Evaluation of Norepinephrine Effects on Phosphorous
Metabolism with 31P NMR
Erin Haase, and Leah Tucker
12/14/04
Abstract
Norepinephrine (NE) is an adrenergic drug that increases cellular demands for ATP utilization
and synthesis. This increases the need for phosphagen breakdown. 31P NMR was used to
measure whether NE (100mM) increased earthworm phospholombricine utilization. Spectra
from the 31P NMR showed a significant increase in the free phosphate (p=0.0005) signal at ppm
2-1, and a significant decrease in the signal intensity for the terminal phosphate of
phospholombricine (PL) at ppm 4-6 (p=0.0004). This study suggests that phospholombricine NE
is an earthworm stimulant and that 31P NMR can be used to evaluate changes in earthworm
phosphagen status.
Introduction
Norepinephrine is an adrenergic drug that evokes a physiological response similar to those
produced by the sympathetic adrenergic nerves. (Levy 1965) There are different types of
adrenergic receptors that are affected by norepinephrine. (Bennett 1996) The two main types, αadrenergic and β-adrenergic receptors have different physiological effects on the organism.
(Bennett 1996) Alpha-adrenergic receptors are mainly excitatory.
Humans use the phosphagen phosphocreatine as an inorganic phosphorous donor to maintain the
ATP supply. (Figure 1) Phosphagens are energy rich phosphate compounds closely linked to
ATP. (Fox 1984) Phosphagens are stored in muscle cells and when they are dephosphorylated, a
large amount of energy is released (7.3kJ/mole). (Brown 1992) This energy released is used to
re-phosphorylate ADP to ATP. Once the energy supplies of phosphocreatine run out the body
turns to glycolysis and aerobic energy sources.
Figure 1 Mechanism of action for the donation of
inorganic phosphorous from phosphocreatine to ADP which forms ATP
Humans use phosphocreatine; earthworms use a different phosphagen, as their inorganic
phosphorous source, for maintaining ATP supplies, called phospholombricine. (Watts
1968, Hoffmann 1981) Phospholombricine has a terminal phosphate (PL) group similar
to that of phosphocreatine which is readily cleaved off when energy and a Pi are required
to regenerate ATP from ADP in the earthworm. (Figure 2) ADP then accepts the high
energy phosphate group to regenerate ATP from ADP. (Suzuki 1994) ATP is a high
energy source when its γ phosphate is cleaved there is a large amount of energy released,
7.3 kJ, which is used to attach inorganic phosphorous to ADP. (Nelson 2005)
This Phosphate is indicated as (PL)
Phosphate indicated as (Pi)
Figure 2 the mechanism of action for the phospholombricine (PL) peak attaching to adenosine diphosphate to form adenosine tri-phosphate
31
P NMR can be used to evaluate changes in the Pi peak (2-1ppm), the terminal PL of
lombricine (4-6ppm), and the internal structural phosphate (L-PL) (0ppm). (Figure 2)
Thus, in 31P-NMR spectra two peaks are detected, the phosphoryl group of the
phosphagen and the structural phosphodiester of lombricine and phospholombricine.
(Wilson 1992)
Earthworms should be an excellent organism for studying the metabolic changes
following exposure of norepinephrine. Adrenergics, like norepinephrine and epinephrine
are ubiquitous to many organisms including earthworms. (Bieger 1972)
Phospholombricine, unique to earthworms, has a structural phosphate that can be
measured as an internal marker with 31P NMR. (Wilson 1992) Earthworms also have α
adnrenergic receptors which are necessary for norepinephrine to have an effect on
earthworm metabolism. (Tanaka 1983) Earthworms were selected for this experiment
because they are invertebrates, meaning permission to do the study from IACUC is not
needed, earthworms are also readily available.
This study used 31P NMR to determine if NE has a stimulatory effect on earthworm
phosphorous metabolism. Stimulation should cause increased ATP usage.
Norepinephrine exposure should also cause the terminal phosphate on phospholombricine
to be cleaved off and donated to ADP in order to maintain ATP levels. It should be
possible to measure changes in the terminal phosphate relative to the internal
phosphorous that phospholombricine contains.
Materials and Methods
Animals
Specimens of the earthworm, Eisenia fetida were obtained from the West End bait shop
in Winona, MN. Earthworms were placed in an ice bucket while in the plastic container
they were purchased in until use for 31P-NMR. Earthworms were purchased on the same
day 31P-NMR experiments were performed.
31
P-NMR Spectroscopy
The settings for the experiment were based on the settings used by Wilson, et. al., 1992.
