Fructose induced deactivation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and its prevention by pyruvate: Implications in cataract prevention

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) is an important lens enzyme diverting about 14% of the tissue glucose to the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. The main function of such a pronounced activity of the enzyme is to support reductive biosyntheses, as well as to maintain a reducing environment in the tissue so as to prevent oxy-radical induced damage and consequent cataract formation. Sugars are one of the well-known cataractogenic agents. Several reports suggest that the cataractogenic effect of the sugars in diabetes as well as in normal aging is initiated by the glycation of the proteins including the enzymes and subsequent formation of more complex and biologically inactive or harmful structures. In a diabetic lens the concentration of fructose exceeds significantly the concentration of glucose, suggesting that the contribution of fructosylation may be greater than that of glucosylation. These studies were undertaken to examine further the possibility that in addition to glycation, generation of oxygen free radicals by fructose and consequent oxidative modifications in certain enzymes may be an important participant in the cataractogenic process. This hypothesis was tested by using G6PDH. The enzyme was incubated with various levels of fructose (0-20 mM) and its activity determined as a function of time. This led to a significant loss of its activity, which was prevented by superoxide dismutase, catalase, mannitol and myoinositol. Most interestingly, pyruvate at levels between 0.2 and 1.0 mM also offered substantial protection. Hence, the results, while elucidating further the mechanism of enzyme deactivation by sugars such as fructose, also demonstrate the possibility of therapeutic prevention of cataracts by pyruvate and other such keto acids, in diabetes and other disabilities involving oxygen free radicals in the pathogenetic process.     

Fructose-mediated damage to lens alpha-crystallin: prevention by pyruvate

Post-translational modifications in lens crystallins due to glycation and oxidation have been suggested to play a significant role in the development of cataracts associated with aging and diabetes. We have previously shown that alpha-keto acids, like pyruvate, can protect the lens against oxidation. We hypothesize that they can also prevent the glycation of proteins competitively by forming a Schiff base between their free keto groups and the free -NH(2) groups of protein as well as subsequently inhibit the oxidative conversion of the initial glycation product to advanced glycation end products (AGE). The purpose of this study was to investigate these possibilities using purified crystallins. The crystallins isolated from bovine lenses were incubated with fructose in the absence and presence of pyruvate. The post-incubation mixtures were analyzed for fructose binding to the crystallins, AGE formation, and the generation of high molecular weight (HMW) proteins. In parallel experiments, the keto acid was replaced by catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), or diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). This was done to ascertain oxidative mode of pyruvate effects. Interestingly, the glycation and consequent formation of AGE from alpha-crystallin was more pronounced than from beta-, and gamma-crystallins. The changes in the crystallins brought about by incubation with fructose were prevented by pyruvate. Catalase, SOD, and DTPA were also effective. The results suggest that pyruvate prevents against fructose-mediated changes by inhibiting the initial glycation reaction as well as the conversion of the initial glycated product to AGE. Hence it is effective in early as well as late phases of the reactions associated with the formation of HMW crystallin aggregates.     

Effect of glycation on alpha-crystallin structure and chaperone-like function

The chaperone-like activity of alpha-crystallin is considered to play an important role in the maintenance of the transparency of the eye lens. However, in the case of aging and in diabetes, the chaperone function of alpha-crystallin is compromized, resulting in cataract formation. Several post-translational modifications, including non-enzymatic glycation, have been shown to affect the chaperone function of alpha-crystallin in aging and in diabetes. A variety of agents have been identified as the predominant sources for the formation of AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) in various tissues, including the lens. Nevertheless, glycation of alpha-crystallin with various sugars has resulted in divergent results. In the present in vitro study, we have investigated the effect of glucose, fructose, G6P (glucose 6-phosphate) and MGO (methylglyoxal), which represent the major classes of glycating agents, on the structure and chaperone function of alpha-crystallin. Modification of alpha-crystallin with all four agents resulted in the formation of glycated protein, increased AGE fluorescence, protein cross-linking and HMM (high-molecular-mass) aggregation. Interestingly, these glycation-related profiles were found to vary with different glycating agents. For instance, CML [N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine] was the predominant AGE formed upon glycation of alpha-crystallin with these agents. Although fructose and MGO caused significant conformational changes, there were no significant structural perturbations with glucose and G6P. With the exception of MGO modification, glycation with other sugars resulted in decreased chaperone activity in aggregation assays. However, modification with all four sugars led to the loss of chaperone activity as assessed using an enzyme inactivation assay. Glycation-induced loss of alpha-crystallin chaperone activity was associated with decreased hydrophobicity. Furthermore, alpha-crystallin isolated from glycated TSP (total lens soluble protein) had also increased AGE fluorescence, CML formation and diminished chaperone activity. These results indicate the susceptibility of alpha-crystallin to non-enzymatic glycation by various sugars and their derivatives, whose levels are elevated in diabetes. We also describe the effects of glycation on the structure and chaperone-like activity of alpha-crystallin.     

