By: Christian Wawrzonek

1. By: Christian Wawrzonek The Metabolic Enhancer Effect on Microbes

2. Metabolic Enhancers Supplements taken to increase exercise duration and reduce recovery time. GNC is a common distributor of “metabolic enhancers.” Some for diet, vitamins, fitness, body care, and sports nutrition. How many of them really work? One recommended drug is L-Glutamine Powder.

3. Glutamine Claims • Decreases muscle deterioration during a workout. • Used as a fuel for cells. • May increase protein metabolism. • Can increase hormone production.

4. Glutamine • One of the 11 nonessential amino acids. • The body produces glutamine from glutamic acid and ammonia. • Found in many protein rich food sources.

5. Glutamine Uses Nitrogen carrier in the body. Precursor for immune cell division. Important for proper immune system functioning. When damaged, the body uses glutamine for repair. Studies show an increase in recovery speed and fewer infections in correlation to glutamine dosage.

6. Saccharomyces cerevisiae • Two strands of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used. • Bakers Yeast: best known for alcohol fermentation and bread baking. • Laboratory strain: used in many cell/biochemical investigations (Jones, CMU).

7. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Model • The most investigated cell in the world. • Used in microbiology due to its ease of manipulation and rapid growth. • Eukaryotic, shares similar biochemistry, cell cycle, and genetics with more advanced organisms, including humans.

8. Purpose • Do Metabolic Enhancers really work? • To determine if the metabolic enhancer L-Glutamine Powder has any effect on the population growth and cellular respiration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

9. Hypothesis and Null Hypothesis • Null Hypothesis: There will be no significant difference between the population growth and cellular respiration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the control. • Alternative Hypothesis: Glutamine supplementation will yield a faster rate of population growth and cellular respiration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

10. Sterile Side Arm Flasks L-Glutamine Powder Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Lab Strain) Sterile Micro Pipettes Sterile Macro pipettes Klett Spectrophotometer YEPD media (0.5% Yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% glucose) Sterile Deionized water Glutamine Solution (4% [ ]) Rapid Rise Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Cooking Strain), Red Star brand Micro Pipettes Macro Pipettes Balloons (23 cm Unique Industries) 125 ml Erlenmeyer Flasks Deionized Water Sucrose (1% final [ ]) 100mL Graduated Cylinders Plastic Tub Plastic Film Wrap L-Glutamine Powder (GNC Pro Performance) Materials Experiment 1 Experiment 2

11. Procedure #1 • Saccharomyces cerevisiae was grown overnight in sterile YEPD media. • A sample of the overnight culture was added to fresh media in a sterile sidearm flask. • The culture was placed in an incubator (30°C) until a density of 150 Klett spectrophotometer units was reached. This represents the stock solution of yeast. • Glutamine powder was dissolved in sterile water at a concentration of (4%). • The glutamine solution, yeast stock, YEPD media, and sterile water were added to sterile side arm flasks as follows: • The flasks were swirled to evenly dissolve glutamine solution. • Klett spectrophotometer readings were recorded at times: (0,30,60,90,120,165,210,240,285, and 1200 minutes)

13. Procedure #2 (1) Glutamine powder was dissolved in sterile water at a concentration of (4%). (2) Sugar, water, and glutamine solution were added to 12 flasks in the ratios as follows: (3) 7 grams of Red Star rapid rise Cooking Yeast was added to each flask and balloons were immediately affixed to each flask. (4) The flasks were transferred to a warm (30 C) water bath. (5) After 90 minutes of incubation, each balloon was removed from the flask (careful to prevent any leakage of gas; each balloon was pinched at the neck and twisted off).

14. Procedure#2 Continued (6) A plastic tub was filled with water. (7)Each graduated cylinder was filled with water to the brim and sealed with plastic wrap. (8)The cylinder was inverted and immersed into the water and the plastic wrap removed. (9) The balloon was placed into the water with the mouth placed into the cylinder. (10) The mouth was slowly released and the air was pumped into the graduated cylinder. The volume of gas was then recorded.

18. P>.05 P>.05 Sig. P>.05 Sig. Sig.

19. ANOVAs

20. α = 0.05 Dunnett's Tests#1 t critical = 3.22

21. Dunnett's Tests#2 α = 0.05 t critical = 3.73

22. Conclusions #1 • Alternative Hypothesis Accepted: Glutamine powder yielded a faster rate of population growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 120,240, and 285 minutes. • Failed to reject the Null Hypothesis at the time of 1200 minutes. • Dunnett’s test was significant for both concentrations at 120 and 240 minutes.

23. Conclusions #2 • Accepted Hypothesis: Glutamine supplementation significantly increased cell respiration (as measured by CO2 evolution) at all concentrations (0.5%, 0.1%, 0.01%). • Null Hypothesis Rejected • Dunnett’s test showed all concentrations significant.

24. Limitations and Extensions • Much larger sample sizes, Might require a team of researchers. • Slight variations in timing of readings for growth experiment (Only one Klett Spec available) • Possible slight variations in optical properties of side arm flasks. • Variation in the balloon elasticity (trap the gas in more quantitative manner). • Balloons placed awkwardly on flask limiting CO2 intake. Properly place balloons.

25. References • http://www.online-medical-dictionary.org/L+Glutamine.asp?q=L+Glutamine • http://mental-health.emedtv.com/glutamine/does-glutamine-work.html • http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/amino-acids/glutamine.php • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamine • http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_wtd020808.html • http://biochemie.web.med.uni-muenchen.de/Yeast_Biol/03%20Yeast%20Metabolism.pdf • http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/glutpep.html • http://mental-health.emedtv.com/glutamine/glutamine.html