Enteral glutamine infusion modulates ubiquitination of heat shock proteins, Grp-75 and Apg-2, in the human duodenal mucosa

Glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in the human body, plays several important roles in the intestine. Previous studies showed that glutamine may affect protein expression by regulating ubiquitin-proteasome system. We thus aimed to evaluate the effects of gl utamine on ubiquitinated proteins in human duodenal mucosa. Five healthy male volunteers were included and received during 5 h, on two occasions and in a random order, either an enteral infusion of maltodextrins alone (0.25 g kg(-1) h(-1), control), mimicking carbohydrate-fed state, or maltodextrins with glutamine (0.117 g kg(-1) h(-1), glutamine). Endoscopic duodenal biopsies were then taken. Total cellular protein extracts were separated by 2D gel electrophoresis and analyzed by an immunodetection using anti-ubiquitin antibody. Differentially ubiquitinated proteins were then identified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization MS/MS. Five proteins were differentially ubiquitinated between control and glutamine conditions. Among these proteins, we identified two chaperone proteins, Grp75 and hsp74. Grp75 was less ubiquitinated after glutamine infusion compared with control. In contrast, hsp74, also called Apg-2, was more ubiquitinated after glutamine. In conclusion, we provide evidence that glutamine may regulate ubiquitination processes of specific proteins, i.e., Grp75 and Apg-2. Grp75 has protective and anti-inflammatory properties, while Apg-2 indirectly regulates stress-induced cell survival and proliferation through interaction with ZO-1. Further studies should confirm these results in stress conditions.