Carnosine protects against the inactivation of esterase induced by glycation and a steroid

Carnosine, an endogenous histidine-containing dipeptide, protects protein from oxidation and glycation, which may contribute to a potential treatment for some conformational diseases including cataract. Glycation, the non-enzymic reaction of sugars with proteins, promotes cross-linking and further aggregation. Prolonged use of glucocorticoids is a risk factor for cataract, as is diabetes. Esterase activity in the lens is decreased in senile cataract and diabetes. Previously, we reported that glycation and a steroid inactivate esterase. Here we tested the inactivation of esterase with fructose, fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) and ribose as model glycation reactions and prednisolone-21-hemisuccinate (P-21-H) as a model steroid and investigated the ability of carnosine to protect esterase against inactivation. The activity of esterase was measured by a spectrophotometric assay using p-nitrophenyl acetate as the substrate. The modified esterase was examined electrophoretically. The esterase was progressively inactivated by F6P, fructose, ribose and P-21-H. P-21-H was more effective than the sugars. Carnosine significantly inhibited the inactivation of esterase induced by all four compounds. Carnosine decreased the extent of the cross-linking. These results provide further evidence for carnosine's role as an anti-glycation compound. It is also proposed that carnosine may be an anti-steroid agent.     

Glycation-induced inactivation of aspartate aminotransferase, effect of uric acid

Glycation is common posttranslational modification of proteins impairing their function, which occurs during diabetes mellitus and aging. Beside extracellular glycation of long-lived proteins, intracellular modifications of short-lived proteins by more reactive sugars like fructose are possible. The process includes free oxygen radicals (glycoxidation). In an attempt to reduce glycoxidation and formation of advanced glycation products (AGE), influence of 0.2–1.2 mM uric acid as endogenous antioxidant on glycoxidation of purified pig heart aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 50 mM and 500 mM D-fructose in vitro was studied. Uric acid at 1.2 mM concentration reduced AST activity decrease and formation of total AGE products caused by incubation in vitro of the enzyme with sugar up to 25 days at 37 °C. The results thus support the hypothesis that uric acid has beneficial effects in controlling protein glycoxidation. The in vitro system AST-fructose proved to be a useful tool for investigation of glycation process. (Mol Cell Biochem 278: 85–92, 2005)     

Prevention of lens protein glycation by taurine

Modifications in lens protein structure and function due to nonenzymic glycosylation and oxidation have been suggested to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of sugar and senile cataracts. The glycation reaction involves an initial Schiff base formation between the protein NH₂ groups and the carbonyl group of a reducing sugar. The Schiff base then undergoes several structural modifications, via some oxidative reactions involving oxygen free radicals. Hence certain endogenous tissue components that may inhibit the formation of protein-sugar adduct formation may have a sparing effect against the cataractogenic effects of sugars and reactive oxygen. The eye lens is endowed with significant concentration of taurine, a sulfonated amino acid, and its precursor hypotaurine. It is hypothesized that taurine and hypotaurine may have this purported function of protecting the lens proteins against glycation and subsequent denaturation, in addition to their other functions. The results presented herein suggest that these compounds are indeed capable of protecting glycation competitively by forming Schiff bases with sugar carbonyls, and thereby preventing the glycation of lens proteins per se. In addition, they appear to prevent oxidative damage by scavenging hydroxyl radicals. This was apparent by their preventive effect against the formation of the thiobarbituric acid reactive material generated from deoxy-ribose, when the later was exposed to hydroxyl radicals generated by the action of xanthine oxidase on hypoxanthine in presence of iron.     

