, Eric C.; Gately, Jonathan M.; Hanson, Andrew D.; Oldham, Michael L.; Sanders, David Avram

2012-01-01

The growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium mutants lacking the ProP and ProU osmoprotectant transport systems is stimulated by glycine betaine in high-osmolarity media, suggesting that this organism has an additional osmoprotectant transport system. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the genome of this organism contains a hitherto-unidentified operon, designated osmU, consisting of four genes whose products show high similarity to ABC-type transport systems for osmoprotectants in other bacteria. The osmU operon was inactivated by a site-directed deletion, which abolished the ability of glycine betaine to alleviate the inhibitory effect of high osmolarity and eliminated the accumulation of [14C]glycine betaine and [14C]choline-O-sulfate in high-osmolarity media in a strain lacking the ProP and ProU systems. Although the OsmU system can take up glycine betaine and choline-O-sulfate, these two osmoprotectants are recognized at low affinity by this transporter, suggesting that there might be more efficient substrates that are yet to be discovered. The transcription of osmU is induced 23-fold by osmotic stress (0.3 M NaCl). The osmU operon is present in the genomes of a number of Enterobacteriaceae, and orthologs of the OsmU system can be recognized in a wide variety of Bacteria and Archaea. The structure of the periplasmic binding protein component of this transporter, OsmX, was modeled on the crystallographic structure of the glycine betaine-binding protein ProX of Archaeoglobus fulgidus; the resultant model indicated that the amino acids that constitute substrate-binding site, including an “aromatic cage” made up of four tyrosines, are conserved between these two proteins. PMID:22609924

Prognostic value of choline and betaine depends on intestinal microbiota-generated metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide.

PubMed

Wang, Zeneng; Tang, W H Wilson; Buffa, Jennifer A; Fu, Xiaoming; Britt, Earl B; Koeth, Robert A; Levison, Bruce S; Fan, Yiying; Wu, Yuping; Hazen, Stanley L

2014-04-01

Recent metabolomics and animal model studies show trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an intestinal microbiota-dependent metabolite formed from dietary trimethylamine-containing nutrients such as phosphatidylcholine (PC), choline, and carnitine, is linked to coronary artery disease pathogenesis. Our aim was to examine the prognostic value of systemic choline and betaine levels in stable cardiac patients. We examined the relationship between fasting plasma choline and betaine levels and risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE = death, myocardial infraction, stroke) in relation to TMAO over 3 years of follow-up in 3903 sequential stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic coronary angiography. In our study cohort, median (IQR) TMAO, choline, and betaine levels were 3.7 (2.4-6.2)μM, 9.8 (7.9-12.2)μM, and 41.1 (32.5-52.1)μM, respectively. Modest but statistically significant correlations were noted between TMAO and choline (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) and less between TMAO and betaine (r = 0.09, P < 0.001). Higher plasma choline and betaine levels were associated with a 1.9-fold and 1.4-fold increased risk of MACE, respectively (Quartiles 4 vs. 1; P < 0.01, each). Following adjustments for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, elevated choline [1.34 (1.03-1.74), P < 0.05], and betaine levels [1.33 (1.03-1.73), P < 0.05] each predicted increased MACE risk. Neither choline nor betaine predicted MACE risk when TMAO was added to the adjustment model, and choline and betaine predicted future risk for MACE only when TMAO was elevated. Elevated plasma levels of choline and betaine are each associated with incident MACE risk independent of traditional risk factors. However, high choline and betaine levels are only associated with higher risk of future MACE with concomitant increase in TMAO.

Study on osmoprotectant rhizobacteria to improve mung bean growth under drought stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maryani, Y.; Sudadi; Dewi, W. S.; Yunus, A.

2018-03-01

Climate change leads to irregular rainwater availability for crops and thus enhances drought stress. Furthermore, nowadays we face climate disadvantages such as long dry season, short rainy season and high air temperature caused by climate change. This research aimed at studying the ability of osmoprotectant rhizobacteria isolates to support mung bean growth under drought stress. The rhizobacteria were isolated from mung bean’s rhizosphere. The results showed that isolates of strain Al24-k and Ver5-k produced glycine betaine 9.6306 mg g‑1 cell, 1.7667 x 107 CFU g‑1 soil and 11.4870 mg g”1 cell, 1.9667 x 107 CFU g‑1 soil. The isolated rhizobacteria from mung bean’s rhizosphere under field capacity of soil moisture produced glycine betaine 6.8000 mg g‑1 cell, 1.2556 x 107 CFU g‑1 soil. Under 75% field capacity of soil moisture, isolates produced glycine betaine of 6.4059 mg g‑1 cell, 1.3111 x 107 CFU g‑1 soil, while under 50% from field capacity, the isolates produced glycine betaine of 7.4108 mg g‑1 cell, 1.6667 x 107 CFU g‑1 soil. The osmoprotectant rhizobacteria improved the resilience of mung bean to drought stress.

Reconsidering betaine as a natural anti-heat stress agent in poultry industry: a review.

PubMed

Saeed, Muhammad; Babazadeh, Daryoush; Naveed, Muhammad; Arain, Muhammad Asif; Hassan, Faiz Ul; Chao, Sun

2017-10-01

Betaine is found ubiquitously in plants, animals, microorganisms, and rich dietary sources including seafood, spinach, and wheat bran. The chief physiological role of betaine is to function as a methyl donor and an osmolyte. Betaine also acts as an osmolyte, to maintain the avian's cellular water and ion balance to improve the avian's capacity against heat stress via preventing dehydration and osmotic inactivation. It helps in maintaining the protective osmolytic activity, especially in heat-stressed birds. Betaine may promote various intestinal microbes against osmotic variations and thus improve microbial fermentation activity. Previous studies showed that dietary supplementation of betaine in poultry diets could positively affect nutrients' digestibility, reduce abdominal fat weight, and increase breast meat yield. In addition, betaine has been reported to protect internal organs and boost their performance. Its inclusion in poultry diet is sparing essential amino acids like choline and methionine. In addition, it may play an important role in lean meat production by positively affecting the lipid metabolism with increased fatty acids catabolism and thus reducing carcass fat deposition. The aim of this review article was to broaden the knowledge regarding betaine and its importance in the poultry industry to cope with the heat stress problem. Moreover, it should be added to the diet as a natural anti-stressor through different routes (water/feed) to overcome the heat stress problem. However, further studies need to be conducted at the genetic and molecular basis to elucidate the mechanism behind the betaine as a natural anti-heat agent to decrease the heat stress problem in the poultry industry.

BETAINE PREVENTS MALLORY-DENK BODY FORMATION IN DRUG-PRIMED MICE BY EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS

PubMed Central

Oliva, Joan; Bardag-Gorce, Fawzia; Li, Jun; French, Barbara A; Nguyen, Sheila K.; Lu, Shelly C.; French, Samuel W.

2012-01-01

Previous studies showed that S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) prevented MDB formation and the hypomethylation of histones induced by DDC feeding. These results suggest that formation of MDBs is an epigenetic phenomenon. To further test this theory, drug-primed mice were fed the methyl donor, betaine, together with DDC, which was refed for 7 days. Betaine significantly reduced MDB formation, decreased the liver/body weight ratio and decreased the number of FAT10 positive liver cells when they proliferate in response to DDC refeeding. Betaine also significantly prevented the decreased expression of BHMT, AHCY, MAT1a and GNMT and the increased expression of MTHFR, caused by DDC refeeding. S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) levels were reduced by DDC refeeding and this was prevented by betaine. The results support the concept that betaine donates methyl groups, increasing methionine available in the cell. SAMe metabolism was reduced by the decrease in GNMT expression, which prevented the conversion of SAMe to SAH. As a consequence, betaine prevented MDB formation and FAT10 positive cell proliferation by blocking the epigenetic memory expressed by hepatocytes. The results further support the concept that MDB formation is the result of an epigenetic phenomenon, where a change in methionine metabolism causes global gene expression changes in hepatocytes. PMID:19073172

Computer simulations of the solvatochromism of betaine-30

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mente, S.R.; Maroncelli, M.

1999-09-09

Monte Carlo simulations of the pyridinium N-phenolate dye betaine-30 in 12 solvents (20 solvent representations) were performed in order to explore the molecular basis of the E{sub T}(30) scale of solvent polarity. Ab initio (HF/6-31G{sup *}) and semiempirical (AM1 and INDO/S) electronic structure calculations were used to determine the geometry and charge distribution of betaine-30 in its S{sub 0} and S{sub 1} states. The solvent effect on the betaine absorption spectrum was assumed to derive from electrostatic interactions between the effective charge distributions of solvent molecules and the charge shift brought about by the S{sub 0} {r_arrow} S{sub 1} transition.more » Two models for this charge shift, one obtained from INDO/S calculations and the other an idealized two-site model, were used for the spectral calculations. Good agreement between simulated and observed {Delta}E{sub T} shifts (E{sub T}(30) values measured relative to the nonpolar standard tetramethylsilane) was found for both charge-shift models. In water and other hydroxylic solvents, the O atom of the betaine solute was observed to form moderately strong hydrogen bonds to between one and two solvent molecules. The contribution of these specifically coordinated molecules to the {Delta}E{sub T} shift was found to be large, (30--60%) and comparable to experimental estimates. Additional simulations of acetonitrile and methanol in equilibrium with the S{sub 1} state of betaine-30 were used to determine reorganization energies in these solvents and to decide the extent to which the solvent response to the S{sub 0} {leftrightarrow} S{sub 1} transition conforms to linear response predictions. In both solvents, the spectral distributions observed in the S{sub 0} state simulations were {approximately} 15% narrower than those in the S{sub 1} simulations, indicating only a relatively small departure from linear behavior. Reorganization energies were also estimated for a number of other solvents and

[The reversible inhibition of cholinesterases from different biological sources by phosphonium betaines].

PubMed

Zhuzhovskiĭ, Iu G; Kuznetsova, L P; Sochilina, E E; Dmitrieva, E N; Gololobov, Iu G; Bykovskaia, E Iu

1996-01-01

The action of some phosphonium betains on cholinesterases from different biological sources has been studied. It has been shown, that all studied betains are reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase hydrolysis of acetyltiocholine. Inhibiting action of these compounds on acetylcholinesterases is about ten times weaker that of the majority of known phosphonium salts, while their action on butyrylcholinesterases has no peculiarities. There were found certain differences for each betain compounds in their action on cholinesterases from different biological sources. These results may be used for detail classification of cholinesterases and allow to extend knowledge in comparative enzymology.

Suppression Effects of Betaine-Enriched Spinach on Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced by Guanidinoacetic Acid and Choline Deficiency in Rats

PubMed Central

Liu, Yi-Qun; Jia, Zheng; Han, Feng; Inakuma, Takahiro; Miyashita, Tatsuya; Sugiyama, Kimio; Sun, Li-Cui; Xiang, Xue-Song; Huang, Zhen-Wu

2014-01-01

Betaine is an important natural component of rich food sources, especially spinach. Rats were fed diets with betaine or spinach powder at the same level of betaine for 10 days to investigate the dose-dependent effects of spinach powder supplementation on hyperhomocysteinemia induced by guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) addition and choline deprivation. The GAA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rats fed 25% casein diet (25C) was significantly suppressed by supplementation with betaine or spinach, and it was completely suppressed by taking 11.0% spinach supplementation. The choline deprivation-induced enhancement of plasma homocysteine concentration in rats fed 25% soybean protein diet (25S) was markedly suppressed by 3.82% spinach. Supplementation with betaine or spinach partially prevented the effects of GAA on hepatic concentrations of methionine metabolites. The decrease in activity of betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) in GAA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia was recovered by supplementation with betaine or spinach. Supplementation with betaine or spinach did not affect BHMT activity, whereas it partially restored CBS activity in choline-deprived 25S. The results indicated that betaine or spinach could completely suppress the hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deficiency resulting from stimulating the homocysteine removal by both remethylation and cystathionine formation. PMID:25250392

Suppression effects of betaine-enriched spinach on hyperhomocysteinemia induced by guanidinoacetic acid and choline deficiency in rats.

PubMed

Liu, Yi-Qun; Jia, Zheng; Han, Feng; Inakuma, Takahiro; Miyashita, Tatsuya; Sugiyama, Kimio; Sun, Li-Cui; Xiang, Xue-Song; Huang, Zhen-Wu

2014-01-01

Betaine is an important natural component of rich food sources, especially spinach. Rats were fed diets with betaine or spinach powder at the same level of betaine for 10 days to investigate the dose-dependent effects of spinach powder supplementation on hyperhomocysteinemia induced by guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) addition and choline deprivation. The GAA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rats fed 25% casein diet (25 C) was significantly suppressed by supplementation with betaine or spinach, and it was completely suppressed by taking 11.0% spinach supplementation. The choline deprivation-induced enhancement of plasma homocysteine concentration in rats fed 25% soybean protein diet (25S) was markedly suppressed by 3.82% spinach. Supplementation with betaine or spinach partially prevented the effects of GAA on hepatic concentrations of methionine metabolites. The decrease in activity of betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) in GAA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia was recovered by supplementation with betaine or spinach. Supplementation with betaine or spinach did not affect BHMT activity, whereas it partially restored CBS activity in choline-deprived 25S. The results indicated that betaine or spinach could completely suppress the hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deficiency resulting from stimulating the homocysteine removal by both remethylation and cystathionine formation.

Betaine supplementation is less effective than methionine restriction in correcting phenotypes of CBS deficient mice.

PubMed

Gupta, Sapna; Wang, Liqun; Kruger, Warren D

2016-01-01

Cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) deficiency is a recessive inborn error of metabolism characterized by elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy). Betaine supplementation, which can lower tHcy by stimulating homocysteine remethylation to methionine, is often given to CBS deficient patients in combination with other treatments such as methionine restriction and supplemental B-vitamins. However, the effectiveness of betaine supplementation by itself in the treatment of CBS deficiency has not been well explored. Here, we have examined the effect of a betaine supplemented diet on the Tg-I278T Cbs (-/-) mouse model of CBS deficiency and compared its effectiveness to our previously published data using a methionine restricted diet. Tg-I278T Cbs (-/-) mice on betaine, from the time of weaning until for 240 days of age, had a 40 % decrease in mean tHcy level and a 137 % increase in serum methionine levels. Betaine-treated Tg-I278T Cbs (-/-) mice also exhibited increased levels of betaine-dependent homocysteine methyl transferase (BHMT), increased levels of the lipogenic enzyme stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD-1), and increased lipid droplet accumulation in the liver. Betaine supplementation largely reversed the hair loss phenotype in Tg-I278T Cbs (-/-) animals, but was far less effective than methionine restriction in reversing the weight-loss, fat-loss, and osteoporosis phenotypes. Surprisingly, betaine supplementation had several negative effects in control Tg-I278T Cbs (+/-) mice including decreased weight gain, lean mass, and bone mineral density. Our findings indicate that while betaine supplementation does have some beneficial effects, it is not as effective as methionine restriction for reversing the phenotypes associated with severe CBS deficiency in mice.

Prognostic value of choline and betaine depends on intestinal microbiota-generated metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide

PubMed Central

Wang, Zeneng; Tang, W. H. Wilson; Buffa, Jennifer A.; Fu, Xiaoming; Britt, Earl B.; Koeth, Robert A.; Levison, Bruce S.; Fan, Yiying; Wu, Yuping; Hazen, Stanley L.

2014-01-01

Aims Recent metabolomics and animal model studies show trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an intestinal microbiota-dependent metabolite formed from dietary trimethylamine-containing nutrients such as phosphatidylcholine (PC), choline, and carnitine, is linked to coronary artery disease pathogenesis. Our aim was to examine the prognostic value of systemic choline and betaine levels in stable cardiac patients. Methods and results We examined the relationship between fasting plasma choline and betaine levels and risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE = death, myocardial infraction, stroke) in relation to TMAO over 3 years of follow-up in 3903 sequential stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic coronary angiography. In our study cohort, median (IQR) TMAO, choline, and betaine levels were 3.7 (2.4–6.2)μM, 9.8 (7.9–12.2)μM, and 41.1 (32.5–52.1)μM, respectively. Modest but statistically significant correlations were noted between TMAO and choline (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) and less between TMAO and betaine (r = 0.09, P < 0.001). Higher plasma choline and betaine levels were associated with a 1.9-fold and 1.4-fold increased risk of MACE, respectively (Quartiles 4 vs. 1; P < 0.01, each). Following adjustments for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, elevated choline [1.34 (1.03–1.74), P < 0.05], and betaine levels [1.33 (1.03–1.73), P < 0.05] each predicted increased MACE risk. Neither choline nor betaine predicted MACE risk when TMAO was added to the adjustment model, and choline and betaine predicted future risk for MACE only when TMAO was elevated. Conclusion Elevated plasma levels of choline and betaine are each associated with incident MACE risk independent of traditional risk factors. However, high choline and betaine levels are only associated with higher risk of future MACE with concomitant increase in TMAO. PMID:24497336

Expression and substrate specificity of betaine/proline transporters suggest a novel choline transport mechanism in sugar beet.

PubMed

Yamada, Nana; Sakakibara, Shota; Tsutsumi, Koichi; Waditee, Rungaroon; Tanaka, Yoshito; Takabe, Teruhiro

2011-09-15

Proline transporters (ProTs) originally described as highly selective transporters for proline, have been shown to also transport glycinebetaine (betaine). Here we examined and compared the transport properties of Bet/ProTs from betaine accumulating (sugar beet, Amaranthus, and Atriplex,) and non-accumulating (Arabidopsis) plants. Using a yeast mutant deficient for uptake of proline and betaine, it was shown that all these transporters exhibited higher affinity for betaine than proline. The uptake of betaine and proline was pH-dependent and inhibited by the proton uncoupler carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). We also investigated choline transport by using a choline transport-deficient yeast mutant. Results revealed that these transporters exhibited a higher affinity for choline uptake rather than betaine. Uptake of choline by sugar beet BvBet/ProT1 was independent of the proton gradient and the inhibition by CCCP was reduced compared with that for uptake of betaine, suggesting different proton binding properties between the transport of choline and betaine. Additionally, in situ hybridization experiments revealed the localization of sugar beet BvBet/ProT1 in phloem and xylem parenchyma cells. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Plasma choline and betaine and their relation to plasma homocysteine in normal pregnancy.

PubMed

Velzing-Aarts, Francien V; Holm, Pål I; Fokkema, M Rebecca; van der Dijs, Fey P; Ueland, Per M; Muskiet, Frits A

2005-06-01

Plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) decrease during pregnancy. This reduction has been investigated in relation to folate status, but no study has addressed the possible role of betaine and its precursor choline. We investigated the courses of plasma choline and betaine during normal human pregnancy and their relations to plasma tHcy. Blood samples were obtained monthly; the initial samples were taken at gestational week (GW) 9, and the last samples were taken approximately 3 mo postpartum. The study population comprised 50 women of West African descent. Most of the subjects took folic acid irregularly. Plasma choline (geometric x; 95% reference interval) increased continuously during pregnancy, from 6.6 (4.5, 9.7) micromol/L at GW 9 to 10.8 (7.4, 15.6) micromol/L at GW 36. Plasma betaine decreased in the first half of pregnancy, from 16.3 (8.6, 30.8) micromol/L at GW 9 to 10.3 (6.6, 16.2) micromol/L at GW 20 and remained constant thereafter. We confirmed a reduction in plasma tHcy, and the lowest concentration was found in the second trimester. From GW 16 onward, an inverse relation between plasma tHcy and betaine was observed. Multiple regression analysis showed that plasma betaine was a strong predictor of plasma tHcy from GW 20 onward. The steady increase in choline throughout gestation may ensure choline availability for placental transfer with subsequent use by the growing fetus. Betaine becomes a strong predictor of tHcy during the course of pregnancy. Both of these findings emphasize the importance of choline and betaine status during normal human pregnancy.

High dietary choline and betaine intake is associated with low insulin resistance in the Newfoundland population.

PubMed

Gao, Xiang; Wang, Yongbo; Sun, Guang

2017-01-01

Dietary betaine supplement could ameliorate insulin resistance (IR) in animals, but no data are available for choline. Reports on humans are rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary choline and betaine intake and IR in humans. We assessed 2394 adults from the CODING (Complex Diseases in the Newfoundland population: Environment and Genetics) study. Intake of dietary choline and betaine was evaluated from the Willett Food Frequency Questionnaire. IR was estimated by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Partial correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations of dietary choline and betaine intake with IR adjusted for major confounding factors. Dietary choline and betaine intake was inversely correlated with levels of fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β (r = -0.08 to -0.27 for choline and r = -0.06 to -0.16 for betaine; P < 0.05) and positively related to QUICKI (r = 0.16-0.25 for choline and r = 0.11-0.16 for betaine; P < 0.01) in both sexes after controlling for age, total calorie intake, and physical activity level. The significant associations disappeared in men after percent trunk fat was added as a confounding factor. Furthermore, individuals with the highest tertile of dietary choline and betaine intake had the lowest IR severity. Dietary choline and betaine intake, however, was the lowest in the high IR group, intermediate in the medium group, and the highest in the low IR group. This study demonstrated that higher intake of dietary choline and betaine is associated with lower IR in the general population. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prenatal alcohol-induced neuroapoptosis in rat brain cerebral cortex: protective effect of folic acid and betaine.

PubMed

Sogut, Ibrahim; Uysal, Onur; Oglakci, Aysegul; Yucel, Ferruh; Kartkaya, Kazim; Kanbak, Gungor

2017-03-01

Alcohol consumption in pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the infant. This study aims to investigate prenatal alcohol exposure related neuroapoptosis on the cerebral cortex tissues of newborn rats and possible neuroprotective effects of betaine, folic acid, and combined therapy. Pregnant rats were divided into five experimental groups: control, ethanol, ethanol + betaine, ethanol + folic acid, and ethanol + betaine + folic acid combined therapy groups. We measured cytochrome c release, caspase-3, calpain and cathepsin B and L. enzyme activities. In order to observe apoptotic cells in the early stages, TUNEL method was chosen together with histologic methods such as assessing the diameters of the apoptotic cells, their distribution in unit volume and volume proportion of cortical intact neuron nuclei. Calpain, caspase-3 activities, and cytochrome c levels were significantly increased in alcohol group while cathepsin B and L. activities were also found to be elevated albeit not statistically significant. These increases were significantly reversed by folic acid and betaine + folic acid treatments. While ethanol increased the number of apoptotic cells, this increase was prevented in ethanol + betaine and ethanol + betaine + folic acid groups. Morphometric examination showed that the mean diameter of apoptotic cells was increased with ethanol administration while this increase was reduced by betaine and betaine + folic acid treatments. We observed that ethanol is capable of triggering apoptotic cell death in the newborn rat brains. Furthermore, folic acid, betaine, and combined therapy of these supplements may reduce neuroapoptosis related to prenatal alcohol consumption, and might be effective on preventing fetal alcohol syndrome in infants.

Effect of natural betaine on estimates of semen quality in mature AI boars during summer heat stress.

PubMed

Cabezón, F A; Stewart, K R; Schinckel, A P; Barnes, W; Boyd, R D; Wilcock, P; Woodliff, J

2016-07-01

This study evaluated the effect of supplemental dietary betaine at three concentrations (0.0%, 0.63% and 1.26%) on semen characteristics, quality and quality after storage on boars. The trial was conducted between 22 July and 1 October 2014 in a boar stud located in Oklahoma. Boars were blocked by age within genetic line and randomly allotted to receive 0% (CON, n (line T)=22, n (line L)=10), 0.63% (BET-0.63%, n (line T)=21, n (line L)=6) or 1.26% (BET-1.26%, n (line T)=23, n (line L)=7). The diets containing betaine were fed over 10 weeks, to ensure supplemental betaine product (96% betaine) daily intakes of 16.34 and 32.68g, for the BET-0.63% and BET-1.26% diets, respectively. Serum homocysteine concentrations were less for animals with betaine treatments (P=0.016). Rectal temperatures of the boars were unaffected by betaine diets. Betaine tended to increase total sperm in the ejaculates when collectively compared with data of the control animals (P=0.093). Sperm morphology analysis indicated there was a greater percent of sperm with distal midpiece reflex (P=0.009) and tail (P=0.035) abnormalities in boars fed the BET-1.26% than boars fed the BET-0.63% diet. Betaine concentration in the seminal plasma was greater in boars with betaine treatments, with animals being fed the 0.63% and 1.26% diets having 59.2% and 54.5% greater betaine concentrations in seminal plasma as compared with boars of the control group (P=0.046). In conclusion, betaine supplementation at 0.63% and 1.26% tended to increase sperm concentration in the ejaculates by 6% and 13%, respectively, with no negative impacts on semen quality when 0.63% of betaine was included in the diet. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Variability of plasma and urine betaine in diabetes mellitus and its relationship to methionine load test responses: an observational study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Since betaine is an osmolyte and methyl donor, and abnormal betaine loss is common in diabetes mellitus (>20% patients), we investigated the relationship between betaine and the post-methionine load rise in homocysteine, in diabetes and control subjects. The post-methionine load test is reported to be both an independent vascular risk factor and a measure of betaine sufficiency. Methods Patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 34) and control subjects (n = 17) were recruited. We measured baseline fasting plasma and 4-hour post-methionine load (L-methionine, 0.1 mg/kg body weight) concentrations of homocysteine, betaine, and the betaine metabolite N,N-dimethylglycine. Baseline urine excretions of betaine, dimethylglycine and glucose were measured on morning urine samples as the ratio to urine creatinine. Statistical determinants of the post-methionine load increase in homocysteine were identified in multiple linear regression models. Results Plasma betaine concentrations and urinary betaine excretions were significantly (p < 0.001) more variable in the subjects with diabetes compared with the controls. Dimethylglycine excretion (p = 0.00014) and plasma dimethylglycine concentrations (p = 0.039) were also more variable. In diabetes, plasma betaine was a significant negative determinant (p < 0.001) of the post-methionine load increase in homocysteine. However, it was not conclusive that this was different from the relationship in the controls. In the patients with diabetes, a strong relationship was found between urinary betaine excretion and urinary glucose excretion (but not with plasma glucose). Conclusions Both high and low plasma betaine concentrations, and high and low urinary betaine excretions, are more prevalent in diabetes. The availability of betaine affects the response in the methionine load test. The benefits of increasing betaine intake should be investigated. PMID:22510294

Gastric reacidification with betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with rabeprazole-induced hypochlorhydria.

PubMed

Yago, Marc R; Frymoyer, Adam R; Smelick, Gillian S; Frassetto, Lynda A; Budha, Nageshwar R; Dresser, Mark J; Ware, Joseph A; Benet, Leslie Z

2013-11-04

Previous studies have demonstrated that increased gastric pH from the use of acid-reducing agents, such as proton-pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists, can significantly impact the absorption of weakly basic drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility. Clinically practical strategies to mitigate this interaction have not been developed. This pilot study evaluated the extent and time course of gastric reacidification after a solid oral dosage form of anhydrous betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with pharmacologically induced hypochlorhydria. Six healthy volunteers with baseline normochlorhydria (fasting gastric pH < 4) were enrolled in this single period study. Hypochlorhydria was induced via 20 mg oral rabeprazole twice daily for four days. On the fifth day, an additional 20 mg dose of oral rabeprazole was given and gastric pH was monitored continuously using the Heidelberg pH capsule. After gastric pH > 4 was confirmed for 15 min, 1500 mg of betaine HCl was given orally with 90 mL of water and gastric pH was continuously monitored for 2 h. Betaine HCl significantly lowered gastric pH by 4.5 (± 0.5) units from 5.2 (± 0.5) to 0.6 (± 0.2) (P < 0.001) during the 30 min interval after administration. The onset of effect of betaine HCl was rapid, with a mean time to pH < 3 of 6.3 (± 4.3) min. The reacidification period was temporary with a gastric pH < 3 and < 4 lasting 73 (± 33) and 77 (± 30) min, respectively. Betaine HCl was well tolerated by all subjects. In healthy volunteers with pharmacologically induced hypochlorhydria, betaine HCl was effective at temporarily lowering gastric pH. The rapid onset and relatively short duration of gastric pH reduction gives betaine HCl the potential to aid the absorption of orally administered weakly basic drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility when administered under hypochlorhydric conditions.

Effect of betaine supplement on broiler performance during an experimental coccidial infection.

PubMed

Waldenstedt, L; Elwinger, K; Thebo, P; Uggla, A

1999-02-01

A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of betaine as a feed supplement, given singly and in combination with the ionophore coccidiostat narasin, on broiler performance during an experimental coccidial infection. Five hundred and sixty female Ross broiler chickens were kept in floor pens and given a wheat-based diet. At 10 d of age, 420 chickens were individually inoculated with a mixture of Swedish chicken Eimeria isolates containing E. acervtulina, E. praecox, E. maxima, and E. tenella. Remaining birds were kept as uninoculated controls. The effects of betaine (0 or 1.0 g/kg) and narasin (0 or 70 ppm) added to the basal diet were evaluated. Overall, betaine as a single feed supplement improved live weight by 5.7, 5.4, and 5.6% at 22, 29, and 36 d, respectively, but had no positive effect in combination with narasin. A longer withdrawal period of the coccidiostat (10 vs 5 d) did not affect live weight, but significantly increased feed intake by 9.6% and feed conversion ratio by 12.6%, irrespective of betaine supplement. Inoculated birds had a 10% lower live weight than uninoculated chickens. Performance of uninoculated birds was similar to that of inoculated birds treated with narasin, except at 7 d after inoculation, when live weights of uninoculated birds were significantly higher. Chickens given coccidiostat had less Clostridium perfringens in their ceca, but the prevalence was not altered by betaine supplement. There was no difference in intestinal lesion scores between inoculated chickens given coccidiostat or not, despite the better performance of chickens given coccidiostat. Betaine did not affect Eimeria oocyst output or intestinal lesion scores.

Fenofibrate causes elevation of betaine excretion but not excretion of other osmolytes by healthy adults.

PubMed

Lever, Michael; McEntyre, Christopher J; George, Peter M; Slow, Sandy; Chambers, Stephen T; Foucher, Christelle

2014-01-01

Cross-sectional data suggest that bezafibrate increases betaine excretion in dyslipidemic patients. We aimed to demonstrate that fenofibrate induces increased betaine excretion in normal subjects and explore whether other 1-carbon metabolites and osmolytes are similarly affected. Urine was collected from 26 healthy adults before and after treatment with fenofibrate (145 mg/day for 6 weeks). Excretions of betaine, N,N-dimethylglycine, free choline, myo-inositol, taurine, trimethylamine-N-oxide, carnitine, and acetylcarnitine were measured by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Fenofibrate increased the median betaine excretion from 7.5 to 25.8 mmol/mole creatinine (median increase 3-fold), P < .001. The median increase in N,N-dimethylglycine excretion was 2-fold (P < .001). Median choline excretion increased 12% (significant, P = .029). Participants with higher initial excretions tended to have larger increases (P < .001 in all 3 cases). Fenofibrate did not significantly change the median excretions of myo-inositol, taurine, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and carnitine. The excretion of acetylcarnitine decreased 4-fold on treatment, with no correlation between the baseline and after-treatment excretions. Changes in all urine components tested, except trimethylamine-N-oxide, positively correlated with changes in betaine excretion even when the median excretions before and after were not significantly different. Fibrates increase betaine, and to a lesser extent N,N-dimethylglycine and choline, excretion. Other osmolytes are not elevated. Because the increase in betaine excretion depends on the baseline excretion, large increases in excretion in the metabolic syndrome and diabetes (where baseline excretions are high) could be expected. Replacement with betaine supplements may be considered. Copyright © 2014 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Portal-drained viscera heat production in Iberian pigs fed betaine- and conjugated linoleic acid-supplemented diets.

PubMed

Rojas-Cano, María Luz; Lachica, Manuel; Lara, Luis; Haro, Ana; Fernández-Fígares, Ignacio

2017-01-01

Betaine and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may alter growth and body composition in pigs, although their mode of action is not well understood. Portal-drained viscera (PDV) have a disproportionate influence with respect to their masses, and this may affect the productivity of more profitable tissues. The objective of this study was to determine if the use of betaine and/or CLA in the diet affects PDV heat production. Postprandial portal blood flow (PBF) was greater (19.0%, P = 0.004) for control compared with the other three diets. The lowest (P < 0.001) value for postprandial PDV O 2 consumption corresponded to betaine + CLA followed by betaine and CLA diets (32.7, 25.4 and 17.7% respectively with respect to control diet). Postprandial PDV heat production was greater (26.4%, P < 0.001) for control with respect to the other three diets, with the minimum value corresponding to betaine + CLA (34.1% lower than control). Supplementation with betaine and/or CLA reduced the PBF, O 2 consumption and therefore PDV heat production with respect to control diet. This effect was more pronounced when betaine and CLA were supplemented together, potentially increasing the energy availability for other body tissues. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Betaine Treatment Attenuates Chronic Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Alterations to the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Proteome

PubMed Central

Kharbanda, Kusum K.; Todero, Sandra L.; King, Adrienne L.; Osna, Natalia A.; McVicker, Benita L.; Tuma, Dean J.; Wisecarver, James L.; Bailey, Shannon M.

2012-01-01

Introduction. Mitochondrial damage and disruption in oxidative phosphorylation contributes to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that the hepatoprotective actions of betaine against alcoholic liver injury occur at the level of the mitochondrial proteome. Methods. Male Wister rats were pair-fed control or ethanol-containing liquid diets supplemented with or without betaine (10 mg/mL) for 4-5 wks. Liver was examined for triglyceride accumulation, levels of methionine cycle metabolites, and alterations in mitochondrial proteins. Results. Chronic ethanol ingestion resulted in triglyceride accumulation which was attenuated in the ethanol plus betaine group. Blue native gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) revealed significant decreases in the content of the intact oxidative phosphorylation complexes in mitochondria from ethanol-fed animals. The alcohol-dependent loss in many of the low molecular weight oxidative phosphorylation proteins was prevented by betaine supplementation. This protection by betaine was associated with normalization of SAM : S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratios and the attenuation of the ethanol-induced increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide generation in the liver. Discussion/Conclusion. In summary, betaine attenuates alcoholic steatosis and alterations to the oxidative phosphorylation system. Therefore, preservation of mitochondrial function may be another key molecular mechanism responsible for betaine hepatoprotection. PMID:22187660

Dietary betaine increases intraepithelial lymphocytes in the duodenum of coccidia-infected chicks and increases functional properties of phagocytes.

PubMed

Klasing, K C; Adler, K L; Remus, J C; Calvert, C C

2002-08-01

Betaine is used by cells to defend against changes in osmolarity. We examined relationships among betaine, osmolarity and coccidiosis. In the first experiment, chicks were fed corn-soy diets containing 0.0, 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg betaine; half were challenged with Eimeria acervulina (Cocci). Cocci decreased weight gain and feed efficiency and increased the osmolarity of the duodenal and jejunal mucosa (P < 0.01). Betaine decreased osmolarity of the duodenum (P < 0.01), especially in Cocci-challenged birds. Cocci increased the thickness (P = 0.04) of and number (P < 0.01) of leukocytes in the duodenal lamina propria especially at high betaine levels (interaction P = 0.05). Villi height was decreased by Cocci (P = 0.05) and this was ameliorated by 1.0 g/kg betaine (interaction P = 0.04). Intraepithelial leukocyte numbers were increased by Cocci (P < 0.01) especially at 0.5 and 1 g/kg betaine. Peritoneal macrophages or peripheral blood heterophils were incubated in media with an osmolarity of 200, 310, 600 or 900 mOsmol and 0.0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.5 mmol/L betaine (4 x 4 factorial) for 6 h and then E. acervulina were added. In general, phagocytosis and NO release were decreased and interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 release were increased in hyperosmotic media compared with isosmotic media. Betaine (0.1 mmol/L) increased NO release by heterophils (P = 0.04) and tended to increase (P < 0.1) NO release from macrophages. The chemotaxis of monocytes toward chemotactic factors released by heterophils was increased by betaine. Increased chemotaxis of monocytes and NO release by macrophages may explain the decreased intestinal pathology but increased leukocyte numbers that were observed when betaine was fed during a Cocci infection.

High intakes of choline and betaine reduce breast cancer mortality in a population-based study.

PubMed

Xu, Xinran; Gammon, Marilie D; Zeisel, Steven H; Bradshaw, Patrick T; Wetmur, James G; Teitelbaum, Susan L; Neugut, Alfred I; Santella, Regina M; Chen, Jia

2009-11-01

Choline and betaine provide methyl groups for one-carbon metabolism. Humans obtain these nutrients from a wide range of foods. Betaine can also be synthesized endogenously from its precursor, choline. Although animal studies have implied a causal relationship between choline deficiency and carcinogenesis, the role of these two nutrients in human carcinogenesis and tumor progression is not well understood. We investigated the associations of dietary intakes of choline and betaine and breast cancer risk and mortality in the population-based Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. Among the 1508 case-group women, 308 (20.2%) deaths occurred, among whom 164 (53.2%) died of breast cancer by December 31, 2005. There was an indication that a higher intake of free choline was associated with reduced risk of breast cancer (P(trend)=0.04). Higher intakes of betaine, phosphocholine, and free choline were associated with reduced all-cause as well as breast cancer-specific mortality in a dose-dependent fashion. We also explored associations of polymorphisms of three key choline- and betaine-metabolizing genes and breast cancer mortality. The betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase gene (BHMT) rs3733890 polymorphism was associated with reduced breast cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.97). Our study supports the important roles of choline and betaine in breast carcinogenesis. It suggests that high intake of these nutrients may be a promising strategy to prevent the development of breast cancer and to reduce its mortality.

