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The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
906
P . VOHRA AND F . H . KRATZER
gain amounted to only 58. No mortality or feather depigmentation was observed in any of the groups. Phenylalanine appears to be essential for maintenance and growth of turkey poults but not for feather pigmentation. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Almquist, H. J., and C. R. Grau, 1944. The amino acid requirements of the chick. J. Nutrition, 28: 325-331. Eiduson, S., and M. S. Dunn, 1956. Utilization of phenylalanine, phenyllactic acid, and phenylpyruvic acid by Lactobacillus casei. J. Biol. Chem. 219: 175-180.
Dry Cleaning Slightly Soiled Eggs Versus Washing to Prevent Penetration of Spoilage Bacteria W . A.
MILLER
Department of Bacteriology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, Kansas (Received for publication January 22,1959)
I
N MOST of our previous studies on the bacteriology of soiled eggs treated in various ways, a considerable number of eggs had large quantities of material such as manure, soil, yolk, etc. adhering to the shells. Such eggs are considered "heavy dirties" by the trade, and are difficult to clean properly. Only slightly soiled eggs, i.e., "light dirties" were used in this investigation. Contribution No. 346, Department of Bacteriology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan.
The objective was to compare the efficiency of some wet cleaning treatments versus dry cleaning (sanding) to prevent penetration of spoilage bacteria. Only slightly dirty eggs could be adequately cleaned by the commercial sanding machine available in a local plant. Miller (1954) using plating methods during a storage period of several months, found that hand buffing dirty eggs with sand paper was as efficient and in some instances more efficient, in preventing penetration of bacteria, compared to hand washing in a "household" detergent, or a
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
P h e n y l a l a n i n e is e s s e n t i a l for m a i n t e n a n c e a n d g r o w t h of t u r k e y p o u l t s b u t n o t for f e a t h e r p i g m e n t a t i o n . p - F l u o r o D L - p h e n y l a l a n i n e i n h i b i t e d g r o w t h of t u r k e y p o u l t s a t 0 . 1 6 % level w h i l e /3-2-thien y l a l a n i n e a n d /3-phenylserine w e r e w i t h o u t effect.
Ferger, M. F., and V. du Vigneaud, 1949. Antiphenylalanine effect of /S-2-thienylalanine for the rat. J. Biol. Chem. 179: 61-65. Grau, C. R., and R. Steele, 1954. Phenylalanine and tyrosine utilization in normal and phenylalanine deficient young mice. J. Nutrition, 53: 59-71. Hartwell, G. A., 1923. Note on the colour changes in rats fur produced by alterations in diet. Biochem. J. 17:547-548. Kaufman, S., 1957. Enzymic conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. J. Biol. Chem. 226: 511-524. Moss, A. R., and R. Schoenheimer, 1940. The conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine in normal rats. J. Biol. Chem. 135: 419-429. National Research Council, 1954. Nutrient requirements for domestic animals. No. 1. Nutrient requirements for poultry. Shaw, K. N. F., and M. D. Armstrong, 1955. Rat growth experiments with (3-phenylserine diastereoisomers. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 88: 673-675. Udenfriend, S., and J. R. Cooper, 1952. Enzymic conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. J. Biol. Chem. 194: 503-511. Vohra, P., and F. H. Kratzer, 1957. The role of lysine in the growth and feather pigmentation of turkey poults. J. Nutrition, 63: 471-476.
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
902
L. W. CHARKEY AND P. A. THORNTON
2,000 gm. in weight, and rats, with apparently successful results. Experiments with chicks (to be reported elsewhere) have shown the method to be sensitive to the effects of certain dietary supplements, including iodinated casein. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Maclagan, N. F., and M. M. Sheahan, 1950. The measurement of oxygen consumption in small animals by a closed circuit method. J. Endocrin. 6: 456-462. Strite, G. H., and H. Yacowitz, 1956. A simplified method for estimating the rate of oxygen consumption of young chicks. Poultry Sci. 35: 142144.
