Glutamine regulates glutamine synthetase expression in skeletal muscle cells in culture.

Metabolite control of glutamine synthetase expression (by glutamine) was studied in L6 skeletal muscle cells. Depletion of glutamine from the culture medium for 24 hours resulted in a 3-4-fold increase in glutamine synthetase activity. This effect was blocked by cycloheximide but not by actinomycin D. Addition of glutamine to L6 cells maintained in glutamine-free medium caused a rapid return of glutamine synthetase activity to the control level. As reported, dexamethasone caused a striking increase in the glutamine synthetase mRNA level. In contrast, neither depletion nor addition of glutamine caused a change in the glutamine synthetase mRNA level. Therefore, regulation of glutamine synthetase by glutamine is exerted at a post-transcriptional level.