Dielectric properties of ferroelectric betaine phosphite crystals with a high degree of deuteration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balashova, E. V.; Krichevtsov, B. B.; Yurko, E. I.; Svinarev, F. B.; Pankova, G. A.

2015-12-01

The dielectric properties of deuterated betaine phosphite crystals with a high degree of deuteration in the region of the antiferrodistorsive (at T = T c1) and ferroelectric (at T = T c2) phase transitions have been investigated. The temperature behavior of the dielectric permittivity of betaine phosphite and deuterated betaine phosphite has been described within the framework of the Landau thermodynamic model taking into account the biquadratic coupling between the polar order parameter of the ferroelectric transition and the nonpolar order parameter of the antiferrodistorsive phase transition. It has been shown that an increase in the degree of deuteration leads to a decrease in the coupling between the order parameters. An increase in the temperature of the ferroelectric phase transition due to the deuteration of betaine phosphite is caused by an increase in the dielectric permittivity in the symmetric phase above the temperature of the antiferrodistorsive phase transition.

Analysis of the role of betL in contributing to the growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes LO28.

PubMed

Sleator, R D; Gahan CGM; O'Driscoll, B; Hill, C

2000-09-25

Survival of the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in environments of elevated osmolarity and reduced temperature is attributed, at least in part, to the accumulation of the trimethylammonium compound glycine betaine. Previously we identified betL, a gene encoding the secondary glycine betaine transporter BetL, which we linked to the salt tolerance of Listeria. In this report, we demonstrate that betL, preceded by a consensus sigmaB-dependent promoter, is regulated by osmotic up-shock, at least in part at the level of transcription. Using allelic exchange mutagenesis we constructed an in-frame deletion in betL, and used this mutant to determine the role of BetL in contributing to the growth and survival of L. monocytogenes, both in a high risk food (Camembert cheese) and animal model. Our results indicate that while BetL plays an important role in glycine betaine mediated osmoprotection, mutating the gene does not significantly effect either the cryotolerance or virulence of the organism.

Higher Dietary Choline and Betaine Intakes Are Associated with Better Body Composition in the Adult Population of Newfoundland, Canada.

PubMed

Gao, Xiang; Wang, Yongbo; Randell, Edward; Pedram, Pardis; Yi, Yanqing; Gulliver, Wayne; Sun, Guang

2016-01-01

Choline is an essential nutrient and betaine is an osmolyte and methyl donor. Both are important to maintain health including adequate lipid metabolism. Supplementation of dietary choline and betaine increase muscle mass and reduce body fat in animals. However, little data is available regarding the role of dietary choline and betaine on body composition in humans. To investigate the association between dietary choline and betaine intakes with body composition in a large population based cross-sectional study. A total of 3214 subjects from the CODING (Complex Disease in Newfoundland population: Environment and Genetics) study were assessed. Dietary choline and betaine intakes were computed from the Willett Food Frequency questionnaire. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry following a 12-hour fast. Major confounding factors including age, sex, total calorie intake and physical activity level were controlled in all analyses. Significantly inverse correlations were found between dietary choline and betaine intakes, with all obesity measurements: total percent body fat (%BF), percent trunk fat (%TF), percent android fat (%AF), percent gynoid fat (%GF) and anthropometrics: weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio in both women and men (r range from -0.13 to -0.47 for choline and -0.09 to -0.26 for betaine, p<0.001 for all). Dietary choline intake had stronger association than betaine. Moreover, obese subjects had the lowest dietary choline and betaine intakes, with overweight subjects in the middle, and normal weight subjects consumed the highest dietary choline and betaine (p<0.001). Vice versa, when subjects were ranked according to dietary choline and betaine intakes, subjects with the highest intake of both had the lowest %TF, %AF, %GF, %BF and highest %LM among the groups in both sexes. Our findings indicate that high dietary choline and betaine intakes are significantly associated with favorable body

Responses to betaine and inorganic sulphur of sheep in growth performance and fibre growth.

PubMed

Nezamidoust, M; Alikhani, M; Ghorbani, G R; Edriss, M A

2014-12-01

Sulphur-containing amino acids (SAA) are essential and usually the first limiting amino acids for growth, milk and wool production. The keratin fibre that grows from epidermal tissue is rich in SAA. The rate of fibre growth and its S content are influenced by the availability of SAA. Betaine is a dietary source for a labile methyl group and actively participates in methionine metabolism by donating methyl groups for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Ruminants are capable of synthesizing SAA from inorganic S sources, and most bacteria in the rumen can use inorganic S to meet their requirements for growth. The objective of this study was to examine whether betaine and an inorganic sulphur supplement could provide methyl groups and sulphur amino acids in a way that growth performance and wool production of ewes and lambs are improved. Treatments performed included betaine supplementation, sulphate supplementation and betaine plus sulphate supplementation with five replications for each treatment. The dry matter intake of the ewes was affected by betaine plus sulphate supplementation (p < 0.05). In the ewes, betaine plus sulphate supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the wool growth rate, wool yield, staple length and wool sulphur concentration, while decreasing wool wax and wool yellowness (p < 0.05). In the lambs, wool growth rate, wool yield, fibre diameter, staple length, staple strength, wool sulphur concentration, wool wax and fibre percentage did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. In the ewes, plasma methionine concentration increased (p < 0.05) with betaine plus sulphate treatment. No corresponding difference (p > 0.05) was observed in plasma methionine concentration in the lambs. It can be concluded that betaine plus sulphate supplementation has the potential to change wool characteristics in the ewes, while these compounds were without any effect on growth and wool production of the lambs. Combining the two supplements was advantageous

Choline and betaine ameliorate liver lipid accumulation induced by vitamin B6 deficiency in rats.

PubMed

Kitagawa, Erina; Yamamoto, Tatsuya; Fujishita, Mayuko; Ota, Yuki; Yamamoto, Kohei; Nakagawa, Tomoyuki; Hayakawa, Takashi

2017-02-01

We investigated the efficacy of supplementing the diet with choline or betaine in ameliorating lipid accumulation induced by vitamin B 6 (B 6 ) deficiency in rat liver. Male Wistar rats were fed a control, B 6 -deficient, choline-supplemented (2, 4, or 6 g choline bitartrate/kg diet) B 6 -deficient diet or betaine-supplemented (1, 2, or 4 g betaine anhydrous/kg diet) B 6 -deficient diet for 35 d; all diets contained 9 g L-methionine (Met)/kg diet. Choline or betaine supplementation attenuated liver lipid deposition and restored plasma lipid profiles to control levels. These treatments restored the disruptions in Met metabolism and the phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio induced by B 6 deficiency in liver microsomes. These results suggest that choline and betaine ameliorated liver lipid accumulation induced by B 6 deficiency via recovery of Met metabolism and very low-density lipoprotein secretion by restoring the supply of PC derived from PE.

Betaine protects urea-induced denaturation of myosin subfragment-1.

PubMed

Ortiz-Costa, Susana; Sorenson, Martha M; Sola-Penna, Mauro

2008-07-01

We have demonstrated previously that urea inhibits the activity and alters the tertiary structure of skeletal muscle myosin in a biphasic manner. This was attributed to differential effects on its globular and filamentous portion. The inhibition of catalytic activity was counteracted by methylamines. With the aim of comprehending the effects of urea on the catalytic (globular) portion of myosin, this study examines the effects of urea and the countereffects of betaine on the catalytic activity and structure of myosin subfragment-1. It is shown that urea inactivates subfragment-1 in parallel with its ability to induce exposure of the enzyme hydrophobic domains, as assessed using intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence. Both effects are counteracted by betaine, which alone does not significantly affect subfragment-1. Urea also enhances the accessibility of thiol groups, promotes aggregation and decreases the alpha-helix content of S1, effects that are also counteracted by betaine. We conclude that urea-induced inactivation of the enzyme is caused by partial unfolding of the myosin catalytic domain.

Plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity is inversely associated with betaine in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.

PubMed

Dullaart, R P F; Garcia, Erwin; Jeyarajah, Elias; Gruppen, Eke G; Connelly, Margery A

2016-08-31

The choline metabolite, betaine, plays a role in lipid metabolism, and may predict the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) require phosphatidylcholine as substrate, raising the possibility that there is an intricate relationship of these protein factors with choline metabolism. Here we determined the relationships of PLTP and LCAT activity with betaine in subjects with and without T2DM. Plasma betaine (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy), PLTP activity (liposome-vesicle HDL system), LCAT activity (exogenous substrate assay) and (apo)lipoproteins were measured in 65 type 2 diabetic (T2DM) and in 55 non-diabetic subjects. PLTP and LCAT activity were elevated in T2DM (p < 0.05), whereas the difference in betaine was not significant. In age-, sex- and diabetes status-controlled correlation analysis, betaine was inversely correlated with triglycerides and positively with HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05 to 0.01). PLTP and LCAT activity were positively correlated with triglycerides and inversely with HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05 to 0.001). PLTP (r = -0.245, p = 0.006) and LCAT activity (r = -0.195, p = 0.035) were correlated inversely with betaine. The inverse association of PLTP activity with betaine remained significant after additional adjustment for body mass index and lipoprotein variables (β = -0.179, p = 0.034), whereas its association with LCAT activity lost significance (β = -0.056, p = 0.44). Betaine may influence lipoprotein metabolism via an effect on PLTP activity.

Water-Pipe Smoke Exposure-Induced Circulatory Disturbances in Mice, and the Influence of Betaine Supplementation Thereon.

PubMed

Nemmar, Abderrahim; Al-Salam, Suhail; Beegam, Sumaya; Yuvaraju, Priya; Oulhaj, Abderrahim; Ali, Badreldin H

2017-01-01

It has been shown, both experimentally and clinically, that water-pipe smoke (WPS) exposure adversely affects the cardiovascular system (CVS) through the generation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Betaine, a naturally occurring compound in common foods, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. However, its potential to mitigate the adverse effect of WPS on the CVS has never been reported before. This is the subject of this study in mice. Mice were exposed daily for 30 min to either normal air (control), or to WPS for two consecutive weeks. Betaine was administered daily by gavage at a dose of 10mg/kg, 1h before either air or WPS exposure. Betaine mitigated the in vivo prothrombotic effect of WPS in pial arterioles and venules. Moreover, it reversed the WPS-induced decrease in circulating platelets. Likewise, betaine alleviated platelet aggregation in vitro, and the shortening of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time induced by WPS. Betaine reduced the increase of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibrinogen concentrations in plasma induced by WPS. Betaine also diminished the WPS-induced increase of plasma concentrations of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α, and attenuated the increase of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase. Immunohistochemical analysis of the heart revealed an increase in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cytochrome C by cardiomyocytes of the WPS-exposed mice. These effects were averted by betaine. Our findings suggest that betaine treatment significantly mitigated WPS-induced hypercoagulability, and inflammation, as well as systemic and cardiac oxidative stress. © 2017 The Author(s)Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

The Porter Stemming Algorithm: Then and Now

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willett, Peter

2006-01-01

Purpose: In 1980, Porter presented a simple algorithm for stemming English language words. This paper summarises the main features of the algorithm, and highlights its role not just in modern information retrieval research, but also in a range of related subject domains. Design/methodology/approach: Review of literature and research involving use…

High intakes of choline and betaine reduce breast cancer mortality in a population-based study

PubMed Central

Xu, Xinran; Gammon, Marilie D.; Zeisel, Steven H.; Bradshaw, Patrick T.; Wetmur, James G.; Teitelbaum, Susan L.; Neugut, Alfred I.; Santella, Regina M.; Chen, Jia

2009-01-01

Choline and betaine provide methyl groups for one-carbon metabolism. Humans obtain these nutrients from a wide range of foods. Betaine can also be synthesized endogenously from its precursor, choline. Although animal studies have implied a causal relationship between choline deficiency and carcinogenesis, the role of these two nutrients in human carcinogenesis and tumor progression is not well understood. We investigated the associations of dietary intakes of choline and betaine and breast cancer risk and mortality in the population-based Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. Among the 1508 case-group women, 308 (20.2%) deaths occurred, among whom 164 (53.2%) died of breast cancer by December 31, 2005. There was an indication that a higher intake of free choline was associated with reduced risk of breast cancer (Ptrend=0.04). Higher intakes of betaine, phosphocholine, and free choline were associated with reduced all-cause as well as breast cancer-specific mortality in a dose-dependent fashion. We also explored associations of polymorphisms of three key choline- and betaine-metabolizing genes and breast cancer mortality. The betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase gene (BHMT) rs3733890 polymorphism was associated with reduced breast cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.97). Our study supports the important roles of choline and betaine in breast carcinogenesis. It suggests that high intake of these nutrients may be a promising strategy to prevent the development of breast cancer and to reduce its mortality.—Xu, X., Gammon, M. D., Zeisal, S. H., Bradshaw, P. T., Wetmur, J. G., Teitelbaum, S. L., Neugut, A. I., Santella, R. M., Chen, J. High intakes of choline and betaine reduce breast cancer mortality in a population-based study. PMID:19635752

Mitochondrial Delivery of Doxorubicin Using MITO-Porter Kills Drug-Resistant Renal Cancer Cells via Mitochondrial Toxicity.

PubMed

Yamada, Yuma; Munechika, Reina; Kawamura, Eriko; Sakurai, Yu; Sato, Yusuke; Harashima, Hideyoshi

2017-09-01

Most anticancer drugs are intended to function in the nuclei of cancer cells. If an anticancer drug could be delivered to mitochondria, the source of cellular energy, this organelle would be destroyed, resulting in the arrest of the energy supply and the killing of the cancer cells. To achieve such an innovative strategy, a mitochondrial drug delivery system targeted to cancer cells will be required. We recently reported on the development of a MITO-Porter, a liposome for mitochondrial delivery. In this study, we validated the utility of such a cancer therapeutic strategy by delivering anticancer drugs directly to mitochondria. We succeeded in packaging doxorubicin (DOX) as a model cargo in MITO-Porter to produce a DOX-MITO-Porter. We evaluated cellular toxicity of OS-RC-2 cell, a type of DOX-resistant cancer cell, after delivering DOX to mitochondria using the MITO-Porter system. Cell viability was decreased by the DOX-MITO-Porter treatment, while cell viability was not decreased in the case of naked DOX and a conventional DOX liposomal formulation. We also found a relationship between cellular toxicity and mitochondrial toxicity. The use of a MITO-Porter system for mitochondrial delivery of a toxic agent represents a possible therapeutic strategy for treating drug-resistant cancers. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cryoprotective ability of betaine-type metabolite analogs during freezing denaturation of enzymes.

PubMed

Nakagawa, Yuichi; Sota, Masahiro; Koumoto, Kazuya

2015-08-01

To evaluate an analog library of betaine-type cellular metabolites, which are naturally found in polar fish for survival in subzero temperatures, for preventing denaturation of enzymes during freezing. Comparison of the cryoprotective ability of reported cryoprotectants, such as dimethylsulfoxide, glycerol, ectoine, hydroxyectoine, and trehalose, with betaine-type analogs using α-glucosidase revealed that analogs introducing C3-C6 alkyl chains into an ammonium cation retained 20 % higher activity than the control cryoprotectants at the same concentration. In particular, the analog possessing triplicate n-butyl chains showed a profound effect. It allowed retention of enzyme activity to 95 % even after 100 freeze-thaw cycles, while addition of the control cryoprotectants decreased the activity to 10-20 %. The cryoprotective ability of betaine-type analogs can be applied not only to α-glucosidase but also other enzymes such as β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, lactose dehydrogenase, sulfatase, and horseradish peroxidase. Synthetic betaine-type metabolite analogs possess practicable cryoprotective ability for various enzymes, and are considerably superior to previously reported cryoprotectants.

Cocamidopropyl betaine.

PubMed

Jacob, Sharon E; Amini, Sadegh

2008-01-01

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is an amphoteric synthetic detergent that has been increasingly used in cosmetics and personal hygiene products (eg, shampoos, contact lens solutions, toothpaste detergents, makeup removers, bath gels, skin care products, cleansers, liquid soaps, antiseptics, and gynecologic and anal hygiene products) because it induces relatively mild skin irritation. Delayed T-cell-mediated type IV hypersensitivity reactions to CAPB have been reported, and contact sensitization prevalence is estimated at between 3.0 and 7.2%. The increasing rates of sensitization led to CAPB's being named Allergen of the Year in 2004. Related impurities rendered during the manufacturing process (such as amidoamine and dimethylaminopropylamine) are thought to play a role in sensitization.

Maternal betaine administration modulates hepatic type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio1) expression in chicken offspring through epigenetic modifications.

PubMed

Hou, Zhen; Sun, Qinwei; Hu, Yun; Yang, Shu; Zong, Yibo; Zhao, Ruqian

2018-04-01

As a feed additive, betaine is widely used in livestock production for its ability to promote growth. Our previous studies had reported that maternal betaine supplementation altered hepatic metabolism in offspring. But it remains unknown whether and how maternal betaine modulates metabolism of thyroid hormones in the offspring chickens by epigenetic modification. In this study, one hundred and twenty Rugao yellow-feathered laying hens were randomly divided into two groups, and were fed basal diet with or without 0.5% betaine supplementation for 28 days. After that, all the hens were artificially inseminated and then four hundreds fertilized eggs were selected. After hatching, the newborn chicks were raised until 56 days old. Betaine fed female chicks showed significantly lower body weight and lower level of biologically active thyroid hormone in plasma compared to control group, which was associated with significantly decrease in expression of type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio1). Moreover, betaine also changed hepatic expression of betaine-homocysteine -S-methyltransferase (BHMT) and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), which may contribute to hypermethylation of the Dio1 promoter. Interestingly, betaine treatments of hens caused none of these effects in male chicks except Dio1 expression. These results indicate that maternal betaine administration effects growth of offspring through differential modification of Dio1 gene methylation and expression in liver and this model of transgenerational effects may help elucidate the mechanisms of maternal effects arise in natural systems. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Metabolic Burden of Methyl Donor Deficiency with Focus on the Betaine Homocysteine Methyltransferase Pathway

PubMed Central

Obeid, Rima

2013-01-01

Methyl groups are important for numerous cellular functions such as DNA methylation, phosphatidylcholine synthesis, and protein synthesis. The methyl group can directly be delivered by dietary methyl donors, including methionine, folate, betaine, and choline. The liver and the muscles appear to be the major organs for methyl group metabolism. Choline can be synthesized from phosphatidylcholine via the cytidine-diphosphate (CDP) pathway. Low dietary choline loweres methionine formation and causes a marked increase in S-adenosylmethionine utilization in the liver. The link between choline, betaine, and energy metabolism in humans indicates novel functions for these nutrients. This function appears to goes beyond the role of the nutrients in gene methylation and epigenetic control. Studies that simulated methyl-deficient diets reported disturbances in energy metabolism and protein synthesis in the liver, fatty liver, or muscle disorders. Changes in plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) reflect one aspect of the metabolic consequences of methyl group deficiency or nutrient supplementations. Folic acid supplementation spares betaine as a methyl donor. Betaine is a significant determinant of plasma tHcy, particularly in case of folate deficiency, methionine load, or alcohol consumption. Betaine supplementation has a lowering effect on post-methionine load tHcy. Hypomethylation and tHcy elevation can be attenuated when choline or betaine is available. PMID:24022817

Maternal betaine supplementation in rats induces intergenerational changes in hepatic IGF-1 expression and DNA methylation.

PubMed

Zhao, Nannan; Yang, Shu; Hu, Yun; Dong, Haibo; Zhao, Ruqian

2017-08-01

Betaine is widely used in animal nutrition to promote growth. Here, we aimed to investigate whether maternal betaine supplementation during pregnancy can exert multigenerational effects on growth across two generations and the possible epigenetic modifications associated to such effects. In this study, 3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diet supplemented with 1% betaine throughout the pregnancy and lactation. Betaine-supplemented dams produced bigger litter but smaller F1 pups at birth and weaning. However, F2 pubs had higher weaning weight. In accordance with the growth performance, serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were significantly lower in F1 yet higher in F2 pups, so was hepatic IGF-1 mRNA expression. Concurrently, dietary betaine supplementation to F0 dams increased hepatic expression of betaine homocysteine methyltransferase, at both mRNA and protein levels, in F1, but not F2 pups. Moreover, hepatic IGF-1 gene promoter 1 was detected to be significantly hypermethylated in F1 pups, whereas both promoters 1 and 2, together with almost all exons, were found to be hypomethylated in F2 offspring. Maternal betaine supplementation during pregnancy and lactation exerts distinct effects on growth of F1 and F2 rat offspring, probably through differential modification of IGF-1 gene methylation and expression in liver. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The Influence of Osmolytes on the Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reed-Jones, Neiunna L.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are gaining popularity as antimicrobial agents due to their broad- spectrum activity and lower propensity to develop resistance in bacteria. However, with increased frequency of use, there remains a possibility for bacteria to develop resistance or adaptive mechanisms against Ag-NPs overtime. Mechanisms used by bacteria to resist antimicrobial agents include efflux pumps, heat shock proteins (Hsp) and accumulation of compatible solutes, generally referred to as osmolytes. The latter mechanism is typically employed when bacteria are under osmotic stress they accumulate osmolytes either through de novo synthesis or exogenously. Osmolytes act to stabilize the bacterial cell membrane by maintaining the native protein structure, while at the same time, ensuring compatibility with other cellular structures and functions. The most common osmolytes accumulated by bacteria are glycine betaine, proline, carnitine, choline, trehalose and glutamate. Since Ag-NPs target the cell membrane it is conceivable that osmolytes may suppress its bactericidal activity. In the present study, we assess the antimicrobial efficacy of Ag-NPs in the presence of glycine betaine and proline. Exponential phase cultures (106 cfu/ml) of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were exposed to a predetermined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.4 mM of citrate-stabilized Ag-NPs and incubated at 37°C for 48 h. This was replicated with the addition of 1 mM of either glycine betaine or proline. Growth was monitored by optical density, standard plate count, resazurin assay and LIVE/DEAD analyses. The result showed that Ag-NPs had no detectable effect on osmolyte treated cells. The average plate count of cultures supplemented with either glycine betaine or proline ranged from 108 to 109 cfu/ml after 48 h. Resazurin assay also showed that there was a significant increase in the cells supplemented with

The Contrasting Relationships between Betaine and Homocysteine in Two Clinical Cohorts are Associated with Plasma Lipids and Drug Treatments

PubMed Central

Lever, Michael; George, Peter M.; Atkinson, Wendy; Elmslie, Jane L.; Slow, Sandy; Molyneux, Sarah L.; Troughton, Richard W.; Richards, A. Mark; Frampton, Christopher M.; Chambers, Stephen T.

2012-01-01

Background Urinary betaine excretion positively correlated with plasma homocysteine in outpatients attending a lipid disorders clinic (lipid clinic study). We aimed to confirm this in subjects with established vascular disease. Methods The correlation between betaine excretion and homocysteine was compared in samples collected from subjects 4 months after hospitalization for an acute coronary episode (ACS study, 415 urine samples) and from 158 sequential patients visiting a lipid disorders clinic. Principal findings In contrast to the lipid clinic study, betaine excretion and plasma homocysteine did not correlate in the total ACS cohort. Differences between the patient groups included age, non-HDL cholesterol and medication. In ACS subjects with below median betaine excretion, excretion correlated (using log transformed data) negatively with plasma homocysteine (r = −0.17, p = 0.019, n = 199), with no correlation in the corresponding subset of the lipid clinic subjects. In ACS subjects with above median betaine excretion a positive trend (r = +0.10) between betaine excretion and homocysteine was not significant; the corresponding correlation in lipid clinic subjects was r = +0.42 (p = 0.0001). In ACS subjects, correlations were stronger when plasma non-HDL cholesterol and betaine excretion were above the median, r = +0.20 (p = 0.045); in subjects above median non-HDL cholesterol and below median betaine excretion, r = −0.26 (p = 0.012). ACS subjects taking diuretics or proton pump inhibitors had stronger correlations, negative with lower betaine excretion and positive with higher betaine excretion. Conclusions Betaine excretion correlates with homocysteine in subjects with elevated blood lipids. PMID:22396767

Betaine can partially spare choline in chicks but only when added to diets containing a minimal level of choline.

PubMed

Dilger, Ryan N; Garrow, Timothy A; Baker, David H

2007-10-01

The ability of betaine to serve as a methyl donor in chicks was assessed in 3 bioassays using a choline-free purified diet that contained adequate methionine (Met). In assay 1, choline and betaine were each supplemented at 300 mg/kg in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of diets. Supplemental choline improved (P < 0.05) growth performance over the 9-d growth period, whereas betaine alone had no effect. In assay 2, graded supplements of choline produced a linear increase (P < 0.05) in growth performance criteria over a 9-d growth period. Additionally, hepatic betaine-homocysteine (Hcy) methyltransferase (BHMT) activity decreased linearly (P < 0.05), whereas plasma total Hcy remained unchanged. Addition of 260 or 600 mg/kg betaine to the choline-free basal diet did not affect growth performance or BHMT activity, but 600 mg/kg betaine reduced (P < 0.05) plasma total Hcy. Assay 3 was designed to quantify the ability of betaine to spare choline. Minimal supplemental choline requirements of 20.8 +/- 1.50 mg/d (722 mg/kg diet) and 10.5 +/- 1.03 mg/d (412 mg/kg diet) were estimated in the absence and presence of 1000 mg/kg supplemental betaine, respectively. Based on these estimates, 50% of the dietary choline requirement must be supplied as choline per se, but the remaining 50% can be replaced by betaine. Collectively, these data suggest betaine and Met have minimal choline-sparing activity in chicks fed purified diets devoid of preformed choline. However, addition of betaine to diets containing minimal choline allows a marked reduction in the total dietary choline requirement.

Dietary betaine accumulates in the liver and intestinal tissue and stabilizes the intestinal epithelial structure in healthy and coccidia-infected broiler chicks.

PubMed

Kettunen, H; Tiihonen, K; Peuranen, S; Saarinen, M T; Remus, J C

2001-11-01

The aim of this experiment was to study the patterns of betaine accumulation into intestinal tissue, liver and plasma of broiler chicks with or without coccidial infection. The chicks were raised on a corn-based, low-betaine diet with or without 1000 ppm betaine supplementation and with or without intestinal microparasite (Eimeria maxima) challenge to the age of 21 days. Plasma, liver, intestinal tissue and digesta of non-challenged (NC) birds and plasma and intestinal tissue of coccidiosis challenged (CC) birds were analysed for betaine content. NC birds were also analyzed for homocysteine in plasma and S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) in liver. The jejunal epithelium was histologically examined for the presence of coccidia and the crypt-villus ratio was measured. Dietary betaine supplementation decreased the plasma homocysteine concentration but had no effect on liver S-AM of NC birds. The data suggest that chicks on a low-betaine diet accumulate betaine into the intestinal tissue. When the diet was supplemented with betaine, betaine accumulated heavily into liver and to a lesser degree into intestinal tissue. The concentration of betaine in jejunal and ileal digesta was low suggesting that dietary betaine was mainly absorbed from the proximal small intestine. The coccidial challenge decreased the concentration of betaine in the liver, but greatly increased that in the intestinal tissue. The crypt-villus ratio was decreased by the dietary betaine supplementation in healthy and challenged chicks, suggesting that dietary betaine both protects the jejunal villi against coccidial infection and also stabilizes the mucosal structure in healthy broiler chicks. These results support our earlier findings suggesting that betaine is likely to act as an important intestinal osmolyte in broiler chicks.

A general framework for the solvatochromism of pyridinium phenolate betaine dyes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezende, Marcos Caroli; Aracena, Andrés

2013-02-01

A general framework for the solvatochromic behavior of pyridinium phenolate betaine dyes is presented, based on the variations with the medium of the electrophilic Fukui functions of their electron-pair donor and acceptor moieties. The model explains the ‘anomalous' solvatochromic behavior of large betaines, which change their behavior from negative to inverted, when electron-pair donor and acceptor groups are separated by a conjugated chain of variable size.

Management engineering (building no. 4), looking west along Porter Avenue. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Management engineering (building no. 4), looking west along Porter Avenue. - Naval Base Philadelphia-Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Management Engineering, League Island, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Gastric Re-acidification with Betaine HCl in Healthy Volunteers with Rabeprazole-Induced Hypochlorhydria

PubMed Central

Yago, Marc Anthony R.; Frymoyer, Adam R.; Smelick, Gillian S.; Frassetto, Lynda A.; Budha, Nageshwar R.; Dresser, Mark J.; Ware, Joseph A.; Benet, Leslie Z.

2013-01-01

Previous studies have demonstrated that increased gastric pH from the use of acid-reducing agents, such as proton-pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists, can significantly impact the absorption of weakly basic drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility. Clinically practical strategies to mitigate this interaction have not been developed. This pilot study evaluated the extent and time course of gastric re-acidification after a solid oral dosage form of anhydrous betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with pharmacologically-induced hypochlorhydria. Six healthy volunteers with baseline normochlorhydria (fasting gastric pH < 4) were enrolled in this single period study. Hypochlorhydria was induced via 20 mg oral rabeprazole twice daily for four days. On the fifth day, an additional 20 mg dose of oral rabeprazole was given and gastric pH was monitored continuously using the Heidelberg pH capsule. After gastric pH > 4 was confirmed for 15 minutes, 1500 mg of betaine HCl was given orally with 90 mL of water and gastric pH was continuously monitored for 2 hours. Betaine HCl significantly lowered gastric pH by 4.5 (±0.5) units from 5.2 (±0.5) to 0.6 (±0.2) (P <0.001) during the 30 minute interval after administration. The onset of effect of betaine HCl was rapid, with a mean time to pH < 3 of 6.3 (±4.3) minutes. The re-acidification period was temporary with a gastric pH < 3 and < 4 lasting 73 (±33) and 77 (±30) minutes, respectively. Betaine HCl was well tolerated by all subjects. In healthy volunteers with pharmacologically-induced hypochlorhydria, betaine HCl was effective at temporarily lowering gastric pH. The rapid onset and relatively short duration of gastric pH reduction gives betaine HCl the potential to aid the absorption of orally administered weakly basic drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility when administered under hypochlorhydric conditions. PMID:23980906

Conformational Structure of Tyrosine, Tyrosyl-Glycine, and Tyrosyl-Glycyl-Glycine by Double Resonance Spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abo-Riziq, Ali; Grace, Louis; Crews, Bridgit; Callahan, Michael P,; van Mourik, Tanja; de Vries, Mattanjah S,

2011-01-01

We investigated the variation in conformation for the amino acid tyrosine (Y), alone and in the small peptides tyrosine-glycine (YC) and tyrosine-glycine-glycine (YGG), in the gas phase by using UV-UV and IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. For tyrosine we found seven different conformations, for YG we found four different conformations, and for YGG we found three different conformations. As the peptides get larger, we observe fewer stable conformers, despite the increasing complexity and number of degrees of freedom. We find structural trends similar to those in phenylalanine-glycine glycine (FGG) and tryptophan-glycine-glycine (WGG)j however) the effect of dispersive forces in FGG for stabilizing a folded structure is replaced by that of hydrogen bonding in YGG.

Association between malnutrition and hyperhomocysteine in Alzheimer's disease patients and diet intervention of betaine.

PubMed

Sun, Jianying; Wen, Shiling; Zhou, Jing; Ding, Shuling

2017-09-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, which is associated with malnutrition and hyperhomocysteine. The current study aimed to analyze the relationship between malnutrition and hyperhomocysteine in AD patients, and effects of diet intervention with betaine on the disease. The nutritional statuses of the AD patients were assessed by short form mini nutritional assessment (MNA-SF). The levels of Hcy, tau hyperphosphorylation, synaptic proteins, blood inflammatory factors were measured by enzymatic cycling assay, Western blot and ELISA. The cognitive function was measured by AD assessment scale (ADAS-cog). There was a significant difference in mental status between normal people and AD patients (P<.05). Overall, malnutrition was reported in a larger proportion of AD patients and high level of Hcy was closely associated with malnutrition. Betaine decreased the levels of phosphorylated tau, elevated PP2Ac activity and inhibited Aβ accumulation (P<.05). The levels of IL-lβ and TNF-α were significantly higher in the untreatment group while much lower in the intervention group (P<.05). After intervention of betaine treatment, the expression level of Hcy can be restored and betaine can effectively suppress inflammation as well as trigger an increase in memory-related proteins. ADAS-Cog suggested that significant improvement was found after the intervention of betaine. AD was associated with both malnutrition and higher levels of Hcy. Betaine could restore Hcy expression to normal level in AD patient, which might ameliorate memory deficits. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Choline and betaine intake and risk of breast cancer among post-menopausal women.

PubMed

Cho, E; Holmes, M D; Hankinson, S E; Willett, W C

2010-02-02

Choline and betaine, similar to folate, are nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism and hypothesised to reduce breast cancer risk. No prospective study among post-menopausal women has examined choline and betaine intakes in relation to breast cancer risk. We examined the intake of choline and betaine and breast cancer risk among 74 584 post-menopausal women in the Nurses' Health Study. Nutrient intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire six times since 1984. During 20 years of follow-up from 1984 until 2004, we documented 3990 incident cases of invasive breast cancer. Overall, choline (mean+/-s.d.; 326+/-61 mg per day) and betaine (104+/-33 mg per day) intake was not associated with a reduced risk of post-menopausal breast cancer. Participants in the highest quintile of intakes had multivariate relative risks of 1.10 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.99-1.22; P-value, test for trend=0.14) for choline and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.89-1.09; P-value, test for trend=0.96) for betaine, compared with those in the lowest quintiles of intakes. The results were similar in breast cancer stratified by hormone receptor (oestrogen receptor/progesterone receptor) status. The association between choline intake and breast cancer risk did not differ appreciably by alcohol intake (non-drinker, <15 or 15+ g per day) or several other breast cancer risk factors, including family history of breast cancer, history of benign breast disease, body mass index, post-menopausal hormone use, and folate intake. We found no evidence that higher intakes of choline and betaine reduce risk of breast cancer among post-menopausal women.

Motives underlying food choice: dentists, porters and dietary health promotion.

PubMed

Crossley, M L; Khan, S N

2001-08-25

Differences in dental decay and disease amongst socioeconomic groups are thought to derive, in part, from variations in dietary practices and differences in education. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine whether differences in motivating factors affecting food choice could be found in a comparison of two groups at very different ends of the social spectrum: dentists and porters/cleaners. A convenience sample of 100 people (51 porters/cleaners and 49 dentists) working in the dental school at a university in the North West of England were approached to interview face-to-face and complete the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), a previously validated measure designed to assess nine main factors relevant to peoples' food choices. A sample size of 100 was chosen because it was adequate to test validity (using a two-group Chi-square test with a 0.050 two sided significance). Findings were analysed using independent sample t-test and multiple linear regression. Results indicated significant differences between porters/cleaners and dentists in terms of their motives for food choice on six of the nine FCQ factors. These included convenience (p < 0.001), natural content (p < 0.05), price (p < 0.005), familiarity (p < .0001), mood (p < 0.03) and ethical concern (p < 0.01). Porters/cleaners tended to rate the factors covenience, price, mood and familiarity more highly, whereas dentists did the same for natural content and ethical concern. Awareness of the differences in motivational factors affecting food choice between different social groups is important to dental practitioners who are being taught to play an increasing role in health promotion. If dental practitioners are to partake meaningfully in such a role, it is necessary for them to be aware not only of their own motives in food selection, but also of the way in which those motives may differ from those of their clients.

Higher Dietary Choline and Betaine Intakes Are Associated with Better Body Composition in the Adult Population of Newfoundland, Canada

PubMed Central

Gao, Xiang; Wang, Yongbo; Randell, Edward; Pedram, Pardis; Yi, Yanqing; Gulliver, Wayne; Sun, Guang

2016-01-01

Background Choline is an essential nutrient and betaine is an osmolyte and methyl donor. Both are important to maintain health including adequate lipid metabolism. Supplementation of dietary choline and betaine increase muscle mass and reduce body fat in animals. However, little data is available regarding the role of dietary choline and betaine on body composition in humans. Objective To investigate the association between dietary choline and betaine intakes with body composition in a large population based cross-sectional study. Design A total of 3214 subjects from the CODING (Complex Disease in Newfoundland population: Environment and Genetics) study were assessed. Dietary choline and betaine intakes were computed from the Willett Food Frequency questionnaire. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry following a 12-hour fast. Major confounding factors including age, sex, total calorie intake and physical activity level were controlled in all analyses. Result Significantly inverse correlations were found between dietary choline and betaine intakes, with all obesity measurements: total percent body fat (%BF), percent trunk fat (%TF), percent android fat (%AF), percent gynoid fat (%GF) and anthropometrics: weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio in both women and men (r range from -0.13 to -0.47 for choline and -0.09 to -0.26 for betaine, p<0.001 for all). Dietary choline intake had stronger association than betaine. Moreover, obese subjects had the lowest dietary choline and betaine intakes, with overweight subjects in the middle, and normal weight subjects consumed the highest dietary choline and betaine (p<0.001). Vice versa, when subjects were ranked according to dietary choline and betaine intakes, subjects with the highest intake of both had the lowest %TF, %AF, %GF, %BF and highest %LM among the groups in both sexes. Conclusion Our findings indicate that high dietary choline and betaine intakes are

Involvement of AMP-activated protein kinase in beneficial effects of betaine on high-sucrose diet-induced hepatic steatosis

PubMed Central

Song, Zhenyuan; Deaciuc, Ion; Zhou, Zhanxiang; Song, Ming; Chen, Theresa; Hill, Daniell; McClain, Craig J.