Inactivation and loss of antigenicity of esterase by sugars and a steroid.

Glycation, the non-enzymic reaction of sugars with proteins, has an important role in the complications of diabetes. It has been studied mostly in structural proteins but more recently has been shown to inactivate enzymes. Previous evidence from our laboratory indicated that glycation-induced inactivation and loss of antigenicity of catalase and superoxide dismutase are simultaneous. Esterase, which decreases activity in the lens in senile cataract and diabetes, was measured by a spectrophotometric assay using p-nitrophenyl acetate as the substrate. Here we investigated the inactivation of carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) by sugars of different glycating power and prednisolone-21-hemisuccinate while simultaneously monitoring the loss of antigenicity. Antigenicity was assessed by immunoprecipitation and by dot-blotting the glycated and non-glycated fractions of enzymes separated by affinity chromatography. Ribose and fructose inactivated more rapidly than glucose and glucose 6-phosphate. The esterase was progressively inactivated by prednisolone-21-hemisuccinate at a lower concentration. Activity and antigenicity were lost simultaneously. The glycated enzyme had entirely lost its antigenicity. These results further support the idea that inactivation of enzyme and loss of antigenicity are simultaneous.     

Enzymes involved in l-lactate metabolism in humans

l-lactate formation occurs via the reduction of pyruvate catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase. l-lactate removal takes place via its oxidation into pyruvate, which may be oxidized or converted into glucose. Pyruvate oxidation involves the cooperative effort of pyruvate dehydrogenase, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Enzymes of the gluconeogenesis pathway sequentially convert pyruvate into glucose. In addition, pyruvate may undergo reversible transamination to alanine by alanine aminotransferase. Enzymes involved in l-lactate metabolism are crucial to diabetes pathophysiology and therapy. Elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase concentration has been associated with insulin resistance. Polymorphisms in the G6PC2 gene have been associated with fasting glucose concentration and insulin secretion. In diabetes patients, pyruvate dehydrogenase is down-regulated and the activity of pyruvate carboxylase is diminished in the pancreatic islets. Inhibitors of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase are being investigated as potential therapy for type 2 diabetes. In addition, enzymes implicated in l-lactate metabolism have revealed to be important in cancer cell homeostasis. Many human tumors have higher LDH5 levels than normal tissues. The LDHC gene is expressed in a broad range of tumors. The activation of PDH is a potential mediator in the body response that protects against cancer and PDH activation has been observed to reduce glioblastoma growth. The expression of PDK1 may serve as a biomarker of poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Mitochondrial DNA mutations have been detected in a number of human cancers. Genes encoding succinate dehydrogenase have tumor suppressor functions and consequently mutations in these genes may cause a variety of tumors.     

The molecular chaperone,alpha-crystallin,protects against loss of antigenicity and activity of esterase caused by sugars,sugar phosphate and a steroid

Previously we showed that glycation-induced inactivation and loss of antigenicity of enzymes occur simultaneously. Alpha-crystallin, a major structural protein of the mammalian lens, prevents the aggregation of other proteins and protects enzyme function against post-translational modification in vitro. However, it is not known whether alpha-crystallin can also protect against loss of antigenicity of enzymes. Esterase activity in the lens is decreased in senile cataract and diabetes. We investigated the loss of antigenicity of esterase caused by different insults and the ability of alpha-crystallin to protect. Inactivation of carboxylesterase by sugars, fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) and a steroid, prednisolone-21-hemisuccinate (P-21-H), was measured spectrophotometrically in the presence and absence of alpha-crystallin, while loss of antigenicity was monitored simultaneously using an immunoprecipitation method. The esterase was progressively inactivated by fructose, F6P, ribose, and P-21-H. Bovine alpha-crystallin fully protected against inactivation of esterase by all four compounds, and also protected against loss of antigenicity of the esterase by fructose, ribose and P-21-H at a molar ratio of 1:1. The results indicated that alpha-crystallin, under our experimental conditions, clearly exhibited the ability to prevent loss of antigenicity and inactivation of esterase. The protective effect of alpha-crystallin against loss of antigenicity indicates a novel aspect of its chaperoning function.     

