Metabolism of glycerate-2,3-P2--VII. Enzymes involved in the metabolism of glycerate-2,3-P2 in cat tissues

The levels of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of glycerate-2,3-P2 (phosphoglycerate mutase, bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase and bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase) in cat and in pig tissues are different. The main difference is the low level of bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase in cat tissues. As a consequence, in contrast with pig erythrocytes, in cat erythrocytes, both the synthesis and the breakdown of glycerate-2,3-P2 are mainly controlled by phosphoglycerate mutase.     

Metabolism of glycerate-2,3-P2--IV. Effect of Hg2+ on the enzymes involved in the metabolism of glycerate-2,3-P2 in pig skeletal muscle

Type M phosphoglycerate mutase and skeletal muscle bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase from pig are similarly affected by Hg2+. Both enzymes lose the phosphoglycerate mutase and the glycerate-2,3-P2 synthase activities, and increase the glycerate-2,3-P2 phosphatase activity upon Hg2+-treatment. In contrast, bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase from pig skeletal muscle is inactivated by Hg2+. These results confirm the similarity between phosphoglycerate mutase and bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase. In addition they support the existence of separate binding sites for monophosphoglycerates and for bisphosphoglycerates at the phosphoglycerate mutase active site.     

Metabolism of glucose 1,6-P2--II. Glucose 1,6-P2 phosphatase in pig muscle

Most of the glucose 1,6-P2 phosphatase activity of pig skeletal muscle is present in the cytosolic fraction. Four peaks of glucose 1,6-P2 phosphatase activity are obtained when the cytosolic fraction from pig muscle is subjected to DE-cellulose chromatography. All the peaks hydrolyze other phosphocompounds in addition to glucose 1,6-P2. The glucose 1,6-P2 phosphatase activity of the main peak shows an optimal neutral pH. It is activated by divalent cations, Mg2+ being more effective than Mn2+. The addition of Ca2+ or EGTA does not affect the enzymatic activity. IMP does not possess any effect. It is concluded that this enzyme is different from the glucose 1,6-P2 phosphatases found in mouse brain cytosol and rat skeletal muscle.     

Metabolism of glucose 1,6-P2. I. Enzymes involved in the synthesis of glucose 1,6-P2 in pig tissues

Pig tissues show four enzymatic activities of glucose 1,6-P2 synthesis: (A) 2 [glucose 1-P]----glucose 1,6-P2 + glucose; (B) glucose 1-P + ATP----glucose 1,6-P2 + ADP; (C) glucose 1-P + fructose 1,6-P2----glucose 1,6-P2 + fructose 6-P; (D) glucose 1-P + glycerate 1,3-P2----glucose 1,6-P2 + glycerate 3-P. Brain is the tissue with highest capability of glucose 1,6-P2 synthesis. With the exception of skeletal muscle, activity "D" represents the highest activity of glucose 1,6-P2 synthesis. In muscle, activity "B" is the major activity. The existence of a specific glucose 1,6-P2 synthase which catalyzes reaction "D" is confirmed. Two peaks of such an enzyme are isolated by ion-exchange chromatography. There is an enzyme which specifically catalyzes reaction "C", not previously described. There is a glucose 1-P kinase not identical to phosphofructokinase.     

Enzymes involved in hepatic acylglycerol metabolism in the chicken

In laying hens, massive hepatic mobilization of fatty acids is required for the synthesis of oocyte-targeted very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL). The current study aims at identification of enzymes that hydrolyze hepatic acylglycerol stores regulated in a fashion compatible with supporting enhanced VLDL synthesis. We show that unlike mammals, chickens express adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) also in liver, where it is upregulated by fasting, while the enzyme patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing lipase 3 (PNPLA3) is suppressed. For the first time in any system, we show that hepatic arylacetamide deacetylase (AADA) is upregulated by fasting, and that its affinity for an insoluble carboxylester substrate is compatible with an in-vivo function similar to that of ATGL. Unknown heretofore, hepatic expression of chicken AADA is estrogen-responsive, and is induced to the same degree as the stimulation of VLDL-production by estrogen. These observations support roles of chicken ATGL, PNPLA3, and AADA in acylglycerol metabolism related to the high rates of VLDL synthesis that are essential for reproduction.     

Phytase activity in chicken erythrocytes and its control by organic phosphates (glycerate-2,3-P2 and inositol-P5) during avian development

The activity and basic kinetic constants of phytase were studied in chicken erythrocytes during animal development. The regulatory inhibition of phytase by IHP and 2,3-BPG takes place at key stages of the development. As in mammals, there is a specific control of the levels of organic phosphate involved in the oxygenation process of haemoglobin, during animal development.     

Metabolism of glucose 1,6-P2--III. Partial purification and characterization of glucose 1,6-P2 synthase from pig skeletal muscle

1. Glycerate 1,3-P2-dependent glucose, 1,6-P2 synthase has been purified 2000-fold from pig skeletal muscle, with a yield of 75%. 2. The enzyme possesses fructose 1,6-P2-dependent glucose 1,6-P2 synthase and phosphoglucomutase activities, which represent 0.1 and 60% of the main activity, respectively. 3. Both glucose 1-P and glucose 6-P can act as acceptors of the phosphoryl group from glycerate 1,3-P2. 4. The Km values are 19 microM and 67 nM for glucose 1-P and glycerate 1,3-P2, respectively. 5. The enzyme is inhibited by glycerate 2,3-P2, fructose 1,6-P2, glycerate 3-P, phosphoenolpyruvate and lithium, the inhibition pattern varying with the compound.     

