Glutaric acidemia type II: gene structure and mutations of the electron transfer flavoprotein:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF:QO) gene.

Glutaric acidemia type II is a human inborn error of metabolism which can be due to defects in either subunit of electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) or in ETF:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF:QO), but few disease-causing mutations have been described. The ETF:QO gene is located on 4q33, and contains 13 exons. Primers to amplify these exons are presented, together with mutations identified by molecular analysis of 20 ETF:QO-deficient patients.

Protein quality and quantity influence free amino acid levels in the brain and serum of rats during lactation.

Diets containing 11 or 21% protein supplied by wheat, wheat + lysine + threonine or casein + methionine were fed to pregnant rats from conception until d 4 or 8 of lactation. Dams then were decapitated, serum was collected and brains and left inguinal-abdominal mammary glands were quickly excised and weighed. Serum and brains were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70 degrees C.

Effect of dietary protein and environmental factors on lactation performance in rats.

The effects of dietary protein and environmental conditions on lactation performance in rats were evaluated. Female rats were fed from conception until day 9 of lactation diets containing 21% wheat protein (21W), 21% casein + methionine (21CM) or 11% casein + methionine (11CM). At parturition, dams were kept in their normal environment (20 degrees C) or were exposed to crowded conditions or an elevated ambient temperature (30 degrees C).