Circadian Variation in the Uptake of Tryptophan by Cortical Synaptosomes of the Rat Brain

The kinetics of the high affinity uptake system for L-tryptophan (L-Try)have been measured over 24 hr in cortical synaptosome preparations of rat brain. Both the Km and Vmax, of the uptake process showed a statistically significant 24 hr variation. The highest Km value, 6.71 ± 10-5 M, was measured at the beginning of the light phase and the lowest value, 4.23 ± 10-5 M, 6 hr into the dark phase. Vmax was highest at the end of the dark phase (10.43 nmol/mg/5 min) and lowest (4.80 nmol/mg/5 min) 3 hr into the dark phase. In contrast, there was no variation over 24 hr in the Vmax/Km ratio. These results suggest that the high affinity uptake process serves to ensure a constant rate of L-tryptophan entry into the neuron in the face of circadian or ultradian variations in extracellular concentration of tryptophan.