Effects of niacin deficiency on the relative turnover rates of proteins in various tissues of Japanese quail

Abstract

1. 1. The effects of niacin deficiency on the relative turnover rates of proteins in various tissues of Japanese quail were investigated. 2. 2. The level of liver NAD was not affected by niacin deficiency whereas the level of pectoral muscle NAD was markedly reduced. 3. 3. In all dietary treatments the liver had the highest turnover rates of proteins, heart and brain had intermediate rates, and pectoral muscle had the lowest rates. 4. 4. Relative turnover rates of proteins in all tissues (particularly pectoral muscle) of the niacin deficient group were significantly higher than those of pair-fed control group, although there were no significant differences in turnover rate between pair-fed control and control groups. 5. 5. The high turnover rate of proteins in niacin deficiency was primarily attributed to enhanced degradation rate of proteins rather than enhanced synthesis rate of proteins. 6. 6. Optical density scanning (or densitometric) of water-soluble pectoral muscle proteins separated by isoelectric focusing revealed several additional minor protein bands between major protein bands in the niacin deficient group which were more pronounced in the acidic region of the gel. 7. 7. These results suggest that proteins with a low pI value in pectoral muscle of the niacin deficient animal are highly sensitive to protein degradation.