Shi O, Morris S M, Zoghbi H, Porter C W, O'Brien W E
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Mol Cell Biol. 2001 Feb;21(3):811-3. doi: 10.1128/MCB.21.3.811-813.2001.
Mammals express two isoforms of arginase, designated types I and II. Arginase I is a component of the urea cycle, and inherited defects in arginase I have deleterious consequences in humans. In contrast, the physiologic role of arginase II has not been defined, and no deficiencies in arginase II have been identified in humans. Mice with a disruption in the arginase II gene were created to investigate the role of this enzyme. Homozygous arginase II-deficient mice were viable and apparently indistinguishable from wild-type mice, except for an elevated plasma arginine level which indicates that arginase II plays an important role in arginine homeostasis.
哺乳动物表达两种精氨酸酶同工型,分别称为I型和II型。精氨酸酶I是尿素循环的一个组成部分,精氨酸酶I的遗传性缺陷在人类中会产生有害后果。相比之下,精氨酸酶II的生理作用尚未明确,且在人类中尚未发现精氨酸酶II缺乏的情况。为了研究这种酶的作用,构建了精氨酸酶II基因缺失的小鼠。纯合精氨酸酶II缺陷型小鼠能够存活,除了血浆精氨酸水平升高外,与野生型小鼠明显无异,这表明精氨酸酶II在精氨酸稳态中起重要作用。