2014-01-01

Although simple steatosis was originally thought to be a pathologically inert histological change, fat accumulation in the liver may play a critical role not only in disease initiation, but also in the progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Therefore, prevention of fat accumulation in the liver may be an effective therapy for multiple stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Promising beneficial effects of betaine supplementation on human NAFLD have been reported in some pilot clinical studies; however, data related to betaine therapy in NAFLD are limited. In this study, we examined the effects of betaine on fat accumulation in the liver induced by high-sucrose diet and evaluated mechanisms by which betaine could attenuate or prevent hepatic steatosis in this model. Male C57BL/6 mice weighing 20 ± 0.5 g (means ± SE) were divided into four groups (8 mice per group) and started on one of four treatments: standard diet (SD), SD+betaine, high-sucrose diet (HS), and HS + betaine. Betaine was supplemented in the drinking water at a concentration of 1% (wt/vol) (anhydrous). Long-term feeding of high-sucrose diet to mice caused significant hepatic steatosis accompanied by markedly increased lipogenic activity. Betaine significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis in this animal model, and this change was associated with increased activation of hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and attenuated lipogenic capability (enzyme activities and gene expression) in the liver. Our findings are the first to suggest that betaine might serve as a therapeutic tool to attenuate hepatic steatosis by targeting the hepatic AMPK system. PMID:17702954

Choline and betaine intakes are associated with reduced risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults: a case-control study.

PubMed

Zeng, F-f; Xu, C-h; Liu, Y-t; Fan, Y-y; Lin, X-l; Lu, Y-k; Zhang, C-x; Chen, Y-m

2014-02-04

Intakes of choline and betaine have been inversely related to the risk of various neoplasms, but scant data exist on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We examined the association between consumption of choline and betaine and risk of NPC. We conducted a case-control study with 600 incident NPC patients and 600 controls 1 : 1 matched by age, sex and household type in Guangdong, China. Dietary intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Intakes of total choline, betaine and choline+betaine were inversely related to NPC after adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary factors (all P-trend <0.001). Adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for quartile 4 (vs quartile 1) were 0.42 (0.29, 0.61) for total choline, 0.50 (0.35, 0.72) for betaine and 0.44 (0.30, 0.64) for betaine+total choline. Regarding various sources of choline, lower NPC risk was associated with greater intakes of choline from phosphatidylcholine, free choline, glycerophosphocholine and phosphocholine, but not sphingomyelin. These findings are consistent with a beneficial effect of choline and betaine intakes on carcinogenesis.

Choline and betaine intakes are associated with reduced risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults: a case–control study

PubMed Central

Zeng, F-f; Xu, C-h; Liu, Y-t; Fan, Y-y; Lin, X-l; Lu, Y-k; Zhang, C-x; Chen, Y-m

2014-01-01

Background: Intakes of choline and betaine have been inversely related to the risk of various neoplasms, but scant data exist on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We examined the association between consumption of choline and betaine and risk of NPC. Methods: We conducted a case–control study with 600 incident NPC patients and 600 controls 1 : 1 matched by age, sex and household type in Guangdong, China. Dietary intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire through face-to-face interview. Results: Intakes of total choline, betaine and choline+betaine were inversely related to NPC after adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary factors (all P-trend <0.001). Adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for quartile 4 (vs quartile 1) were 0.42 (0.29, 0.61) for total choline, 0.50 (0.35, 0.72) for betaine and 0.44 (0.30, 0.64) for betaine+total choline. Regarding various sources of choline, lower NPC risk was associated with greater intakes of choline from phosphatidylcholine, free choline, glycerophosphocholine and phosphocholine, but not sphingomyelin. Conclusion: These findings are consistent with a beneficial effect of choline and betaine intakes on carcinogenesis. PMID:24169354

Antiangiogenic effect of betaine on pathologic retinal neovascularization via suppression of reactive oxygen species mediated vascular endothelial growth factor signaling.

PubMed

Park, Sung Wook; Jun, Hyoung Oh; Kwon, Euna; Yun, Jun-Won; Kim, Jin Hyoung; Park, Young-Jun; Kang, Byeong-Cheol; Kim, Jeong Hun

2017-03-01

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play important roles in pathologic retinal neovascularization. We investigated whether betaine inhibits pathologic retinal neovascularization in a mouse model of oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR). Betaine was intravitreally injected in OIR mice at postnatal day (P) 14. At P17, the neovascular tufts area in OIR retina was analyzed. Intravitreal injection of betaine (200μM) effectively reduced the neovascular tufts area in OIR retina (68.0±6.7% of the control eyes, P<0.05). Even in a high concentration (2mM), betaine never induced any retinal toxicity or cytotoxicity. Betaine significantly inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation, migration, and tube formation in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). Betaine suppressed VEGF-induced VEGFR-2, Akt and ERK phosphorylation in HRMECs. In human brain astrocytes, betaine reduced tBH-induced ROS production, and subsequently attenuated tBH-induced VEGFA mRNA transcription via suppression of ROS. Our data suggest that betaine has an anti-angiogenic effect on pathologic retinal neovascularization via suppression of ROS mediated VEGF signaling. Betaine could be a potent anti-angiogenic agent to treat pathologic retinal neovascularization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Estimation of usual intake and food sources of choline and betaine in New Zealand reproductive age women.

PubMed

Mygind, Vanessa L; Evans, Sophie E; Peddie, Meredith C; Miller, Jody C; Houghton, Lisa A

2013-01-01

Recently, choline has been associated with neurodevelopment, cognitive function and neural tube defect incidence. However, data on usual intakes are limited, and estimates of dietary intakes of choline and its metabolite betaine, are not available for New Zealanders. The objective of the present study was to determine usual intake and food sources of choline and betaine in a group of New Zealand reproductive age women. Dietary intake data were collected from a sample of 125 women, aged 18-40 years, by means of a 3-day weighed food record, and usual choline and betaine intake distributions were determined. The mean (SD) daily intakes of choline and betaine were 316 (66) mg and 178 (66) mg, respectively. The total choline intake relative to energy intake and body weight was 0.18 mg/kcal and 5.1 mg/kg, respectively. Only 16% of participants met or exceeded the Adequate Intake (AI) for adult women of 425 mg of choline. The top five major food contributors of choline were eggs, red meat, milk, bread and chicken; and of betaine were bread, breakfast cereal, pasta, grains and root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, beetroot, swedes). Our findings contribute towards the recent emergence of published reports on the range of dietary choline and betaine intakes consumed by free-living populations. In our sample of New Zealand women, few participants were meeting or exceeding the AI level. Given recent epidemiological evidence suggesting health benefits of increased choline and betaine intakes, recommendations should be made to encourage the consumption of choline and betaine-rich foods.

Sarcosine and other metabolites along the choline oxidation pathway in relation to prostate cancer--a large nested case-control study within the JANUS cohort in Norway.

PubMed

de Vogel, Stefan; Ulvik, Arve; Meyer, Klaus; Ueland, Per Magne; Nygård, Ottar; Vollset, Stein Emil; Tell, Grethe S; Gregory, Jesse F; Tretli, Steinar; Bjørge, Tone

2014-01-01

Methyl group donors and intermediates of one-carbon metabolism affect DNA synthesis and DNA methylation, and may thereby affect prostate carcinogenesis. Choline, the precursor of betaine, and the one-carbon metabolite sarcosine have been associated with increased prostate cancer risk. Within JANUS, a prospective cohort in Norway (n = 317,000) with baseline serum samples, we conducted a nested case-control study among 3,000 prostate cancer cases and 3,000 controls. Using conditional logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prostate cancer risk were estimated according to quintiles of circulating betaine, dimethylglycine (DMG), sarcosine, glycine and serine. High sarcosine and glycine concentrations were associated with reduced prostate cancer risk of borderline significance (sarcosine: highest vs. lowest quintile OR = 0.86, CI = 0.72-1.01, p(trend) = 0.03; glycine: OR = 0.83, CI = 0.70-1.00, p(trend) = 0.07). Serum betaine, DMG and serine were not associated with prostate cancer risk. However, individuals with a high glycine/serine ratio were at decreased prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.74, CI = 0.69-0.85, p(trend) < 0.001). This population-based study suggested that men with high serum sarcosine or glycine concentrations have modestly reduced prostate cancer risk. Ratios of metabolites reflecting one-carbon balance may be associated with prostate cancer risk, as demonstrated for the glycine/serine ratio, and should be explored in future studies. © 2013 UICC.

Betaine prevented fructose-induced NAFLD by regulating LXRα/PPARα pathway and alleviating ER stress in rats.

PubMed

Ge, Chen-Xu; Yu, Rong; Xu, Min-Xuan; Li, Pei-Qin; Fan, Chen-Yu; Li, Jian-Mei; Kong, Ling-Dong

2016-01-05

Betaine has been proven effective in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in animal models, however, its molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The aims of this study were to explore the mechanisms mediating the anti-inflammatory and anti-lipogenic actions of betaine in fructose-fed rats. In this study, betaine improved insulin resistance, reduced body weight gain and serum lipid levels, and prevented hepatic lipid accumulation in fructose-fed rats. It up-regulated hepatic expression of liver X receptor-alpha (LXRα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), with the attenuation of the changes of their target genes, including hepatic carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) 1α, glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored high density lipoprotein binding protein 1, apolipoprotein B, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and adipocyte differentiation-related protein, involved in fatty acid oxidation and lipid storage in these model rats. Furthermore, betaine alleviated ER stress and inhibited acetyl-CoA carboxylase α, CPT II, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and fatty acid synthase expression involved in fatty acid synthesis in the liver of fructose-fed rats. Betaine suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis in fructose-fed rats by moderating protein kinase B -forkhead box protein O1 pathway, as well as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin activity. Moreover, betaine inhibited hepatic nuclear factor kappa B /nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 inflammasome activation-mediated inflammation in this animal model. These results demonstrated that betaine ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation, gluconeogenesis, and inflammation through restoring LXRα and PPARα expression and alleviating ER stress in fructose-fed rats. This study provides the potential mechanisms of betaine involved in the treatment of NAFLD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Betaine Supplementation in Maternal Diet Modulates the Epigenetic Regulation of Hepatic Gluconeogenic Genes in Neonatal Piglets

PubMed Central

Cai, Demin; Jia, Yimin; Song, Haogang; Sui, Shiyan; Lu, Jingyu; Jiang, Zheng; Zhao, Ruqian

2014-01-01

In this study, gestational sows were fed control or betaine-supplemented diets (3 g/kg) throughout the pregnancy, and the newborn piglets were used to elucidate whether maternal dietary betaine affected offspring hepatic gluconeogenic genes through epigenetic mechanisms. Neonatal piglets born to betaine-supplemented sows had significantly higher serum and hepatic betaine contents, together with significantly greater expression of methionine metabolic enzymes in the liver. Interestingly, significantly higher serum concentrations of lactic acid and glucogenic amino acids, including serine, glutamate, methionine and histidine, were detected in the piglets born to betaine-supplemented sows, which were coincident with higher hepatic glycogen content and PEPCK1 enzyme activity, as well as greater protein expression of gluconeogenic enzymes, pyruvate carboxylase (PC), cytoplasmic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK1), mitochondrional phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK2) and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase (FBP1). Moreover, maternal betaine significantly changed the methylation status of both CpGs and histones on the promoter of gluconeogenic genes. The lower PEPCK1 mRNA was associated with DNA hypermethylation and more enriched repression histone mark H3K27me3, while the up-regulated PEPCK2 and FBP1 mRNA was associated with DNA hypomethylation and more enriched activation histone mark H3K4me3. Furthermore, the expression of two miRNAs predicted to target PC and 6 miRNAs predicted to target PEPCK1 was dramatically suppressed in the liver of piglets born to betaine-supplemented sows. Our results provide the first evidence that maternal betaine supplementation affects hepatic gluconeogenic genes expression in newborn piglets through enhanced hepatic methionine metabolism and epigenetic regulations, which involve DNA and histone methylations, and possibly miRNAs-mediated post-transcriptional mechanism. PMID:25153319

Choline and betaine intake and risk of breast cancer among post-menopausal women

PubMed Central

Cho, E; Holmes, M D; Hankinson, S E; Willett, W C

2010-01-01

Background: Choline and betaine, similar to folate, are nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism and hypothesised to reduce breast cancer risk. No prospective study among post-menopausal women has examined choline and betaine intakes in relation to breast cancer risk. Methods: We examined the intake of choline and betaine and breast cancer risk among 74 584 post-menopausal women in the Nurses' Health Study. Nutrient intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire six times since 1984. During 20 years of follow-up from 1984 until 2004, we documented 3990 incident cases of invasive breast cancer. Results: Overall, choline (mean±s.d.; 326±61 mg per day) and betaine (104±33 mg per day) intake was not associated with a reduced risk of post-menopausal breast cancer. Participants in the highest quintile of intakes had multivariate relative risks of 1.10 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.99–1.22; P-value, test for trend=0.14) for choline and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.89–1.09; P-value, test for trend=0.96) for betaine, compared with those in the lowest quintiles of intakes. The results were similar in breast cancer stratified by hormone receptor (oestrogen receptor/progesterone receptor) status. The association between choline intake and breast cancer risk did not differ appreciably by alcohol intake (non-drinker, <15 or 15+ g per day) or several other breast cancer risk factors, including family history of breast cancer, history of benign breast disease, body mass index, post-menopausal hormone use, and folate intake. Conclusion: We found no evidence that higher intakes of choline and betaine reduce risk of breast cancer among post-menopausal women. PMID:20051955

33 CFR 110.84 - Black Rock Channel opposite foot of Porter Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... of Porter Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. 110.84 Section 110.84 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD... Channel opposite foot of Porter Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. An area extending northwesterly between Black Rock... Triangulation Marker “N-5” on Bird Island Pier; thence southeasterly along the pier a distance of approximately...

Serum betaine but not choline is inversely associated with breast cancer risk: a case-control study in China.

PubMed

Du, Yu-Feng; Lin, Fang-Yu; Long, Wei-Qing; Luo, Wei-Ping; Yan, Bo; Xu, Ming; Mo, Xiong-Fei; Zhang, Cai-Xia

2017-04-01

Choline and betaine are important for DNA methylation and synthesis, and may affect tumor carcinogenesis. To our knowledge, no previous study has examined the association between serum choline and betaine and breast cancer risk. This study aimed to examine whether serum choline and betaine were inversely associated with breast cancer risk among Chinese women. This hospital-based case-control study consecutively recruited 510 breast cancer cases and 518 frequency-matched (age and residence) controls, and blood samples were available for 500 cases and 500 controls. Serum choline and betaine were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Multiple unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). An inverse association with breast cancer risk was observed for serum betaine (fourth vs first quartile adjusted OR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.47-0.97) and for the ratio of serum betaine to choline (fourth vs first quartile adjusted OR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.48-1.00), but not for serum choline (fourth vs first quartile adjusted OR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.56-1.15). Serum betaine was inversely associated with breast cancer risk in subjects with below-median dietary folate intake (fourth vs first quartile adjusted OR 0.48, 95 % CI 0.30-0.77). This study suggested that serum betaine but not choline was inversely associated with breast cancer risk. This result needed to be further confirmed by the prospective studies.

Prospective study on dietary intakes of folate, betaine, and choline and cardiovascular disease risk in women.

PubMed

Dalmeijer, G W; Olthof, M R; Verhoef, P; Bots, M L; van der Schouw, Y T

2008-03-01

To investigate the association between dietary intakes of folate, betaine and choline and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prospective cohort study. A total of 16 165 women aged 49-70 years without prior CVD. SUBJECTS were breast cancer screening participants in the PROSPECT-EPIC cohort, which is 1 of the 2 Dutch contributions to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Each participant completed a validated food frequency questionnaire. Folate intake was calculated with the Dutch National Food Database. Betaine and choline intakes were calculated with the USDA database containing choline and betaine contents of common US foods. Data on coronary heart disease (CHD) events and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) events morbidity data were obtained from the Dutch Centre for Health Care Information. During a median follow-up period of 97 months, 717 women were diagnosed with CVD. After adjustment, neither folate, nor betaine, nor choline intakes were associated with CVD (hazard ratios for highest versus lowest quartile were 1.23 (95% confidence interval 0.75; 2.01), 0.90 (0.69; 1.17), 1.04 (0.71; 1.53), respectively). In a subsample of the population, high folate and choline intakes were statistically significantly associated with lower homocysteine levels. High betaine intake was associated with slightly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations. Regular dietary intakes of folate, betaine and choline were not associated with CVD risk in post-menopausal Dutch women. However, the effect of doses of betaine and choline beyond regular dietary intake--for example, via supplementation or fortification--remains unknown.

Betaine does not improve performance of laying hens when the diet contains adequate choline.

PubMed

Harms, R H; Russell, G B

2002-01-01

An experiment was conducted with Hy-Line W36 hens to determine possible benefits from adding betaine to the diet of commercial laying hens. There was no benefit from the substitution of betaine for choline as measured by egg production, egg weight, egg content, or weight gain.

Can betaine partially replace or enhance the effect of methionine by improving broiler growth and carcase characteristics?

PubMed

McDevitt, R M; Mack, S; Wallis, I R

2000-09-01

1. Growth rates and carcase characteristics were measured in male broiler chickens fed on a control diet deficient in methionine (c. 2.8 g/kg methionine) or a series of diets containing graded levels of betaine or DL-methionine or both additives. 2. We aimed to answer 2 main questions. First, can betaine replace part of the methionine in a broiler ration? Secondly is there a synergism between methionine and betaine? 3. Birds given the control diet or that supplemented only with betaine ate less, grew more slowly, had higher food convension ratio (FCR) and varied more in mass at 42 d than birds fed diets with DL-methionine. Adding 1.2 g/kg DL-methionine to the control ration produced the heaviest birds at 42 d (2500 g) with the 2nd heaviest breast muscle (366 g). 4. After correcting for treatment differences in body mass (analysis of convariance), birds fed on the control diet and the diet supplemented with betaine only, had relatively lighter breast muscles but relatively heavier abdominal fat pads than those of birds given diets supplemented with DL-methionine. However, adding betaine to diets containing added methionine further improved the relative breast muscle yield. 5. After correcting for differences in body mass between treatments, birds fed on diets containing most methionine had lighter viscera than birds fed diets deficient in methionine. This demonstrated gut plasticity, suggesting that the viscera enlarged to sequester methionine from low-methionine diets. 6. Our data refute the hypothesis that betaine can substitute for methionine in broilers fed diets that are marginally deficient in methionine plus cystine. However, betaine may improve carcase composition, especially breast meat yield.

Dietary Betaine Supplementation Increases Fgf21 Levels to Improve Glucose Homeostasis and Reduce Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice.

PubMed

Ejaz, Asma; Martinez-Guino, Laura; Goldfine, Allison B; Ribas-Aulinas, Francesc; De Nigris, Valeria; Ribó, Sílvia; Gonzalez-Franquesa, Alba; Garcia-Roves, Pablo M; Li, Elizabeth; Dreyfuss, Jonathan M; Gall, Walt; Kim, Jason K; Bottiglieri, Teodoro; Villarroya, Francesc; Gerszten, Robert E; Patti, Mary-Elizabeth; Lerin, Carles

2016-04-01

Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21(-/-) mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine's beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans. © 2016 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.

Dissecting the Catalytic Mechanism of Betaine-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase Using Intrinsic Tryptophan Fluorescence and Site-Directed Mutagenesis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castro, C.; Gratson, A.A.; Evans, J.C.

2010-03-05

Betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) is a zinc-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from glycine betaine (Bet) to homocysteine (Hcy) to form dimethylglycine (DMG) and methionine (Met). Previous studies in other laboratories have indicated that catalysis proceeds through the formation of a ternary complex, with a transition state mimicked by the inhibitor S-({delta}-carboxybutyl)-l-homocysteine (CBHcy). Using changes in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence to determine the affinity of human BHMT for substrates, products, or CBHcy, we now demonstrate that the enzyme-substrate complex reaches its transition state through an ordered bi-bi mechanism in which Hcy is the first substrate to bind andmore » Met is the last product released. Hcy, Met, and CBHcy bind to the enzyme to form binary complexes with K{sub d} values of 7.9, 6.9, and 0.28 {micro}M, respectively. Binary complexes with Bet and DMG cannot be detected with fluorescence as a probe, but Bet and DMG bind tightly to BHMT-Hcy to form ternary complexes with K{sub d} values of 1.1 and 0.73 {micro}M, respectively. Mutation of each of the seven tryptophan residues in human BHMT provides evidence that the enzyme undergoes two distinct conformational changes that are reflected in the fluorescence of the enzyme. The first is induced when Hcy binds, and the second, when Bet binds. As predicted by the crystal structure of BHMT, the amino acids Trp44 and Tyr160 are involved in binding Bet, and Glu159 in binding Hcy. Replacing these residues by site-directed mutagenesis significantly reduces the catalytic efficiency (V{sub max}/K{sub m}) of the enzyme. Replacing Tyr77 with Phe abolishes enzyme activity.« less

The association between betaine and choline intakes and the plasma concentrations of homocysteine in women.

PubMed

Chiuve, Stephanie E; Giovannucci, Edward L; Hankinson, Susan E; Zeisel, Steven H; Dougherty, Lauren W; Willett, Walter C; Rimm, Eric B

2007-10-01

Elevated total homocysteine (tHcy), a risk factor for many chronic diseases, can be remethylated to methionine by folate. Alternatively, tHcy can be metabolized by other 1-carbon nutrients, ie, betaine and its precursor, choline. We aimed to assess the association between the dietary intakes of betaine and choline and the concentration of tHcy. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in 1477 women by using linear regression models to predict mean fasting tHcy by intakes of of betaine and choline. tHcy was 8% lower in the highest quintile of total betaine + choline intake than in the lowest quintile, even after control for folate intake (P for trend = 0.07). Neither choline nor betaine intake individually was significantly associated with tHcy. Choline from 2 choline-containing compounds, glycerophosphocholine and phosphocholine, was inversely associated with tHcy. These inverse associations were more pronounced in women with folate intake < 400 mug/d than in those with intakes >or=400 microg/d (P for interaction = 0.03 for phosphocholine) and in moderate alcohol drinkers (>or=15 g/d) than in nondrinkers or light drinkers (<15 g/d) (P for interaction = 0.02 for glycerophosphocholine and 0.04 for phosphocholine). The strongest dose response was seen in women with a low-methyl diet (high alcohol and low folate intake) (P for interaction = 0.002 for glycerophosphocholine and 0.001 for phosphocholine). Total choline + betaine intake was inversely associated with tHcy, as was choline from 2 water-soluble choline-containing compounds. Remethylation of tHcy may be more dependent on the betaine pathway when methyl sources are low as a result of either inadequate folate intake or heavier alcohol consumption.

Hydration and vibrational dynamics of betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Tanping; Cui, Yaowen; Mathaga, John; Kumar, Revati; Kuroda, Daniel G.

2015-06-01

Zwitterions are naturally occurring molecules that have a positive and a negative charge group in its structure and are of great importance in many areas of science. Here, the vibrational and hydration dynamics of the zwitterionic system betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) is reported. The linear infrared spectrum of aqueous betaine exhibits an asymmetric band in the 1550-1700 cm-1 region of the spectrum. This band is attributed to the carboxylate asymmetric stretch of betaine. The potential of mean force computed from ab initio molecular dynamic simulations confirms that the two observed transitions of the linear spectrum are related to two different betaine conformers present in solution. A model of the experimental data using non-linear response theory agrees very well with a vibrational model comprising of two vibrational transitions. In addition, our modeling shows that spectral parameters such as the slope of the zeroth contour plot and central line slope are both sensitive to the presence of overlapping transitions. The vibrational dynamics of the system reveals an ultrafast decay of the vibrational population relaxation as well as the correlation of frequency-frequency correlation function (FFCF). A decay of ˜0.5 ps is observed for the FFCF correlation time and is attributed to the frequency fluctuations caused by the motions of water molecules in the solvation shell. The comparison of the experimental observations with simulations of the FFCF from ab initio molecular dynamics and a density functional theory frequency map shows a very good agreement corroborating the correct characterization and assignment of the derived parameters.

Hydration and vibrational dynamics of betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine)

PubMed Central

Li, Tanping; Cui, Yaowen; Mathaga, John; Kumar, Revati; Kuroda, Daniel G.

2015-01-01

Zwitterions are naturally occurring molecules that have a positive and a negative charge group in its structure and are of great importance in many areas of science. Here, the vibrational and hydration dynamics of the zwitterionic system betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) is reported. The linear infrared spectrum of aqueous betaine exhibits an asymmetric band in the 1550-1700 cm−1 region of the spectrum. This band is attributed to the carboxylate asymmetric stretch of betaine. The potential of mean force computed from ab initio molecular dynamic simulations confirms that the two observed transitions of the linear spectrum are related to two different betaine conformers present in solution. A model of the experimental data using non-linear response theory agrees very well with a vibrational model comprising of two vibrational transitions. In addition, our modeling shows that spectral parameters such as the slope of the zeroth contour plot and central line slope are both sensitive to the presence of overlapping transitions. The vibrational dynamics of the system reveals an ultrafast decay of the vibrational population relaxation as well as the correlation of frequency-frequency correlation function (FFCF). A decay of ∼0.5 ps is observed for the FFCF correlation time and is attributed to the frequency fluctuations caused by the motions of water molecules in the solvation shell. The comparison of the experimental observations with simulations of the FFCF from ab initio molecular dynamics and a density functional theory frequency map shows a very good agreement corroborating the correct characterization and assignment of the derived parameters. PMID:26049458

Dietary Betaine Supplementation Increases Fgf21 Levels to Improve Glucose Homeostasis and Reduce Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice

PubMed Central

Ejaz, Asma; Martinez-Guino, Laura; Goldfine, Allison B.; Ribas-Aulinas, Francesc; De Nigris, Valeria; Ribó, Sílvia; Gonzalez-Franquesa, Alba; Garcia-Roves, Pablo M.; Li, Elizabeth; Dreyfuss, Jonathan M.; Gall, Walt; Kim, Jason K.; Bottiglieri, Teodoro; Villarroya, Francesc; Gerszten, Robert E.

2016-01-01

Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21−/− mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine’s beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans. PMID:26858359

The investigation of the prenatal and postnatal alcohol exposure-induced neurodegeneration in rat brain: protection by betaine and/or omega-3.

PubMed

Kusat Ol, Kevser; Kanbak, Güngör; Oğlakcı Ilhan, Ayşegül; Burukoglu, Dilek; Yücel, Ferruh

2016-03-01

We aim to study the effect of neurodegeneration on the brain of rat pups caused by prenatal and postnatal ethanol exposure with modified liquid diet to elucidate protective effects of betaine and omega-3 supplementation. When ethanol is consumed during prenatal and postnatal periods, it may result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the offspring. Rats were divided into control, ethanol, ethanol + betaine, ethanol + omega-3, ethanol + omega-3 + betaine groups. The effect of betaine and omega-3 in response to ethanol-induced changes on the brain, by biochemical analyses cytochrome c, caspase-3, calpain, cathepsin B and L, DNA fragmentation, histological and morfometric methods were evaluated. Caspase-3, calpain, cathepsin B, and cytochrome c levels in ethanol group were significantly higher than control. Caspase-3, calpain levels were decreased in ethanol + betaine, ethanol + omega-3, and ethanol + omega-3 + betaine groups compared to ethanol group. Cathepsin B in ethanol + omega-3 + betaine group was decreased compared to ethanol, ethanol + betaine groups. Cathepsin L and DNA fragmentation were found not statistically significant. We found similar results in histological and morfometric parameters. We found that pre- and postnatal ethanol exposure is capable of triggering necrotic cell death in rat brains, omega-3, and betaine reduce neurodegeneration. Omega-3 and betaine may prove beneficial for neurodegeneration, particularly in preventing FAS.

Effect of dimethylaminoethanol, an inhibitor of betaine production, on the disposition of choline in the rat kidney

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lohr, J.; Acara, M.

1990-01-01

The choline metabolite betaine has been shown to be an important organic osmoregulatory solute in the kidney. The isolated perfused rat kidney and kidney slice incubations were used to investigate the effect of 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), a choline oxidase inhibitor, on the renal excretion and metabolism of choline. In the isolated perfused kidney, ({sup 14}C)choline, at an initial perfusate concentration of 300 microM, was effectively removed from the perfusate over 25 min, with nearly all the {sup 14}C in the perfusate accounted for by betaine during the remainder of the 90-min perfusion. DMAE at concentrations of 3.0 or 5.0 mM significantlymore » decreased the rate of removal of ({sup 14}C)choline from the perfusate and the rate of addition of ({sup 14}C)betaine to the perfusate, yet (14C)betaine remained the only metabolite of choline in perfusate and urine. In kidney tissue slice experiments, conversion of ({sup 14}C)choline to ({sup 14}C)betaine was found in cortical, outer medullary and inner medullary regions of rat kidney. DMAE at 5.0 mM significantly inhibited ({sup 14}C)betaine production in each of the three regions studied. These data show that DMAE is an effective inhibitor of betaine production by the kidney and, as such, may be an important agent for the study of osmoregulation by the kidney.« less

[Performance of Slovak hospitals as related to Porter's generic strategies].

PubMed

Hlavacka, S; Bacharova, L; Rusnakova, V; Wagner, R

2001-01-01

Porter's generic strategies characterize organizations in terms of their competitiveness, and are related to the performance of the organization. The aim of this study was to analyze the Porter's generic strategies and their effect on performance in the context of the Slovak hospital industry. Acute care hospitals with more than 30 beds were included into the study. National institutes providing specialized service were excluded from the study. Strategy and performance were evaluated on the basis of self-reported questionnaires, completed by chief administrators of hospitals (total 76 completed questionnaires were obtained, out of 81 distributed, i.e. 94% response rate). The cluster analysis was used for the identification of strategic orientation. Performance differences across strategic groups were tested using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The hierarchical cluster analysis uncovered a four-group taxonomy of hospitals: the group "Focused Cost Leadership" included 33% of hospitals, the group "Stuck-in-the middle" 49%, the group "Wait and See" 13% and the group "Cost leadership" 5%. Significant differences in performance were related to the Porter's pure, or hybrid strategies, respectively. In terms of industry evolution, the Slovak hospital industry could be characterized as fragmented, having a large number of small and medium size mainly state owned hospitals, with absence of market leaders, and with high exit barriers (mainly social and political) that hold back consolidation. (Tab. 1, Ref. 35.).

Proximate Composition, and l-Carnitine and Betaine Contents in Meat from Korean Indigenous Chicken

PubMed Central

Jung, Samooel; Bae, Young Sik; Yong, Hae In; Lee, Hyun Jung; Seo, Dong Won; Park, Hee Bok; Lee, Jun Heon; Jo, Cheorun

2015-01-01

This study investigated the proximate composition and l-carnitine and betaine content of meats from 5 lines of Korean indigenous chicken (KIC) for developing highly nutritious meat breeds with health benefits from the bioactive compounds such as l-carnitine and betaine in meat. In addition, the relevance of gender (male and female) and meat type (breast and thigh meat) was examined. A total of 595 F1 progeny (black [B], grey-brown [G], red-brown [R], white [W], and yellow-brown [Y]) from 70 full-sib families were used. The moisture, protein, fat, and ash contents of the meats were significantly affected by line, gender, and meat type (p<0.05). The males in line G and females in line B showed the highest protein and the lowest fat content of the meats. l-carnitine and betaine content showed effects of meat type, line, and gender (p<0.05). The highest l-carnitine content was found in breast and thigh meats from line Y in both genders. The breast meat from line G and the thigh meat from line R had the highest betaine content in males. The female breast and thigh meats showed the highest betaine content in line R. These data could be valuable for establishing selection strategies for developing highly nutritious chicken meat breeds in Korea. PMID:26580444

Hydrogen bonds in betaine-acid (1:1) crystals revealed by Raman and 13C chemical shift tensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilczyszyn, Marek; Ilczyszyn, Maria M.

2017-06-01

H-bonds of five betaine-acid (1:1) crystals are considered by analysis of tensors based on the Raman scissoring mode and 13C chemical shift of the betaine -CO1O2- carboxylate group. The leading structural factor in these systems is the strongest H-bond linking the betaine and the acidic moieties, (O1⋯H-O)com. The Raman and NMR tensors are strongly related to its character and to the R(O1⋯O)com distance. Very high molecular polarizability variation due to the scissoring vibration was found for the betaine-selenious acid crystal. The probable reason is modest network of H-bonds in this case and relatively high proton polarizability of these bonds.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Polyhexanide/Betaine Gel Versus Silver Sulfadiazine for Partial-Thickness Burn Treatment.

PubMed

Wattanaploy, Saruta; Chinaroonchai, Kusuma; Namviriyachote, Nantaporn; Muangman, Pornprom

2017-03-01

Silver sulfadiazine is commonly used in the treatment of partial-thickness burns, but it sometimes forms pseudo-eschar and delays wound healing. Polyhexanide/betaine gel, a new wound cleansing and moisturizing product, has some advantages in removing biofilm and promotes wound healing. This study was designed to compare clinical efficacy of polyhexanide/betaine gel with silver sulfadiazine in partial-thickness burn treatment. From September 2013 to May 2015, 46 adult patients with partial-thickness burn ≥10% total body surface area that were admitted to the Burn Unit of Siriraj Hospital within 48 hours after injury were randomly allocated into 2 groups. One group was treated with polyhexanide/betaine gel, and the other group was treated with silver sulfadiazine. Both groups received daily dressing changes and the same standard care given to patients with burns in this center. Healing times in the polyhexanide/betaine gel group and silver sulfadiazine group were 17.8 ± 2.2 days and 18.8 ± 2.1 days, respectively ( P value .13). There were no significant differences in healing times, infection rates, bacterial colonization rates, and treatment cost in both groups. The pain score of the polyhexanide/betaine gel group was significantly less than the silver sulfadiazine group at 4 to 9 days after treatment ( P < .001). The satisfactory assessment result of the polyhexanide/betaine gel group was better than that in the silver sulfadiazine group. These data indicate the need for adequately designed studies to elicit the full potential of polyhexanide gel as a wound dressing for partial-thickness burn wounds.

Dietary Betaine Impacts the Physiological Responses to Moderate Heat Conditions in a Dose Dependent Manner in Sheep

PubMed Central

DiGiacomo, Kristy; Simpson, Sarah; Leury, Brian J.; Dunshea, Frank R.

2016-01-01

Simple Summary Heat stress in sheep initiates physiological methods to dissipate heat that result in decreased production. This study investigated the use of a dietary supplement, the osmolyte betaine fed at two doses (2 or 4 g/day), on the physiological responses to heat in sheep. Heat exposure initiated physiological responses such as an increased rectal temperature and respiration rate as expected, while betaine supplemented at 2 g/day ameliorated these responses. Thus, dietary betaine supplementation may have beneficial effects for sheep exposed to heat. Abstract Heat exposure (HE) results in decreased production in ruminant species and betaine is proposed as a dietary mitigation method. Merino ewes (n = 36, 40 kg, n = 6 per group) were maintained at thermoneutral (TN, n = 18, 21 °C) or cyclical HE (n = 18, 18–43 °C) conditions for 21 days, and supplemented with either 0 (control), 2 or 4 g betaine/day. Sheep had ad libitum access to water and were pair fed such that intake of sheep on the TN treatment matched that of HE animals. Heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), rectal (TR) and skin temperatures (TS) were measured 3 times daily (0900 h, 1300 h, 1700 h). Plasma samples were obtained on 8 days for glucose and NEFA analysis. The HE treatment increased TR by 0.7 °C (40.1 vs. 39.4 °C for HE and TN respectively p < 0.001), TS by +1.8 °C (39.3 vs. 37.5 °C, p < 0.001) and RR by +46 breaths/min (133 vs. 87 breaths/min, p < 0.001) compared to TN. The 2 g betaine/day treatment decreased TR (39.8, 39.6 and 39.8 °C, p < 0.001), TS (38.7, 38.0 and 38.5 °C, p < 0.001) and RR (114, 102 and 116 breaths/min for control, 2 and 4 g betaine/day, p < 0.001) compared to control. Betaine supplementation decreased plasma NEFA concentrations by ~25 μM (80, 55 and 54 μmol/L for 0, 2 and 4 g/day respectively, p = 0.05). These data indicate that dietary betaine supplementation at 2 g betaine/day provides improvements in physiological responses typical of ewes exposed to

Spectral and structural studies of dimethylphenyl betaine hydrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szafran, M.; Ostrowska, K.; Katrusiak, A.; Dega-Szafran, Z.

