Rates of biosynthesis of plasma and liver proteins

¹ Departments of Biological Chemistry and Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and Department of Surgical Research, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

The rates of synthesis of plasma and liver proteins have been measured in the perfused dog liver and intact rat liver by following the rate of incorporation, over short time intervals, of carbon 14-labeled amino acids of known specific activity. The amino acid compositions of the subcellular fractions of dog liver have been determined. The perfused dog liver synthesized plasma albumin at the rate of 12 mg/min per kg liver, and plasma glycoprotein at the rate of 8 mg/min per kg liver. The rate of albumin synthesis is in reasonable agreement with studies using prelabeled albumin. Liver proteins of both rat and dog appear to contain one or more rapidly turning over fractions. Total rates of synthesis of liver proteins were found to be approximately 200 mg/min per kg liver in both species.

Key Words: carbon 14-labeled amino acids • amino acid composition of liver proteins • plasma albumin synthesis • plasma glycoprotein synthesis • dog liver fractions—mitochondria, microsomes, nuclei

Submitted on March 18, 1963

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