Multiple enzyme forms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO

Both NAD- and NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) (EC 1.2.1.12) activities were detected in glucose-grown cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO. After growth on gluconeogenic substrates such as citrate, the activity of the NAD-G3PDH was reduced severalfold in contrast to little change for the NADP-G3PDH. The two G3PDH activities could be separated by ammonium sulphate fractionation. PAGE revealed the presence of two G3PDH isoenzymes of 140 (NADP-specific) and 315 (NAD-specific) kDa. Slight differences were observed in the thermostabilities and pH optima of the two enzymes whereas the regulation of their activities by various compounds varied strongly. The NADP-G3PDH enzyme was activated by ATP, reduced NAD, and fructose 6-phosphate. It was inhibited by fructose 1,6-diphosphate and 6-phosphogluconate. The NAD-G3PDH enzyme was inhibited by ATP, reduced NAD, and 6-phosphogluconate; it was slightly activated by reduced NADP. The possible roles of these isoenzymes in the control of hexose catabolism and gluconeogenesis in P. aeruginosa are discussed.     

Characterization of mannitol metabolism in the mangrove red algaCaloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J.Agardh

A metabolic pathway, known as the mannitol cycle in fungi, has been identified as a new entity in the eulittoral mangrove red algaCaloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J. Agardh. Three specific enzymes, mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (Mt1PDH; EC 1.1.1.17), mannitol-1-phosphatase (MtlPase; EC 3.1.3.22), mannitol dehydrogenase (MtDH; EC 1.1.1.67) and one nonspecific hexokinase (HK; EC 2.7.1.1) were determined and biochemically characterized in cell-free extracts. Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase showed activity maxima at pH 7.0 [fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) reduction] and pH 8.5 [oxidation of mannitol-1-phosphate (Mt1P)], and a very high specificity for both carbohydrate substrates. TheK _m values were 1.4 mM for F6P, 0.09 mM for MOP, 0.020 mM for NADH and 0.023 mM for NAD⁺. For the dephosphorylation of MOP, MtlPase exhibited a pH optimum at 7.2, aK _m value of 1.2 mM and a high requirement of Mg²⁺ for activation. Mannitol dehydrogenase had activity maxima at pH 7.0 (fructose reduction) and pH 9.8 (mannitol oxidation), and was less substrate-specific than Mt1PDH and MtlPase, i.e. it also catalyzed reactions in the oxidative direction with arabitol (64.9%), sorbitol (31%) and xylitol (24.8%). This enzyme showedK _m values of 39 mM for fructose, 7.9 mM for mannitol, 0.14 mM for NADH and 0.075 mM for NAD⁺. For the non-specific HK, only theK _m values for fructose (0.19 mM) and glucose (7.5 mM) were determined. The activities of the anabolic enzymes Mt1PDH and MtlPase were always at least two orders of magnitude higher than those of the degradative enzymes, indicating a net carbon flow towards a high intracellular mannitol pool. The function of mannitol metabolism inC. leprieurii as a biochemical adaptation to the environmental extremes in the mangrove habitat is discussed.Abbreviations F6P fructose-6-phosphate - HK hexokinase - Mt1P mannitol-1-phosphate - Mt1PDH mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase - Mt1Pase mannitol-1-phosphatase - MtDH mannitol dehydrogenase     

Fructose induced deactivation of antioxidant enzymes: preventive effect of pyruvate

Glycation initiated changes in tissue proteins, which are triggered by the Schiff base formation between the sugar carbonyl and the protein -NH2, have been suggested to play an important role in the development of diabetes-related pathological changes such as the formation of cataracts. While the initial reaction takes place by the interaction of >C=O of the parent sugars with the -NH2 of proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependent generation of more reactive dicarbonyl derivatives from the oxidation of sugars also plays a significant role in these changes, altering the structural as well as functional properties of proteins. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) could be affected by the high levels of fructose prevalent in diabetic lenses. Incubation of the enzymes with this sugar led to a significant loss of their activities. GAPDH was inactivated within a day. This was followed by the inactivation of catalase (3-4 days) and SOD (6 days). The loss of the activities was prevented significantly by incorporation of pyruvate in the incubation mixture. The protective effect is ascribable to its ability to competitively inhibit glycation as well as to its ROS scavenging activity. Hence, it could play a significant role in the maintenance of lens physiology and cataract prevention.     

