Figure 4.

Alterations in the levels and turnover rates of BCAAs and their keto acids, and changes in genes involved in BCAA degradation. Serum leucine concentration (A), whole body turnover rates of leucine (B), serum α-ketoisocaproate concentration (C), and whole body turnover rates of α-keto-β-methylvalerate (D), after 12 wk on LF, LB, HF, and HB diets. E: the fed-to-fasted fold-change in the expression of genes associated with BCAA degradation (Bckdha, Bckdhd, Bckdk, and Pp2cm) after 12 wk on LF, LB, HF, and HB diets. All the values are represented as means ± SE, with n = 7–16/group. Results are considered statistically significant at P ≤ 0.05 following two-way ANOVA and pairwise mean comparisons. For the groups on the low-fat diet, the mean comparisons are represented as follows: “d”—LB Fed vs. LB Fast. For the groups on the high-fat diet, the mean comparisons are represented as follows: “a”—HF Fed vs. HB Fed; “b”—HF-Fed vs. HF-Fast; “d”—HB Fed vs. HB Fast. For the hepatic gene expression profiles, comparisons are represented as follows: “a”—LF vs. LB; “b”—HF vs. HB; “c”—LF vs. HF; “d”—LB vs. HB. AU, arbitrary units; BCAA, branched-chain amino acid; Bckdk, branched-chain keto-acid dehydrogenase kinase; BCAA, branched-chain amino acid; Bckdha/b, branched-chain keto-acid dehydrogenase E1 subunit α and β; HB, high-fat diet with BCAA; HF, high-fat diet; LB, low-fat diet with BCAA; LF, low-fat die; Pp2cm, protein phosphatase 2 C mitochondrial.