2014-07-01

Hydrates of betaines can be divided into four groups depending on the interactions of their water molecules with the carboxylate group. Dimethylphenyl betaine crystallizes as monohydrate (1), in which water molecules mediate in hydrogen bonds between the carboxylate groups. The water molecules are H-bonded only to one oxygen atom of the dimethylphenyl betaine molecules and link them into a chain via two O(1 W)sbnd H⋯O hydrogen bonds of the lengths 2.779(2) and 2.846(2) Å. The structures of monomer (2) and dimer (4) hydrates in vacuum, and the structure of monomer (3) in an aqueous environment have been optimized by the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) approach and the geometrical results have been compared with the X-ray diffraction data of 1. The calculated IR frequencies for the optimized structure have been used for the assignments of FTIR bands, the broad absorption band in the range 3415-3230 cm-1 has been assigned to the O(1w)sbnd H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The correlations between the experimental 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts (δexp) of 1 in D2O and the magnetic isotropic shielding constants (σcalc) calculated by the GIAO/B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) approach, using the screening solvation model (COSMO), δexp = a + b σcalc, for optimized molecule 3 in water solution are linear and well reproduce the experimental chemical shifts.

Structure and vibrational spectra of pyridine betaine hydrochloride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szafran, Mirosław; Koput, Jacek; Baran, Jan; Głowiak, Tadeusz

1997-12-01

The crystal structure of pyridine betaine hydrochloride (PBET·HCl) was determined by X-ray diffraction to be monoclinic, space group {P2 1}/{c} with a = 8.533(2) Å, b = 9.548(2) Å, c = 10.781(2) Å, β = 107.228(3)° and Z = 4. Betaine is protonated and the carboxyl group forms a hydrogen bond with the chloride ion: O·Cl - distance is 2.928(3) Å. The interaction of pyridine betaine (PBET) with HCl was examined by ab initio self-consistent field (SCF), second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) methods using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. Two minima are located in the potential surface at the SCF level (PBETH +·Cl - and PBET·HCl, with the latter being 1.2 kcal mol -1 lower in energy) and only one minimum (PBET·HCl) at the MP2 and DFT levels. The molecular parameters of PBETH +·Cl -, computed by the SCF method, reproduce the corresponding experimental data. The computed vibrational frequencies of PBETH +·Cl - resemble correctly the experimental vibrational spectrum in the solid state. The root-mean-square (r.m.s.) deviations between the experimental and calculated SCF frequencies are 65 cm -1 for all bands and 15 cm -1 without the νClH band. All measured IR bands were interpreted in terms of the calculated vibrational models.

77 FR 67811 - Porter-Walker LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-14

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER13-327-000] Porter-Walker LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204 Authorization This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of Porter-Walker...

Looking east along Porter Avenue, management engineering in foreground; supply ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Looking east along Porter Avenue, management engineering in foreground; supply department storehouse (building no. 5) (Haer no. PA-387-1) to left. - Naval Base Philadelphia-Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Management Engineering, League Island, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

The association between betaine and choline intakes and the plasma concentrations of homocysteine in women2

PubMed Central

Chiuve, Stephanie E; Giovannucci, Edward L; Hankinson, Susan E; Zeisel, Steven H; Dougherty, Lauren W; Willett, Walter C; Rimm, Eric B

2008-01-01

Background Elevated total homocysteine (tHcy), a risk factor for many chronic diseases, can be remethylated to methionine by folate. Alternatively, tHcy can be metabolized by other 1-carbon nutrients, ie, betaine and its precursor, choline. Objective We aimed to assess the association between the dietary intakes of betaine and choline and the concentration of tHcy. Design We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in 1477 women by using linear regression models to predict mean fasting tHcy by intakes of of betaine and choline. Results tHcy was 8% lower in the highest quintile of total betaine + choline intake than in the lowest quintile, even after control for folate intake (P for trend = 0.07). Neither choline nor betaine intake individually was significantly associated with tHcy. Choline from 2 choline-containing compounds, glycerophosphocholine and phosphocholine, was inversely associated with tHcy. These inverse associations were more pronounced in women with folate intake < 400 μg/d than in those with intakes ≥400 μg/d (P for interaction = 0.03 for phosphocholine) and in moderate alcohol drinkers (≥15 g/d) than in nondrinkers or light drinkers (<15 g/d) (P for interaction = 0.02 for glycerophosphocholine and 0.04 for phosphocholine). The strongest dose response was seen in women with a low-methyl diet (high alcohol and low folate intake) (P for interaction = 0.002 for glycerophosphocholine and 0.001 for phosphocholine). Conclusions Total choline + betaine intake was inversely associated with tHcy, as was choline from 2 water-soluble choline-containing compounds. Remethylation of tHcy may be more dependent on the betaine pathway when methyl sources are low as a result of either inadequate folate intake or heavier alcohol consumption. PMID:17921386

Betaine inhibits vascularization via suppression of Akt in the retinas of streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats

PubMed Central

KIM, YOUNG-GIUN; LIM, HYUNG-HO; LEE, SUH-HA; SHIN, MAL-SOON; KIM, CHANG-JU; YANG, HYEON JEONG

2015-01-01

Diabetic retinopathy is a severe microvascular complication amongst patients with diabetes, and is the primary cause of visual loss through neovascularization. Betaine is one of the components of Fructus Lycii. In the present study, the effects of betaine on the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α in association with the Akt pathway were investigated in the retinas of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats using western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. The results of the present study revealed that the expression levels of VEGF, HIF-1α, and Akt were increased in the retinas of the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Betaine treatment attenuated this increase in VEGF and HIF-1α expression via suppression of diabetes-induced Akt activation in the retinas of the diabetic rats. The results suggested that betaine may potentially be used to delay the onset of complications associated with diabetic retinopathy via inhibition of retinal neovascularization in patients with diabetes. PMID:25891515

Promoting good health in the age of reform: the medical publications of Henry H. Porter of Philadelphia, 1829-32.

PubMed

Horrocks, T A

1995-01-01

In the early 1830s, the Philadelphia publisher Henry H. Porter rapidly published five journals, six books, and an almanac, works having a particular emphasis on health and personal hygiene. Porter's health publications linked the traditional message about the importance of personal hygiene to health to the messages conveyed by the flourishing American reform movements at the time, and his Journal of Health was among the first American medically oriented periodicals published for the layperson. Yet Porter did not survive in the intensely competitive and financially unstable book trade. This study examines Porter's health publications, attempting to explain why he chose to publish what he did, the message(s) his works contained, the audience(s) he tried to reach, and the failure of his business.

Betaine attenuates memory impairment after water-immersion restraint stress and is regulated by the GABAergic neuronal system in the hippocampus.

PubMed

Kunisawa, Kazuo; Kido, Kiwamu; Nakashima, Natsuki; Matsukura, Takuya; Nabeshima, Toshitaka; Hiramatsu, Masayuki

2017-02-05

GABA mediated neuronal system regulates hippocampus-dependent memory and stress responses by controlling plasticity and neuronal excitability. Here, we demonstrate that betaine ameliorates water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS)-induced memory impairments. This improvement was inhibited by a betaine/GABA transporter-1 (GABA transporter-2: GAT2) inhibitor, NNC 05-2090. In this study, we investigated whether memory amelioration by betaine was mediated by the GABAergic neuronal system. Adult male mice were co-administered betaine and GABA receptor antagonists after WIRS. We also examined whether memory impairment after WIRS was attenuated by GABA receptor agonists. The memory functions were evaluated using a novel object recognition test 3-6 days after WIRS and/or the step-down type passive avoidance test at 7-8 days. The co-administration of the GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline (1mg/kg) or the GABA B receptor antagonist phaclofen (10mg/kg) 1h after WIRS suppressed the memory-improving effects induced by betaine. Additionally, the administration of the GABA A receptor agonist muscimol (1mg/kg) or the GABA B receptor agonist baclofen (10mg/kg) 1h after WIRS attenuated memory impairments. These results were similar to the data observed with betaine. The treatment with betaine after WIRS significantly decreased the expression of GABA transaminase, and this effect was partially blocked by NNC 05-2090 in the hippocampus. WIRS caused a transient increase in hippocampal GABA levels and the changes after WIRS were not affected by betaine treatment in an in vivo microdialysis study. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of betaine may be mediated in part by changing the GABAergic neuronal system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In Ovo injection of betaine affects hepatic cholesterol metabolism through epigenetic gene regulation in newly hatched chicks.

PubMed

Hu, Yun; Sun, Qinwei; Li, Xiaoliang; Wang, Min; Cai, Demin; Li, Xi; Zhao, Ruqian

2015-01-01

Betaine is reported to regulate hepatic cholesterol metabolism in mammals. Chicken eggs contain considerable amount of betaine, yet it remains unknown whether and how betaine in the egg affects hepatic cholesterol metabolism in chicks. In this study, eggs were injected with betaine at 2.5 mg/egg and the hepatic cholesterol metabolism was investigated in newly hatched chicks. Betaine did not affect body weight or liver weight, but significantly increased the serum concentration (P < 0.05) and the hepatic content (P < 0.01) of cholesterol. Accordingly, the cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme HMGCR was up-regulated (P < 0.05 for both mRNA and protein), while CYP7A1 which converts cholesterol to bile acids was down-regulated (P < 0.05 for mRNA and P = 0.07 for protein). Moreover, hepatic protein content of the sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1 which regulates cholesterol and lipid biosynthesis, and the mRNA abundance of ATP binding cassette sub-family A member 1 (ABCA1) which mediates cholesterol counter transport were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in betaine-treated chicks. Meanwhile, hepatic protein contents of DNA methyltransferases 1 and adenosylhomocysteinase-like 1 were increased (P < 0.05), which was associated with global genomic DNA hypermethylation (P < 0.05) and diminished gene repression mark histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CpG methylation level on gene promoters was found to be increased (P < 0.05) for CYP7A1 yet decreased (P < 0.05) for ABCA1. These results indicate that in ovo betaine injection regulates hepatic cholesterol metabolism in chicks through epigenetic mechanisms including DNA and histone methylations.

In Ovo Injection of Betaine Affects Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism through Epigenetic Gene Regulation in Newly Hatched Chicks

PubMed Central

Hu, Yun; Sun, Qinwei; Li, Xiaoliang; Wang, Min; Cai, Demin; Li, Xi; Zhao, Ruqian

2015-01-01

Betaine is reported to regulate hepatic cholesterol metabolism in mammals. Chicken eggs contain considerable amount of betaine, yet it remains unknown whether and how betaine in the egg affects hepatic cholesterol metabolism in chicks. In this study, eggs were injected with betaine at 2.5 mg/egg and the hepatic cholesterol metabolism was investigated in newly hatched chicks. Betaine did not affect body weight or liver weight, but significantly increased the serum concentration (P < 0.05) and the hepatic content (P < 0.01) of cholesterol. Accordingly, the cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme HMGCR was up-regulated (P < 0.05 for both mRNA and protein), while CYP7A1 which converts cholesterol to bile acids was down-regulated (P < 0.05 for mRNA and P = 0.07 for protein). Moreover, hepatic protein content of the sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1 which regulates cholesterol and lipid biosynthesis, and the mRNA abundance of ATP binding cassette sub-family A member 1 (ABCA1) which mediates cholesterol counter transport were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in betaine-treated chicks. Meanwhile, hepatic protein contents of DNA methyltransferases 1 and adenosylhomocysteinase-like 1 were increased (P < 0.05), which was associated with global genomic DNA hypermethylation (P < 0.05) and diminished gene repression mark histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CpG methylation level on gene promoters was found to be increased (P < 0.05) for CYP7A1 yet decreased (P < 0.05) for ABCA1. These results indicate that in ovo betaine injection regulates hepatic cholesterol metabolism in chicks through epigenetic mechanisms including DNA and histone methylations. PMID:25860502

Effects of dietary betaine on growth performance, fat deposition and serum lipids in broilers subjected to chronic heat stress.

PubMed

He, Shaojun; Zhao, Shujing; Dai, Sifa; Liu, Deyi; Bokhari, Shehla Gul

2015-10-01

We evaluated the effects of supplementing betaine on growth performance, fat deposition and lipid metabolism status in broilers kept under chronic heat stress. Five hundred and forty chicks were randomly divided into six groups and the two normal temperature groups were held at normal ambient temperature and fed the basal diet (CONT) and basal diet plus 0.1% betaine, respectively. Heat stressed (HS) broilers were held at 32 ± 1°C from days 22 to 42 and fed the basal diet containing variable levels of betaine. Broilers were examined at days 28, 35 and 42 for body weight, feed consumption, fat deposition and serum lipids. The CONT and betaine-supplemented groups showed higher (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) feed consumption, body weight gain, and lower feed : gain ratio compared with the HS-CONT group. Meanwhile, heat stress increased abdominal, intermuscular and subcutaneous fat deposition, whereas the supplemental betaine significantly decreased those compared with the HS-CONT group. Additionally, betaine supplementation significantly decreased triglyceride, free fatty acids, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with HS-CONT. Chronic HS reduces broiler production performance. However, betaine can reverse these negative effects partially and thus improve carcass composition by changing lipid metabolism. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

39. CENTRAL SECTION, TELEPHOTO VIEW FROM AREA OF PORTER PLOT ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

39. CENTRAL SECTION, TELEPHOTO VIEW FROM AREA OF PORTER PLOT LOOKING EAST TO WEST (NOTE SAME OBELISK CAPPED BY A FUNERAL URN SEEN IN HABS No. PA-1811-38) - Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Lactate calcium salt affects the viability of colorectal cancer cells via betaine homeostasis.

PubMed

Jang, Yeong-Su; Jo, Young-Kwon; Sim, Jae Jun; Ji, Eunhee; Jeong, Keun-Yeong; Kim, Hwan Mook

2016-02-15

Betaine plays an important role in cellular homeostasis. However, the physiological roles of betaine-γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter (BGT-1) are still being disputed in cancer. In this study, we tried to find the possibility of the antitumor effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell via lactate calcium salt (CaLa)-induced BGT-1 downregulation. The CRC cell viability and clonogenic assay was performed using different doses of BGT-1 inhibitor. The expression level of BGT-1 was measured following the treatment of 2.5mM CaLa. Betaine was treated to confirm the resistance of the antitumor activity by CaLa. Tumor growth was also measured using a xenograft animal model. Long-term exposure of 2.5mM CaLa clearly decreased the expression of BGT-1 in the CRC cells. As a result of the downregulation of BGT-1 expression, the clonogenic ability of CRC cells was also decreased in the 2.5mM CaLa-treated group. Reversely, the number of colonies and cell viability was increased by combination treatment with betaine and 2.5mM CaLa, as compared with a single treatment of 2.5mM CaLa. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the xenograft model depending on BGT-1 downregulation by 2.5mM CaLa treatment. These results support the idea that long-lasting calcium supplementation via CaLa contributes to disruption of betaine homeostasis in the CRC cells and is hypothesized to reduce the risk of CRC. In addition, it indicates the possibility of CaLa being a potential incorporating agent with existing therapeutics against CRC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, vibrational and quantum chemical investigations of hydrogen bonded complex betaine dihydrogen selenite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arjunan, V.; Marchewka, Mariusz K.; Kalaivani, M.

2012-10-01

The molecular complex of betaine with selenious acid namely, betaine dihydrogen selenite (C5H13NO5Se, BDHSe) was synthesised by the reaction of betaine and SeO2 in a 1:1:1 solution of isopropanol, methanol and water. Crystals were grown from this solution by cooling to 253 K for few days. The complex was formed without accompanying proton transfer from selenious acid molecule to betaine. The complete vibrational assignments and analysis of BDHSe have been performed by FTIR, FT-Raman and far-infrared spectral studies. More support on the experimental findings was added from the quantum chemical studies performed with DFT (B3LYP) method using 6-311++G∗∗, 6-31G∗∗, cc-pVDZ and 3-21G basis sets. The structural parameters, energies, thermodynamic parameters and the NBO charges of BDHSe were determined by the DFT method. The 1H and 13C isotropic chemical shifts (δ ppm) of BDHSe with respect to TMS were also calculated using the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method and compared with the experimental data. SHG experiment was carried out using Kurtz-Perry powder technique. The efficiency of second harmonic generation for BDHSe was estimated relatively to KDP: deff = 0.97 deff (KDP).

Glycine Transporters and Their Inhibitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilfillan, Robert; Kerr, Jennifer; Walker, Glenn; Wishart, Grant

Glycine plays a ubiquitous role in many biological processes. In the central nervous system it serves as an important neurotransmitter acting as an agonist at strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors and as an essential co-agonist with glutamate at the NMDA receptor complex. Control of glycine concentrations in the vicinity of these receptors is mediated by the specific glycine transporters, GlyT1 and GlyT2. Inhibition of these transporters has been postulated to be of potential benefit in several therapeutic indications including schizophrenia and pain. In this review we discuss our current knowledge of glycine transporters and focus on recent advances in the medicinal chemistry of GlyT1 and GlyT2 inhibitors.

Effects of methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance, carcase composition and metabolism of lipids in male broilers.

PubMed

Zhan, X A; Li, J X; Xu, Z R; Zhao, R Q

2006-10-01

1. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance, carcase composition and lipid metabolism in growing broilers. 2. A total of 450 commercial broilers, 22 d of age, were randomly allocated to three groups, each of which included three replicates (50 birds per replicate). The groups received the same methionine-deficient diet supplemented with 0 or 1 g/kg methionine, or 0.5 g/kg betaine, respectively. 3. Methionine and betaine supplementation significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion. Supplemental methionine and betaine also significantly increased breast muscle yield and decreased abdominal fat content. Meanwhile, addition of methionine and betaine significantly increased the contents of creatine and free carnitine in liver, the activity of hormone-sensitive lipase in abdominal fat and the concentration of free fatty acid in serum, whereas uric acid concentration in serum was significantly decreased. 4. The results of this study suggest that betaine can spare methionine in its function as an essential amino acid and is as effective as methionine in improving performance and carcase quality of growing broilers if the diet is moderately deficient in methionine. The decrease in abdominal fat may be due to the increased carnitine synthesis in liver and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in abdominal fat.

Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) averts photochemically-induced thrombosis in pial microvessels in vivo and platelet aggregation in vitro

PubMed Central

Yuvaraju, Priya; Beegam, Sumaya; Ali, Badreldin H

2015-01-01

Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) is an important food component with established health benefits through its homocysteine-lowering effects, and is used to lower total homocysteine concentration in plasma of patients with homocystinuria. It is well established that hyperhomocysteinemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the possible protective effect of betaine on coagulation events in vivo and in vitro has thus far not been studied. Betaine was given to mice at oral doses of either 10 mg/kg (n = 6) or 40 mg/kg (n = 6) for seven consecutive days, and control mice (n = 6) received water only. The thrombotic occlusion time in photochemically induced thrombosis in pial arterioles was significantly delayed in mice pretreated with betaine at doses of 10 mg/kg (P < 0.001) and 40 mg/kg (P < 0.01). Similar effects were observed in pial venules with 10 mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 40 mg/kg (P < 0.05) betaine. In vitro, in whole blood samples collected from untreated mice (n = 3–5), betaine (0.01–1 mg/mL) significantly reversed platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (5 µM). The number of circulating platelets and plasma concentration of fibrinogen in vivo were not significantly affected by betaine pretreament compared with the control group. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) in mice pretreated with betaine was significantly reduced compared with the control group. Moreover, betaine (0.01–1 mg/mL) caused a dose-dependent and significant prolongation of PT (n = 5) and aPTT (n = 4–6). In conclusion, our data show that betaine protected against coagulation events in vivo and in vitro and decreased LPO in plasma. PMID:25662827

Orally administered betaine reduces photodamage caused by UVB irradiation through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity in hairless mice.

PubMed

Im, A-Rang; Lee, Hee Jeong; Youn, Ui Joung; Hyun, Jin Won; Chae, Sungwook

2016-01-01

Betaine is widely distributed in plants, microorganisms, in several types of food and in medical herbs, including Lycium chinense. The administration of 100 mg betaine/kg body weight/day is an effective strategy for preventing ultraviolet irradiation‑induced skin damage. The present study aimed to determine the preventive effects of betaine on ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation‑induced skin damage in hairless mice. The mice were divided into three groups: Control (n=5), UVB‑treated vehicle (n=5) and UVB‑treated betaine (n=5) groups. The level of irradiation was progressively increased between 60 mJ/cm2 per exposure at week 1 (one minimal erythematous dose = 60 mJ/cm2) and 90 mJ/cm2 per exposure at week 7. The formation of wrinkles significantly increased following UVB exposure in the UVB‑treated vehicle group. However, treatment with betaine suppressed UVB‑induced wrinkle formation, as determined by the mean length, mean depth, number, epidermal thickness and collagen damage. Furthermore, oral administration of betaine also inhibited the UVB‑induced expression of mitogen‑activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK), and matrix metalloproteinase‑9 (MMP‑9). These findings suggested that betaine inhibits UVB‑induced skin damage by suppressing increased expression of MMP‑9 through the inhibition of MEK and ERK.

Effects of feeding betaine-containing liquid supplement to transition dairy cows.

PubMed

Monteiro, A P A; Bernard, J K; Guo, J-R; Weng, X-S; Emanuele, S; Davis, R; Dahl, G E; Tao, S

2017-02-01

Betaine is a natural compound found in sugar beets that serves as a methyl donor and organic osmolyte when fed to animals. The objective was to evaluate the effect of feeding betaine-containing molasses on performance of transition dairy cows during late summer in 2 trials. In early September, cows were randomly assigned to betaine (BET) or control (CON) groups either shortly after dry off (trial 1; n = 10 per treatment) or 24 d before calving (trial 2; n = 8 per treatment) based on parity and previous mature equivalent milk yield. Cows were fed common diets supplemented either with a liquid supplement made of molasses from sugar cane and condensed beet solubles containing betaine [BET, 89.1 g/kg of dry matter (DM)] or a sugar cane molasses-based liquid supplement without betaine (CON) until 8 wk postpartum. The liquid supplements had similar nutrient contents and were fed at a rate of 1.1 and 1.4 kg DM/d for pre- and postpartum cows, respectively. Starting at their entry in the studies, cows were housed in the same freestall barn without a cooling system. After calving, all cows were housed in the same barn cooled by misters and fans and milked thrice daily. Intake was recorded daily and body weight and body condition score were assessed every 2 wk. Milk yield was recorded at each milking and composition was analyzed weekly. Blood samples were collected weekly from a subset of cows to assess concentrations of metabolites and AA. No treatment effects were apparent for DM intake and body weight in the prepartum and postpartum periods. For cows enrolled at dry off, BET supported higher milk yield (45.1 vs. 41.9 kg/d) and fat content (4.78 vs. 4.34%) and elevated plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate in early lactation compared to CON. However, no differences were observed for milk yield, most milk component contents and yields, and blood metabolites between treatments for cows enrolled during the close-up period. Compared to cows

Betaine recovers hypothalamic neural injury by inhibiting astrogliosis and inflammation in fructose-fed rats.

PubMed

Li, Jian-Mei; Ge, Chen-Xu; Xu, Min-Xuan; Wang, Wei; Yu, Rong; Fan, Chen-Yu; Kong, Ling-Dong

2015-02-01

Hypothalamic astrogliosis and inflammation cause neural injury, playing a critical role in metabolic syndrome development. This study investigated whether and how fructose caused hypothalamic astrogliosis and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effects of betaine on hypothalamic neural injury, astrogliosis, and inflammation were explored to address its improvement of fructose-induced metabolic syndrome. Rats or astrocytes were exposed to fructose and then treated with betaine. Neural injury, proinflammatory markers, Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB) pathway, and histone deacetylases 3 (HDAC3) expressions were evaluated. The reduction of pro-opiomelanocortin and melanocortin 4 receptor positive neurons in fructose-fed rats was ameliorated by betaine. Moreover, fructose induced astrogliosis and proinflammatory cytokine production by increasing TLR4, MyD88 (where MyD88 is myeloid differentiation factor 88), and NF-κB expression in rat hypothalamus and astrocytes. HDAC3 overexpression preserved the prolonged inflammation in fructose-stimulated astrocytes by regulating nuclear NF-κB-dependent transcription. Betaine suppressed TLR4/NF-κB pathway activation and HDAC3 expression, contributing to its inhibition of hypothalamic astrogliosis and inflammation in animal and cell models. These findings suggest that betaine inhibits fructose-caused astrogliosis and inflammation by the suppression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway activation and HDAC3 expression to protect against hypothalamic neural injury, which, at least partly, contributes to the improvement of fructose-induced metabolic syndrome. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

In vitro activity of a polyhexanide-betaine solution against high-risk clones of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens.

PubMed

López-Rojas, Rafael; Fernández-Cuenca, Felipe; Serrano-Rocha, Lara; Pascual, Álvaro

2017-01-01

To determine the in vitro activity of a polyhexanide-betaine solution against collection strains and multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial isolates, including high-risk clones. We studied of 8 ATCC and 21 MDR clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including the multiresistant high-risk clones. The MICs and MBCs of a 0.1% polyhexanide-0.1% betaine solution were determined by microdilution. For each species, strains with the highest MICs were selected for further experiments. The dilution-neutralization test (PrEN 12054) was performed by incubating bacterial inocula of 10 6 CFU/mL for 1min with undiluted 0.1% polyhexanide-betaine solution. The CFUs were counted after neutralization. Growth curves and time-kill curves at concentrations of 0.25, 1, 4, and 8×MIC, were performed. MICs of recovered strains were determined when regrowth was observed in time-kill studies after 24h of incubation. Strains with reduced susceptibility were selected by serial passage on plates with increasing concentrations of polyhexanide-betaine, and MICs were determined. Polyhexanide-betaine MIC range was 0.5-8mg/L. MBCs equalled or were 1 dilution higher than MICs. The dilution-neutralization method showed total inoculum clearance of all strains. In time-kill curves, no regrowth was observed at 4×MIC, except for S. aureus (8×MIC). Increased MICs were not observed in time-kill curves, or after serial passages after exposure to polyhexanide-betaine. Polyhexanide-betaine presented bactericidal activity against all MDR clinical isolates tested, including high-risk clones, at significantly lower concentrations and time of activity than those commercially used. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

Choline and Betaine Intakes Are Not Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Risk in Japanese Men and Women.

PubMed

Nagata, Chisato; Wada, Keiko; Tamura, Takashi; Konishi, Kie; Kawachi, Toshiaki; Tsuji, Michiko; Nakamura, Kozue

2015-08-01

Dietary intakes of betaine and choline may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease; however, epidemiologic evidence is limited. Seafood is a rich source of betaine and is a popular traditional food in Japan. We examined the associations of betaine and choline intakes with cardiovascular disease mortality in a population-based cohort study in Japan. Study subjects were 13,355 male and 15,724 female residents of Takayama City, Japan, who were aged ≥35 y and enrolled in 1992. Their diets were assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke were identified from death certificates over 16 y. Multivariable-adjusted HRs were computed by using Cox regression models. During follow-up, we documented 308 deaths from coronary heart disease and 676 deaths from stroke (393 from ischemic and 153 from hemorrhagic strokes). Compared with the lowest quartile, the second, third, and highest quartiles of betaine intake were significantly associated with a decreased risk of mortality from coronary heart disease in men after controlling for covariates. The HRs were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.93), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.39, 0.998), and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.97), respectively. The trend was not statistically significant (P = 0.08). There was no significant association between betaine intake and the risk of mortality from ischemic stroke. In women, betaine intake was unrelated risk of mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke (P = 0.32 and 0.73, respectively, for interaction by sex). There was no significant association between choline intake and cardiovascular disease mortality risk in men or women. Overall, we found no clear evidence of significant associations between choline and betaine intakes and cardiovascular disease mortality risk in Japanese men and women. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

An inter-order horizontal gene transfer event enables the catabolism of compatible solutes by Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H.

PubMed

Collins, R Eric; Deming, Jody W

2013-07-01

Colwellia is a genus of mostly psychrophilic halophilic Gammaproteobacteria frequently isolated from polar marine sediments and sea ice. In exploring the capacity of Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H to survive and grow in the liquid brines of sea ice, we detected a duplicated 37 kbp genomic island in its genome based on the abnormally high G + C content. This island contains an operon encoding for heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidase and is located adjacent to several genes used in the serial demethylation of glycine betaine, a compatible solute commonly used for osmoregulation, to dimethylglycine, sarcosine, and glycine. Molecular clock inferences of important events in the adaptation of C. psychrerythraea 34H to compatible solute utilization reflect the geological evolution of the polar regions. Validating genomic predictions, C. psychrerythraea 34H was shown to grow on defined media containing either choline or glycine betaine, and on a medium with sarcosine as the sole organic source of carbon and nitrogen. Growth by 8 of 9 tested Colwellia species on a newly developed sarcosine-based defined medium suggested that the ability to catabolize glycine betaine (the catabolic precursor of sarcosine) is likely widespread in the genus Colwellia. This capacity likely provides a selective advantage to Colwellia species in cold, salty environments like sea ice, and may have contributed to the ability of Colwellia to invade these extreme niches.

Plasma free choline, betaine and cognitive performance: the Hordaland Health Study.

PubMed

Nurk, Eha; Refsum, Helga; Bjelland, Ingvar; Drevon, Christian A; Tell, Grethe S; Ueland, Per M; Vollset, Stein E; Engedal, Knut; Nygaard, Harald A; Smith, David A

2013-02-14

Choline and betaine are nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism. Choline is essential for neurodevelopment and brain function. We studied the associations between cognitive function and plasma concentrations of free choline and betaine. In a cross-sectional study, 2195 subjects (55 % women), aged 70-74 years, underwent extensive cognitive testing including the Kendrick Object Learning Test (KOLT), Trail Making Test (part A, TMT-A), modified versions of the Digit Symbol Test (m-DST), Block Design (m-BD), Mini-Mental State Examination (m-MMSE) and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). Compared with low concentrations, high choline (>8·4 μmol/l) was associated with better test scores in the TMT-A (56·0 v. 61·5, P=0·004), m-DST (10·5 v. 9·8, P=0·005) and m-MMSE (11·5 v. 11·4, P=0·01). A generalised additive regression model showed a positive dose-response relationship between the m-MMSE and choline (P=0·012 from a corresponding linear regression model). Betaine was associated with the KOLT, TMT-A and COWAT, but after adjustments for potential confounders, the associations lost significance. Risk ratios (RR) for poor test performance roughly tripled when low choline was combined with either low plasma vitamin B₁₂ (≤257 pmol/l) concentrations (RR(KOLT)=2·6, 95 % CI 1·1, 6·1; RR(m-MMSE)=2·7, 95 % CI 1·1, 6·6; RR(COWAT)=3·1, 95 % CI 1·4, 7·2) or high methylmalonic acid (MMA) (≥3·95 μmol/l) concentrations (RR(m-BD)=2·8, 95 % CI 1·3, 6·1). Low betaine (≤31·1 μmol/l) combined with high MMA was associated with elevated RR on KOLT (RR(KOLT)=2·5, 95 % CI 1·0, 6·2). Low plasma free choline concentrations are associated with poor cognitive performance. There were significant interactions between low choline or betaine and low vitamin B₁₂ or high MMA on cognitive performance.

Quantitative measurement of betaine and free choline in plasma, cereals and cereal products by isotope dilution LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Bruce, Stephen J; Guy, Philippe A; Rezzi, Serge; Ross, Alastair B

2010-02-24

Betaine and choline are important components of the one-carbon metabolism cycle, linked with the amino acid homocysteine and lipid metabolism. Analyses of broad ranges of foods point to cereal based foods being important sources of betaine and choline, however to date there has been no detailed analysis of these compounds in cereal flours or cereal products. An analytical method based on optimization of an existing extraction followed by LC-MS/MS analysis was used to analyze 47 plasma samples, 32 cereal flours and cereal fractions, and 51 cereal products. For the method validation LLOQ, recovery, inter- and intraday repeatability were all performed. Whole-grain wheat and rye flours, and products based on these were the best whole cereal sources of betaine (747-1508 microg/g) and to a lesser extent choline (76-159 microg/g), while the bran fraction contained the highest concentrations of betaine and free-choline (2350-2899 microg/g and 366-384 microg/g respectively). Refined wheat flour and products contained lower concentrations, while rice and maize contained only very low and no detectable amounts of betaine respectively (0-10 microg/g), and low amounts of free-choline (<31 microg/g). These results were mirrored in cereal products analyzed, with whole-grain wheat or rye-based cereal products having the highest concentrations of the two metabolites. Plasma concentrations for betaine and free-choline in a group of 47 subjects ranged from 15.2-66.3 and 9.8-18.5 micromol/L respectively, within the range of previous reports. This LC-MS/MS method can be used to rapidly and sensitively quantify betaine and free-choline in plasma and cereal products. Whole-grain cereal products and products containing cereal bran appear to be excellent dietary sources of betaine and free-choline.

Effect of dietary betaine supplementation on lipogenesis gene expression and CpG methylation of lipoprotein lipase gene in broilers.

PubMed

Xing, Jinyi; Kang, Li; Jiang, Yunliang

2011-03-01

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of betaine supplementation on mRNA expression levels of lipogenesis genes and CpG methylation of lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) in broilers. From 22 days of age, 78 broilers were feed basal diet without betaine and basal diet supplemented with 0.1% betaine, respectively, and at 56 and 66 days of age, the traits of 15 chickens (7 males and 8 females) of each group were recorded and abdominal fat pads were collected. The mRNA expression levels of several lipogenesis gene were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR), respectively. The CpG methylation profile at the promoter region of LPL gene in 66-day-old broilers was determined by bisulfite sequencing. The average daily gain and percent abdominal fat traits were slightly improved in 56-day-old and 66-day-old broilers after dietary supplementation of betaine to diet. After adding 0.1% betaine to diet, the mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and adipocyte-type fatty acid-binding protein genes in abdominal adipose were significantly decreased in 56-day-old broilers, and those of LPL and FAS genes in abdominal adipose were significantly decreased in 66-day-old broilers comparing with the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001). Moreover, in 66-day-old broilers fed 0.1% betaine diet, a different CpG methylation pattern was observed: the CpG dinucleotides of 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th and from 10th to 50th were less methylated; however, those of 2nd, 5th and 9th were more heavily methylated. The results suggest that transcription of some lipogenesis genes was decreased by betaine supplementation and betaine may decrease LPL mRNA expression by altering CpG methylation pattern on LPL promoter region.

Influence of dietary protein level on the broiler chicken's response to methionine and betaine supplements.

PubMed

Garcia Neto, M; Pesti, G M; Bakalli, R I

2000-10-01

Two experiments were conducted to compare broiler chicken responses to methionine and betaine supplements when fed diets with low protein and relatively high metabolizable energy levels (17%, 3.3 kcal/g) or moderate protein and lower metabolizable energy levels (24%, 3.0 kcal/g), resulting in different levels of carcass fat. In Experiment 1, the basal diets were formulated with corn, soybean meal, poultry by-product meal, and poultry oil. In Experiment 2, glucose monohydrate was also added, so that identical amino acid profiles could be maintained in the 17 and 24% protein diets. On average, feeding the 17 vs. 24% protein diet decreased 21-d body weight gain by 20%, increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 13%, and increased abdominal fat pad weight by 104%. Methionine and betaine supplements improved the performance of chicks fed the 24% protein diet in both experiments, as indicated by body weight gain and FCR. Only supplementary methionine increased performance of chicks fed 17% protein diets, and then only in Experiment 2. Neither methionine nor betaine decreased abdominal fat pad size in either experiment. Methionine supplementation decreased relative liver size and increased breast muscle protein. Both methionine and betaine increased sample feather weight, but when expressed as a percentage of body weight, no significant differences were detected. It is concluded that increasing carcass fat by manipulating percentage dietary protein level or amino acid balance does not influence betaine's activity as a lipotropic agent.

Performance implications of Porter's generic strategies in Slovak hospitals.

PubMed

Hlavacka, S; Bacharova, L; Rusnakova, V; Wagner, R

2001-01-01

The aim of the study was to examine the use of Porter's generic strategies and their effect on performance in the context of the Slovak hospital industry. Using mail survey the study first identified the natural taxonomy of four strategic types of Slovak hospitals, based on their use of Porter's generic strategies in pure form and in combination. Next the study examined whether different strategic types were associated with different levels of organisational performance, while controlling for such variables as size and location, which have been argued to influence the hospital performance. The findings indicate that hospitals which follow a "stuck-in-the-middle" strategy, in general, have superior performance on all used performance measures, while hospitals that place only low emphasis on cost leadership, differentiation and focus, labelled "wait and see" in this study, perform the poorest. The study concludes that the research provided body of knowledge relevant for the Slovak hospital industry, that may be used by hospital managers in the strategy formulation process as well as by the researches in exploring the influence of different contingencies on hospitals' strategic orientation.

