Glutamotransferase in the Chick Embryo during Incubation

Abstract

IN recent years the role of glutamine in the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds and in peptide synthesis has attracted increasing attention¹. Much may be learned about the function of a compound in fundamental biochemical processes by studying the enzymatic system concerned with its metabolism during growth and differentiation. As a first contribution to this problem, we wish to report on the distribution of glutamotransferase in the chick embryo during development. This enzyme catalyses the exchange of the amide group with hydroxylamine or other amines. For full activity, glutamotransferase from mammalian and avian tissue requires manganous salt, phosphate and traces of adenosine triphosphate.