Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and its phosphorothioate analogue. Comparison of their hydrolysis and action on glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes.

Purified chicken liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase was phosphorylated either from fructose 2,6-bis[2-32P]phosphate or fructose 2-phosphoro[35S]thioate 6-phosphate. The turnover of the thiophosphorylated enzyme intermediate as well as the overall phosphatase reaction was four times faster than with authentic fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Fructose 2-phosphorothioate 6-phosphate was 10-100-fold less potent than authentic fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in stimulating 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and pyrophosphate:fructose 6-phosphate phosphotransferase, but about 10 times more potent in inhibiting fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. The analogue was twice as effective as authentic fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in stimulating pyruvate kinase from trypanosomes.     

Characterization of phosphofructokinase 2 and of enzymes involved in the degradation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in yeast

Phosphofructokinase 2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was purified 8500-fold by chromatography on blue Trisacryl, gel filtration on Superose 6B and chromatography on ATP-agarose. Its apparent molecular mass was close to 600 kDa. The purified enzyme could be activated fivefold upon incubation in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP-Mg and the catalytic subunit of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase from beef heart; there was a parallel incorporation of 32P into a 105-kDa peptide and also, but only faintly, into a 162-kDa subunit. A low-Km (0.1 microM) fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase could be identified both by its ability to hydrolyze fructose 2,6-[2-32P]bisphosphate and to form in its presence an intermediary radioactive phosphoprotein. This enzyme was purified 300-fold, had an apparent molecular mass of 110 kDa and was made of two 56-kDa subunits. It was inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate (Ki = 5 microM) and stimulated 2-3-fold by 50 mM benzoate or 20 mM salicylate. Remarkably, and in deep contrast to what is known of mammalian and plant enzymes, phosphofructokinase 2 and the low-Km fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase clearly separated from each other in all purification procedures used. A high-Km (approximately equal to 100 microM), apparently specific, fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase was separated by anion-exchange chromatography. This enzyme could play a major role in the physiological degradation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, which it converts to fructose 6-phosphate and Pi, because it is not inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate or Pi. Several other phosphatases able to hydrolyze fructose 2,6-bisphosphate into a mixture of fructose 2-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate and eventually fructose were identified. They have a low affinity for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Km greater than 50 microM), are most active at pH 6 and are deeply inhibited by inorganic phosphate and various phosphate esters.     

Interrelationship between aminopyrine oxidation and gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes prepared from fructose-pretreated mice

Aminopyrine oxidation was studied in isolated hepatocytes prepared from 24-h-starved mice (i) after induction of the NADPH-generating malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, but not the mixed function oxygenases by fructose, (ii) after induction of both mixed function oxygenases and NADPH-generating malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by phenobarbital and (iii) without any pretreatment. Phenobarbital pretreatment, as expected, increased the rate of aminopyrine oxidation of isolated hepatocytes. However, fructose pretreatment also enhanced the rate of N-demethylation of aminopyrine by more than 100% supporting the view that the availability of NADPH is rate limiting in drug oxidation under certain conditions. The role of malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the NADPH supply for aminopyrine oxidation was investigated by the addition of two groups of gluconeogenic precursors: lactate or alanine and glycerol or fructose with the simultaneous measurement of glucose synthesis and aminopyrine N-demethylation. There was a clear correlation between the increased rate of aminopyrine oxidation and the decreases of glucose production caused by aminopyrine. Gluconeogenesis in the presence of 1 mM aminopyrine was decreased by 70-80% when alanine or lactate were used as precursors, it was decreased by only 35-40% when glucose production was started from glycerol or fructose; in an accordance with the facts that NADPH generation and gluconeogenesis starting from alanine or lactate share two common intermediates--malate and glucose-6 phosphate--, while there is only one common intermediate--glucose-6 phosphate--if fructose or glycerol are used. Similar results were obtained with the addition of the structurally dissimilar hexobarbital. It is concluded that besides malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase also takes part in NADPH supply for drug oxidation in glycogen-depleted hepatocytes.     

Glucose 6-Phosphate and Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphate Can Be Used as ATP-Regenerating Systems by Cerebellum Ca2+-Transport ATPase

Abstract : In this work, it is shown that the Ca²⁺-transport ATPase found in the microsomal fraction of the cerebellum can use both glucose 6-phosphate/hexokinase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate/phosphofructokinase as ATP-regenerating systems. The vesicles derived from the cerebellum were able to accumulate Ca²⁺ in a medium containing ADP when either glucose 6-phosphate and hexokinase or fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and phosphofructokinase were added to the medium. There was no Ca²⁺ uptake if one of these components was omitted from the medium. The transport of Ca²⁺ was associated with the cleavage of sugar phosphate. The maximal amount of Ca²⁺ accumulated by the vesicles with the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate system was larger than that measured either with glucose 6-phosphate or with a low ATP concentration and phosphoenolpyruvate/pyruvate kinase. The Ca²⁺ uptake supported by glucose 6-phosphate was inhibited by glucose, but not by fructose 6-phosphate. In contrast, the Ca²⁺ uptake supported by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate, but not by glucose. Thapsigargin, a specific SERCA inhibitor, impaired the transport of Ca²⁺ sustained by either glucose 6-phosphate or fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. It is proposed that the use of glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate as an ATP-regenerating system by the cerebellum Ca²⁺-ATPase may represent a salvage route used at early stages of ischemia ; this could be used to energize the Ca²⁺ transport, avoiding the deleterious effects derived from the cellular acidosis promoted by lactic acid.     