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion does not require activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase: impact of adenovirus-mediated overexpression of PDH kinase and PDH phosphate phosphatase in pancreatic islets

Glucose-stimulated increases in mitochondrial metabolism are generally thought to be important for the activation of insulin secretion. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) is a key regulatory enzyme, believed to govern the rate of pyruvate entry into the citrate cycle. We show here that elevated glucose concentrations (16 or 30 vs 3 mM) cause an increase in PDH activity in both isolated rat islets, and in a clonal beta-cell line (MIN6). However, increases in PDH activity elicited with either dichloroacetate, or by adenoviral expression of the catalytic subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase, were without effect on glucose-induced increases in mitochondrial pyridine nucleotide levels, or cytosolic ATP concentration, in MIN6 cells, and insulin secretion from isolated rat islets. Similarly, the above parameters were unaffected by blockade of the glucose-induced increase in PDH activity by adenovirus-mediated over-expression of PDH kinase (PDK). Thus, activation of the PDH complex plays an unexpectedly minor role in stimulating glucose metabolism and in triggering insulin release.     

Catabolism of D-fructose and D-ribose by Pseudomonas doudoroffii. I. Physiological studies and mutant analysis.

Pseudomonas doudoroffii, a strict aerobe of marine origin, was able to utilize fructose and ribose but not glucose, gluconate, or other hexoses, pentoses, or sugar alcohols as sole sources of carbon and energy. Evidence was presented indicating that in this organism fructose was utilized via an inducible P-enolpyruvate: fructose phosphotransferase system (FPTS) which catalyzed the phosphorylation of fructose in the 1 position. The resulting fructose-1-P (F-1-P) was converted to fructose-1,6-P2 (FDP) by means of an inducible 1-P-fructokinase (1-PFK). The subsequent conversion of FDP to pyruvate involved enzymes of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway (EMP) which, with the exception of glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase (G3PDH), were constitutive. Two G3PDH activities were detected, one of which was inducible and NAD-dependent while the other was constitutive and NADP-dependent. Cell-free extracts of P. doudoroffii also contained enzymes of the methylglyoxal pathway (MGP) which converted dihydroxyacetone-P to pyruvate. The low specific activities of enzymes of this pathway as compared to the EMP suggested that the major route of FDP catabolism was via the latter pathway. 2. Ribose catabolism appeared to involve an inducible uptake system and an inducible ribokinase, the resulting ribose-5-P being converted to glyceraldehyde-3-P and fructose-6-P (F-6-P) by means of constitutive activities of the pentose-P pathway. The F-6-P formed as a result of these reactions was converted to FDP by means of a constitutive 6-P-fructokinase (6-PFK). Since no activity converting fructose or F-1-P to F-6-P could be detected in cell-free extracts of P. doudoroffii, the results suggested that fructose and ribose were catabolized via 1-PFK and 6-PFK, respectively, the two pathways converging at the level of FDP. Further evidence for this suggestion was obtained from a mutant which lacked an NAD-dependent G3PDH, accumulated FDP from both fructose and ribose, and was not able to grow on either of these compounds. 3. Ribose grown cells had increased amounts of the fructose uptake system and 1-PFK suggesting that a compound (or compounds) common to the catabolism of both fructose and ribose acted as the inducer(s) of these activities. Evidence was presented suggesting that the probable inducer(s) of 1-PFK and FPTS could be FDP, glyceraldehyde-3-P, or dihydroxyacetone-P. 4. A mutant unable to grow on fructose was characterized and found to lack FPTS while retaining 1-PFK and other enzyme activities of the EMP and MGP, indicating that a functional FPTS was essential for growth on fructose and suggesting that all or most of this sugar was catabolized via F-1-P.     