Betaine supplement alleviates hepatic triglyceride accumulation of apolipoprotein E deficient mice via reducing methylation of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha promoter

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Betaine is a methyl donor and has been considered as a lipotropic effect substance. But its mechanism remains unclear. Hepatic steatosis is associated with abnormal expression of genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism. DNA methylation contributes to the disregulation of gene expression. Here we hypothesized that betaine supplement and subsequent DNA methylation modifications alter the expression of genes that are involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and hence alleviate hepatic triglyceride accumulation. Methods Male wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice (n = 6) were fed with the AIN-93 G diet. ApoE−/− mice (n = 12), weight-matched with the WT mice, were divided into two groups (n = 6 per group), and fed with the AIN-93 G diet and AIN-93 G supplemented with 2% betaine/100 g diet. Seven weeks after the intervention, mice were sacrificed. Liver betaine, choline, homocysteine concentration were measured by HPLC. Liver oxidants activity and triglyceride level were assessed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Finally, hepatic PPAR alpha gene and its target genes expression levels and the methylation status of the PPAR alpha gene were determined. Results ApoE−/− mice had higher hepatic triglyceride and lower GSH-Px activity when compared with the WT mice. Betaine intervention reversed triglyceride deposit, enhanced SOD and GSH-Px activity in the liver. Interestingly, mice fed on betaine-supplemented diet showed a dramatic increase of hepatic choline concentration and a decrease of betaine and homocysteine concentration relative to the WT mice and the ApoE−/− mice absent with betaine intervention. Expression of PPAR alpha and CPT1 were decreased and expression of FAS was markedly increased in ApoE−/− mice. In parallel, PPAR alpha promoter methylation level were slightly increased in ApoE−/− mice though without significance. Betaine supplement upregulated expression of PPAR alpha and its target genes (CPT1, CYP2E1) and reversed

Betaine alleviates hepatic lipid accumulation via enhancing hepatic lipid export and fatty acid oxidation in rats fed with a high-fat diet.

PubMed

Xu, Li; Huang, Danping; Hu, Qiaolin; Wu, Jing; Wang, Yizhen; Feng, Jie

2015-06-28

To assess the effects of betaine on hepatic lipid accumulation and investigate the underlying mechanism, thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 100 (sd 2·50) g were divided into four groups, and started on one of four treatments: basal diet, basal diet with betaine administration, high-fat diet and high-fat diet with betaine administration. The results showed that no significant difference of body weight was found among experimental groups. Compared with high-fat diet-fed rats, a betaine supplementation decreased (P< 0·05) hepatic TAG accumulation induced by high-fat diet, which was also supported by hepatic histology results. Additionally, hepatic betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase concentration [corrected] as well as its mRNA abundance and lecithin level were found increased (P< 0·05) by betaine supplementation in both basal diet-fed rats and high-fat diet-fed rats. Betaine administration in high-fat diet-fed rats exhibited a higher (P< 0·05) concentration [corrected] of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) compared with high-fat diet-fed rats. High-fat diet inhibited (P< 0·05) the gene expression of hepatic PPARα and CPT1. However, betaine administration in high-fat diet-fed rats elevated (P< 0·05) the gene expression of PPARα and CPT1. Moreover, concentration, gene and protein expressions of hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) were increased (P< 0·05) in response to betaine administration in high-fat diet group; meanwhile the gene expression of hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase was increased (P< 0·05) as well. The results suggest that betaine administration enhanced hepatic lipid export and fatty acid oxidation in high-fat diet-fed rats, thus effectively alleviating fat accumulation in the liver.

Umbilical choline and related methylamines betaine and dimethylglycine in relation to birth weight.

PubMed

Hogeveen, Marije; den Heijer, Martin; Semmekrot, Ben A; Sporken, Jan M; Ueland, Per M; Blom, Henk J

2013-06-01

Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality for the newborn and risk of chronic disease in adulthood. Choline plays an essential role in the integrity of cell membranes, methylation reactions, and memory development. We examined whether choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine (DMG) concentrations were associated with LBW in Dutch women. Blood was sampled from umbilical cords (UCs) at delivery in singleton pregnancies (n = 1,126). Maternal blood was sampled at 30-34 wk of gestational age (GA) (n = 366). We calculated birth weights standardized for GA and defined LBW as standardized birth weight ≤ 2,500 g. Maternal concentrations were lower as compared with UC concentrations and were not associated with birth weight. UC choline and betaine were inversely associated with birth weight (β = -60 (-89, -31) and β = -65 (-94, -36), respectively), whereas UC DMG was positively associated with birth weight (β = 35 (6.1, 63)). Odds ratios for LBW were 4.12 (1.15, 14.78), 5.68 (1.24, 25.91), and 0.48 (0.09, 2.65) for the highest UC choline, betaine, and DMG quartiles, respectively, as compared with the lowest quartiles. We observed an increased risk of LBW with increased umbilical choline and betaine in venous UC blood. These results might reflect a change in choline consumption or metabolism or a disturbed placental function.

Higher serum choline and betaine levels are associated with better body composition in male but not female population.

PubMed

Gao, Xiang; Randell, Edward; Zhou, Haicheng; Sun, Guang

2018-01-01

Animal studies proved that choline and betaine have beneficial effect on reducing body fat. However, evidence in humans is scarce. We aim to investigate the association between serum choline and betaine levels with body composition in general population. This is an observational cross-sectional study performed in 1081 subjects from the CODING (Complex Disease in Newfoundland population: Environment and Genetics) study. Serum choline and betaine levels were measured based on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technology. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry following a 12-hour fast. Major confounding factors including age, sex, total calorie intake and physical activity level were controlled in all analyses. Significantly inverse correlations were found between serum betaine levels and all obesity measurements in males (r ranged from -0.12 to -0.23, and p<0.01 for all) but not in females. Serum choline was negatively associated with total percent body fat (%BF), percent trunk fat (%TF), weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (r ranged from -0.11 to -0.19, and p<0.05 for all) in males and positively associated with weight, BMI and WC (r ranged from 0.09 to 0.10, and p<0.05 for all) in females. The negative associations between serum choline and betaine levels with obesity in males were more profound in those not on any medication than those taking medications. Moreover, obese males had the lowest serum choline and betaine levels, followed by overweight males, and normal weight males having the highest serum choline and betaine levels, especially in those not taking medications (p<0.05). Likewise, subjects with the highest serum levels of both had the lowest obesity indexes, especially those not taking medications. Higher serum choline and betaine levels were associated with a more favorable body composition (lower body fat and higher lean body mass) in males and the

Higher serum choline and betaine levels are associated with better body composition in male but not female population

PubMed Central

Gao, Xiang; Randell, Edward; Zhou, Haicheng

2018-01-01

Background Animal studies proved that choline and betaine have beneficial effect on reducing body fat. However, evidence in humans is scarce. We aim to investigate the association between serum choline and betaine levels with body composition in general population. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study performed in 1081 subjects from the CODING (Complex Disease in Newfoundland population: Environment and Genetics) study. Serum choline and betaine levels were measured based on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technology. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry following a 12-hour fast. Major confounding factors including age, sex, total calorie intake and physical activity level were controlled in all analyses. Results Significantly inverse correlations were found between serum betaine levels and all obesity measurements in males (r ranged from -0.12 to -0.23, and p<0.01 for all) but not in females. Serum choline was negatively associated with total percent body fat (%BF), percent trunk fat (%TF), weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (r ranged from -0.11 to -0.19, and p<0.05 for all) in males and positively associated with weight, BMI and WC (r ranged from 0.09 to 0.10, and p<0.05 for all) in females. The negative associations between serum choline and betaine levels with obesity in males were more profound in those not on any medication than those taking medications. Moreover, obese males had the lowest serum choline and betaine levels, followed by overweight males, and normal weight males having the highest serum choline and betaine levels, especially in those not taking medications (p<0.05). Likewise, subjects with the highest serum levels of both had the lowest obesity indexes, especially those not taking medications. Conclusions Higher serum choline and betaine levels were associated with a more favorable body composition (lower body fat and

Beneficial Effects of the Amino Acid Glycine.

PubMed

Pérez-Torres, Israel; Zuniga-Munoz, Alejandra María; Guarner-Lans, Veronica

2017-01-01

Glycine is the smallest non-essential, neutral and metabolically inert amino acid, with a carbon atom bound to two hydrogen atoms, and to an amino and a carboxyl group. This amino acid is an essential substrate for the synthesis of several biologically important biomolecules and compounds. It participates in the synthesis of proteins, of the tripeptide glutathione and in detoxification reactions. It has a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective and immunomodulatory properties. To exert its actions, glycine binds to different receptors. The GlyR anion channel is the most studied receptor for glycine. However, there are GlyR-independent mechanisms for glycine cytoprotection and other possible binding molecules of glycine are the NMDA receptor and receptors GlyT1 and GlyT2. Although, in humans, the normal serum level of glycine is approximately 300 μM, increasing glycine intake can lead to blood levels of more than 900 μM that increase its benefic actions without having harmful side effects. The herbal pesticide glyphosate might disrupt glycine homeostasis. Many in vitro studies involving different cell types have demonstrated beneficial effects of the addition of glycine. Glycine also improved conditions of isolated perfused or stored organs. In vivo studies in experimental animals have also tested glycine as a protector molecule and some studies on the beneficial effects of glycine after its clinical application have been done. Although at high-doses, glycine may cause toxic effects, further studies are needed to investigate the safe range of usage of this aminoacid and to test the diverse routes of administration.

Limitations of the Porter-Thomas distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weidenmüller, Hans A.

2017-12-01

Data on the distribution of reduced partial neutron widths and on the distribution of total gamma decay widths disagree with the Porter-Thomas distribution (PTD) for reduced partial widths or with predictions of the statistical model. We recall why the disagreement is important: The PTD is a direct consequence of the orthogonal invariance of the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble (GOE) of random matrices. The disagreement is reviewed. Two possible causes for violation of orthogonal invariance of the GOE are discussed, and their consequences explored. The disagreement of the distribution of total gamma decay widths with theoretical predictions cannot be blamed on the statistical model.

Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) averts photochemically-induced thrombosis in pial microvessels in vivo and platelet aggregation in vitro.

PubMed

Nemmar, Abderrahim; Yuvaraju, Priya; Beegam, Sumaya; Ali, Badreldin H

2015-07-01

Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) is an important food component with established health benefits through its homocysteine-lowering effects, and is used to lower total homocysteine concentration in plasma of patients with homocystinuria. It is well established that hyperhomocysteinemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the possible protective effect of betaine on coagulation events in vivo and in vitro has thus far not been studied. Betaine was given to mice at oral doses of either 10 mg/kg (n = 6) or 40 mg/kg (n = 6) for seven consecutive days, and control mice (n = 6) received water only. The thrombotic occlusion time in photochemically induced thrombosis in pial arterioles was significantly delayed in mice pretreated with betaine at doses of 10 mg/kg (P < 0.001) and 40 mg/kg (P < 0.01). Similar effects were observed in pial venules with 10 mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 40 mg/kg (P < 0.05) betaine. In vitro, in whole blood samples collected from untreated mice (n = 3-5), betaine (0.01-1 mg/mL) significantly reversed platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (5 µM). The number of circulating platelets and plasma concentration of fibrinogen in vivo were not significantly affected by betaine pretreament compared with the control group. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) in mice pretreated with betaine was significantly reduced compared with the control group. Moreover, betaine (0.01-1 mg/mL) caused a dose-dependent and significant prolongation of PT (n = 5) and aPTT (n = 4-6). In conclusion, our data show that betaine protected against coagulation events in vivo and in vitro and decreased LPO in plasma. © 2015 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

The glycine transport inhibitor sarcosine is an inhibitory glycine receptor agonist.

PubMed

Zhang, Hai Xia; Lyons-Warren, Ariel; Thio, Liu Lin

2009-01-01

Sarcosine is an endogenous amino acid that is a competitive inhibitor of the type I glycine transporter (GlyT1), an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) co-agonist, and an important intermediate in one-carbon metabolism. Its therapeutic potential for schizophrenia further underscores its clinical importance. The structural similarity between sarcosine and glycine and sarcosine's ability to serve as an NMDAR co-agonist led us to examine whether sarcosine is also an agonist at the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR). We examined this possibility using whole-cell recordings from cultured embryonic mouse hippocampal neurons and found that sarcosine evoked a dose-dependent, strychnine sensitive, Cl(-) current that cross-inhibited glycine currents. Sarcosine evoked this current with Li(+) in the extracellular solution to block GlyT1, in neurons treated with the essentially irreversible GlyT1 inhibitor N[3-(4'-fluorophenyl)-3-(4'-phenylphenoxy)propyl]sarcosine (NFPS), and in neurons plated in the absence of glia. These results indicate that the sarcosine currents did not result from GlyT1 inhibition or heteroexchange. We conclude that sarcosine is a GlyR agonist.

New approaches for extraction and determination of betaine from Beta vulgaris samples by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Rivoira, Luca; Studzińska, Sylwia; Szultka-Młyńska, Malgorzata; Bruzzoniti, Maria Concetta; Buszewski, Bogusław

2017-08-01

Betaine is one of most studied biologically active compounds, due its role in the main biological processes. Although it may be found in several plants and roots, such as the Beta vulgaris family, present in typical diets, just a few analytical methods have been developed for its extraction from roots. A new, quick and effective procedure for the isolation and determination of betaine from two different varieties of B. vulgaris (red and gold) is presented. For betaine extraction, an accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was coupled with solid-phase extraction. For betaine determination, a separation method based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was optimized for a sensible detection of betaine by means of experimental design. Recoveries were about 93%, with RSD <5%, for both the matrices, without evidence of interfering species. The total content of betaine in extracts of various parts of plants (juice, peel, root) have been determined, obtaining concentrations in the range 3000-4000 mg/L for the juice and in the range 2-5 mg/g for the pulp and for the peel. The B. vulgaris gold species exhibited a higher concentration of betaine, compared to the red variety. Additionally, a micro extraction by packed sorbent technique and a modified quick, easy, cheap, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) procedure, were also tested and compared. Despite the lower recoveries of the latter, with respect to the ASE/SPE procedure (75-89%, RSD <1.5%), the ease of the method, which can be applied without the SPE purification procedure, can represent a positive improvement. Graphical abstract Determination of betaine from Beta vulgaris samples.

Divergent associations of plasma choline and betaine with components of metabolic syndrome in middle age and elderly men and women.

PubMed

Konstantinova, Svetlana V; Tell, Grethe S; Vollset, Stein Emil; Nygård, Ottar; Bleie, Øyvind; Ueland, Per Magne

2008-05-01

Choline is involved in the synthesis of phospholipids, including blood lipids, and is the immediate precursor of betaine, which serves as a methyl group donor in a reaction converting homocysteine to methionine. Several cardiovascular risk factors are associated with plasma homocysteine, whereas little is known about their relationship to choline and betaine. We examined the relation of plasma choline and betaine to smoking, physical activity, BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipids, and glucose in a population-based study of 7074 men and women aged 47-49 and 71-74 y. Overall plasma concentrations (means +/- SD) were 9.9 +/- 2.3 micromol/L for choline and 39.5 +/- 12.5 micromol/L for betaine. Choline and betaine were lower in women than in men and in younger subjects compared with older (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses showed that choline was positively associated with serum triglycerides, glucose, BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference (P < 0.0001 for all), and physical activity (P < 0.05) and inversely related to HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05) and smoking (P < 0.0001). Betaine was inversely associated with serum non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001 for all), and smoking (P < 0.05) and positively associated with HDL cholesterol (P < 0.01) and physical activity (P < 0.0001). Thus, an unfavorable cardiovascular risk factor profile was associated with high choline and low betaine concentrations. Choline and betaine were associated in opposite directions with key components of metabolic syndrome, suggesting a disruption of mitochondrial choline dehydrogenase pathway.

Betaine is as effective as folate at re-synthesizing methionine for protein synthesis during moderate methionine deficiency in piglets.

PubMed

McBreairty, Laura E; Robinson, Jason L; Harding, Scott V; Randell, Edward W; Brunton, Janet A; Bertolo, Robert F

2016-12-01

Both folate and betaine (synthesized from choline) are nutrients used to methylate homocysteine to reform the amino acid methionine following donation of its methyl group; however, it is unclear whether both remethylation pathways are of equal importance during the neonatal period when remethylation rates are high. Methionine is an indispensable amino acid that is in high demand in neonates not only for protein synthesis, but is also particularly important for transmethylation reactions, such as creatine and phosphatidylcholine synthesis. The objective of this study was to determine whether supplementation with folate, betaine, or a combination of both can equally re-synthesize methionine for protein synthesis when dietary methionine is limiting. Piglets were fed a low methionine diet devoid of folate, choline, and betaine, and on day 6, piglets were supplemented with either folate, betaine, or folate + betaine (n = 6 per treatment) until day 10. [1- 13 C]-phenylalanine oxidation was measured as an indicator of methionine availability for protein synthesis both before and after 2 days of supplementation. Prior to supplementation, piglets had lower concentrations of plasma folate, betaine, and choline compared to baseline with no change in homocysteine. Post-supplementation, phenylalanine oxidation levels were 20-46 % lower with any methyl donor supplementation (P = 0.006) with no difference among different supplementation groups. Furthermore, both methyl donors led to similarly lower concentrations of homocysteine following supplementation (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate an equal capacity for betaine and folate to remethylate methionine for protein synthesis, as indicated by lower phenylalanine oxidation.

Betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase--a new assay for the liver enzyme and its absence from human skin fibroblasts and peripheral blood lymphocytes.

PubMed

Wang, J A; Dudman, N P; Lynch, J; Wilcken, D E

1991-12-31

Chronic elevation of plasma homocysteine is associated with increased atherogenesis and thrombosis, and can be lowered by betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) treatment which is thought to stimulate activity of the enzyme betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase. We have developed a new assay for this enzyme, in which the products of the enzyme-catalysed reaction between betaine and homocysteine are oxidised by performic acid before being separated and quantified by amino acid analysis. This assay confirmed that human liver contains abundant betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase (33.4 nmol/h/mg protein at 37 degrees C, pH 7.4). Chicken and lamb livers also contain the enzyme, with respective activities of 50.4 and 6.2 nmol/h/mg protein. However, phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cultured human skin fibroblasts contained no detectable betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase (less than 1.4 nmol/h/mg protein), even after cells were pre-cultured in media designed to stimulate production of the enzyme. The results emphasize the importance of the liver in mediating the lowering of elevated circulating homocysteine by betaine.

Release of betaine and dexpanthenol from vitamin E modified silicone-hydrogel contact lenses.

PubMed

Hsu, Kuan-Hui; de la Jara, Percy Lazon; Ariyavidana, Amali; Watling, Jason; Holden, Brien; Garrett, Qian; Chauhan, Anuj

2015-03-01

To develop a contact lens system that will control the release of an osmoprotectant and a moisturizing agent with the aim to reduce symptoms of ocular dryness. Profiles of the release of osmoprotectant betaine and moisturizing agent dexpanthenol from senofilcon A and narafilcon B contact lenses were determined in vitro under sink conditions. Both types of lenses were also infused with vitamin E to increase the duration of drug release due to the formation of the vitamin E diffusion barriers in the lenses. The release profiles from vitamin E-infused lenses were compared with those from the control lenses. Both dexpanthenol and betaine are released from commercial silicone hydrogel lenses for only about 10 min. Vitamin E loadings into contact lenses at about 20-23% can increase the release times to about 10 h, which is about 60 times larger compared to the control unmodified lenses. Vitamin E-loaded silicone hydrogel contact lenses released betaine and dexpanthenol in a controlled fashion.

The Structure of Glycine Dihydrate: Implications for the Crystallization of Glycine from Solution and Its Structure in Outer Space

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Wenqian; Zhu, Qiang; Hu, Chunhua Tony

2017-01-18

Glycine, the simplest amino acid, is also the most polymorphous. Herein, we report the structure determination of an unknown phase of glycine which was firstly reported by Pyne and Suryanarayanan in 2001. To date, the new phase has only been prepared at 208 K as nanocrystals within ice. Through computational crystal structure prediction and powder X-ray diffraction methods, we identified this elusive phase as glycine dihydrate (GDH), representing a first report on a hydrated glycine structure. The structure of GDH has important implications for the state of glycine in aqueous solution, and the mechanisms of glycine crystallization. GDH may alsomore » be the form of glycine that comes to Earth from extraterrestrial sources.« less

Effects of dietary inclusions of red beet and betaine on the acute stress response and muscle lipid peroxidation in rainbow trout.

PubMed

Pinedo-Gil, Julia; Martín-Diana, Ana Belén; Bertotto, Daniela; Sanz-Calvo, Miguel Ángel; Jover-Cerdá, Miguel; Tomás-Vidal, Ana

2018-06-01

This study evaluates the effects of red beet (RB) and betaine on rainbow trout submitted to an acute stress challenge. A control diet was compared with four experimental diets in which red beet (14 and 28%) and betaine (0.9 and 1.63%) were incorporated in different concentrations according to a factorial design. Cortisol in plasma and fin, glucose and lactate plasma levels, and malondialdehide (MDA) in muscle were all measured before the stress challenge and 30 min and 6 and 12 h after the stress challenge as parameters to determine the diet effects. RB and betaine had no effect on cortisol, glucose, and MDA basal levels. However, lactate basal levels were significantly lower on fish fed with RB and betaine. Thirty minutes after the stress challenge, there was a significant increase in plasma and fin cortisol, glucose and lactate concentrations, although fish fed with diets containing RB and betaine showed significantly higher plasma cortisol values. MDA values of fish fed with 14% RB and 0.9% betaine were significantly higher than MDA values from fish fed with 28% RB and 1.63% betaine. After 6 and 12 h, plasma and fin cortisol and lactate levels recovered in a similar trend. Glucose plasma levels recovered in almost all groups 12 h after the stress. Also, MDA values recovered basal levels after 6 and 12 h. RB and betaine did not enhance the tolerance to the stress challenge compared to the control group, although the presence of these ingredients had no negative effect on any of the stress indicators.

Accessions of perennial Glycine species with resistance to multiple types of soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines; HG) is a widely occurring and damaging pathogen of soybean that limits soybean production. Soybean resistance to SCN is somewhat limited, but may be more common in perennial Glycine species. The objective of this study was to evaluate perennial Glycin...

Mitochondrial matrix delivery using MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier that specifies fusion with mitochondrial membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yasuzaki, Yukari; Yamada, Yuma; Harashima, Hideyoshi, E-mail: harasima@pharm.hokudai.ac.jp

2010-06-25

Mitochondria are the principal producers of energy in cells of higher organisms. It was recently reported that mutations and defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are associated with various mitochondrial diseases including a variety of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, an effective mitochondrial gene therapy and diagnosis would be expected to have great medical benefits. To achieve this, therapeutic agents need to be delivered into the innermost mitochondrial space (mitochondrial matrix), which contains the mtDNA pool. We previously reported on the development of MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier that introduces macromolecular cargos into mitochondria via membrane fusion. In this study, we providemore » a demonstration of mitochondrial matrix delivery and the visualization of mitochondrial genes (mtDNA) in living cells using the MITO-Porter. We first prepared MITO-Porter containing encapsulated propidium iodide (PI), a fluorescent dye used to stain nucleic acids to detect mtDNA. We then confirmed the emission of red-fluorescence from PI by conjugation with mtDNA, when the carriers were incubated in the presence of isolated rat liver mitochondria. Finally, intracellular observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy clearly verified that the MITO-Porter delivered PI to the mitochondrial matrix.« less

Betaine and Trimethylamine-N-Oxide as Predictors of Cardiovascular Outcomes Show Different Patterns in Diabetes Mellitus: An Observational Study

PubMed Central

Lever, Michael; George, Peter M.; Slow, Sandy; Bellamy, David; Young, Joanna M.; Ho, Markus; McEntyre, Christopher J.; Elmslie, Jane L.; Atkinson, Wendy; Molyneux, Sarah L.; Troughton, Richard W.; Frampton, Christopher M.; Richards, A. Mark; Chambers, Stephen T.

2014-01-01

Background Betaine is a major osmolyte, also important in methyl group metabolism. Concentrations of betaine, its metabolite dimethylglycine and analog trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in blood are cardiovascular risk markers. Diabetes disturbs betaine: does diabetes alter associations between betaine-related measures and cardiovascular risk? Methods Plasma samples were collected from 475 subjects four months after discharge following an acute coronary admission. Death (n = 81), secondary acute MI (n = 87), admission for heart failure (n = 85), unstable angina (n = 72) and all cardiovascular events (n = 283) were recorded (median follow-up: 1804 days). Results High and low metabolite concentrations were defined as top or bottom quintile of the total cohort. In subjects with diabetes (n = 79), high plasma betaine was associated with increased frequencies of events; significantly for heart failure, hazard ratio 3.1 (1.2–8.2) and all cardiovascular events, HR 2.8 (1.4–5.5). In subjects without diabetes (n = 396), low plasma betaine was associated with events; significantly for secondary myocardial infarction, HR 2.1 (1.2–3.6), unstable angina, HR 2.3 (1.3–4.0), and all cardiovascular events, HR 1.4 (1.0–1.9). In diabetes, high TMAO was a marker of all outcomes, HR 2.7 (1.1–7.1) for death, 4.0 (1.6–9.8) for myocardial infarction, 4.6 (2.0–10.7) for heart failure, 9.1 (2.8–29.7) for unstable angina and 2.0 (1.1–3.6) for all cardiovascular events. In subjects without diabetes TMAO was only significant for death, HR 2.7 (1.6–4.8) and heart failure, HR 1.9 (1.1–3.4). Adding the estimated glomerular filtration rate to Cox regression models tended to increase the apparent risks associated with low betaine. Conclusions Elevated plasma betaine concentration is a marker of cardiovascular risk in diabetes; conversely low plasma betaine concentrations indicate increased risk in the absence of diabetes. We speculate that the

Formation of intercalation compound of kaolinite-glycine via displacing guest water by glycine.

PubMed

Zheng, Wan; Zhou, Jing; Zhang, Zhenqian; Chen, Likun; Zhang, Zhongfei; Li, Yong; Ma, Ning; Du, Piyi

2014-10-15

The kaolinite-glycine intercalation compound was successfully formed by displacing intercalated guest water molecules in kaolinite hydrate as a precursor. The microstructure of the compound was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope. Results show that glycine can only be intercalated into hydrated kaolinite to form glycine-kaolinite by utilizing water molecules as a transition phase. The intercalated glycine molecules were squeezed partially into the ditrigonal holes in the silicate layer, resulting in the interlayer distance of kaolinite reaching 1.03nm. The proper intercalation temperature range was between 20°C and 80°C. An intercalation time of 24h or above was necessary to ensure the complete formation of kaolinite-glycine. The highest intercalation degree of about 84% appeared when the system was reacted at the temperature of 80°C for 48h. There were two activation energies for the intercalation of glycine into kaolinite, one being 21kJ/mol within the temperature range of 20-65°C and the other 5.8kJ/mol between 65°C and 80°C. The intercalation degree (N) and intercalation velocity (v) of as a function of intercalation time (t) can be empirically expressed as N=-79.35e(-)(t)(/14.8)+80.1 and v=5.37e(-)(t)(/14.8), respectively. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of betaine and arginine in lysine-deficient diets on growth, carcass traits, and pork quality.

PubMed

Madeira, M S; Alfaia, C M; Costa, P; Lopes, P A; Martins, S V; Lemos, J P C; Moreira, O; Santos-Silva, J; Bessa, R J B; Prates, J A M

2015-10-01

Forty entire male pigs from a commercial crossbreed (Duroc × Large White × Landrace) were used to investigate the individual or combined effects of betaine and Arg supplementation in Lys-deficient diets on growth performance, carcass traits, and pork quality. Pigs with 59.9 ± 1.65 kg BW were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments ( = 8). The 5 dietary treatments were normal Lys and CP diet (0.51% Lys and 16% CP; control), reduced Lys and CP diet (0.35% Lys and 13% CP), reduced Lys and CP diet with betaine supplementation (0.33%), reduced Lys and CP diet with Arg supplementation (1.5%), and reduced Lys and CP diet with betaine and Arg supplementation (0.33% betaine and 1.5% Arg). Pigs were slaughtered at 92.7 ± 2.54 kg BW. The Lys-deficient diets (-35% Lys) increased intramuscular fat (IMF) content by 25% ( = 0.041) and meat juiciness by 12% ( = 0.041) but had a negative effect on growth performance ( < 0.05) of pigs. In addition, Lys-deficient diets increased L* ( = 0.005) and b* ( = 0.010) muscle color parameters and perirenal fat deposition ( < 0.001) and decreased both HCW ( = 0.015) and loin weight ( = 0.023). Betaine and Arg supplementation of Lys-deficient diets had no effect on IMF content but increased ( < 0.05) overall pork acceptability. Arginine supplementation also increased ( = 0.003) meat tenderness. Differences in fatty acid composition of pork were not detected among dietary treatment groups. However, oleic acid was positively correlated ( < 0.05) with IMF content, juiciness, flavor, and overall acceptability of meat. Data confirm that dietary CP reduction enhances pork eating quality but negatively affects pigs' growth performance. Moreover, it is suggested that betaine and Arg supplementation of Lys-deficient diets does not further increase IMF content but improves some pork sensory traits, including overall acceptability.

Porter Takes Reins of the FNL Green Team | Poster

Cancer.gov

Courtesy of the FNL Green Team Melissa Porter, who recently joined the staff of Craig Reynolds, Ph.D., director, Office of Scientific Operations, as administrative manager, has stepped forward to lead the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) Green Team in its efforts to promote a “green” work environment. “I am excited to lead the FNL Green Team and have

The Glycine Transport Inhibitor Sarcosine Is an Inhibitory Glycine Receptor Agonist

PubMed Central

Zhang, Hai Xia; Lyons-Warren, Ariel; Thio, Liu Lin

2009-01-01

Summary Sarcosine is an endogenous amino acid that is a competitive inhibitor of the type I glycine transporter (GlyT1), an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) co-agonist, and an important intermediate in one-carbon metabolism. Its therapeutic potential for schizophrenia further underscores its clinical importance. The structural similarity between sarcosine and glycine and sarcosine's ability to serve as an NMDAR co-agonist led us to examine whether sarcosine is also an agonist at the inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR). We examined this possibility using whole-cell recordings from cultured embryonic mouse hippocampal neurons and found that sarcosine evoked a dose-dependent, strychnine sensitive, Cl- current that cross-inhibited glycine currents. Sarcosine evoked this current with Li+ in the extracellular solution to block GlyT1, in neurons treated with the essentially irreversible GlyT1 inhibitor N[3-(4′-fluorophenyl)-3-(4′-phenylphenoxy)propyl]sarcosine (NFPS), and in neurons plated in the absence of glia. These results indicate that the sarcosine currents did not result from GlyT1 inhibition or heteroexchange. We conclude that sarcosine is a GlyR agonist. PMID:19619564

Effect of dietary betaine on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in blunt snout bream fed a high-fat diet.

PubMed

Adjoumani, Jean-Jacques Yao; Wang, Kaizhou; Zhou, Man; Liu, Wenbin; Zhang, Dingdong

2017-12-01

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary betaine levels on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-fed blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) with initial body weight 4.3 ± 0.1 g [mean ± SEM]. Five practical diets were formulated to contain normal-fat diet (NFD), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet with betaine addition (HFB) at difference levels (0.6, 1.2, 1.8%), respectively. The results showed that the highest final body weight (FBW), weight gain ratio (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (CF), and feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05) were obtained in fish fed 1.2% betaine supplementation, whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in the same group compared to others. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) and abdominal fat rate (AFR) were significantly high in fat group compared to the lowest in NDF and 1.2% betaine supplementation, while VSI and survival rate (SR) were not affected by dietary betaine supplementation. Significantly higher (P < 0.05), plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), cortisol, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) content were observed in HFD but were improved when supplemented with 1.2% betaine. In addition, increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in 1.2% betaine inclusion could reverse the increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) level induced by HFD. Based on the second-order polynomial analysis, the optimum growth of blunt snout bream was observed in fish fed HFD supplemented with 1.2% betaine. HFD upregulated fatty acid synthase messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and downregulated carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein mRNA expression; nevertheless, 1.2% betaine supplementation significantly reversed

Is N,N-dimethylglycine N-oxide a choline and betaine metabolite?

PubMed

Lever, Michael; McEntyre, Christopher J; George, Peter M; Chambers, Stephen T

2017-06-27

Choline metabolism is by oxidation to betaine, which is demethylated to N,N-dimethylglycine; dimethylglycine is oxidatively demethylated to sarcosine. This pathway is important for osmoregulation and as a source of methyl groups. We asked whether another metabolite was involved. We synthesized the N-oxide of dimethylglycine (DMGO) by oxidizing dimethylglycine with peracetic acid, and measured DMGO in human plasma and urine by HPLC-MS/MS with positive ion detection, using two chromatography procedures, based on ion exchange and HILIC separations. The molecular ion DMGOH+ (m/z=120) yielded four significant fragments (m/z=103, 102, 58 and 42). The suspected DMGO peak in human body fluids showed all these fragments, and co-chromatographed with added standard DMGO in both HPLC systems. Typical plasma concentrations of DMGO are under 1 μmol/l. They may be lower in metabolic syndrome patients. Urine concentrations are higher, and DMGO has a higher fractional clearance than dimethylglycine, betaine and choline. It was present in all of over 80 human urine and plasma samples assayed. Plasma DMGO concentrations correlate with plasma DMG concentrations, with betaine and choline concentrations, with the osmolyte myo-inositol, and strongly with urinary DMGO excretion. We conclude that DMGO is probably a normal human metabolite.

The Structure of Glycine Dihydrate: Implications for the Crystallization of Glycine from Solution and Its Structure in Outer Space.

PubMed

Xu, Wenqian; Zhu, Qiang; Hu, Chunhua Tony

2017-02-13

Glycine, the simplest amino acid, is also the most polymorphous. Herein, we report the structure determination of a long unknown phase of glycine, which was first reported by Pyne and Suryanarayanan in 2001. To date, this phase has only been prepared at 208 K as nanocrystals within ice. Through computational crystal-structure prediction and powder X-ray diffraction methods, we identified this elusive phase as glycine dihydrate (GDH), representing the first report on the structure of a hydrated glycine structure. The structure of GDH has important implications for the state of glycine in aqueous solution and the mechanisms of glycine crystallization. GDH may also be the form of glycine that comes to Earth from extraterrestrial sources. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Mitochondrial-targeted DNA delivery using a DF-MITO-Porter, an innovative nano carrier with cytoplasmic and mitochondrial fusogenic envelopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Yuma; Kawamura, Eriko; Harashima, Hideyoshi

2012-08-01

Mitochondrial gene therapy has the potential for curing a variety of diseases that are associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations and/or defects. To achieve this, it will be necessary to deliver therapeutic agents into the mitochondria in diseased cells. A number of mitochondrial drug delivery systems have been reported to date. However, reports of mitochondrial-targeted DNA delivery are limited. To achieve this, the therapeutic agent must be taken up by the cell (1), after which, the multi-processes associated with intracellular trafficking must be sophisticatedly regulated so as to release the agent from the endosome and deliver it to the cytosol (2) and to pass through the mitochondrial membrane (3). We report herein on the mitochondrial delivery of oligo DNA as a model therapeutic using a Dual Function (DF)-MITO-Porter, an innovative nano carrier designed for mitochondrial delivery. The critical structural elements of the DF-MITO-Porter include mitochondria-fusogenic inner envelopes and endosome-fusogenic outer envelopes, modified with octaarginine which greatly assists in cellular uptake. Inside the cell, the carrier passes through the endosomal and mitochondrial membranes via step-wise membrane fusion. When the oligo DNA was packaged in the DF-MITO-Porter, cellular uptake efficiency was strongly enhanced. Intracellular observation using confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the DF-MITO-Porter was effectively released from endosomes. Moreover, the findings confirmed that the mitochondrial targeting activity of the DF-MITO-Porter was significantly higher than that of a carrier without outer endosome-fusogenic envelopes. These results support the conclusion that mitochondrial-targeted DNA delivery using a DF-MITO-Porter can be achieved when intracellular trafficking is optimally regulated.

Molecular Mechanism of Betaine on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism: Inhibition of Forkhead Box O1 (FoxO1) Binding to Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ).

PubMed

Kim, Dae Hyun; Lee, Bonggi; Kim, Min Jo; Park, Min Hi; An, Hye Jin; Lee, Eun Kyeong; Chung, Ki Wung; Park, June Whoun; Yu, Byung Pal; Choi, Jae Sue; Chung, Hae Young

2016-09-14

Betaine is a major water-soluble component of Lycium chinensis. Although there are reports about the protective effects of betaine on hepatic steatosis, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We used db/db mice and HepG2 cells to examine the mechanism underlying betaine-mediated protection against hepatic steatosis. Here, we showed increased hepatic lipid accumulation in db/db mice, which is associated with increased activation of lipogenic transcription factors including forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), whereas betaine administration by oral gavage reversed these characteristics. We investigated whether betaine ameliorates hepatic steatosis by inhibiting FoxO1/PPARγ signaling in HepG2 cells. Although adenovirus-mediated FoxO1 overexpression notably increased mRNA expression levels of PPARγ and its target genes including FAS and ACC, betaine treatment reversed them. Furthermore, betaine inhibited FoxO1 binding to the PPARγ promoter and PPARγ transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells, which was previously shown to induce hepatic steatosis. We concluded that betaine ameliorates hepatic steatosis, at least in part, by inhibiting the FoxO1 binding to PPARγ and their downstream lipogenic signaling cascade.