31
P-NMR spectra were collected using a JEOL ECX-300 spectrophotometer with variable
temperature capability operating at 121.65 MHz. Each scan represented 2,000 scans and
512 data points. There was proton decoupling and the sweep width was 8.22368 kHz.
The temperature was set at 8° C. Prior to adding any earthworms, the NMR was gradient
shimmed on 2 ml of 50% D2O and 50% H2O. Then 2 earthworms were added to each
sample to be run. The earthworms were placed in a 5 ml tube immediately prior to the
experiment, and the periods of data collection were not longer than 20 minutes.
The NMR was set up as follows:
The LF course was set to X, the LF Tune was set to 2294, and the probe-match was set to
3448. On the computer desk top click on the icon shortcut to delta. Then click on the
magnet picture which is located to the left of the ? icon. Click on sample then select the
solvent which for this experiment was D2O. Place a 5 mm NMR tube which has a 50%
D2O and 50% H2O solution into the NMR and gradient shim. The button to do this is
located under the lock control section and has a picture of a padlock which is locked with
some green lines in the background. To load the sample press the ↓ green arrow. After
the sample is loaded press the auto lock button under the lock control section. Then press
experiment which is located in the spectrometer control box. Under filename, select the
single pulse.ex2. Select the auto_gain box. Under Instrument select the solvent used
which was D2O. Under Acquisition select Phorphorous31 in the x_domain, x_offset is 0,
x_sweep is 54ppm, x_points is 512, scans is 2000, prescans is 4, and mod_return is 1.
Under the section Pulse, the x_angle is 78°, and the relaxation delay is set to 0.5s. After
this is set press save so you can retrieve your settings for future experiments instead of resetting everything. Select the Submit button. Set up the external cooling by attaching the
liquid nitrogen carboy to the NMR machine. Then under Sample set the Temperature to
8°C. Under the Spectrometer Control box hit the GO button which is surrounded by a
green circle.
While the set-up of 31P NMR was being completed, norepinephrine was solubilized in
double de-ionized water, making a 0.1M solution. Norepinephrine was purchased from
Sigma Chemical Co. A 10 cm petri dish with a 9 cm piece of Whatmann’s filter paper in
it, and 5 ml of 0.1M norepinephrine(sample), or water(control) distributed onto the filter
paper was set up for each sample. Two earthworms were placed on each petri dish, and 5
ml of 0.1M norepinephrine was distributed onto the filter paper. The control was set up
in the same manner except there wasn’t any norepinephrine added to the double deionized water. The earthworms were placed on the papers for five minutes each. After
exposure to norepinephrine, or water, the worms were placed as gently as possible into a
5 ml NMR tube. If a 10 ml tube can be used it would be beneficial as an alternative to
the 5 ml tube. This will prevent an undesired amount of stress on the earthworm from the
insertion into the tube. This stress may cause an unwanted increase in ATP synthesis.
Statistical Data
The mean and standard deviation of 31P peak identity, ppm, and intensity was taken from
the 31P NMR spectra. The intensity of the internal phosphate of the phospholombricine
(L-PL) peak was used as 100% because it is found in every molecule of
phospholombricine in the reaction regardless of whether the terminal Pi is attached (LPL) or not (LP). The percent of the PL and Pi peaks were taken as percentages of the LPL. The percentage that the Pi varied between the control and NE treated worms was
placed into Jump and statistical analysis was performed. The percentage that the PL peak
changed between control and NE treated worms was also placed into Jump and addition
statistical analysis is performed.
Results
31
P NMR spectra for norepinephrine treated and control earthworms, are represented in
figures 3 and 4. The ppm ranges found in both control and NE spectra for the peaks Pi,
PL, L-PL, -phosphate, -phosphate, and -phosphate are displayed in table I.
Statistical data gathered from the 31PNMR spectra is shown in table 2. Table 2 also
shows percent comparisons found between the phospholombricine (PL) peaks and the
inorganic phosphorous (Pi) peaks as a percent of the internal phosphate (L-PL). The
graph created in Jump expressing the control and norepinephrine data for the Pi is found
in figure 6. The graph created in Jump expressing the control and norepinephrine date
for PL is found in figure 7. Statistical analysis results found by Jump for the Pi data are
shown in table III, and those for PL are shown in table IV.
Control 31P NMR Trials
Figure 3 Control 1, 2, and 3 represent the 31P NMRs. The peak indicated with orange is the internal
phosphorus found in phospholombricine. This peak for statistical purposes was 100%. The peak
indicated with the pink is the terminal PL peak. This is the phosphorus at the end of the
phospholombricine while still attached. The peak indicated in green is Pi. This is the phosphorus while
not attached to the phospholobricine.