Contractile activity modifies Fru-2,6-P(2) metabolism in rabbit fast twitch skeletal muscle.

Modification of muscular contractile patterns by denervation and chronic low frequency stimulation induces structural, physiological, and biochemical alterations in fast twitch skeletal muscles. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is a potent activator of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase, a key regulatory enzyme of glycolysis in animal tissues. The concentration of Fru-2,6-P(2) depends on the activity of the bifunctional enzyme, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2), which catalyzes the synthesis and degradation of this metabolite. This enzyme has several isoforms, the relative abundance of which depends on the tissue metabolic properties. Skeletal muscle expresses two of these isoforms; it mainly contains the muscle isozyme (M-type) and a small amount of the liver isozyme (L-type), whose expression is under hormonal control. Moreover, contractile activity regulates expression of muscular proteins related with glucose metabolism. Fast twitch rabbit skeletal muscle denervation or chronic low frequency stimulation can provide information about the regulation of this enzyme. Our results show an increase in Fru-2,6-P(2) concentration after 2 days of denervation or stimulation. In denervated muscle, this increase is mediated by a rise in liver PFK-2/FBPase-2 isozyme, while in stimulated muscle it is mediated by a rise in muscle PFK-2/FBPase-2 isozyme. In conclusion, our results show that contractile activity could alter the expression of PFK-2/FBPase-2.     

Enzymes with phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity in chicken skeletal muscle and liver

1. Four enzymes with phosphoglycolate phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.18) activity have been detected in extracts of chicken skeletal muscle and liver analyzed by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. 2. Two enzymes have been found in muscle extracts. One of them acts on glycerate 2,3-P2, in addition to glycolate 2-P. 3. Liver extracts contain two additional enzymes with broad specificity.     

Carbohydrate metabolism in human skeletal muscle during exercise is not regulated by G-1,6-P2

Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (G-1,6-P2) is a potent activator of phosphofructokinase (PFK) and an inhibitor of hexokinase in vitro. It has been suggested that increases in G-1,6-P2 are a main means by which PFK can achieve significant catalytic function in vivo despite falling pH and that increases in G-1,6-P2 will inhibit hexokinase in vivo. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether contraction-induced changes in flux through PFK and hexokinase are associated with changes in G-1,6-P2 in skeletal muscle. Ten men performed bicycle exercise for 10 min at 40 and 75% of maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) and to fatigue [4.8 +/- 0.6 (SE) min] at 100% VO2max. Biopsies were obtained from the quadriceps femoris muscle at rest and after each work load and analyzed for G-1,6-P2. G-1,6-P2 averaged 111 +/- 13 mumol/kg dry wt at rest and 121 +/- 16, 123 +/- 15, and 123 +/- 11 mumol/kg dry wt after the low-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise bouts, respectively (P less than 0.05 for all means vs. rest). Flux through PFK was estimated to increase exponentially as the exercise intensity increased and muscle pH decreased at the higher work loads, whereas flux through hexokinase was estimated to increase during exercise at 40 and 75% VO2max but decrease sharply at 100% VO2max. These data demonstrate that flux through neither PFK nor hexokinase is mediated by changes in G-1,6-P2 in human skeletal muscle during short-term dynamic exercise.     

Metabolism of glycerate 2,3-P2--XI. Essential amino acids of pig phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes

Phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes (types M, B and MB) from pig tissues are inactivated upon treatment with reagents specific for histidyl, arginyl and lysyl residues. Their mutase, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase activities are concurrently lost, although some differences exist in the rate of inactivation. No significant differences are observed between the isozymes. The reversion of the modifying reactions reactivates the three enzymatic activities. Substrates and cofactors protect against inactivation, the protective effects varying with the modifying reagent. Titration with pCMB shows the existence of two essential thiol groups per subunit type M. These results provide evidence of the intrinsic character of the three enzymatic activities, favor their location at the same active site and suggest the existence of separate binding sites for monophosphoglycerates and bisphophoglycerates. Both type M and B subunit from pig phosphoglycerate mutase are similar to type M subunit from rabbit and to the enzyme from yeast.     

Metabolism of glycerate 2,3-P2--XII. Characterization of the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase and of the hybrid phosphoglycerate mutase/2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase from pig brain

2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase and the hybrid phosphoglycerate mutase/2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase have been partially purified from pig brain. Their 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase and phosphoglycerate mutase activities are concurrently lost upon heating and treatment with reagents specific for histidyl, arginyl and lysyl residues. The two enzymes differ in their thermal stability and sensitivity to tetrathionate. Substrates and cofactors protect against inactivation, the protective effects varying with the modifying reagent. The synthase activity of both enzymes shows a nonhyperbolic pattern which fits to a second degree polynomial. The Km, Ki and optimum pH values are similar to those of the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase from erythrocytes and the hybrid enzyme from skeletal muscle. The synthase activity is inhibited by inorganic phosphate and it is stimulated by glycolyate 2-P.     

Effects of vanadate and insulin on glucose 1,6-P2 and fructose 2,6-P2 levels in rat skeletal muscle

Levels of glucose 1,6-P2 but not fructose 2,6-P2 were found decreased in skeletal muscle of alloxan-diabetic ketotic rats. Administration of both insulin and vanadate restored the altered values without affecting fructose 2,6-P2 concentrations. In normal rats, insulin increased muscle levels of both sugars, and vanadate decreased glucose 1,6-P2 without changing fructose 2,6-P2 levels. Enzymatic activities involved in glucose 1,6-P2 and fructose 2,6-P2 metabolism were not affected under any experimental condition.     

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.