Dietary choline and betaine assessed by food-frequency questionnaire in relation to plasma total homocysteine concentration in the Framingham Offspring Study2

PubMed Central

Cho, Eunyoung; Zeisel, Steven H; Jacques, Paul; Selhub, Jacob; Dougherty, Lauren; Colditz, Graham A; Willett, Walter C

2008-01-01

Background: Epidemiologic studies of choline and betaine intakes have been sparse because a food-composition database was not available until recently. The physiologic relevance of a variation in dietary choline and betaine in the general population and the validity of intake assessed by food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) have not been evaluated. Objective: This study was conducted to examine the physiologic relevance and validity of choline and betaine intakes measured by an FFQ. Design: We examined the relations between choline and betaine intakes measured by FFQ and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in 1960 participants from the Framingham Offspring Study. Results: Higher intakes of dietary choline and betaine were related to lower tHcy concentrations independent of other determinants, including folate and other B vitamins. For the lowest and highest quintiles of dietary choline plus betaine, the multivariate geometric means for tHcy were 10.9 and 9.9 μmol/L (P for trend < 0.0001). The inverse association was manifested primarily in participants with low folate intakes (P for interaction < 0.0001). Among participants with folate intakes ≤250 μg/d, the geometric mean tHcy concentrations in the lowest and highest quintiles of choline plus betaine intakes were 12.4 and 10.2 μmol/L (P for trend < 0.0001). Except for choline from phosphatidylcholine, individual forms of choline were inversely associated with tHcy concentrations. Conclusions: Our findings provide support for a physiologically important variation in choline and betaine intakes in the general population and for the validity of intake measured by FFQ. PMID:16600945

76 FR 55109 - Glycine From China

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-06

... INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 731-TA-718 (Third Review)] Glycine From China... U.S.C. 1675(c)), that revocation of the antidumping duty order on glycine from China would be likely... contained in USITC Publication 4255 (August 2011), entitled Glycine from China: Investigation No. 731-TA-718...

76 FR 8771 - Glycine From China

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-15

... INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 731-TA-718 (Third Review)] Glycine From China... order on glycine from China. SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice that it will proceed with a... determine whether revocation of the antidumping duty order on glycine from China would be likely to lead to...

Effects of dietary betaine supplementation subjected to heat stress on milk performances and physiology indices in dairy cow.

PubMed

Zhang, L; Ying, S J; An, W J; Lian, H; Zhou, G B; Han, Z Y

2014-09-12

This study aimed to determine whether feeding betaine to cows elevates their production performance during summer heat stress. Thirty-two lactating Holstein cows were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, which received a total mixed ration (TMR), and 3 experimental groups that received TMR blended with 10 g/day (group I), 15 g/day (group II), and 20 g/day (group III) betaine for 8 weeks. Milk and blood were sampled throughout the experimental period. The average maximum and minimum air temperatures were 28.3 and 24.1°C, respectively. The average temperature-humidity index was 78.6 units. The results showed that feeding betaine to cows increased feed intake, milk yield, milk lactose, milk protein, plasma cortisol, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde levels (P<0.05); however, it caused HSP70 levels to decrease (P<0.05). The milk performance of group II was significantly affected. These results indicate that supplementing betaine to the diet of dairy cows increases their milk performance and improves their antioxidant capacity; these processes help relieve the cow from heat stress. In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows with 15 g/day betaine generated the most positive influence on performance and productivity, and hence caused the greatest reduction in heat stress.

Regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and apoptotic pathways by betaine attenuates isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial injury in rats.

PubMed

Zheng, P; Liu, J; Mai, S; Yuan, Y; Wang, Y; Dai, G

2015-05-01

The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of betaine on acute myocardial ischemia induced experimentally in rats focusing on regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and apoptotic pathways as the potential mechanism underlying the drug effect. Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with betaine (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally for 40 days. Acute myocardial ischemic injury was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (85 mg/kg), for two consecutive days. Serum cardiac marker enzyme, histopathological variables and expression of protein levels were analyzed. Oral administration of betaine (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the level of cardiac marker enzyme in the serum and prevented left ventricular remodeling. Western blot analysis showed that isoproterenol-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 was maintained or further enhanced by betaine treatment in myocardium. Furthermore, betaine (200 and 400 mg/kg) treatment increased the ventricular expression of Bcl-2 and reduced the level of Bax, therefore causing a significant increase in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. The protective role of betaine on myocardial damage was further confirmed by histopathological examination. In summary, our results showed that betaine pretreatment attenuated isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial ischemia via the regulation of STAT3 and apoptotic pathways. © The Author(s) 2014.

Long term betaine supplementation regulates genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism of two muscles from an obese pig breed.

PubMed

Albuquerque, A; Neves, José A; Redondeiro, M; Laranjo, M; Félix, M R; Freitas, Amadeu; Tirapicos, José L; Martins, José M

2017-02-01

This study evaluates the effects of betaine supplementation (1gkg -1 for 20weeks) on the regulation of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism of Longissimus lumborum and Biceps femoris from obese Alentejano pigs. Betaine supplementation led to an increase in total cholesterol in both muscles, complementing results previously published indicating a significant increase on the intramuscular lipid content. The expression of twelve genes involved in lipogenesis, lipolysis/FA oxidation, FA transport, and cholesterol metabolism, as well as two transcription factors were also evaluated. Genes related to lipid and cholesterol synthesis plus FA transport were consistently up-regulated in both muscles of betaine fed pigs. On the other hand, genes related to lipolysis/FA oxidation were not affected or down-regulated by betaine supplementation. Our data suggest that the underlying mechanism regulating IMF and cholesterol accumulation in Alentejano pigs supplemented with betaine is associated with the up-regulation of genes involved in lipid synthesis, FA transport, and cholesterol synthesis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-Throughput Quantitation of Proline Betaine in Foods and Suitability as a Valid Biomarker for Citrus Consumption.

PubMed

Lang, Roman; Lang, Tatjana; Bader, Matthias; Beusch, Anja; Schlagbauer, Verena; Hofmann, Thomas

2017-03-01

Proline betaine has been proposed as a candidate dietary biomarker for citrus intake. To validate its suitability as a dietary biomarker and to gain insight into the range of this per-methylated amino acid in foods and beverages, a quick and accurate stable isotope dilution assay was developed for quantitative high-throughput HILIC-MS/MS screening of proline betaine in foods and urine after solvent-mediated matrix precipitation. Quantitative analysis of a variety of foods confirmed substantial amounts of proline betaine in citrus juices (140-1100 mg/L) and revealed high abundance in tubers of the vegetable Stachys affinis, also known as Chinese artichocke (∼700 mg/kg). Seafood including clams, shrimp, and lobster contained limited amounts (1-95 mg/kg), whereas only traces were detected in fish, cuttlefish, fresh meat, dairy products, fresh vegetable (<3 mg/kg), coffee, tea, beer, and wine (<7 mg/L). The human excretion profiles of proline betaine in urine were comparable when common portions of orange juice or fried Stachys tubers were consumed. Neither mussels nor beer provided enough proline betaine to detect significant differences between morning urine samples collected before and after consumption. As Stachys is a rather rare vegetable and not part of peoples' daily diet, the data reported here will help to monitor the subject's compliance in future nutritional human studies on citrus products or the exclusion of citrus products in the wash-out phase of an intervention study. Moreover, proline betaine measurement can contribute to the establishment of a toolbox of valid dietary biomarkers reflecting wider aspects of diet to assess metabolic profiles as measures of dietary exposure and indicators of dietary patterns, dietary changes, or effectiveness of dietary interventions.

Associations of gut-flora-dependent metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide, betaine and choline with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults.

PubMed

Chen, Yu-ming; Liu, Yan; Zhou, Rui-fen; Chen, Xiao-ling; Wang, Cheng; Tan, Xu-ying; Wang, Li-jun; Zheng, Rui-dan; Zhang, Hong-wei; Ling, Wen-hua; Zhu, Hui-lian

2016-01-08

Many studies suggest that trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-flora-dependent metabolite of choline, contributes to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but little is known for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We examined the association of circulating TMAO, choline and betaine with the presence and severity of NAFLD in Chinese adults. We performed a hospital-based case-control study (CCS) and a cross-sectional study (CSS). In the CCS, we recruited 60 biopsy-proven NAFLD cases and 35 controls (18-60 years) and determined serum concentrations of TMAO, choline and betaine by HPLC-MS/MS. For the CSS, 1,628 community-based adults (40-75 years) completed the blood tests and ultrasonographic NAFLD evaluation. In the CCS, analyses of covariance showed adverse associations of ln-transformed serum levels of TMAO, choline and betaine/choline ratio with the scores of steatosis and total NAFLD activity (NAS) (all P-trend <0.05). The CSS revealed that a greater severity of NAFLD was independently correlated with higher TMAO but lower betaine and betaine/choline ratio (all P-trend <0.05). No significant choline-NAFLD association was observed. Our findings showed adverse associations between the circulating TMAO level and the presence and severity of NAFLD in hospital- and community-based Chinese adults, and a favorable betaine-NAFLD relationship in the community-based participants.

Associations of gut-flora-dependent metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide, betaine and choline with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults

PubMed Central

Chen, Yu-ming; Liu, Yan; Zhou, Rui-fen; Chen, Xiao-ling; Wang, Cheng; Tan, Xu-ying; Wang, Li-jun; Zheng, Rui-dan; Zhang, Hong-wei; Ling, Wen-hua; Zhu, Hui-lian

2016-01-01

Many studies suggest that trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-flora-dependent metabolite of choline, contributes to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but little is known for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We examined the association of circulating TMAO, choline and betaine with the presence and severity of NAFLD in Chinese adults. We performed a hospital-based case-control study (CCS) and a cross-sectional study (CSS). In the CCS, we recruited 60 biopsy-proven NAFLD cases and 35 controls (18–60 years) and determined serum concentrations of TMAO, choline and betaine by HPLC-MS/MS. For the CSS, 1,628 community-based adults (40-75 years) completed the blood tests and ultrasonographic NAFLD evaluation. In the CCS, analyses of covariance showed adverse associations of ln-transformed serum levels of TMAO, choline and betaine/choline ratio with the scores of steatosis and total NAFLD activity (NAS) (all P-trend <0.05). The CSS revealed that a greater severity of NAFLD was independently correlated with higher TMAO but lower betaine and betaine/choline ratio (all P-trend <0.05). No significant choline-NAFLD association was observed. Our findings showed adverse associations between the circulating TMAO level and the presence and severity of NAFLD in hospital- and community-based Chinese adults, and a favorable betaine-NAFLD relationship in the community-based participants. PMID:26743949

Dielectric properties of betaine phosphite and deuterated betaine phosphite films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Balashova, E. V., E-mail: balashova@mail.ioffe.ru; Krichevtsov, B. B.; Zaitseva, N. V.

2011-01-15

Polycrystalline films of betaine phosphite (BPI) and deuterated BPI have been grown by evaporation on LiNbO{sub 3}, {alpha}-SiO{sub 2}, {alpha}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and NdGaO{sub 3} substrates. These films consist of large single-crystal blocks in which the polar axis (b) lies in the substrate plane. The results of studying the dielectric properties of the films using interdigital electrodes, X-ray diffraction, and block images in a polarized-light microscope in reflection are reported. The film transition into the ferroelectric state at T = T{sub c} is accompanied by strong anomalies of the capacitance of the film/interdigital structure/substrate structure. The deuteration of BPI filmsmore » leads to an increase in their temperature T{sub c}: from T{sub c} = 200 K for BPI-based structures to T{sub c} = 280 K for structures with a high degree of deuteration (d {approx} 90%).« less

Maternal Betaine Supplementation during Gestation Enhances Expression of mtDNA-Encoded Genes through D-Loop DNA Hypomethylation in the Skeletal Muscle of Newborn Piglets.

PubMed

Jia, Yimin; Song, Haogang; Gao, Guichao; Cai, Demin; Yang, Xiaojing; Zhao, Ruqian

2015-11-25

Betaine has been widely used in animal and human nutrition to promote muscle growth and performance, yet it remains unknown whether maternal betaine supplementation during gestation affects the metabolic characteristics of neonatal skeletal muscles. In the present study, feeding sows with betaine-supplemented diets throughout gestation significantly upregulated the expression of mtDNA-encoded OXPHOS genes (p < 0.05), including COX1, COX2, and ND5, in the muscle of newborn piglets, which was associated with enhanced mitochondrial COX enzyme activity (p < 0.05). Concurrently, maternal betaine supplementation increased the plasma betaine concentration and muscle expression of methyl transfer enzymes (p < 0.05), BHMT and GNMT, in offspring piglets. Nevertheless, Dnmt3a was downregulated at the level of both mRNA and protein, which was associated with a hypomethylated mtDNA D-loop region (p < 0.05). These results suggest that maternal betaine supplementation during gestation enhances expression of mtDNA-encoded genes through D-loop DNA hypomethylation in the skeletal muscle of newborn piglets.

Corticosterone-Induced Lipogenesis Activation and Lipophagy Inhibition in Chicken Liver Are Alleviated by Maternal Betaine Supplementation.

PubMed

Hu, Yun; Sun, Qinwei; Hu, Yan; Hou, Zhen; Zong, Yibo; Omer, Nagmeldin A; Abobaker, Halima; Zhao, Ruqian

2018-03-01

We have shown previously that in ovo betaine injection can prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver induced by glucocorticoid exposure in chickens; yet it remains unknown whether feeding betaine to laying hens may exert similar effects in their progeny. In this study, we fed laying hens a betaine-supplemented diet, and the progeny were later exposed chronically to corticosterone (CORT) to test hepatoprotective effects and further elucidate underlying mechanisms. Rugao yellow-feathered laying hens (n = 120) were fed a basal (control, C) diet or a 0.5% betaine-supplemented (B) diet for 28 d before their eggs were collected for incubation. At 49 d of age, male chickens selected from each group were daily injected subcutaneously with solvent (15% ethanol; vehicle, VEH) or CORT (4.0 mg/kg body mass) for 7 d to establish a fatty liver model. Chickens in the 4 groups (C-VEH, C-CORT, B-VEH, and B-CORT) were killed at day 57. Plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG) concentrations, as well as the hepatic expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and lipophagy, were determined. CORT induced a 1.6-fold increase in the plasma TG concentration (P < 0.05) and a 1.8-fold increment in the hepatic TG concentration (P < 0.05), associated with activation of lipogenic genes (70-780%). In contrast, lipophagy and mitochondrial β-oxidation genes were inhibited by 30-60% (P < 0.05) in CORT-treated chickens. These CORT-induced changes were completely normalized by maternal betaine supplementation or were partially normalized to intermediate values that were significantly different from those in the C-VEH and C-CORT groups. These effects were accompanied by modifications in CpG methylation and glucocorticoid receptor binding to the promoters of major lipogenic and lipophagic genes (P < 0.05). These results indicate that maternal betaine supplementation protects male juvenile chickens from CORT-induced TG accumulation in the liver via epigenetic modulation of lipogenic and lipophagic genes.

Usual choline and betaine dietary intake and incident coronary heart disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

PubMed Central

Bidulescu, Aurelian; Chambless, Lloyd E; Siega-Riz, Anna Maria; Zeisel, Steven H; Heiss, Gerardo

2007-01-01

Background Low dietary intake of the essential nutrient choline and its metabolite betaine may increase atherogenesis both through effects on homocysteine methylation pathways as well as through choline's antioxidants properties. Nutrient values for many common foods for choline and betaine have recently become available in the U.S. nutrient composition database. Our objective was to assess the association of dietary intake of choline and betaine with incident coronary heart disease (CHD), adjusting for dietary intake measurement error. Methods We conducted a prospective investigation of the relation between usual intake of choline and betaine with the risk of CHD in 14,430 middle-aged men and women of the biethnic Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess nutrient intake. Proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate the risk of incident CHD. A regression calibration method was used to adjust for measurement error. Results During an average 14 years of follow-up (1987–2002), 1,072 incident CHD events were documented. Compared with the lowest quartile of intake, incident CHD risk was slightly and non-significantly higher in the highest quartile of choline and choline plus betaine, HR = 1.22 (0.91, 1.64) and HR = 1.14 (0.85, 1.53), controlling for age, sex, education, total energy intake, dietary intakes of folate, methionine and vitamin B6. No association was found between dietary choline intake and incident CHD when correcting for measurement error. Conclusion Higher intakes of choline and betaine were not protective for incident CHD. Similar investigations in other populations are of interest. PMID:17629908

Increased fatty acid β-oxidation as a possible mechanism for fat-reducing effect of betaine in broilers.

PubMed

Leng, Zhixian; Fu, Qin; Yang, Xue; Ding, Liren; Wen, Chao; Zhou, Yanmin

2016-08-01

Two hundred and forty 1-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with six replicates of eight chickens per replicate cage for a 42-day feeding trial. Broiler chickens were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 250, 500, 750 or 1000 mg/kg betaine, respectively. Growth performance was not affected by betaine. Incremental levels of betaine decreased the absolute and relative weight of abdominal fat (linear P < 0.05, quadratic P < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) (linear P < 0.05), and increased concentration of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) (linear P = 0.038, quadratic P = 0.003) in serum of broilers. Moreover, incremental levels of betaine increased linearly (P < 0.05) the proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), the carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) and 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HADH) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, but decreased linearly (P < 0.05) the fatty acid synthase (FAS) and 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMGR) mRNA expression in liver of broilers. In conclusion, this study indicated that betaine supplementation did not affect growth performance of broilers, but was effective in reducing abdominal fat deposition in a dose-dependent manner, which was probably caused by combinations of a decrease in fatty acid synthesis and an increase in β-oxidation. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

BETAINE FEEDING PREVENTS THE BLOOD ALCOHOL CYCLE IN RATS FED ALCOHOL CONTINUOUSLY FOR 1 MONTH USING THE RAT INTRAGASTRIC TUBE FEEDING MODEL

PubMed Central

Li, J; Li, XM; Caudill, M; Malysheva, O; Bardag-Gorce, F; Oliva, J; French, BA; Gorce, E; Morgan, K; Kathirvel, E; Morgan, T; French, SW

2011-01-01

Background Blood alcohol levels (BAL) cycle up and down over a 7–8 day period when ethanol is fed continuously for one month in the intragastric tube feeding rat model (ITFRM) of alcoholic liver disease. The cycling phenomenon is due to an alternating increase and decrease in the metabolic rate. Recently, we found that S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) fed with alcohol prevented the BAL cycle. Method Using the ITFRM we fed rats betaine (2 g/kg/day) with ethanol for 1 month and recorded the daily 24 h urine ethanol level (UAL) to measure the BAL cycle. UAL is equivalent to BAL because of the constant ethanol infusion. Liver histology, steatosis and BAL were measured terminally after 1 month of treatment. Microarray analysis was done on the mRNA extracted from the liver to determine the effects of betaine and alcohol on changes in gene expression. Results Betaine fed with ethanol completely prevented the BAL cycle similar to SAMe. Betaine also significantly reduced the BAL compared to ethanol fed rats without betaine. This was also observed when SAMe was fed with ethanol. The mechanism involved in both cases is that SAMe is required for the conversion of epinephrine from norepinephrine by phenylethanolamine methyltransferase (PNMT). Epinephrine is 5 to 10 fold more potent than norepinephrine in increasing the metabolic rate. The increase in the metabolic rate generates NAD, permitting ADH to increase the oxidation of alcohol. NAD is the rate limiting factor in oxidation of alcohol by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This explains how SAMe and betaine prevented the cycle. Microarray analysis showed that betaine feeding prevented the up regulation of a large number of genes including TLR2/4, Il-1b, Jax3, Sirt3, Fas, Ifngr1, Tgfgr2, Tnfrsf21, Lbp and Stat 3 which could explain how betaine prevented fatty liver. Conclusion Betaine feeding lowers the BAL and prevents the BAL cycle by increasing the metabolic rate. This increases the rate of ethanol elimination by generating NAD

The beneficial effects of betaine on dysfunctional adipose tissue and N6-methyladenosine mRNA methylation requires the AMP-activated protein kinase α1 subunit.

PubMed

Zhou, Xihong; Chen, Jingqing; Chen, Jin; Wu, Weiche; Wang, Xinxia; Wang, Yizhen

2015-12-01

The current study was conducted to determine whether betaine could improve fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial function and N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) mRNA methylation in adipose tissue in high-fat-induced mice and how AMP-activated protein kinase α1 subunit (AMPKα1) was involved. AMPKα1 knockout mice and wild-type mice were fed either a low-fat diet, high-fat diet or high-fat diet supplemented with betaine in the drinking water for 8weeks. Our results showed that mitochondrial genes (PGC1α) and β-oxidation-related genes (CPT1a) at protein level were increased in wild-type mice supplemented with betaine when compared with those in mice with high-fat diet. Betaine also decreased FTO expression and improved m(6)A methylation in adipose tissue of wild-type mice with high-fat diet. However, betaine failed to exert the abovementioned effects in AMPKα1 knockout mice. In adipocytes isolated from mice with high-fat diet, betaine treatment increased lipolysis and lipid oxidation. Moreover, betaine decreased FTO expression and increased m(6)A methylation. However, while AMPKα1 was knockdown, no remarkable changes in adipocytes were observed under betaine treatment. Our results indicated that betaine supplementation rectified mRNA hypomethylation and high FTO expression induced by high-fat diet, which may contribute to its beneficial effects on impaired adipose tissue function. Our results suggested that the AMPKα1 subunit is required for the beneficial effects of betaine on dysfunctional adipose tissue and m(6)A methylation. These results may provide the foundation for a mechanism that links m(6)A methylation status in RNA, AMPKα1 phosphorylation and dysfunctional adipose tissue induced by high-fat diet. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prenatal betaine exposure alleviates corticosterone-induced inhibition of CYP27A1 expression in the liver of juvenile chickens associated with its promoter DNA methylation.

PubMed

Hu, Yun; Sun, Qinwei; Zong, Yibo; Liu, Jie; Idriss, Abdulrahman A; Omer, Nagmeldin A; Zhao, Ruqian

2017-05-15

Sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) plays an important role in cholesterol homeostasis by degrading cholesterol to bile acids. Betaine can alleviate high-fat diet-induced hepatic cholesterol accumulation and maternal betaine treatment programs the hepatic expression of CYP27A1 in offspring. Excessive corticosterone (CORT) exposure causes hepatic cholesterol deposition in chickens, yet it remains unknown whether prenatal betaine modulates CORT-induced cholesterol accumulation in chicken liver later in life and whether it involves epigenetic gene regulation of CYP27A1. In this study, fertilized eggs were injected with saline or betaine at 2.5mg/egg before incubation, and the hatchlings were raised under the same condition till 56days of age followed by 7days of subcutaneous CORT injection. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (Tch), HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were significantly increased (P<0.05), after CORT challenge, in both control and betaine groups. However, prenatal betaine exposure prevented CORT-induced increase (P<0.05) in hepatic Tch content. Hepatic expression of cholesterol biosynthesis genes and ACAT1 protein that esterifies cholesterol for storage, were activated in both control and betaine groups upon CORT challenge. However, betaine-treated chickens were protected from CORT-induced repression (P<0.05) in LXR and CYP27A1 expression in the liver. CORT-induced down-regulation of LXR and CYP27A1 coincided with significantly increased (P<0.05) CpG methylation on their promoters, which was significantly ameliorated in betaine-treated chickens. These results suggest that in ovo betaine injection alleviates CORT-induced hepatic cholesterol deposition most probably through epigenetic regulation of CYP27A1 and LXR genes in juvenile chickens. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Genetics Home Reference: glycine encephalopathy

MedlinePlus

... a molecule called glycine. This molecule is an amino acid , which is a building block of proteins. Glycine ... Additional Information & Resources MedlinePlus (3 links) Health Topic: Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders Health Topic: Genetic Brain Disorders Health ...

Is glycine effective against elevated blood pressure?

PubMed

El Hafidi, Mohammed; Pérez, Israel; Baños, Guadalupe

2006-01-01

Glycine, a non-essential amino acid, has been found to protect against oxidative stress in several pathological situations, and it is required for the biosynthesis of structural proteins such as elastin. As hypertension is a disease in which free radicals and large vessel elasticity are involved, this article will examine the possible mechanisms by which glycine may protect against high blood pressure. The addition of glycine to the diet reduces high blood pressure in a rat model of the metabolic syndrome. Also, glycine supplemented to the low protein diet of rat dams during pregnancy has a beneficial effect on blood pressure in their offspring. The mechanism by which glycine decreases high blood pressure can be attributed to its participation in the reduction of the generation of free radicals, increasing the availability of nitric oxide. In addition, as glycine is required for a number of critical metabolic pathways, such as the synthesis of the structural proteins collagen and elastin, the perturbation of these leads to impaired elastin formation in the aorta. This involves changes in the aorta's elastic properties, which would contribute to the development of hypertension. The use of glycine to lower high blood pressure could have a significant clinical impact in patients with the metabolic syndrome and with limited resources. On the other hand, more studies are needed to explore the beneficial effect of glycine in other models of hypertension and to investigate possible side-effects of treatment with glycine.

Measurement of concentrations of whole blood levels of choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine and their relations to plasma levels.

PubMed

Awwad, Hussain Mohamad; Kirsch, Susanne H; Geisel, Juergen; Obeid, Rima

2014-04-15

We aimed at developing a method for the measurement of choline and its metabolites in whole blood (WB). After an extraction step, quantification of choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine (DMG) was performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Plasma and WB metabolites were evaluated in a group of 61 elderly people. The calibration curves were linear (r(2)>0.997) for all compounds. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation for all analytes were <10%. The recoveries were >90% and the relative matrix effect were ≤4.0%. The median concentrations of choline, betaine, and DMG were 11.3, 27.8, and 5.9μmol/L in plasma and 66.6, 165, and 13.7μmol/L in WB, respectively. There were positive correlations between WB and plasma markers; for choline (r=0.42), betaine (r=0.61), and DMG (r=0.56) (all p≤0.001). The concentrations of betaine in WB and plasma were significantly higher in men than in women. The concentrations of WB choline and DMG did not differ significantly according to sex. In conclusion, we have established a reliable method for measuring choline metabolites in WB. The concentrations of WB choline, betaine, and DMG seem to reflect intracellular concentrations of these metabolites. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Benzoate treatment and the glycine index in nonketotic hyperglycinaemia.

PubMed

Van Hove, J L K; Vande Kerckhove, K; Hennermann, J B; Mahieu, V; Declercq, P; Mertens, S; De Becker, M; Kishnani, P S; Jaeken, J

2005-01-01

High-dose benzoate treatment aimed at reducing plasma glycine levels to normal reduces seizures and increases wakefulness in patients with nonketotic hyperglycinaemia (NKH). Since benzoate metabolism is dependent on the available glycine pool, and since the glycine pool is variably affected by the deficiency in the glycine cleavage enzyme system, we examined the importance of interpatient variability in benzoate requirement. To correct for the dietary glycine contribution, the glycine index was introduced as the molar requirement of benzoate dose necessary to normalize plasma glycine levels and subtracting from that the dietary glycine intake, both corrected for weight. The glycine index varied between 3.62 and 4.87 mmol/kg per day in five patients with a poor neurodevelopmental outcome and between 0.92 and 1.90 mmol/kg per day in four patients with a better neurodevelopmental outcome, and was 2.54 mmol/kg per day in a single patient with an intermediate outcome. The glycine index was stable over time within each patient. Exceeding the balance by either increasing food glycine intake or decreasing the benzoate dose resulted in increased glycine levels. Exceeding the glycine tolerance by increasing benzoate resulted in elevated and toxic levels of benzoate. The glycine index is a stable, individually specific parameter in patients with NKH. It has clinical consequences for the dose of benzoate required and the role of dietary management. Through its correlation with neurodevelopmental outcome, the glycine index points to potential genetic factors that could contribute to the psychomotor retardation in NKH.

Effect of natural betaine and ractopamine HCl on whole-body and carcass growth in pigs housed under high ambient temperatures.

PubMed

Mendoza, S M; Boyd, R D; Zier-Rush, C E; Ferket, P R; Haydon, K D; van Heugten, E

2017-07-01

Betaine is an osmolyte that helps to maintain water homeostasis and cell integrity, which is essential during heat stress. We hypothesized that supplemental betaine can improve growth during heat stress and may further improve the response to ractopamine. Two studies were conducted to determine: 1) the effects of betaine in combination with ractopamine; and 2) the optimum betaine level for late finishing pigs during heat stress. Heat stress was imposed by gradually increasing temperatures over 10 d to the target high temperature of 32°C. In Exp. 1, pigs ( = 1477, BW = 91.6 ± 3 kg) were assigned within BW blocks and sex to 1 of 4 diets arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial RCB design (68 pens; 20 to 23 pigs/pen). Treatments consisted of diets without or with ractopamine (5 mg/kg for 21 d followed by 8.8 mg/kg to market) and each were supplemented with either 0 or 0.2% of betaine. Betaine reduced ( ≤ 0.05) BW (123.1 vs. 124.3 kg), ADG (0.780 vs. 0.833 kg/d), and ADFI (2.800 vs. 2.918 kg/d), but did not impact carcass characteristics. Ractopamine increased ( < 0.01) BW (125.5 vs. 121.9 kg), ADG (0.833 vs. 0.769 kg/d), G:F (0.295 vs. 0.265), HCW (94.1 vs. 90.0 kg), carcass yield (74.8 vs. 73.8%), loin depth (63.6 vs. 60.0 mm), and predicted lean percentage (53.2 vs. 51.7%) and reduced ADFI (2.822 vs. 2.896 kg/d, = 0.033) and backfat depth ( < 0.001; 20.2 vs. 22.5 mm). In Exp. 2, pigs ( = 2193, BW = 95.5 ± 3.5 kg) were allocated within BW blocks and sex to 1 of 5 treatments in a RCB design (100 pens; 20 to 24 pigs/pen). Treatments consisted of diets with 0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.1875% of betaine, and a positive control diet with ractopamine, but not betaine. Betaine tended to decrease carcass yield quadratically ( = 0.076; 74.1, 73.5, 73.8, and 73.9 for 0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.1875% of betaine, respectively), but did not impact other responses. Ractopamine improved ( < 0.001) BW (121.6 vs. 118.5 kg), G:F (0.334 vs. 0.295), carcass yield (74.7 vs. 73.8%), loin depth (61.7 vs. 59

Effects of S-Adenosylmethionine and Its Combinations With Taurine and/or Betaine on Glutathione Homeostasis in Ethanol-induced Acute Hepatotoxicity

PubMed Central

Lee, Seo Yeon; Ko, Kwang Suk

2016-01-01

Background Exposure to ethanol abuse and severe oxidative stress are risk factors for hepatocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and its combinations with taurine and/or betaine on the level of glutathione (GSH), a powerful antioxidant in the liver, in acute hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol. Methods To examine the effects of SAMe and its combinations with taurine and/or betaine on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, AML12 cells and C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with SAMe, taurine, and/or betaine, followed by ethanol challenge. Cell viability was detected with an MTT assay. GSH concentration and mRNA levels of GSH synthetic enzymes were measured using GSH reductase and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were measured with commercially available kits. Results Pretreatment of SAMe, with or without taurine and/or betaine, attenuated decreases in GSH levels and mRNA expression of the catalytic subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate-limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis, in ethanol-treated cells and mice. mRNA levels of the modifier subunit of GCL and glutathione synthetase were increased in mice treated with SAMe combinations. SAMe, taurine, and/or betaine pretreatment restored serum ALT and AST levels to control levels in the ethanol-treated group. Conclusions Combinations of SAMe with taurine and/or betaine have a hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced liver injury by maintaining GSH homeostasis. PMID:27722142

Analysis of betaine and choline contents of aleurone, bran, and flour fractions of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

PubMed

Graham, Stewart F; Hollis, James H; Migaud, Marie; Browne, Roy A

2009-03-11

In conventional milling, the aleurone layer is combined with the bran fraction. Studies indicate that the bran fraction of wheat contains the majority of the phytonutrients betaine and choline, with relatively minor concentrations in the refined flour. This present study suggests that the wheat aleurone layer ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Tiger) contains the greatest concentration of both betaine and choline (1553.44 and 209.80 mg/100 g of sample, respectively). The bran fraction contained 866.94 and 101.95 mg/100 g of sample of betaine and choline, respectively, while the flour fraction contained 23.30 mg/100 g of sample (betaine) and 28.0 mg/100 g of sample (choline). The betaine content for the bran was lower, and the choline content was higher compared to previous studies, although it is known that there is large variation in betaine and choline contents between wheat cultivars. The ratio of betaine/choline in the aleurone fraction was approximately 7:1; in the bran, the ratio was approximately 8:1; and in the flour fraction, the ratio was approximately 1:1. The study further emphasizes the superior phytonutrient composition of the aleurone layer.

Porter-Thomas distribution in unstable many-body systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Volya, Alexander

We use the continuum shell model approach to explore the resonance width distribution in unstable many-body systems. The single-particle nature of a decay, the few-body character of the interaction Hamiltonian, and the collectivity that emerges in nonstationary systems due to the coupling to the continuum of reaction states are discussed. Correlations between the structures of the parent and daughter nuclear systems in the common Fock space are found to result in deviations of decay width statistics from the Porter-Thomas distribution.

Dietary Choline and Betaine and the Risk of Distal Colorectal Adenoma in Women

PubMed Central

Cho, Eunyoung; Willett, Walter C.; Colditz, Graham A.; Fuchs, Charles S.; Wu, Kana; Chan, Andrew T.; Zeisel, Steven H.; Giovannucci, Edward L.

2008-01-01

Background Choline and betaine are involved in methyl-group metabolism as methyl-group donors; thus, like folate, another methyl-group donor, they may be associated with a reduced risk of colorectal adenomas. No epidemiologic study has examined the association of intake of these nutrients and colorectal adenoma risk. Methods We investigated the relationship between intakes of choline and betaine and risk of colorectal adenoma in US women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study. Dietary intake was measured by food-frequency questionnaires, and individual intakes of choline and betaine were calculated by multiplying the frequency of consumption of each food item by its choline and betaine content and summing the nutrient contributions of all foods. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (as approximations for relative risks) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of colorectal adenoma. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Among 39 246 women who were initially free of cancer or polyps and who had at least one endoscopy from 1984 through 2002, 2408 adenoma cases were documented. Increasing choline intake was associated with an elevated risk of colorectal adenoma; the multivariable relative risks (95% CIs) for increasing quintiles of intake, relative to the lowest quintile, were 1.03 (0.90 to 1.18), 1.01 (0.88 to 1.16), 1.23 (1.07 to 1.41), and 1.45 (1.27 to 1.67; Ptrend<.001). Betaine intake had a nonlinear inverse association with colorectal adenoma; the multivariable relative risks (95% CIs) for increasing quintiles of intake were 0.94 (0.83 to 1.07), 0.85 (0.75 to 0.97), 0.86 (0.75 to 0.98), and 0.90 (95% CI = 0.78 to 1.04; Ptrend = .09). Among individual sources of choline, choline from phosphatidylcholine and from sphingomyelin were each positively related to adenoma risk. Conclusions Our findings do not support an inverse association between choline intake and risk of colorectal adenoma. The positive association between choline

Behavioral and hematological responses of broiler chickens administered with betaine and ascorbic acid during hot-dry season.

PubMed

Egbuniwe, Ifeanyichukwu C; Ayo, Joseph O; Kawu, Mohammed U; Mohammed, Aliyu

2018-02-05

Heat stress is a major problem in poultry production in tropical regions. Assessing the impact of thermally stressful environmental conditions on the welfare of broiler chickens is of great importance. Behavioral responses in a novel environment and hematology of broiler chickens administered with betaine and/or ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season were evaluated. Broiler chickens were randomly divided into four groups: Group I (control) was given sterile water, Group II was given betaine, Group III was given AA, and Group IV received betaine + AA orally and daily for 42 days. An open-field test was used to assess behavior. Hematological parameters were obtained using a hematology auto-analyzer. The natural environmental conditions were predominantly outside the thermoneutral zone for broiler chickens. Results demonstrated that treated groups exhibited improved ability to adjust faster to a new environment and better hematological responses than controls, evidenced by enhanced behavioral responses, oxygen-carrying capacity, and immune responses of broiler chickens under unfavorable environmental conditions. Betaine and/or AA administration to broiler chickens improved some behavioral responses, hemoglobin concentrations, packed cell volume, and total leukocyte count during the hot-dry season.

Dietary betaine and choline intake are not associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer.