Norepinephrine 31P NMR Trial Data
Figure 4 These are the three norepinephrine 31P NMRs. The orange peak is the internal phosphorus of
the phospholombricine. The green peak is the Pi, which is the free phosphorus. The pink peak is the
terminal PL peak. This is the peak that indicates the second phosphorus molecule of the
phospholobricine. It indicates the phosphorus is still attached to the phospholombricine.
peak assignments
Pi
PL
L-PL
-phosphate
-phosphate
-phosphate
ppm range
2 to 1 ppm
-4 to -6 ppm
0 ppm
-6 to -8 ppm
-9 to -12 ppm
-17 to -20 ppm
Table I ppm values for the Pi (free phosphate) peak, PL (phospholombricine) peak, L-PL (internal
phospholombricine) peak, and the  adenosine phosphate peaks found in the 31P NMR
Peaks
Trial One
Represented %
Control
L-PL
100%
PL
77.7%
Pi
22.2%
Trial Two
%
Control
100%
75.9%
24.1%
Trial
Three%
Control
100%
73.3%
26.6%
Trial Four
%
NE
100%
52.0%
48.0%
Trial Five
%
NE
100%
56.3%
43.7%
Trial Six
%
NE
100%
50.6%
49.6%
Table II Percent comparisons found between the PL and Pi 31P NMR peaks (figures 4 and 5) in the tested
worms, L-PL is representative of 100%, the PL and Pi are percentages of the L-PL peak
% inorganic Phosphate
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
Control
Treated
Column 1
Figure 5 Control and NE treated differences in the % inorganic phosphate (Pi) peaks found on the 31 P
NMR spectra
80
% Phospholobricine
75
70
65
60
55
50
Control
Treated
Column 1
Figure 6 Control and NE treated percentage differences for the phospholombricine (PL) peak found on the
31
P NMR spectra
t-Test Results for Inorganic Phosphate (Pi)
Standard Error Differential
Upper Curve Differential
Lower Curve Differential
Confidence
Probability (p value)
2.174
28.838
16.764
0.95 = 95%
0.0005
Table III t-test results given by Jump, the standard error differential gives the range of error probable for
each % difference of Pi peaks between the NE treated and the control spectra, upper curve differential gives
the upper end of the probable curve for the difference in Pi peaks, lower curve differential gives the lower
end of the probable curve for the Pi peaks, the confidence gives level of confidence that future data
collected will be between the upper curve and lower curve differential
t-Test Results for Phospholombricine (PL)
Standard Error Differential
Upper Curve Differential
Lower Curve Differential
Confidence
Probability (p value)
2.138
-16.73
-28.604
.95 = 95%
.0004
Table IV t-test results given by Jump, the standard error differential gives the range of error probable for
each % difference of PL peaks between the NE treated and the control spectra, upper curve differential
gives the upper end of the probable curve for the difference in PL peaks, lower curve differential gives the
lower end of the probable curve for the Pi peaks, the confidence gives level of confidence that future data
collected will be between the upper curve and lower curve differential
Discussion
This study suggests that exposure of norepinephrine to organisms with α adrenergic
receptors will increase ATP synthesis demand. There was a marked decrease in signal
intensity of the PL peak, and the Pi peak following NE exposure rose. (Table II) The PL
phosphate of phospholombricine was cleaved and used as a free inorganic phosphate to
combine with ADP in the synthesis of ATP. Statistical analysis shows that
norepinephrine creates a significant increase in the Pi peak (p=0.0005) and a marked
decrease in the PL peak (p=0.0004). This suggests the hypothesis that NE would increase
ATP usage resulting in an increased depletion of PL. At the same time, free Pi should
accumulate and the signal intensity for this peak increased following NE exposure.
In summary, this study showed that the adrenergic drug, NE had an effect on
phosphorous metabolism in earthworms. The experiment also showed that 31P NMR can
be used to quantitatively measure those changes in phosphorous metabolism of living
earthworms that adrenergic drugs cause. This study may be useful in the future to study
other adrenergic drug effects, and the methods may also prove beneficial to future 31P
NMR uses.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. Ted E.F. Wilson for his guidance and suggestions. Special thanks
also go to Dr. Thomas W. Nalli for his knowledge and suggestions with NMR
procedures, and to Dr. Christopher Malone for his assistance with statistical data. This
paper is for fulfillment of the Capstone research project required for graduation from
Winona State University. The work done for this paper was performed at Winona State
University and supplies were received from the Departments of Biology and Chemistry at
Winona State University. Drs. Ted E.F. Wilson and Thomas W. Nalli also supplied
required materials.
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