Does the polyamine carrier system absorb basic amino acids?

Transport of histidine, valine, or lysine into rat brain slices and across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was determined in the presence of atypical nonprotein amino acids. Competitors of histidine and valine transport in slices were large neutral amino acids including norleucine, norvaline, alpha-aminooctanoate, beta-methylphenylalanine, and alpha-aminophenylacetate. Less effective were aromatic amino acids with ring substituents; ineffective were basic amino acids and omega-amino isomers of norleucine and aminooctanoate. Lysine transport was moderately depressed by homoarginine or ornithine plus arginine; large neutral amino acids were also similarly inhibitory. Histidine or valine transport across the BBB was also strongly inhibited by large neutral amino acids that were the most effective competitors in the slices (norvaline, norleucine, alpha-aminooctanoate, and alpha-aminophenylacetate); homoarginine and 8-aminooctanoate were ineffective. Homoarginine, ornithine, and arginine almost completely blocked lysine transport, but the large neutral amino acids were barely inhibitory. When rats were fed a single meal containing individual atypical large neutral amino acids or homoarginine, brain pools of certain large neutral amino acids or of arginine and lysine, respectively, were depleted.

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THE BASIC AMINO ACIDS OF WOOL

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(18)76908-1 ◽

1930 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 107-111

Author(s):

Hubert Bradford Vickery ◽

Richard J. Block

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Basic Amino Acids

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THE BASIC AMINO ACIDS OF SERUM PROTEINS

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(18)75772-4 ◽

1934 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 347-350

Author(s):

Richard J. Block ◽

Daniel C. Darrow ◽

M. Katherine Cary

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Serum Proteins ◽

Basic Amino Acids

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Effects of Basic Amino Acids and Their Derivatives on SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza-A Virus Infection

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13071301 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1301

Author(s):

Ivonne Melano ◽

Li-Lan Kuo ◽

Yan-Chung Lo ◽

Po-Wei Sung ◽

Ni Tien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Enveloped Viruses ◽

Virus Attachment ◽

Basic Amino Acids ◽

Ester Derivative ◽

Endosomal Acidification

Amino acids have been implicated with virus infection and replication. Here, we demonstrate the effects of two basic amino acids, arginine and lysine, and their ester derivatives on infection of two enveloped viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza A virus. We found that lysine and its ester derivative can efficiently block infection of both viruses in vitro. Furthermore, the arginine ester derivative caused a significant boost in virus infection. Studies on their mechanism of action revealed that the compounds potentially disturb virus uncoating rather than virus attachment and endosomal acidification. Our findings suggest that lysine supplementation and the reduction of arginine-rich food intake can be considered as prophylactic and therapeutic regimens against these viruses while also providing a paradigm for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals.

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