Creatine Synthesis Is a Major Metabolic Process in Neonatal Piglets and Has Important Implications for Amino Acid Metabolism and Methyl Balance ,

Abstract

Our objectives in this study were as follows: 1) to determine the rate of creatine accretion by the neonatal piglet; 2) identify the sources of this creatine; 3) measure the activities of the enzymes of creatine synthesis; and 4) to estimate the burden that endogenous creatine synthesis places on the metabolism of the 3 amino acids required for this synthesis: glycine, arginine, and methionine. We found that piglets acquire 12.5 mmol of total creatine (creatine plus creatine phosphate) between 4 and 11 d of age. As much as one-quarter of creatine accretion in neonatal piglets may be provided by sow milk and three-quarters by de novo synthesis by piglets. This rate of creatine synthesis makes very large demands on arginine and methionine metabolism, although the magnitude of the demand depends on the rate of remethylation of homocysteine and of reamidination of ornithine. Of the 2 enzymes of creatine synthesis, we found high activity of l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase in piglet kidneys and pancreas and of guanidinoacetate methyltransferase in piglet livers. Piglet livers also had appreciable activities of methionine adenosyltransferase, which synthesizes S-adenosylmethionine, and of betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase, methionine synthase, and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, which are required for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Creatine synthesis is a quantitatively major metabolic process in piglets.

Response to weaning and dietary l-glutamine supplementation: metabolomic analysis in piglets by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

“…Creatinine is produced from creatine metabolism and is related to arginine and proline metabolism (Deminice et al, 2009). An amount of creatine and amino acids are provided by sow milk as piglets suckle from the sow (Brosnan et al, 2009), which suggests that more creatine is ingested in suckling piglets and more creatinine is converted from the creatine (Wyss and KaddurahDaouk, 2000). The increasing creatinine concentration in Gln-supplemented piglets may be from the nonenzymatic degradation of creatine and ingested creatinine, due to the fact that Gln can afford the substrates for creatine synthesis indirectly (Brosnan et al, 2009;Deminice et al, 2009) and improve the absorption of dietary nutrients .…”

“…An amount of creatine and amino acids are provided by sow milk as piglets suckle from the sow (Brosnan et al, 2009), which suggests that more creatine is ingested in suckling piglets and more creatinine is converted from the creatine (Wyss and KaddurahDaouk, 2000). The increasing creatinine concentration in Gln-supplemented piglets may be from the nonenzymatic degradation of creatine and ingested creatinine, due to the fact that Gln can afford the substrates for creatine synthesis indirectly (Brosnan et al, 2009;Deminice et al, 2009) and improve the absorption of dietary nutrients . These novel data from the metabolomic study provide crucial insight into cellular metabolic alterations of creatine and creatinine in response to weaning and dietary Gln supplementation.…”

The Relationship Between Guanidino Acetic Acid and Metabolisable Energy Level of Diets on Performance of Broiler Chickens

“…Guanidino acetic acid is synthesised in the liver and kidney from arginine and glycine then acted upon by the enzyme transamidinase and subsequently methylated by S-adenosyl-methione to creatine (Borsook and Dubnoff, 1940;Wyss and Kaddurah-Daouk, 2000). The need for creatine is age-dependent, higher amounts are needed by growing animals for muscle growth vs adults (Brosnan et al, 2009). Furthermore, it has an important role as an energy carrier in the cells (Walker, 1979).…”

Effect of diets with different levels of guanidinoacetic acid on newly weaned piglets

“…Two enzymes are involved in its synthesis, l-arginine glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT), as well as the amino acids glycine, methionine, and especially arginine (BROSNAN et al, 2009). The synthesis begins with the formation of guanidinoacetic acid, which is converted into creatine and then enters the muscle tissue, where it is phosphorylated and stored in the form of phosphocreatine (LEMME et al, 2007).…”