Presence and origin of large amounts of D-proline in the urine of mutant mice lacking D-amino acid oxidase activity

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2006 Oct;386(3):705-11. doi: 10.1007/s00216-006-0594-z. Epub 2006 Jul 26.

Abstract

Using a column-switching HPLC system combining a micro-ODS column and a chiral column, the amounts of D-proline (D-Pro) have been determined in 18 tissues, plasma and urine of mice. To avoid the enzymatic degradation of D-amino acids in vivo, a mutant mouse strain lacking D-amino acid oxidase activity (ddY/DAO(-) mouse) was used. In the brain, relatively large amounts of D-Pro were observed in the anterior pituitary, posterior pituitary and pineal glands. In the peripheral tissues, the amounts of D-Pro were high in the pancreas and kidney. Above all, it is surprising that the ddY/DAO(-) mice excreted large amounts of D-Pro in their urine (433 nmol/mL, 20 times that of L-Pro). The origin of D-Pro has also been investigated. By comparing germ-free mice and gnotobiotic mice, intestinal bacteria were shown to have no effect on the urinary D-Pro amount. Concerning the dietary origin, a notable amount of D-Pro was still excreted in the urine after starvation for 4 days, suggesting that some of the D-Pro is produced in the mice. Age-dependent changes in the urinary D-Pro amount have also been investigated from the postnatal 1st month up to 12 months, and ddY/DAO(-) mice were found to excrete large amounts of D-Pro in the urine constantly throughout their lives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / urine*
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • D-Amino-Acid Oxidase / deficiency*
  • D-Amino-Acid Oxidase / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Organ Specificity
  • Proline / blood
  • Proline / chemistry*
  • Proline / urine*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Proline
  • D-Amino-Acid Oxidase