Identification of the site of glycation of γ-II-crystallin by (14C)-fructose

Cataract formation in diabetes may be via non-enzymic glycosylation (glycation) of lens proteins due to increased concentrations of sugars present in the lenses of diabetic patients. The objective of this project was to identify the site(s) of glycation of bovine γ-II-crystallin by [¹⁴C]fructose. γ-II-crystallin was isolated from soluble lens nucleus proteins by gel chromatography, followed by ion-exchange chromatography and was then glycated by incubation with [¹⁴C]fructose. Radioactively labelled γ-II-crystallin was cleaved with trypsin. Affinity chromatography of the tryptic peptides gave a single main peak containing the majority of the radioactivity. This indicated that fructose had reacted at a single site on the protein. Amino acid analysis of this peptide showed it to contain only lysine and a trace amount of glycine. By relating the results of the amino acid analysis to the amino acid sequence of γ-II-crystallin, it was concluded that the labelled peptide corresponded to the N-terminal dipeptide. The site of glycation of bovine γ-II-crystallin by fructose was thereby identified as the α-NH₂ group of the N-terminal glycine.     

Comparison of glycation of glutathione S-transferase by methylglyoxal, glucose or fructose

Glycation is a process closely related to the aging and pathogenesis of diabetic complications. In this process, reactive α-dicarbonyl compounds (e.g., methylglyoxal) cause protein modification accompanied with potential loss of their biological activity and persistence of damaged molecules in tissues. We suppose that glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a group of cytosolic biotransformation enzymes, may be modified by glycation in vivo, which would provide a rationale of its use as a model protein for studying glycation reactions. Glycation of GST by methylglyoxal, fructose, and glucose in vitro was studied. The course of protein glycation was evaluated using the following criteria: enzyme activity, formation of advanced glycation end-products using fluorescence and western blotting, amine content, protein conformation, cross linking and aggregation, and changes in molecular charge of GST. The ongoing glycation by methylglyoxal 2 mM resulted in pronounced decrease in the GST activity. It also led to the loss of 14 primary amino groups, which was accompanied by changes in protein mobility during native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Formation of cross links with molecular weight of 75 kDa was observed. Obtained results can contribute to understanding of changes, which proceed in metabolism of xenobiotics during diabetes mellitus and ageing.     

The in situ assay of Candida albicans enzymes during yeast growth and germ-tube formation

Conditions are described for the preparation of permeabilized cells of Candida albicans. This method has been used for the in situ assay of enzymes in both yeast cells and germ-tube forming cells. A mixture of toluene/ethanol/Triton X-100 (1:4:0.2, by vol.) at 15% (v/v) and 8% (v/v) was optimal for the in situ assay of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in yeast and germ-tube forming cells, respectively. The concentration of toluene/ethanol/Triton X-100 required for optimal in situ activity of other enzymes was influenced by the cellular location of the enzyme, growth phase and morphology. The membrane-bound enzymes (chitin synthase, glucan synthase, ATPase), cytosolic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase, alkaline phosphatase, glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase and N-acetylglucosamine kinase) and wall enzymes (beta-glucosidase and acid phosphatase) were measured and compared to the activity obtained in cell extracts. The pattern of enzyme induction and the properties of the allosteric enzymes phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase were measured in situ. Pyruvate kinase in situ was homotropic for phosphoenolpyruvate with a Hill coefficient of 1.9 and a S0.5 of 0.6 mM, whereas in cell extracts, it had a Hill coefficient of 1.9 and a S0.5 of 1.0 mM. The Km for ATP was 1.6 mM in cell extracts and 1.8 mM in permeabilized cells. In situ phosphofructokinase was homotropic for fructose 6-phosphate (S0.5 of 2.3 mM, Hill coefficient of 4.0). The kinetic properties of pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase measured in situ or in vitro were similar for both yeast cells and germ-tube forming cells.     

