Alterations in one‑carbon metabolism and protein synthesis signals due to methionine supplementation and lipopolysaccharide challenge in Holstein fetal liver explants

One‑carbon metabolism (OCM) fueled by methionine (Met), choline, and folic acid is key for embryo development and fetal growth. We investigated effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation in fetal liver tissue with or without Met on components of OCM and protein synthesis activity. Fetal liver harvested at slaughter from six multiparous pregnant Holstein dairy cows (37 ± 6 kg milk/d, 100 ± 3 d gestation) were incubated (0.2 ± 0.02 g) for 4 h at 37 °C with each of the following: ideal profile of amino acids (control; Lysine:Met 2.9:1), control plus LPS (1 μg/mL), increased Met supply (Met, Lys:Met 2.5:1), and Met+LPS. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial (PROC MIXED, SAS 9.4). Ratios of mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR:mTOR) and eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (p-eEF2:eEF2) protein were lowest (P < 0.0 5) with LPS and highest with Met. Tissue amino acid concentrations were lowest (P < 0.0 5) with Met regardless of LPS suggesting enhanced use via mTOR. The marked increase (P = 0.02) in phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein (p-RPS6) with LPS suggested a pro-inflammatory response that was partly alleviated with Met+LPS. No effect (P = 0.4 5) on methionine adenosyl transferase 1 A (MAT1A) protein abundance was detected. Activity of betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) was greatest with Met, but Met+LPS dampened this effect (P = 0.0 5). Overall, fetal liver responds to inflammatory challenges and Met supply. The latter can stimulate protein synthesis via mTOR and alter some OCM reactions while having a modest anti-inflammatory effect.