Effect of protein depletion and subsequent repletion on in vivo incorporation of ( 14 C) amino acid into rat liver proteins in riboflavin deficiency.

The effect of riboflavin deficiency on in vivo incorporation of [1-14C] leucine into proteins of liver has been studied on rats following protein depletion and subsequent repletion. The increase in the incorporation of [14C] amino acid into liver proteins follow ing protein depletion was less marked in riboflavin-deficient rats. But repletion with 40% protein demonstrated marked diminished protein incorporation in riboflavin-deficient rats compared to pair-fed control rats. Riboflavin deficiency does not show any alteration in the liver protein con centration following any of the dietary treatments. It is concluded that there occurs less synthesis and diminished rate of break down of liver proteins in riboflavin deficiency following protein depletion , and repletion with high protein diet following protein depletion causes diminished protein synthesis as well as reduced protein breakdown in liver of riboflavin deficient rats and consequently liver protein concentration remains unchanged .