Fructose induced deactivation of antioxidant enzymes: Preventive effect of pyruvate

Glycation initiated changes in tissue proteins, which are triggered by the Schiff base formation between the sugar carbonyl and the protein -NH₂, have been suggested to play an important role in the development of diabetes-related pathological changes such as the formation of cataracts. While the initial reaction takes place by the interaction of >C=O of the parent sugars with the -NH₂ of proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependent generation of more reactive dicarbonyl derivatives from the oxidation of sugars also plays a significant role in these changes, altering the structural as well as functional properties of proteins. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) could be affected by the high levels of fructose prevalent in diabetic lenses. Incubation of the enzymes with this sugar led to a significant loss of their activities. GAPDH was inactivated within a day. This was followed by the inactivation of catalase (3–4 days) and SOD (6 days). The loss of the activities was prevented significantly by incorporation of pyruvate in the incubation mixture. The protective effect is ascribable to its ability to competitively inhibit glycation as well as to its ROS scavenging activity. Hence, it could play a significant role in the maintenance of lens physiology and cataract prevention.     

A comparison of the properties of the pyruvate kinases of the fat body and flight muscle of the adult male desert locust

1. The pyruvate kinases of the desert locust fat body and flight muscle were partially purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation. 2. The fat-body enzyme is allosterically activated by very low (1mum) concentrations of fructose 1,6-diphosphate, whereas the flight-muscle enzyme is unaffected by this metabolite at physiological pH. 3. Flight-muscle pyruvate kinase is activated by preincubation at 25 degrees for 5min., whereas the fat-body enzyme is unaffected by such treatment. 4. Both enzymes require 1-2mm-ADP for maximal activity and are inhibited at higher concentrations. With the fat-body enzyme inhibition by ADP is prevented by the presence of fructose 1,6-diphosphate. 5. Both enzymes are inhibited by ATP, half-maximal inhibition occurring at about 5mm-ATP. With the fat-body enzyme ATP inhibition can be reversed by fructose 1,6-diphosphate. 6. The fat-body enzyme exhibits maximal activity at about pH7.2 and the activity decreases rapidly above this pH. This inactivation at high pH is not observed in the presence of fructose 1,6-diphosphate, i.e. maximum stimulating effects of fructose 1,6-diphosphate are observed at high pH. The flight-muscle enzyme exhibits two optima, one at about pH7.2 as with the fat-body enzyme and the other at about pH8.5. Stimulation of the enzyme activity by fructose 1,6-diphosphate was observed at pH8.5 and above.     

Comparative kinetic studies on the L-type pyruvate kinase from rat liver and the enzyme phosphorylated by cyclic 3', 5'-AMP-stimulated protein kinase.

The kinetics of rat liver L-type pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40), phosphorylated with cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase from the same source, and the unphosphorylated enzyme have been compared. The effects of pH and various concentrations of substrates, Mg2+, K+ and modifiers were studied. In the absence of fructose 1, 6-diphosphate at pH 7.3, the phosphorylated pyruvate kinase appeared to have a lower affinity for phosphoenolpyruvate (K0.5=0.8 mM) than the unphosphorylated enzyme (K0.5=0.3 mM). The enzyme activity vs. phosphoenolpyruvate concentration curve was more sigmoidal for the phosphorylated enzyme with a Hill coefficient of 2.6 compared to 1.6 for the unphosphorylated enzyme. Fructose 1, 6-diphosphate increased the apparent affinity of both enzyme forms for phosphoenolpyruvate. At saturating concentrations of this activator, the kinetics of both enzyme forms were transformed to approximately the same hyperbolic curve, with a Hill coefficient of 1.0 and K0.5 of about 0.04 mM for phosphoenolpyruvate. The apparent affinity of the enzyme for fructose 1, 6-diphosphate was high at 0.2 mM phosphoenolpyruvate with a K0.5=0.06 muM for the unphosphorylated pyruvate kinase and 0.13 muM for the phosphorylated enzyme. However, in the presence of 0.5 mM alanine plus 1.5 mM ATP, a higher fructose 1, 6-diphosphate concentration was needed for activation, with K0.5 of 0.4 muM for the unphosphorylated enzyme and of 1.4 muM for the phosphorylated enzyme. The results obtained strongly indicate that phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase may also inhibit the enzyme in vivo. Such an inhibition should be important during gluconeogenesis.