1985 Volume 27 Issue 8 Pages 1141-1147
We found unidentified factor (s) which catalyzes methylguanidine synthesis from crea tinine in rat liver homogenate. This activity was brought about by heating the liver homo genate at 60°C for 10 minuets, but disappeared by heating over 80°C. In addition, this activity was inhibited completely by the addition of unheated homogenate. These results suggested that there might be stimulatory and inhibitory factor (s) of methylguanidine synthesis in rat liver homogenate. This activity was also found in the homogenate of the kidney and lung after heat treat-ment. However, the muscle, red blood cell, serum and stool had no activity of methylguani-dine synthesis with or without heating at 60°C for 10 minuets. Glutathione (final concentration 2 mg/ml) inhibited this activity completely. α-tocopherol (5 mg/ml) and ascorbic acid (1 mg/ml) inhibited this activity partially. These results present a clue to clarify the mechanism of methylguanidine synthesis in vivo.