PubMed

Kotsopoulos, J; Hankinson, S E; Tworoger, S S

2010-01-01

Evidence suggests that nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism are implicated in ovarian cancer etiology. No studies have evaluated the role of choline, and that of its metabolite, betaine. We prospectively examined the relationship between the intake of these nutrients and ovarian cancer risk among 159 957 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. The average nutrient intake was assessed every 2-4 years beginning in 1984 (for NHS) and in 1991 (for NHSII). With up to 22 years of follow-up per cohort, 526 incident cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed. There were no associations between total choline, betaine, as well as choline plus betaine intake and ovarian cancer risk (for example, relative risk, top vs bottom quintile of choline=0.98; 95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.31; P(trend)=0.81). Results did not vary by alcohol consumption, folate intake or after the exclusion of cases diagnosed during the 4-year period after dietary assessment. These data provide little evidence for a role of these nutrients in ovarian cancer etiology.

Dietary betaine and choline intake are not associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer

PubMed Central

Kotsopoulos, Joanne; Hankinson, Susan E.; Tworoger, Shelley S.

2010-01-01

Evidence suggests that nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism are implicated in ovarian cancer etiology. No studies have evaluated the role of choline, and its metabolite, betaine. We prospectively examined the relationship between intake of these nutrients and ovarian cancer risk among 159,957 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. Average nutrient intake was assessed every 2–4 years beginning in 1984 (NHS) and 1991 (NHSII). With up to 22 years of follow-up per cohort, there were 526 incident cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed. There were no associations between total choline, betaine, and choline plus betaine intake and ovarian cancer risk (e.g., relative risk, top vs bottom quintile of choline=0.98; 95%CI 0.73–1.31; Ptrend=0.81). Results did not vary by alcohol consumption, folate intake, or following exclusion of cases diagnosed during the 4-year period following dietary assessment. These data provide little evidence for a role of these nutrients in ovarian cancer etiology. PMID:19707229

Glycine receptor mechanism elucidated by electron cryo-microscopy.

PubMed

Du, Juan; Lü, Wei; Wu, Shenping; Cheng, Yifan; Gouaux, Eric

2015-10-08

The strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor (GlyR) mediates inhibitory synaptic transmission in the spinal cord and brainstem and is linked to neurological disorders, including autism and hyperekplexia. Understanding of molecular mechanisms and pharmacology of glycine receptors has been hindered by a lack of high-resolution structures. Here we report electron cryo-microscopy structures of the zebrafish α1 GlyR with strychnine, glycine, or glycine and ivermectin (glycine/ivermectin). Strychnine arrests the receptor in an antagonist-bound closed ion channel state, glycine stabilizes the receptor in an agonist-bound open channel state, and the glycine/ivermectin complex adopts a potentially desensitized or partially open state. Relative to the glycine-bound state, strychnine expands the agonist-binding pocket via outward movement of the C loop, promotes rearrangement of the extracellular and transmembrane domain 'wrist' interface, and leads to rotation of the transmembrane domain towards the pore axis, occluding the ion conduction pathway. These structures illuminate the GlyR mechanism and define a rubric to interpret structures of Cys-loop receptors.

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS NATIONAL HAZMAT PROGRAM - PORTER-CABLE CIRCULAR SAW OENHP: 2001-04, VERSION A

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Unknown

2002-01-15

Florida International University's (FIU) Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET) evaluated five saws for their effectiveness in cutting specially prepared fiberglass-reinforced plywood crates. These crates were built as surrogates for crates that presently hold radioactively contaminated glove boxes at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Los Alamos facility. The Porter-Cable circular saw was assessed on August 15-16, 2001 (Porter-Cable No.1 and Porter-Cable No.2, respectively). During the FIU test of efficacy, a team from the Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program (OENHP) evaluated the occupational safety and health issues associated with this technology. The Porter-Cable saw is a straightforward machine for cutting woodmore » of varying thickness. The blade is fully guarded with a fixed upper and a lower retractable guard. The lower guard retracts as the blade engages the work piece. The unit is operated with an on/off guarded trigger switch and is supported with a handgrip mounted near the front of the saw. The saw is equipped with a directional nozzle, which aims sawdust away from the operator and the line of cut. An optional vacuum system, attached to the directional nozzle, is used to remove and collect dust. During the demonstration of Porter-Cable No.1, personal noise sampling indicated that one worker was under and one was at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Action Level of 85 decibels (dBA) with time-weighted averages (TWA's) of 82.7 and 84.6 dBA, respectively. During the demonstration of Porter-Cable No.2, however, both workers did exceed the Action Level with TWA's of 89.7 and 90.0 dBA. These data are not entirely representative as they were gathered during a simulation and not at the actual worksite. Additional sampling should be conducted on-site, but the workers should wear hearing protection until it is determined that it is no longer necessary. The total nuisance dust sample for Porter-Cable No.1 was 3

Evidence for strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in human amygdala.

PubMed

Dudeck, O; Lübben, S; Eipper, S; Knörle, R; Kirsch, M; Honegger, J; Zentner, J; Feuerstein, T J

2003-09-01

Recent studies suggested the existence of strychnine-sensitive glycine-receptors in mammalian amygdala. In the present study, we investigated the amino acid concentrations as well as immunocytochemical and pharmacological properties of glycine-receptors in fresh human amygdala tissue obtained from epilepsy surgery. High pressure liquid chromatography revealed a considerable amount of glycine and its precursors and glycine-receptors agonists L-serine and taurine in this tissue. Immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody mAb4a, recognizing an epitope common to all alpha-subunit variants of glycine receptors, displayed a specific labeling at the soma and on proximal dendrites of mostly tripolar, large-sized neurons of irregular distribution and arrangement. To elucidate the pharmacological properties of the glycine-receptors found slices of human amygdala were preloaded with [(3)H]-choline and superfused. Glycine induced an overflow of [(3)H]-acetylcholine, which was inhibited by strychnine in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the glycine-induced release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine was significantly inhibited by furosemide, indicating glycine-induced actions to be attributed to chloride channels. These actions of glycine were not influenced by MK-801, D-CP-Pene or bicuculline. Thus, the effects of glycine did not seem to be mediated through NMDA or GABA receptors. These observations indicate that strychnine-sensitive, chloride-conducting glycine receptors, which elicit the release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine, are present at the soma and on proximal dendrites of neurons in human amygdala. It is hypothesized that glycine may display a regulatory role in amygdaloid functions, probably via cholinergic interneurons.

Comparison of the effects of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide degradation on plasma betaine and choline levels.

PubMed

Sun, Wu-Ping; Zhai, Ming-Zhu; Li, Da; Zhou, Yiming; Chen, Na-Na; Guo, Ming; Zhou, Shi-Sheng

2017-08-01

The present study was to compare the effects of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide on the plasma methyl donors, choline and betaine. Thirty adult subjects were randomly divided into three groups of equal size, and orally received purified water (C group), nicotinic acid (300 mg, NA group) or nicotinamide (300 mg, NM group). Plasma nicotinamide, N 1 -methylnicotinamide, homocysteine, betaine and choline levels before and 1.5-h and 3-h post-dosing, plasma normetanephrine and metanephrine concentrations at 3-h post-dosing, and the urinary excretion of N 1 -methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide during the test period were examined. The level of 3-h plasma nicotinamide, N 1 -methylnicotinamide, homocysteine, the urinary excretion of N 1 -methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide and pulse pressure (PP) in the NM group was 221%, 3972%, 61%, 1728% and 21.2% higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01, except homocysteine and PP P < 0.05), while the 3-h plasma betaine, normetanephrine and metanephrine level in the NM group was 24.4%, 9.4% and 11.7% lower (P < 0.05, except betaine P < 0.01), without significant difference in choline levels. Similar but less pronounced changes were observed in the NA group, with a lower level of 3-h plasma N 1 -methylnicotinamide (1.90 ± 0.20 μmol/l vs. 3.62 ± 0.27 μmol/l, P < 0.01) and homocysteine (12.85 ± 1.39 μmol/l vs. 18.08 ± 1.02 μmol/l, P < 0.05) but a higher level of betaine (27.44 ± 0.71 μmol/l vs. 23.52 ± 0.61 μmol/l, P < 0.05) than that of the NM group. The degradation of nicotinamide consumes more betaine than that of nicotinic acid at identical doses. This difference should be taken into consideration in niacin fortification. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Extreme urinary betaine losses in type 2 diabetes combined with bezafibrate treatment are associated with losses of dimethylglycine and choline but not with increased losses of other osmolytes.

PubMed

Lever, Michael; McEntyre, Christopher J; George, Peter M; Slow, Sandy; Elmslie, Jane L; Lunt, Helen; Chambers, Stephen T; Parry-Strong, Amber; Krebs, Jeremy D

2014-10-01

Betaine deficiency is a probable cardiovascular risk factor and a cause of elevated homocysteine. Urinary betaine excretion is increased by fibrate treatment, and is also often elevated in diabetes. Does fibrate further increase betaine excretion in diabetes, and does it affect the plasma concentrations and excretions of related metabolites and of other osmolytes? Samples from a previous study of type 2 diabetes were selected if participants were taking bezafibrate (n = 32). These samples were compared with participants matched for age and gender and not on a fibrate (comparator group, n = 64). Betaine, related metabolites, and osmolytes were measured in plasma and urine samples from these 96 participants. Median urinary betaine excretion in those on bezafibrate was 5-fold higher than in the comparator group (p < 0.001), itself 3.5-fold higher than the median reported for healthy populations. In the bezafibrate group, median dimethylglycine excretion was higher (9-fold, p < 0.001). Excretions of choline, and of the osmolytes myo-inositol, taurine and glycerophosphorylcholine, were not significantly different between groups. Some participants excreted more betaine than usual dietary intakes. Several betaine fractional clearances were >100 %. Betaine excretion correlated with excretions of the osmolytes myo-inositol and glycerophosphorylcholine, and also with the excretion of choline and N,N-dimethylglycine, but it was inconclusive whether these relationships were affected by bezafibrate therapy. Increased urinary betaine excretions in type 2 diabetes are further increased by fibrate treatment, sometimes to more than their dietary intake. Concurrent betaine supplementation may be beneficial.

The use of different concentrations of betaine as a reducing irritation agent in soaps monitored visually and non-invasively.

PubMed

Nicander, Ingrid; Aberg, Peter; Ollmar, Stig

2003-02-01

Products containing detergents can damage the skin and give rise to irritant contact dermatitis. Therefore, attempts have been made to find less irritating detergents as well as substances decreasing undesired side-effects of detergents, and a novel approach is offered by betaine. The aim of the study has been to determine the irritating properties of some liquid soaps for personal hygiene and to map the effect of different concentrations of betaine using electrical impedance, trans-epidermal water loss and visual inspection. Twenty-eight healthy subjects were patch tested with different commercial soaps with and without betaine and sodium lauryl sulphate on both volar forearms for 24 h. A site with distilled water and an unoccluded area were used as references. Responses of the skin reactions were evaluated by visual inspection and by measuring trans-epidermal water loss and electrical impedance before application and 24 h after removal of the chambers. Significant skin reactions were found for all soaps tested but the soaps containing betaine were the least irritating. However, the skin irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine in the tested range. On the whole the differences between the products were not large. The non-invasive methods used were more sensitive than visual assessment for evaluation of invisible or barely visible skin responses. Copyright Blackwell Munksgaard 2003

Choline supplementation and measures of choline and betaine status: a randomised, controlled trial in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Wallace, Julie M W; McCormack, Jacqueline M; McNulty, Helene; Walsh, Paula M; Robson, Paula J; Bonham, Maxine P; Duffy, Maresa E; Ward, Mary; Molloy, Anne M; Scott, John M; Ueland, Per M; Strain, J J

2012-10-01

Choline is an essential nutrient and can also be obtained by de novo synthesis via an oestrogen responsive pathway. Choline can be oxidised to the methyl donor betaine, with short-term supplementation reported to lower plasma total homocysteine (tHcy); however, the effects of longer-term choline supplementation are less clear. We investigated the effect of choline supplementation on plasma concentrations of free choline, betaine and tHcy and B-vitamin status in postmenopausal women, a group more susceptible to low choline status. We also assessed whether supplementation altered plasma lipid profiles. In this randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, forty-two healthy postmenopausal women received 1 g choline per d (as choline bitartrate), or an identical placebo supplement with their habitual diet. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, week 6 and week 12. Administration of choline increased median choline and betaine concentrations in plasma, with significant effects evident after 6 weeks of supplementation (P<0·001) and remaining significant at 12 weeks (P<0·001); no effect was observed on folate status or on plasma lipids. Choline supplementation induced a median (25th, 75th percentile) change in plasma tHcy concentration at week 6 of -0·9 (-1·6, 0·2) μmol, a change which, when compared to that observed in the placebo group 0·6 (-0·4, 1·9) μmol, approached statistical significance (P=0·058). Choline supplementation at a dose of 1 g/d significantly increases the circulating concentration of free choline, and can also significantly increase the concentration of the methyl donor, betaine, thereby potentially enhancing the betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase-mediated remethylation of tHcy.

Serum betaine is inversely associated with low lean mass mainly in men in a Chinese middle-aged and elderly community-dwelling population.

PubMed

Huang, Bi-Xia; Zhu, Ying-Ying; Tan, Xu-Ying; Lan, Qiu-Ye; Li, Chun-Lei; Chen, Yu-Ming; Zhu, Hui-Lian

2016-06-01

Previous studies have demonstrated that betaine supplements increase lean body mass in livestock and improve muscle performance in human beings, but evidence for its effect on human lean mass is limited. Our study assessed the association of circulating betaine with lean mass and its composition in Chinese adults. A community-based study was conducted on 1996 Guangzhou residents (weight/mass: 1381/615) aged 50-75 years between 2008 and 2010. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect general baseline information. Fasting serum betaine was assessed using HPLC-MS. A total of 1590 participants completed the body composition analysis performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry during a mean of 3·2 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, regression analyses demonstrated a positive association of serum betaine with percentage of lean mass (LM%) of the entire body, trunk and limbs in men (all P<0·05) and LM% of the trunk in women (P=0·016). Each sd increase in serum betaine was associated with increases in LM% of 0·609 (whole body), 0·811 (trunk), 0·422 (limbs), 0·632 (arms) and 0·346 (legs) in men and 0·350 (trunk) in women. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the prevalence of lower LM% decreased by 17 % (whole body) and 14 % (trunk) in women and 23 % (whole body), 28 % (trunk), 22 % (arms) and 26 % (percentage skeletal muscle index) in men with each sd increment in serum betaine. Elevated circulating betaine was associated with a higher LM% and lower prevalence of lower LM% in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults, particularly men.

Effect of osmolytes on the thermal stability of proteins: replica exchange simulations of Trp-cage in urea and betaine solutions.

PubMed

Adamczak, Beata; Kogut, Mateusz; Czub, Jacek

2018-04-25

Although osmolytes are known to modulate the folding equilibrium, the molecular mechanism of their effect on thermal denaturation of proteins is still poorly understood. Here, we simulated the thermal denaturation of a small model protein (Trp-cage) in the presence of denaturing (urea) and stabilizing (betaine) osmolytes, using the all-atom replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. We found that urea destabilizes Trp-cage by enthalpically-driven association with the protein, acting synergistically with temperature to induce unfolding. In contrast, betaine is sterically excluded from the protein surface thereby exerting entropic depletion forces that contribute to the stabilization of the native state. In fact, we find that while at low temperatures betaine slightly increases the folding free energy of Trp-cage by promoting another near-native conformation, it protects the protein against temperature-induced denaturation. This, in turn, can be attributed to enhanced exclusion of betaine at higher temperatures that arises from less attractive interactions with the protein surface.

Choline and betaine intake is inversely associated with breast cancer risk: a two-stage case-control study in China.

PubMed

Zhang, Cai-Xia; Pan, Mei-Xia; Li, Bin; Wang, Lian; Mo, Xiong-Fei; Chen, Yu-Ming; Lin, Fang-Yu; Ho, Suzanne C

2013-02-01

Few epidemiological studies have evaluated the association of choline and betaine intake with breast cancer risk and the results remain inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the relationship between dietary intake of choline and betaine and the risk of breast cancer among Chinese women. A two-stage case-control study was conducted, with 807 cases and 807 age- (5-year interval) and residence (rural/urban)-matched controls. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake by face-to-face interview. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to calculate multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A significant inverse association was found between dietary choline and betaine consumption and breast cancer risk. The adjusted OR for the highest quartile of intake compared with the lowest were 0.40 (95% CI = 0.28-0.57, P(trend) < 0.001) for total choline intake, 0.58 (95% CI = 0.42-0.80, P(trend) < 0.001) for betaine intake and 0.38 (0.27-0.53, P(trend) < 0.001) for choline plus betaine intake, respectively. Intakes of individual choline compouds, choline from glycerophosphocholine, phosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and free choline were also negatively associated with breast cancer risk. The inverse association between choline intake and breast cancer risk was primarily confined to participants with low folate level (<242 g/day), with an OR (95% CI) of 0.46 (0.23-0.91) comparing the fourth quartile with the first quartile of choline intake (P(trend) = 0.005). The present study suggests that consumption of choline and betaine is inversely associated with the risk of breast cancer. The association of choline intake with breast cancer risk is probably modified by folate intake. © 2012 Japanese Cancer Association.

Calculation of the vibrational spectra of betaine hydrochloride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szafran, Miroslaw; Koput, Jacek

1997-02-01

The molecular geometries of betaine hydrochloride, BET·HCl, and free protonated betaine, BET·H +, were calculated with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set at the SCF, MP2 and DFT levels of theory. At the SCF level, the minimum energy corresponds to the ionic pair, B +Htctdot;A -, however, the equilibrium Otctdot;Cl distance is 0.14 Å shorter than the X-ray value. Inclusion of the correlation effects, both at the MP2 and DFT levels, predicts a minimum energy for the molecular complex, Btctdot;H-A, with the equilibrium Otctdot;Cl distance close to the experimental value. The frequencies and intensities of the vibrational bands of BET·HCl, BET·DCl and BET·H + were calculated at the SCF and DFT levels and compared with the solid IR spectra. All measured IR bands were interpreted in term of the calculated vibrational modes. The rms deviations between the experimental and calculated SCF frequencies were 21 and 29 cm -1 for BET·HCl and BET·DCl, respectively. The computed band intensities agree qualitatively with the experimental data. The coupling of the CO stretching and OH bending modes are discussed. The summation bands are probably enhanced in intensity by Fermi resonance with the fundamentals responsible for the main ν(OH) (ν(OD) absorption region.

The Scholastic Aptitude Test: A Response to Slack and Porter's "Critical Appraisal."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Rex

1980-01-01

Responding to allegations about the effect of coaching on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and its predictive validity ("Harvard Educational Review," May 1980), Jackson evaluates Slack and Porter's arguments and addresses the issues of the utility of SAT scores as admissions criteria and the alleged misrepresentation of negative…

Comparative mapping of the wild perennial Glycine latifolia and soybean (G. max) reveals extensive chromosome rearrangements in the genus Glycine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soybean (Glycine max L. Mer.), like many cultivated crops, has a relatively narrow genetic base and lacks diversity for some economically important traits. Glycine latifolia (Benth.) Newell & Hymowitz, a perennial wild relative of soybean in the subgenus Glycine Willd., shows high levels of resistan...

Gestational dietary betaine supplementation suppresses hepatic expression of lipogenic genes in neonatal piglets through epigenetic and glucocorticoid receptor-dependent mechanisms.

PubMed

Cai, Demin; Wang, Junjian; Jia, Yimin; Liu, Haoyu; Yuan, Mengjie; Dong, Haibo; Zhao, Ruqian

2016-01-01

Methyl donors play critical roles in nutritional programming through epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Here we fed gestational sows with control or betaine-supplemented diets (3g/kg) throughout the pregnancy to explore the effects of maternal methyl-donor nutrient on neonatal expression of hepatic lipogenic genes. Betaine-exposed piglets demonstrated significantly lower liver triglyceride content associated with down-regulated hepatic expression of lipogenic genes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c. Moreover, s-adenosyl methionine to s-adenosyl homocysteine ratio was elevated in the liver of betaine-exposed piglets, which was accompanied by DNA hypermethylation on FAS and SCD gene promoters and more enriched repression histone mark H3K27me3 on SCD gene promoter. Furthermore, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binding to SCD gene promoter was diminished along with reduced serum cortisol and liver GR protein content in betaine-exposed piglets. GR-mediated SCD gene regulation was confirmed in HepG2 cells in vitro. Dexamethasone (Dex) drastically increased the luciferase activity of porcine SCD promoter, while the deletion of GR response element on SCD promoter significantly attenuated Dex-mediated SCD transactivation. In addition, miR-let-7e, miR-1285 and miR-124a, which respectively target porcine SCD, ACC and GR, were significantly up-regulated in the liver of betaine-exposed piglets, being in accordance with decreased protein content of these three genes. Taken together, our results suggest that maternal dietary betaine supplementation during gestation attenuates hepatic lipogenesis in neonatal piglets via epigenetic and GR-mediated mechanisms. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pure versus hybrid: performance implications of Porter's generic strategies.

PubMed

Kumar, K; Subramanian, R; Yauger, C

1997-01-01

This article identifies the strategic types in the hospital industry based on the hospital's use of Porter's generic strategies in their pure and hybrid forms. The article also examines differences in performance of hospitals across strategic types. Results indicate that hospitals that follow a focussed cost leadership strategy, in general, have superior performance on a variety of performance measures, while hospitals that use a combination of cost leadership and differentiation perform the poorest. Implications of findings for hospital administrators are also discussed.

Betaine aids in the osmoregulation of duodenal epithelium of broiler chicks, and affects the movement of water across the small intestinal epithelium in vitro.

PubMed

Kettunen, H; Peuranen, S; Tiihonen, K

2001-06-01

In Experiment 1, the water holding capacity of broiler chick intestinal tissue was studied in vitro. The chicks were fed with corn-based diets with or without a 0.2% betaine supplementation in the drinking water. Slices from duodenum and jejunum were incubated in iso-osmotic (300 mM) or hyperosmotic saline (600 mM) with or without 10 mM betaine. The water volume of tissue slices was studied by adding tritiated water in the incubation medium while [14C]inulin was used to correct for the adherent water. After 30 min of incubation, by which time the steady-state of tritium influx had been achieved, the 3H and 14C-activities of the tissue slices were measured. The ileal and duodenal tissues incubated in the hyperosmotic saline accumulated less tritium than those incubated in iso-osmotic saline. Duodenal slices incubated in hyperosmotic saline with the presence of betaine showed a tritium content similar to slices incubated in iso-osmotic saline. The data suggest that the presence of betaine helped the duodenal, but not jejunal, epithelium to maintain water balance in hyperosmotic conditions. The dietary betaine supplementation diminished the differences between the incubation treatments in duodenal, but not in ileal tissue. In Experiment 2, the same double labeling method, but with shorter incubation times, was used to assess the rate of water flux from the incubation medium to duodenal or jejunal slices. The dietary treatments (as in Experiment 1) had little effect on the results. Betaine in the hyperosmotic saline significantly decreased the rate of tritium accumulation into the tissue slices, indicating that betaine slowed down the influx of water to the epithelium. We suggest that betaine affects the movement of water across the intestinal epithelium and has a role in the osmoregulation of small intestine of broiler chicks.

Betaine supplementation reduces congenital defects after prenatal alcohol exposure (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karunamuni, Ganga; Gu, Shi; Doughman, Yong Qiu; Sheehan, Megan M.; Ma, Pei; Peterson, Lindsy M.; Linask, Kersti K.; Jenkins, Michael W.; Rollins, Andrew M.; Watanabe, Michiko

2016-03-01

Over 500,000 women per year in the United States drink during pregnancy, and 1 in 5 of this population also binge drink. As high as 20-50% of live-born children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) present with congenital heart defects including outflow and valvuloseptal anomalies that can be life-threatening. Previously we established a model of PAE (modeling a single binge drinking episode) in the avian embryo and used optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to assay early-stage cardiac function/structure and late-stage cardiac defects. At early stages, alcohol/ethanol-exposed embryos had smaller cardiac cushions and increased retrograde flow. At late stages, they presented with gross morphological defects in the head and chest wall, and also exhibited smaller or abnormal atrio-ventricular (AV) valves, thinner interventricular septae (IVS), and smaller vessel diameters for the aortic trunk branches. In other animal models, the methyl donor betaine (found naturally in many foods such as wheat bran, quinoa, beets and spinach) ameliorates neurobehavioral deficits associated with PAE but the effects on heart structure are unknown. In our model of PAE, betaine supplementation led to a reduction in gross structural defects and appeared to protect against certain types of cardiac defects such as ventricular septal defects and abnormal AV valvular morphology. Furthermore, vessel diameters, IVS thicknesses and mural AV leaflet volumes were normalized while the septal AV leaflet volume was increased. These findings highlight the importance of betaine and potentially methylation levels in the prevention of PAE-related birth defects which could have significant implications for public health.

Red beet and betaine as ingredients in diets of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): effects on growth performance, nutrient retention and flesh quality.

PubMed

Pinedo-Gil, Julia; Tomás-Vidal, Ana; Jover-Cerdá, Miguel; Tomás-Almenar, Cristina; Sanz-Calvo, Miguel Ángel; Martín-Diana, Ana Belén

2017-12-01

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of dietary red beet and betaine on the growth performance and fish flesh quality of rainbow trout. Therefore, a control diet was compared with four diets in which two levels of red beet (14% and 28%) and betaine (0.9% and 1.63%) were incorporated in combination. The study was set up with an average body weight of 69 ± 2.2 g and finished when fish reached commercial weight (175-250 g) after 105 d. The impact of the diets was studied based on the growth performance, biometric indexes, proximal composition, protein and fat retention efficiencies and apparent nutrient digestibility by fish reared on a recirculation system. Further estimates were the effect of red beet and betaine on the flesh proximate composition and quality of the final product (water activity, colour, texture, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and sensory characteristics). Results showed that inclusion of 14% red beet and 0.9% betaine did not affect growth, nutritive or biometric parameters and nutrient retention when compared with the control diet. However, higher levels of red beet and betaine had negative effects on growth and nutritive parameters. The tested ingredients enhanced quality parameters regardless of the concentration used. After feeding the red beet and betaine, fish flesh showed lower water activity and better textural and colour properties than the control and also a dose-dependent effect on lipid oxidation was observed.

The organic osmolyte betaine induces keratin 2 expression in rat epidermal keratinocytes - A genome-wide study in UVB irradiated organotypic 3D cultures.

PubMed

Rauhala, Leena; Hämäläinen, Lasse; Dunlop, Thomas W; Pehkonen, Petri; Bart, Geneviève; Kokkonen, Maarit; Tammi, Markku; Tammi, Raija; Pasonen-Seppänen, Sanna

2015-12-25

The moisturizing and potentially protective properties of the organic osmolyte betaine (trimethylglycine) have made it an attractive component for skin care products. Its wide use despite the lack of comprehensive studies addressing its specific effects in skin led us to characterize the molecular targets of betaine in keratinocytes and to explore, whether it modifies the effects of acute UVB exposure. Genome-wide expression analysis was performed on organotypic cultures of rat epidermal keratinocytes, treated either with betaine (10mM), UVB (30 mJ/cm(2)) or their combination. Results were verified with qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, cell proliferation and differentiation were analyzed. Among the 89 genes influenced by betaine, the differentiation marker keratin 2 showed the highest upregulation, which was also confirmed at protein level. Expression of Egr1, a transcription factor, and Purkinje cell protein 4, a regulator of Ca(2+)/calmodulin metabolism, also increased, while downregulated genes included several ion-channel components, such as Fxyd2. Bioinformatics analyses suggest that genes modulated by betaine are involved in DNA replication, might counteract UV-induced processes, and include many targets of transcription factors associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. Our results indicate that betaine controls unique gene expression pathways in keratinocytes, including some involved in differentiation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Choline and betaine intake and colorectal cancer risk in Chinese population: a case-control study.

PubMed

Lu, Min-Shan; Fang, Yu-Jing; Pan, Zhi-Zhong; Zhong, Xiao; Zheng, Mei-Chun; Chen, Yu-Ming; Zhang, Cai-Xia

2015-01-01

Few studies have examined the association of choline and betaine intake with colorectal cancer risk, although they might play an important role in colorectal cancer development because of their role as methyl donors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between consumption of choline and betaine and colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese population. A case-control study was conducted between July 2010 and December 2013 in Guangzhou, China. Eight hundred and ninety consecutively recruited colorectal cancer cases were frequency matched to 890 controls by age (5-year interval) and sex. Dietary information was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire by face-to-face interviews. The logistic regression model was used to estimate multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Total choline intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk after adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary factors. The multivariate-adjusted OR was 0.54 (95%CI = 0.37-0.80, Ptrend <0.01) comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. No significant associations were observed for betaine or total choline+betaine intakes. For choline-containing compounds, lower colorectal cancer risk was associated with higher intakes of choline from phosphatidylcholine, glycerophosphocholine and sphingomyelin but not for free choline and phosphocholine. The inverse association of total choline intake with colorectal cancer risk was observed in both men and women, colon and rectal cancer. These inverse associations were not modified by folate intake. These results indicate that high intake of total choline is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Choline and Betaine Intake and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study

PubMed Central

Pan, Zhi-Zhong; Zhong, Xiao; Zheng, Mei-Chun; Chen, Yu-Ming; Zhang, Cai-Xia

2015-01-01

Background Few studies have examined the association of choline and betaine intake with colorectal cancer risk, although they might play an important role in colorectal cancer development because of their role as methyl donors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between consumption of choline and betaine and colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese population. Methodology/Principal Findings A case-control study was conducted between July 2010 and December 2013 in Guangzhou, China. Eight hundred and ninety consecutively recruited colorectal cancer cases were frequency matched to 890 controls by age (5-year interval) and sex. Dietary information was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire by face-to-face interviews. The logistic regression model was used to estimate multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Total choline intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk after adjustment for various lifestyle and dietary factors. The multivariate-adjusted OR was 0.54 (95%CI = 0.37-0.80, Ptrend <0.01) comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. No significant associations were observed for betaine or total choline+betaine intakes. For choline-containing compounds, lower colorectal cancer risk was associated with higher intakes of choline from phosphatidylcholine, glycerophosphocholine and sphingomyelin but not for free choline and phosphocholine. The inverse association of total choline intake with colorectal cancer risk was observed in both men and women, colon and rectal cancer. These inverse associations were not modified by folate intake. Conclusions These results indicate that high intake of total choline is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. PMID:25785727

Influence of betaine and salinomycin on intestinal absorption of methionine and glucose and on the ultrastructure of intestinal cells and parasite developmental stages in chicks infected with Eimeria acervulina.

PubMed

Augustine, P C; Danforth, H D

1999-01-01

The effect of betaine and salinomycin on absorption of methionine and glucose in tissue from the duodenal loops of Eimeria acervulina-infected chicks was determined. Differences in the ultrastructure of the intestinal cells and parasite developmental stages were also examined. With a drug-resistant isolate of E. acervulina, methionine absorption was significantly higher in chicks fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.15% betaine as compared with absorption in chicks fed the unsupplemented basal diet. Addition of 66 ppm salinomycin to the diet containing betaine did not further enhance absorption. Conversely, with a drug-sensitive isolate, methionine absorption was significantly higher in chicks fed a diet supplemented with both betaine and salinomycin than in chicks fed the unsupplemented basal diet. Tissue from chicks fed any of the supplemented diets was usually significantly heavier than that from chicks fed the unsupplemented diet, even when weight gains of the birds were similar. Glucose absorption was similar in all diet groups. Epithelial cells in coccidia-infected and uninfected chicks fed diets supplemented with betaine or betaine plus salinomycin were less electron dense than cells from chicks fed diets that were not supplemented with betaine. Merozoites of E. acervulina in chicks fed diets supplemented with salinomycin had extensive membrane disruption and vacuolization, but the damage was prevented when betaine was added to the diet. Numerous merozoites and intact schizonts were seen in the intestinal lumen of chicks fed the diet containing betaine plus salinomycin.

Mitotically Stable Modification of DNA Methylation in IGF2/H19 Imprinting Control Region Is Associated with Activated Hepatic IGF2 Expression in Offspring Rats from Betaine-Supplemented Dams.

PubMed

Yang, Shu; Zhao, Nannan; Yang, Yang; Hu, Yun; Dong, Haibo; Zhao, Ruqian

2018-03-21

The growth-promoting action of betaine involves activation of GH/IGF-1 signaling, yet it remains unclear whether insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), an imprinting gene, is affected by maternal dietary betaine supplementation. In this study, F1 offspring rats derived from dams fed basal or betaine-supplemented diet were examined at D21 and D63. Maternal betaine significantly upregulated the hepatic expression of IGF2 mRNA and protein in offspring rats at both D21 and D63, which was accompanied by enhanced hepatic IGF2 immunoreactivity and elevated serum IGF-2 level. Higher protein expression of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase and DNA methyltransferase 1 was detected in the betaine group at D21, but not D63. However, hypermethylation of the imprinting control region of the IGF2/H19 locus at D21 was maintained at D63. These results indicate that maternal betaine modifies DNA methylation of IGF2/H19 imprinting control region in a mitotically stable fasion, which was associated with the activation hepatic IGF2 expression in offspring rats.

[Effect of betaine hydrochloride on broiler chickens when used alone or in combination with vitamin B12].

PubMed

Bogdanov, M; Filipova, R; Tsvetkov, S

1976-01-01

The studies were carried out with 2287 broilers aged from 3 to 56 days, divided when one-day-old into four equal groups. The first group were fed the common ration and served as controls. The remaining three groups were experimental, the broilers of the second group being offered the basic common ration enriched with 0.2 per cent betaine. The third group were also given the ordinary ration, however, they received in the drinking water some 10 mug vitamin BUI per one kilogram feed each. The fourth group received both betaine and vitamin B12 at the rates indicated. Results showed that betaine hydrochloride offered either alone or in combination with vitamin B12 contributes to increasing the liveweight gain of broilers in the course of the starter period, but its use in doses of 0.2 per cent in the finishing period is not effective.

Piezoelectricity and Ferroelectricity in Amino Acid Glycine =

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seyedhosseini, Ensieh

Bioorganic ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics are becoming increasingly important in view of their intrinsic compatibility with biological environment and biofunctionality combined with strong piezoelectric effect and switchable polarization at room temperature. Here we study piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity in the smallest amino acid glycine, representing a broad class of non-centrosymmetric amino acids. Glycine is one of the basic and important elements in biology, as it serves as a building block for proteins. Three polymorphic forms with different physical properties are possible in glycine (alpha, beta and gamma), Of special interest for various applications are non-centrosymmetric polymorphs: beta-glycine and gamma-glycine. The most useful beta-polymorph being ferroelectric took much less attention than the other due to its instability under ambient conditions. In this work, we could grow stable microcrystals of beta-glycine by the evaporation of aqueous solution on a (111)Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate as a template. The effects of the solution concentration and Pt-assisted nucleation on the crystal growth and phase evolution were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, spin-coating technique was used for the fabrication of highly aligned nano-islands of beta-glycine with regular orientation of the crystallographic axes relative the underlying substrate (Pt). Further we study both as-grown and tip-induced domain structures and polarization switching in the beta-glycine molecular systems by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) and compare the results with molecular modeling and computer simulations. We show that beta-glycine is indeed a room-temperature ferroelectric and polarization can be switched by applying a bias to non-polar cuts via a conducting tip of atomic force microscope (AFM). Dynamics of these in-plane domains is studied as a function of applied voltage and pulse duration. The domain shape is dictated by

Dietary Choline and Betaine and Risk of CVD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

PubMed Central

Meyer, Katie A.; Shea, Jonathan W.

2017-01-01

Studies implicate choline and betaine metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis to quantify a summary estimated effect of dietary choline and betaine on hard CVD outcomes (incidence and mortality). Eligible studies were prospective studies in adults with comprehensive diet assessment and follow-up for hard CVD endpoints. We identified six studies that met our criteria, comprising 18,076 incident CVD events, 5343 CVD deaths, and 184,010 total participants. In random effects meta-analysis, incident CVD was not associated with choline (relative risk (RR): 1.00; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.02) or betaine (RR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.01) intake. Results did not vary by study outcome (incident coronary heart disease, stroke, total CVD) and there was no evidence for heterogeneity among studies. Only two studies provided data on phosphatidylcholine and CVD mortality. Random effects meta-analysis did not support an association between choline and CVD mortality (RR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.35), but one study supported a positive association and there was significant heterogeneity (I2 = 84%, p-value < 0.001). Our findings do not support an association between dietary choline/betaine with incident CVD, but call for further research into choline and CVD mortality. PMID:28686188

Dietary Choline and Betaine and Risk of CVD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.

PubMed

Meyer, Katie A; Shea, Jonathan W

2017-07-07

Studies implicate choline and betaine metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis to quantify a summary estimated effect of dietary choline and betaine on hard CVD outcomes (incidence and mortality). Eligible studies were prospective studies in adults with comprehensive diet assessment and follow-up for hard CVD endpoints. We identified six studies that met our criteria, comprising 18,076 incident CVD events, 5343 CVD deaths, and 184,010 total participants. In random effects meta-analysis, incident CVD was not associated with choline (relative risk (RR): 1.00; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.02) or betaine (RR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.01) intake. Results did not vary by study outcome (incident coronary heart disease, stroke, total CVD) and there was no evidence for heterogeneity among studies. Only two studies provided data on phosphatidylcholine and CVD mortality. Random effects meta-analysis did not support an association between choline and CVD mortality (RR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.35), but one study supported a positive association and there was significant heterogeneity ( I ² = 84%, p -value < 0.001). Our findings do not support an association between dietary choline/betaine with incident CVD, but call for further research into choline and CVD mortality.