The Effect of Phenylalanine Deficiency on the Growth and Feather Pigmentation of Turkey Poults PRAN VOHRA AND F. H. KRATZER Department of Poidtry Husbandry, University of California, Davis (Received for publication January 21, 1959)
P
HENYLALANINE is an essential amino acid for the growth of chicks (Almquist and Grau, 1944). By the use of isotopic techniques, it has been shown that phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in rats (Moss and Schoenheimer, 1940) and mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Enzymes catalyzing the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine have been isolated from the livers of animals (Udenfriend and Cooper, 1952; Kaufman, 1957). The reaction is not reversible since labeled tyrosine did not yield labeled phenylalanine in mice (Grau and Steele, 1954). Brown-black rats turned gray when fed diets of bread and milk which were deficient in tyrosine and tryptophan, while normal pigmentation resulted when casein diets were fed (Hartwell, 1923). Actually, bread-milk diets may have been deficient in lysine and copper also. Melanin pigments can be obtained by the action of the enzyme tyrosinase on tyrosine in vitro. In the strict sense it may be stated that phenylalanine rather than tyrosine is the precursor of melanin when the tyrosine content of the diet is restricted. If the
melanin pigments of poult feathers were also derived from tyrosine, then poults raised on tyrosine deficient diets should exhibit depigmentation of their feathers. This syndrome was observed in poults fed lysine deficient diet (Vohra and Kratzer, 1957). A number of compounds are known to act as antimetabolites for phenylalanine. /3-2-Thienylalanine inhibited the growth of rats which could be overcome by the addition of phenylalanine (Ferger and du Vigneaud, 1949). /3-Phenylserine (threo) depressed growth of rats on phenylalanine free synthetic diets (Shaw and Armstrong, 1955). /3-Fluorophenylalanine was antagonistic to phenylalanine in Lactobacillus casei (Eiduson and Dunn, 1956). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of phenylalanine deficiency on the growth of turkey poults and their feather pigmentation. EXPERIMENTAL
Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults of mixed sexes 1 to 3 days old were fed the experimental diets, they were housed in
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
A rapid, simple, closed-circuit method has been described for measuring oxygen consumption of small animals at ordinary
and practically constant temperature and pressure.
906
P . VOHRA AND F . H . KRATZER
gain amounted to only 58. No mortality or feather depigmentation was observed in any of the groups. Phenylalanine appears to be essential for maintenance and growth of turkey poults but not for feather pigmentation. SUMMARY
REFERENCES Almquist, H. J., and C. R. Grau, 1944. The amino acid requirements of the chick. J. Nutrition, 28: 325-331. Eiduson, S., and M. S. Dunn, 1956. Utilization of phenylalanine, phenyllactic acid, and phenylpyruvic acid by Lactobacillus casei. J. Biol. Chem. 219: 175-180.
Dry Cleaning Slightly Soiled Eggs Versus Washing to Prevent Penetration of Spoilage Bacteria W . A.
MILLER
Department of Bacteriology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, Kansas (Received for publication January 22,1959)
I
N MOST of our previous studies on the bacteriology of soiled eggs treated in various ways, a considerable number of eggs had large quantities of material such as manure, soil, yolk, etc. adhering to the shells. Such eggs are considered "heavy dirties" by the trade, and are difficult to clean properly. Only slightly soiled eggs, i.e., "light dirties" were used in this investigation. Contribution No. 346, Department of Bacteriology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan.
The objective was to compare the efficiency of some wet cleaning treatments versus dry cleaning (sanding) to prevent penetration of spoilage bacteria. Only slightly dirty eggs could be adequately cleaned by the commercial sanding machine available in a local plant. Miller (1954) using plating methods during a storage period of several months, found that hand buffing dirty eggs with sand paper was as efficient and in some instances more efficient, in preventing penetration of bacteria, compared to hand washing in a "household" detergent, or a
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 8, 2016
P h e n y l a l a n i n e is e s s e n t i a l for m a i n t e n a n c e a n d g r o w t h of t u r k e y p o u l t s b u t n o t for f e a t h e r p i g m e n t a t i o n . p - F l u o r o D L - p h e n y l a l a n i n e i n h i b i t e d g r o w t h of t u r k e y p o u l t s a t 0 . 1 6 % level w h i l e /3-2-thien y l a l a n i n e a n d /3-phenylserine w e r e w i t h o u t effect.
Ferger, M. F., and V. du Vigneaud, 1949. Antiphenylalanine effect of /S-2-thienylalanine for the rat. J. Biol. Chem. 179: 61-65. Grau, C. R., and R. Steele, 1954. Phenylalanine and tyrosine utilization in normal and phenylalanine deficient young mice. J. Nutrition, 53: 59-71. Hartwell, G. A., 1923. Note on the colour changes in rats fur produced by alterations in diet. Biochem. J. 17:547-548. Kaufman, S., 1957. Enzymic conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. J. Biol. Chem. 226: 511-524. Moss, A. R., and R. Schoenheimer, 1940. The conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine in normal rats. J. Biol. Chem. 135: 419-429. National Research Council, 1954. Nutrient requirements for domestic animals. No. 1. Nutrient requirements for poultry. Shaw, K. N. F., and M. D. Armstrong, 1955. Rat growth experiments with (3-phenylserine diastereoisomers. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 88: 673-675. Udenfriend, S., and J. R. Cooper, 1952. Enzymic conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. J. Biol. Chem. 194: 503-511. Vohra, P., and F. H. Kratzer, 1957. The role of lysine in the growth and feather pigmentation of turkey poults. J. Nutrition, 63: 471-476.