Migrant female head porters' enrolment in and utilisation and renewal of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Kumasi, Ghana.

PubMed

Boateng, Simon; Amoako, Prince; Poku, Adjoa Afriyie; Baabereyir, Anthony; Gyasi, Razak Mohammed

2017-01-01

As a social protection policy, Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) aims to improve access to healthcare, especially for the vulnerable. Migrant female head porters ( kayayoo ), who are part of the informal economic workforce, are underscored as an ethnic minority and vulnerable group in Ghana. This study aimed to analyse the factors associated with enrolment in and renewal and utilisation of the NHIS among migrant female head porters in the Kumasi Metropolis. We purposively sampled 392 migrant female head porters in the Kejetia, Asafo and Bantama markets. We used a binary logit regression model to estimate associations among baseline characteristics, convenience and benefit factors and enrolment in and renewal and utilisation of the NHIS. Age and income significantly increased the probability of NHIS enrolment, renewal and utilisation. Long waiting times at NHIS offices significantly reduced the likelihood of renewal, while provision of drugs highly significantly increased the tendency for migrant female head porters to enrol in, renew and use the NHIS. Consulting and surgery also significantly increased renewal and utilisation of the NHIS. Political commitment is imperative for effective implementation of the decentralisation policy of the NHIS through the National Health Insurance Authority in Kumasi. We argue that retail offices should be well equipped with logistic facilities to ensure convenience in NHIS initial enrolment and renewal processes by citizenry, and by vulnerable groups in particular.

Maternal choline status during pregnancy, but not that of betaine, is related to antenatal mental well-being: The growing up in Singapore toward healthy outcomes cohort.

PubMed

van Lee, Linde; Quah, Phaik Ling; Saw, Seang Mei; Yap, Fabian K P; Godfrey, Keith M; Chong, Yap Seng; Meaney, Michael J; Chen, Helen; Chong, Mary Foong-Fong

2017-10-01

Choline and betaine status have previously been associated with symptoms of depression. However, the relation of maternal plasma choline and betaine concentrations in pregnancy to peripartum maternal mood is unknown. Maternal plasma choline and betaine concentrations (μmol/L) were measured at 26-28 weeks gestation in the Growing Up in Singapore Toward healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) mother-offspring cohort. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) at 26-28 weeks gestation (n = 949) and at 3 months postnatal (n = 689): higher scores are indicative of more symptoms of anxiety and depression. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the association of choline and betaine with ante- and postnatal mental well-being adjusting for covariates. Mean (SD) antenatal plasma choline and betaine concentrations were 9.2 μmol/L (1.6) and 13.1 μmol/L (2.7), respectively. Plasma choline concentrations were positively associated with antenatal depressive (β = .24 EPDS score [95% CI: 0.05-0.43] per μmol/L] and anxiety symptoms (β = .46 STAI-state score [95% CI: 0.03-0.88] per μmol/L) adjusting for covariates. Plasma betaine concentrations were not associated with antenatal depression or anxiety symptoms. No associations were observed between pregnancy choline or betaine and postnatal mental well-being. This study suggests that higher maternal plasma choline status during pregnancy is associated with more symptoms of antenatal depression and anxiety, whereas plasma betaine concentrations showed no associations. No associations were observed for postnatal mental well-being. Prospective studies are required to replicate these findings and further examine the direction of causality and possible biological mechanisms. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Maternal choline status during pregnancy, but not that of betaine, is related to antenatal mental well-being: the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes cohort

PubMed Central

van Lee, Linde; Quah, Phaik Ling; Saw, Seang Mei; Yap, Fabian KP; Godfrey, Keith M; Chong, Yap Seng; Meaney, Michael J; Chen, Helen; Chong, Mary Foong-Fong

2017-01-01

Background Choline and betaine status have previously been associated with symptoms of depression. However, the relation of maternal plasma choline and betaine concentrations in pregnancy to peripartum maternal mood is unknown. Methods Maternal plasma choline and betaine concentrations (µmol/L) were measured at 26-28 weeks gestation in the GUSTO mother-offspring cohort. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) at 26-28 weeks gestation (n=949) and at 3 months postnatal (n=689): higher scores are indicative of more symptoms of anxiety and depression. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the association of choline and betaine with ante- and postnatal mental well-being adjusting for covariates. Results Mean (SD) antenatal plasma choline and betaine concentrations were 9.2 µmol/L (1.6) and 13.1 µmol/L (2.7), respectively. Plasma choline concentrations were positively associated with antenatal depressive [β=0.24 EPDS score (95% CI 0.05, 0.43) per µmol/L] and anxiety symptoms [β=0.46 STAI-state score (95% CI 0.03, 0.88) per µmol/L] adjusting for covariates. Plasma betaine concentrations were not associated with antenatal depression or anxiety symptoms. No associations were observed between pregnancy choline or betaine and postnatal mental well-being. Conclusion This study suggests that higher maternal plasma choline status during pregnancy is associated with more symptoms of antenatal depression and anxiety, while plasma betaine concentrations showed no associations. No associations were observed for postnatal mental well-being. Prospective studies are required to replicate these findings and further examine the direction of causality and possible biological mechanisms. PMID:28471488

Plasma choline and betaine correlate with serum folate, plasma S-adenosyl-methionine and S-adenosyl-homocysteine in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Imbard, Apolline; Smulders, Yvo M; Barto, Rob; Smith, Desiree E C; Kok, Robert M; Jakobs, Cornelis; Blom, Henk J

2013-03-01

Choline is essential for mammalian cell function. It plays a critical role in cell membrane integrity, neurotransmission, cell signaling and lipid metabolism. Moreover, choline is involved in methylation in two ways: a) its synthesis requires methyl groups donated by S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet); and b) choline oxidation product betaine methylates homocysteine (Hcy) to methionine (Met) and produces dimethylglycine. This later donates one carbon units to tetrahydrofolate (THF). To evaluate the correlations of choline and betaine with folate, AdoMet, S-anenosyl-homocysteine (AdoHcy), total homocysteine (tHcy), and DNA methylation, choline, betaine and dimethylglycine were measured by LC-MS/MS in plasma of 109 healthy volunteers, in whom folate, AdoMet, AdoHcy, tHcy, and DNA methylation have previously been reported. Using a bivariate model, choline and betaine showed strong positive correlations with folate (r = 0.346 and r = 0.226), AdoHcy (r = 0.468 and r = 0.296), and correlated negatively with AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio (r = – 0.246 and r = – 0.379). Only choline was positively correlated with AdoMet (r = 0.453). Using a multivariate linear regression model, choline correlated strongly with folate ( β = 17.416), AdoMet ( β = 61.272), and AdoHcy ( β = 9.215). Betaine correlated positively with folate ( β = 0.133) and negatively with tHcy ( β = – 0.194) ratio. Choline is an integral part of folate and methylation pathways. Our data highlight the importance of integrating choline in studies concerning addressing pathological conditions related to folate, homocysteine and methylation metabolism.

Variation of betaine, N,N-dimethylglycine, choline, glycerophosphorylcholine, taurine and trimethylamine-N-oxide in the plasma and urine of overweight people with type 2 diabetes over a two-year period.

PubMed

McEntyre, Christopher J; Lever, Michael; Chambers, Stephen T; George, Peter M; Slow, Sandy; Elmslie, Jane L; Florkowski, Christopher M; Lunt, Helen; Krebs, Jeremy D

2015-05-01

Plasma betaine concentrations and urinary betaine excretions have high test-retest reliability. Abnormal betaine excretion is common in diabetes. We aimed to confirm the individuality of plasma betaine and urinary betaine excretion in an overweight population with type 2 diabetes and compare this with the individuality of other osmolytes, one-carbon metabolites and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), thus assessing their potential usefulness as disease markers. Urine and plasma were collected from overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes at four time points over a two-year period. We measured the concentrations of the osmolytes: betaine, glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) and taurine, as well as TMAO, and the one-carbon metabolites, N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG) and free choline. Samples were measured using tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Betaine showed a high degree of individuality (or test-retest reliability) in the plasma (index of individuality = 0.52) and urine (index of individuality = 0.45). Betaine in the plasma had positive and negative log-normal reference change values (RCVs) of 54% and -35%, respectively. The other osmolytes, taurine and GPC were more variable in the plasma of individuals compared to the urine. DMG and choline showed high individuality in the plasma and urine. TMAO was highly variable in the plasma and urine (log-normal RCVs ranging from 403% to -80% in plasma). Betaine is highly individual in overweight people with diabetes. Betaine, its metabolite DMG, and precursor choline showed more reliability than the osmolytes, GPC and taurine. The low reliability of TMAO suggests that a single TMAO measurement has low diagnostic value. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Early second trimester maternal plasma choline and betaine are related to measures of early cognitive development in term infants.

PubMed

Wu, Brian T F; Dyer, Roger A; King, D Janette; Richardson, Kelly J; Innis, Sheila M

2012-01-01

The importance of maternal dietary choline for fetal neural development and later cognitive function has been well-documented in experimental studies. Although choline is an essential dietary nutrient for humans, evidence that low maternal choline in pregnancy impacts neurodevelopment in human infants is lacking. We determined potential associations between maternal plasma free choline and its metabolites betaine and dimethylglycine in pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment at 18 months of age. This was a prospective study of healthy pregnant women and their full-term, single birth infants. Maternal blood was collected at 16 and 36 weeks of gestation and infant neurodevelopment was assessed at 18 months of age for 154 mother-infant pairs. Maternal plasma choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, methionine, homocysteine, cysteine, total B12, holotranscobalamin and folate were quantified. Infant neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III. Multivariate regression, adjusting for covariates that impact development, was used to determine the associations between maternal plasma choline, betaine and dimethylglycine and infant neurodevelopment. The maternal plasma free choline at 16 and 36 weeks gestation was median (interquartile range) 6.70 (5.78-8.03) and 9.40 (8.10-11.3) µmol/L, respectively. Estimated choline intakes were (mean ± SD) 383 ± 98.6 mg/day, and lower than the recommended 450 mg/day. Betaine intakes were 142 ± 70.2 mg/day. Significant positive associations were found between infant cognitive test scores and maternal plasma free choline (B=6.054, SE=2.283, p=0.009) and betaine (B=7.350, SE=1.933, p=0.0002) at 16 weeks of gestation. Maternal folate, total B12, or holotranscobalamin were not related to infant development. We show that choline status in the first half of pregnancy is associated with cognitive development among healthy term gestation infants. More work is needed on the potential limitation of choline or betaine

Early Second Trimester Maternal Plasma Choline and Betaine Are Related to Measures of Early Cognitive Development in Term Infants

PubMed Central

Wu, Brian T. F.; Dyer, Roger A.; King, D. Janette; Richardson, Kelly J.; Innis, Sheila M.

2012-01-01

Background The importance of maternal dietary choline for fetal neural development and later cognitive function has been well-documented in experimental studies. Although choline is an essential dietary nutrient for humans, evidence that low maternal choline in pregnancy impacts neurodevelopment in human infants is lacking. We determined potential associations between maternal plasma free choline and its metabolites betaine and dimethylglycine in pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment at 18 months of age. Methodology This was a prospective study of healthy pregnant women and their full-term, single birth infants. Maternal blood was collected at 16 and 36 weeks of gestation and infant neurodevelopment was assessed at 18 months of age for 154 mother-infant pairs. Maternal plasma choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, methionine, homocysteine, cysteine, total B12, holotranscobalamin and folate were quantified. Infant neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development–III. Multivariate regression, adjusting for covariates that impact development, was used to determine the associations between maternal plasma choline, betaine and dimethylglycine and infant neurodevelopment. Results The maternal plasma free choline at 16 and 36 weeks gestation was median (interquartile range) 6.70 (5.78–8.03) and 9.40 (8.10–11.3) µmol/L, respectively. Estimated choline intakes were (mean ±SD) 383±98.6 mg/day, and lower than the recommended 450 mg/day. Betaine intakes were 142±70.2 mg/day. Significant positive associations were found between infant cognitive test scores and maternal plasma free choline (B = 6.054, SE = 2.283, p = 0.009) and betaine (B = 7.350, SE = 1.933, p = 0.0002) at 16 weeks of gestation. Maternal folate, total B12, or holotranscobalamin were not related to infant development. Conclusion We show that choline status in the first half of pregnancy is associated with cognitive development among healthy term gestation

Rectification of impaired adipose tissue methylation status and lipolytic response contributes to hepatoprotective effect of betaine in a mouse model of alcoholic liver disease

PubMed Central

Dou, Xiaobing; Xia, Yongliang; Chen, Jing; Qian, Ying; Li, Songtao; Zhang, Ximei; Song, Zhenyuan

2014-01-01

Background and Purpose Overactive lipolysis in adipose tissue contributes to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD); however, the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. We previously reported that chronic alcohol consumption produces a hypomethylation state in adipose tissue. In this study we investigated the role of hypomethylation in adipose tissue in alcohol-induced lipolysis and whether its correction contributes to the well-established hepatoprotective effect of betaine in ALD. Experimental Approach Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups and started on one of four treatments for 5 weeks: isocaloric pair-fed (PF), alcohol-fed (AF), PF supplemented with betaine (BT/AF) and AF supplemented with betaine (BT/AF). Betaine, 0.5% (w v−1), was added to the liquid diet. Both primary adipocytes and mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to demethylation reagents and their lipolytic responses determined. Key Results Betaine alleviated alcohol-induced pathological changes in the liver and rectified the impaired methylation status in adipose tissue, concomitant with attenuating lipolysis. In adipocytes, inducing hypomethylation activated lipolysis through a mechanism involving suppression of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), due to hypomethylation of its catalytic subunit, leading to increased activation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). In line with in vitro observations, reduced PP2A catalytic subunit methylation and activity, and enhanced HSL activation, were observed in adipose tissue of alcohol-fed mice. Betaine attenuated this alcohol-induced PP2A suppression and HSL activation. Conclusions and Implications In adipose tissue, a hypomethylation state contributes to its alcohol-induced dysfunction and an improvement in its function may contribute to the hepatoprotective effects of betaine in ALD. PMID:24819676

Application of Porter's generic strategies in ambulatory health care: a comparison of managerial perceptions in two Israeli sick funds.

PubMed

Torgovicky, Refael; Goldberg, Avishay; Shvarts, Shifra; Bar Dayan, Yosefa; Onn, Erez; Levi, Yehezkel; BarDayan, Yaron

2005-01-01

A number of typologies have been developed in the strategic management literature to categorize strategies that an organization can pursue at the business level. Extensive research has established Porter's generic strategies of (1) cost leadership, (2) differentiation, (3) differentiation focus, (4) cost focus, and (5) stuck-in-the-middle as the dominant paradigm in the literature. The purpose of the current study was to research competitive strategies in the Israeli ambulatory health care system, by comparing managerial perceptions of present and ideal business strategies in two Israeli sick funds. We developed a unique research tool, which reliably examines the gap between the present and ideal status managerial views. We found a relation between the business strategy and performance measures, thus strengthening Porter's original theory about the nonviability of the stuck-in-the-middle strategy, and suggesting the applicability Porter's generic strategies to not-for-profit institutes in an ambulatory health care system.

Glycine receptor mechanism illuminated by electron cryo-microscopy

PubMed Central

Du, Juan; Lü, Wei; Wu, Shenping; Cheng, Yifan; Gouaux, Eric

2015-01-01

Summary The strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor (GlyR) mediates inhibitory synaptic transmission in the spinal cord and brainstem and is linked to neurological disorders including autism and hyperekplexia. Understanding of molecular mechanisms and pharmacology of GlyRs has been hindered by a dearth of high-resolution structures. Here we report electron cryo-microscopy structures of the α1 GlyR with strychnine, glycine, or glycine/ivermectin. Strychnine arrests the receptor in an antagonist-bound, closed ion channel state, glycine stabilizes the receptor in an agonist-bound open channel state, and the glycine/ivermectin complex adopts a potentially desensitized or partially open state. Relative to the glycine-bound state, strychnine expands the agonist-binding pocket via outward movement of the C loop, promotes rearrangement of the extracellular and transmembrane domain ‘wrist’ interface, and leads to rotation of the transmembrane domain toward the pore axis, occluding the ion conduction pathway. These structures illuminate GlyR mechanism and define a rubric to interpret structures of Cys-loop receptors. PMID:26344198

Glycine and a Glycine Dehydrogenase (GLDC) SNP as Citalopram/Escitalopram Response Biomarkers in Depression: Pharmacometabolomics-informed Pharmacogenomics

PubMed Central

Ji, Yuan; Hebbring, Scott; Zhu, Hongjie; Jenkins, Gregory D; Biernacka, Joanna; Snyder, Karen; Drews, Maureen; Fiehn, Oliver; Zeng, Zhaobang; Schaid, Daniel; Mrazek, David A.; Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima; Weinshilboum, Richard M.

2011-01-01

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disease. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are an important class of drugs used to treat MDD. However, many patients do not respond adequately to SSRI therapy. We used a pharmacometabolomics-informed pharmacogenomic research strategy to identify citalopram/escitalopram treatment outcome biomarkers. Metabolomic assay of plasma samples from 20 escitalopram remitters and 20 non-remitters showed that glycine was negatively associated with treatment outcome (p=0.0054). That observation was pursued by genotyping tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genes encoding glycine synthesis and degradation enzymes using 529 DNA samples from SSRI-treated MDD patients. The rs10975641 SNP in the glycine dehydrogenase gene was associated with treatment outcome phenotypes. Rs10975641 was then genotyped and was significant (p=0.02) in DNA from 1245 MDD patients in the STAR*D depression study. These results highlight both a possible role for glycine in SSRI response and the use of pharmacometabolomics to “inform” pharmacogenomics. PMID:21107318

Betaines of Alfalfa 1

PubMed Central

Wood, Karl V.; Stringham, Kelly J.; Smith, David L.; Volenec, Jeffrey J.; Hendershot, Kerry L.; Jackson, Kimberly A.; Rich, Patrick J.; Yang, Wen-Ju; Rhodes, David

1991-01-01

Leaf tissue of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was found to contain prolinebetaine, pipecolatebetaine, hydroxyprolinebetaine, and glycinebetaine. As n-butyl esters, these chemical species exhibit molecular cations at mass/charge ratio (m/z) 200, 214, 216, and 174, respectively, when analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The underivatized betaines exhibit protonated molecular ions at m/z 144, 158, 160, and 118, respectively, when analyzed by desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Extensive (>45-fold) genotypic variation for hydroxyprolinebetaine level was identified in alfalfa. Because a significant inverse correlation between prolinebetaine and hydroxyprolinebetaine levels was observed among 15 alfalfa genotypes evaluated, it is possible that these compounds may be derived from a common intermediate. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) contained prolinebetaine, but only traces of glycinebetaine, pipecolatebetaine, and hydroxyprolinebetaine. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) lacked prolinebetaine, pipecolatebetaine, and hydroxyprolinebetaine, but contained appreciable levels of both glycinebetaine and trigonelline. Trigonelline was not detectable in the leaf tissue of any alfalfa genotype or cultivar evaluated. PMID:16668271

Dietary patterns, food groups, and nutrients as predictors of plasma choline and betaine in middle-aged and elderly men and women.

PubMed

Konstantinova, Svetlana V; Tell, Grethe S; Vollset, Stein E; Ulvik, Arve; Drevon, Christian A; Ueland, Per M

2008-12-01

Choline and betaine are linked to phospholipid and one-carbon metabolism. Blood concentrations or dietary intake of these quaternary amines have been related to the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and the metabolic syndrome. We aimed to determine dietary predictors of plasma choline and betaine among middle-aged and elderly subjects recruited from an area without folic acid fortification. This is a population-based study of 5812 men and women aged 47-49 and 71-74 y, within the Hordaland Health Study cohort. Plasma concentrations per increasing quartile of intake of foods, beverages, and nutrients were assessed by multiple linear regression analysis, and dietary patterns were assessed by factor analysis. Plasma choline was predicted by egg consumption (0.16 micromol/L; P < 0.0001) and cholesterol intake (0.16 micromol/L; P < 0.0001), and betaine was predicted by consumption of high-fiber bread (0.65 micromol/L; P < 0.0001); high-fat dairy products (-0.70 micromol/L; P < 0.0001); complex carbohydrates, fiber, folate, and thiamine (0.66-1.44 micromol/L; P betaine was negatively associated with a Western dietary pattern with a high loading for meat, pizza, sugar, and fat (P < 0.0001). In this population of middle-aged and elderly men and women, recruited from an area with relatively low folate intake, neither plasma choline nor betaine was positively associated with consumption of animal products, fruit, or vegetables, but each was positively associated with the intake of specific food items such as eggs (choline) and bread (betaine).

Dietary betaine supplementation in hens modulates hypothalamic expression of cholesterol metabolic genes in F1 cockerels through modification of DNA methylation.

PubMed

Idriss, Abdulrahman A; Hu, Yun; Hou, Zhen; Hu, Yan; Sun, Qinwei; Omer, Nagmeldin A; Abobaker, Halima; Ni, Yingdong; Zhao, Ruqian

2018-03-01

Betaine is widely used in animal nutrition to promote growth, development and methyl donor during methionine metabolism through nutritional reprogramming via regulation of gene expression. Prenatal betaine exposure is reported to modulate hypothalamic cholesterol metabolism in chickens, yet it remains unknown whether feeding hens with betaine-supplemented diet may affect hypothalamic cholesterol metabolism in F1 offspring. In this study, hens were fed with basal or betaine-supplemented (0.5%) for 30days, and the eggs were collected for incubation. The hatchlings were raised under the same condition up to 56days of age. Betaine-treated group showed significantly (P<0.05) higher plasma concentration of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, together with increased hypothalamic content of total cholesterol and cholesterol ester. Concordantly, hypothalamic gene expression of SREBP2, HMGCR, and LDLR was significantly up regulated (P<0.05). Also, mRNA abundances of SREBP1, ACAT1 and APO-A1 were up-regulated, while that of CYP46A1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). These changes coincided with a significant down-regulation of BDNF and CRH, and a significant up-regulation of NPY mRNA expression. Moreover, genes involved in methyl transfer cycle were also modulated. DNMT1 and BHMT were up-regulated (P<0.05) at both mRNA and protein levels, which was associated with significant modifications of CpG methylation on the promoter of SREBP-1, SREBP-2 and APO-A1 genes as detected by bisulfate sequencing. These results indicate that feeding betaine to hens modulates hypothalamic expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism and brain functions in F1 cockerels with modification of promoter DNA methylation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preferential Osmolyte Accumulation: a Mechanism of Osmotic Stress Adaptation in Diazotrophic Bacteria

PubMed Central

Madkour, Magdy A.; Smith, Linda Tombras; Smith, Gary M.

1990-01-01

A common cellular mechanism of osmotic-stress adaptation is the intracellular accumulation of organic solutes (osmolytes). We investigated the mechanism of osmotic adaptation in the diazotrophic bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are adversely affected by high osmotic strength (i.e., soil salinity and/or drought). We used natural-abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify all the osmolytes accumulating in these strains during osmotic stress generated by 0.5 M NaCl. Evidence is presented for the accumulation of trehalose and glutamate in Azotobacter chroococcum ZSM4, proline and glutamate in Azospirillum brasilense SHS6, and trehalose and proline in K. pneumoniae. Glycine betaine was accumulated in all strains grown in culture media containing yeast extract as the sole nitrogen source. Alternative nitrogen sources (e.g., NH4Cl or casamino acids) in the culture medium did not result in measurable glycine betaine accumulation. We suggest that the mechanism of osmotic adaptation in these organisms entails the accumulation of osmolytes in hyperosmotically stressed cells resulting from either enhanced uptake from the medium (of glycine betaine, proline, and glutamate) or increased net biosynthesis (of trehalose, proline, and glutamate) or both. The preferred osmolyte in Azotobacter chroococcum ZSM4 shifted from glutamate to trehalose as a consequence of a prolonged osmotic stress. Also, the dominant osmolyte in Azospirillum brasilense SHS6 shifted from glutamate to proline accumulation as the osmotic strength of the medium increased. PMID:16348295

Dietary choline and betaine intake, choline-metabolising genetic polymorphisms and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in China.

PubMed

Du, Yu-Feng; Luo, Wei-Ping; Lin, Fang-Yu; Lian, Zhen-Qiang; Mo, Xiong-Fei; Yan, Bo; Xu, Ming; Huang, Wu-Qing; Huang, Jing; Zhang, Cai-Xia

2016-09-01

Choline and betaine are essential nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism and have been hypothesised to affect breast cancer risk. Functional polymorphisms in genes encoding choline-related one-carbon metabolism enzymes, including phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT), choline dehydrogenase (CHDH) and betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), have important roles in choline metabolism and may thus interact with dietary choline and betaine intake to modify breast cancer risk. This study aimed to investigate the interactive effect of polymorphisms in PEMT, BHMT and CHDH genes with choline/betaine intake on breast cancer risk among Chinese women. This hospital-based case-control study consecutively recruited 570 cases with histologically confirmed breast cancer and 576 age-matched (5-year interval) controls. Choline and betaine intakes were assessed by a validated FFQ, and genotyping was conducted for PEMT rs7946, CHDH rs9001 and BHMT rs3733890. OR and 95 % CI were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Compared with the highest quartile of choline intake, the lowest intake quartile showed a significant increased risk of breast cancer. The SNP PEMT rs7946, CHDH rs9001 and BHMT rs3733890 had no overall association with breast cancer, but a significant risk reduction was observed among postmenopausal women with AA genotype of BHMT rs3733890 (OR 0·49; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·98). Significant interactions were observed between choline intake and SNP PEMT rs7946 (P interaction=0·029) and BHMT rs3733890 (P interaction=0·006) in relation to breast cancer risk. Our results suggest that SNP PEMT rs7946 and BHMT rs3733890 may interact with choline intake on breast cancer risk.

Methionine kinetics in adult men: effects of dietary betaine on L-(2H3-methyl-1-13C)methionine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Storch, K.J.; Wagner, D.A.; Young, V.R.

1991-08-01

The effects of a daily 3-g supplement of betaine on kinetic aspects of L-(2H3-methyl-1-13C)methionine (MET) metabolism in healthy young adult men were explored. Four groups of four subjects each were given a control diet, based on an L-amino acid mixture supplying 29.5 and 21.9 mg.kg-1.d-1 of L-methionine and L-cystine for 4 d before the tracer study, conducted on day 5 during the fed state. Two groups received the control diet and two groups received the betaine supplement. Tracer was given intravenously (iv) or orally. The transmethylation rate of MET (TM), homocysteine remethylation (RM), and oxidation of methionine were estimated frommore » plasma methionine labeling and 13C enrichment of expired air. RM tended to increase (P = 0.14) but the TM and methionine oxidation were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher after betaine supplementation when estimated with the oral tracer. No differences were detected with the intravenous tracer. Methionine concentration in plasma obtained from blood taken from subjects in the fed state was higher (P less than 0.01) with betaine supplementation. These results suggest that excess methyl-group intake may increase the dietary requirement for methionine.« less

The Effects of Betaine on the Nuclear Fractal Dimension, Chromatin Texture, and Proliferative Activity in Hepatocytes in Mouse Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PubMed

Vesković, Milena; Labudović-Borović, Milica; Zaletel, Ivan; Rakočević, Jelena; Mladenović, Dušan; Jorgačević, Bojan; Vučević, Danijela; Radosavljević, Tatjana

2018-04-01

The effects of betaine on hepatocytes chromatin architecture changes were examined by using fractal and gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) analysis in methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into groups: (1) Control: standard diet; (2) BET: standard diet and betaine supplementation through drinking water (solution 1.5%); (3) MCD group: MCD diet for 6 weeks; (4) MCD+BET: fed with MCD diet + betaine for 6 weeks. Liver tissue was collected for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and determination of fractal dimension and GLCM parameters. MCD diet induced diffuse micro- and macrovesicular steatosis accompanied with increased Ki67-positive hepatocyte nuclei. Steatosis and Ki67 immunopositivity were less prominent in the MCD+BET group compared with the MCD group. Angular second moment (ASM) and inverse difference moment (IDM) (textural homogeneity markers) were significantly increased in the MCD+BET group versus the MCD group (p<0.001), even though no difference between the MCD and the control group was evident. Heterogeneity parameters, contrast, and correlation were significantly increased in the MCD group versus the control (p<0.001). On the other hand, betaine treatment significantly reduced correlation, contrast, and entropy compared with the MCD group (p<0.001). Betaine attenuated MCD diet-induced NAFLD by reducing fat accumulation and inhibiting hepatocyte proliferation. Betaine supplementation increased nuclear homogeneity and chromatin complexity with reduction of entropy, contrast, and correlation.

Phosphorylation of α3 Glycine Receptors Induces a Conformational Change in the Glycine-Binding Site

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Inflammatory pain sensitization is initiated by prostaglandin-induced phosphorylation of α3 glycine receptors (GlyRs) that are specifically located in inhibitory synapses on spinal pain sensory neurons. Phosphorylation reduces the magnitude of glycinergic synaptic currents, thereby disinhibiting nociceptive neurons. Although α1 and α3 subunits are both expressed on spinal nociceptive neurons, α3 is a more promising therapeutic target as its sparse expression elsewhere implies a reduced risk of side-effects. Here we compared glycine-mediated conformational changes in α1 and α3 GlyRs to identify structural differences that might be exploited in designing α3-specific analgesics. Using voltage-clamp fluorometry, we show that glycine-mediated conformational changes in the extracellular M2-M3 domain were significantly different between the two GlyR isoforms. Using a chimeric approach, we found that structural variations in the intracellular M3-M4 domain were responsible for this difference. This prompted us to test the hypothesis that phosphorylation of S346 in α3 GlyR might also induce extracellular conformation changes. We show using both voltage-clamp fluorometry and pharmacology that Ser346 phosphorylation elicits structural changes in the α3 glycine-binding site. These results provide the first direct evidence for phosphorylation-mediated extracellular conformational changes in pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, and thus suggest new loci for investigating how phosphorylation modulates structure and function in this receptor family. More importantly, by demonstrating that phosphorylation alters α3 GlyR glycine-binding site structure, they raise the possibility of developing analgesics that selectively target inflammation-modulated GlyRs. PMID:23834509

Concentrations of choline-containing compounds and betaine in common foods.

PubMed

Zeisel, Steven H; Mar, Mei-Heng; Howe, Juliette C; Holden, Joanne M

2003-05-01

Choline is important for normal membrane function, acetylcholine synthesis and methyl group metabolism; the choline requirement for humans is 550 mg/d for men (Adequate Intake). Betaine, a choline derivative, is important because of its role in the donation of methyl groups to homocysteine to form methionine. In tissues and foods, there are multiple choline compounds that contribute to total choline concentration (choline, glycerophosphocholine, phosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin). In this study, we collected representative food samples and analyzed the choline concentration of 145 common foods using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Foods with the highest total choline concentration (mg/100 g) were: beef liver (418), chicken liver (290), eggs (251), wheat germ (152), bacon (125), dried soybeans (116) and pork (103). The foods with the highest betaine concentration (mg/100 g) were: wheat bran (1339), wheat germ (1241), spinach (645), pretzels (237), shrimp (218) and wheat bread (201). A number of epidemiologic studies have examined the relationship between dietary folic acid and cancer or heart disease. It may be helpful to also consider choline intake as a confounding factor because folate and choline methyl donation can be interchangeable.

An Adapted Porter Diamond Model for the Evaluation of Transnational Education Host Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsiligiris, Vangelis

2018-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose an adapted Porter Diamond Model (PDM) that can be used by transnational education (TNE) countries and institutions as an analytical framework for the strategic evaluation of TNE host countries in terms of attractiveness for exporting higher education. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a…

Characteristics of glycine transport across the inner blood-retinal barrier.

PubMed

Okamoto, Masashi; Akanuma, Shin-ichi; Tachikawa, Masanori; Hosoya, Ken-ichi

2009-12-01

Although glycine plays a pivotal role in neurotransmission and neuromodulation in the retina and is present in high concentration in the retina, the source of retinal glycine is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate glycine transport across the inner blood-retinal barrier (inner BRB). [(14)C]Glycine transport at the inner BRB was characterized using a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2 cells) as an in vitro model of the inner BRB and in vivo vascular injection techniques. [(14)C]Glycine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells was Na(+)- and Cl(-)-dependent, and concentration-dependent with Michaelis-Menten constants of 55.4 microM and 8.02 mM, and inhibited by glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) and system A inhibitors. These uptake studies suggest that GlyT1 and system A are involved in [(14)C]glycine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that GlyT1 and system A (encoding ATA 1 and ATA2) mRNA are expressed in TR-iBRB2 cells. An in vivo study suggested that [(14)C]glycine is transported from blood to the retina whereas [(14)C]alpha-methylaminoisobutyric acid, a selective substrate for system A, is not. In conclusion, GlyT1 most likely mediates glycine transport at the inner BRB and is expected to play an important role in regulating the glycine concentration in the neural retina.

Response of growing goslings to dietary supplementation with methionine and betaine.

PubMed

Yang, Z; Wang, Z Y; Yang, H M; Zhao, F Z; Kong, L L

2016-12-01

An experiment with a 2 × 3 factorial design with two concentrations of dietary betaine (0 and 600 mg/kg) and three dietary concentrations of methionine (0, 600 and 1200 mg/kg) was conducted using goslings to estimate growth, nutrient utilisation and digestibility of amino acids from 21 to 70 d of age. Three hundred geese were randomised at 18 d of age into 6 groups with 5 replicates per treatment and 10 geese per replicate. Increasing dietary concentrations of methionine gave a linear increase in body weight and average daily gain. The coefficient of crude fat retention increased as dietary methionine increased and there was a significant non-linear response to increasing dietary methionine. Similarly, increasing supplemental methionine gave linear increases in the digestibility of methionine and cysteine. The results of this study indicated that optimal dietary supplementation of methionine could increase growth performance and methionine and cysteine utilisation in growing goslings. Betaine supplementation had no apparent sparing effect on methionine needs for growth performance, but did improve the apparent cysteine digestibility.

Glycine and a glycine dehydrogenase (GLDC) SNP as citalopram/escitalopram response biomarkers in depression: pharmacometabolomics-informed pharmacogenomics.

PubMed

Ji, Y; Hebbring, S; Zhu, H; Jenkins, G D; Biernacka, J; Snyder, K; Drews, M; Fiehn, O; Zeng, Z; Schaid, D; Mrazek, D A; Kaddurah-Daouk, R; Weinshilboum, R M

2011-01-01

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disease. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are an important class of drugs used in the treatment of MDD. However, many patients do not respond adequately to SSRI therapy. We used a pharmacometabolomics-informed pharmacogenomic research strategy to identify citalopram/escitalopram treatment outcome biomarkers. Metabolomic assay of plasma samples from 20 escitalopram remitters and 20 nonremitters showed that glycine was negatively associated with treatment outcome (P = 0.0054). This observation was pursued by genotyping tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genes encoding glycine synthesis and degradation enzymes, using 529 DNA samples from SSRI-treated MDD patients. The rs10975641 SNP in the glycine dehydrogenase (GLDC) gene was associated with treatment outcome phenotypes. Genotyping for rs10975641 was carried out in 1,245 MDD patients in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, and its presence was significant (P = 0.02) in DNA taken from these patients. These results highlight a possible role for glycine in SSRI response and illustrate the use of pharmacometabolomics to "inform" pharmacogenomics.

Characterisation of the effects on proteases of Heterodera glycines and Meloidogyne incognita second-stage juveniles by inhibitors obtained from cysts of H. glycines

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The protease inhibitor component of Heterodera glycines adult female cyst content was explored using a battery of peptide substrates and H. glycines and Meloidogyne incognita J2 as enzyme sources. Protease inhibitors were prepared by heat-denaturing cyst content to provide heated H. glycines cyst-eg...

cDNA cloning and analysis of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase, a salt inducible enzyme in sugar beet

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCue, K.F.; Hanson, A.D.

1990-05-01

Betaine accumulates and serves as a compatible osmolyte in some plants subjected to drought or salinity stress. The last enzyme in the betaine biosynthetic pathway is betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH). The activity of BADH increases in response to increasing salinity levels. This increase in activity corresponds to an increase in protein detectable by immunoblotting, and to an increase in the translatable BADH mRNA. BADH was cloned from a cDNA library constructed in {lambda}gt10 using poly(A){sup +} RNA from sugar beets salinized to 500 mM NaCl. cDNAs were size selected (>1kb) before ligation into the vector, and the library was screenedmore » with a spinach BADH cDNA probe. Three nearly full length clones obtained were confirmed as BADH by their nucleotide and deduced amino acid homology to spinach BADH. Clones averaged 1.8 kb and contained open reading frames of 500 amino acids at 80% identity with spinach BADH. RNA gel blot analysis of poly(A){sup +} RNA indicated that salinization to 500 mM NaCl resulted in a 5-fold increase of BADH mRNA level.« less