Fructose-6-phosphate aldolase is a novel class I aldolase from Escherichia coli and is related to a novel group of bacterial transaldolases

We have cloned an open reading frame from the Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome that had been assumed earlier to be a transaldolase or a transaldolase-related protein, termed MipB. Here we show that instead a novel enzyme activity, fructose-6-phosphate aldolase, is encoded by this open reading frame, which is the first report of an enzyme that catalyzes an aldol cleavage of fructose 6-phosphate from any organism. We propose the name FSA (for fructose-six phosphate aldolase; gene name fsa). The recombinant protein was purified to apparent homogeneity by anion exchange and gel permeation chromatography with a yield of 40 mg of protein from 1 liter of culture. By using electrospray tandem mass spectroscopy, a molecular weight of 22,998 per subunit was determined. From gel filtration a size of 257,000 (+/- 20,000) was calculated. The enzyme most likely forms either a decamer or dodecamer of identical subunits. The purified enzyme displayed a V(max) of 7 units mg(-)1 of protein for fructose 6-phosphate cleavage (at 30 degrees C, pH 8.5 in 50 mm glycylglycine buffer). For the aldolization reaction a V(max) of 45 units mg(-)1 of protein was found; K(m) values for the substrates were 9 mm for fructose 6-phosphate, 35 mm for dihydroxyacetone, and 0.8 mm for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. FSA did not utilize fructose, fructose 1-phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, or dihydroxyacetone phosphate. FSA is not inhibited by EDTA which points to a metal-independent mode of action. The lysine 85 residue is essential for its action as its exchange to arginine (K85R) resulted in complete loss of activity in line with the assumption that the reaction mechanism involves a Schiff base formation through this lysine residue (class I aldolase). Another fsa-related gene, talC of Escherichia coli, was shown to also encode fructose-6-phosphate aldolase activity and not a transaldolase as proposed earlier.     

Regulation of specific activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in Penicillium chrysogenum

Abstract The specific activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase changed when Penicillium chrysogenum was grown on different carbon sources. In the presence of 2% lactose, the activities of these enzymes were approximately 25–35% lower than those in media containing 2% glucose or 2% fructose. We assume that an increase in cAMP concentration was responsible for the observed decreases in the enzyme activities, because a higher cAMP concentration could be detected when the mycelium was grown in a medium containing solely lactose as carbon source. The likely role played by cAMP in the regulation was also demonstrated by the addition of either cAMP or caffeine to the medium.     

Degradation of endogenous fructose during catabolism of sucrose and mannitol in halophilic archaebacteria

Metabolism of fructose arising endogenously from sucrose or mannitol was studied in halophilic archaebacteria Haloarcula vallismortis and Haloferax mediterranei. Activities of the enzymes of Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway, Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway and Pentose Phosphate (PP) pathway were examined in extracts of cells grown on sucrose or mannitol and compared to those grown on fructose and glucose. Sucrase and NAD-specific mannitol dehydrogenase were induced only when sucrose or mannitol respectively were the growth substrates. Endogenously arising fructose was metabolised in a manner similar to that for exogenously supplied fructose i.e. a modified EMP pathway initiated by ketohexokinase. While the enzymes for modified EMP pathway viz. ketohexokinase, 1-phosphofructokinase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase were present under all growth conditions, their levels were elevated in presence of fructose. Besides, though fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, phosphohexoseisomerase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were present, the absence of 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase precluded routing of fructose through ED pathway, or through PP pathway directly as 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was lacking. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase plays the unusual role of a catabolic enzyme in supporting the non-oxidative part of PP pathway. However the presence of constitutive levels of glucose dehydrogenase and 2-keto 3-deoxy 6-phosphogluconate aldolase when glucose or sucrose were growth substrates suggested that glucose breakdown took place via the modified ED pathway.Abbreviations EMP Embden Meyerhof Parnas - ED Entner Doudoroff - PP pentose phosphate - KHK ketohexokinase - 1-PFK 1-phosphofructokinase - PEP-PTS phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase - 6-PFK 6-phosphofructokinase - FBPase fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase - PHI phosphohexoseisomerase - G6P-DH glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase - 6PG-DH 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - GAPDH glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase - FIP fructose 1-phosphate - GSH reduced glutathione - 2-ME -mercaptoethanol - FBP fructose 1,6-bisphosphate - KDPG 2-keto 3-deoxy 6-phosphogluconate - F6P fructose 6-phosphatez     

Regulation of pyruvate kinase in Reuber H35 hepatoma cells by insulin and fructose

1. Kinetic and immunological studies as well as electrophoretic behaviour indicated that pyruvate kinase in Reuber H35 hepatoma cells is of the M2-type. 2. Addition of 0.1 microM insulin or 2 mM fructose to the incubation medium for 72 hr increased the activity of the M2-type pyruvate kinase in Reuber H35 hepatoma cells by 103 and 25% respectively. 3. Incorporation studies with [3H]leucine followed by immunoprecipitation showed that the apparent rate of synthesis of the M2-type pyruvate kinase was increased by both insulin and fructose. 4. Degradation studies indicated that the addition of insulin and fructose to the incubation medium increased the half-life of the M2-type pyruvate kinase from 4.8 to 8.6 and 6.8 hr respectively.     

Effects of various metabolic conditions and of the trivalent arsenical melarsen oxide on the intracellular levels of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and of glycolytic intermediates in Trypanosoma brucei

Upon differential centrifugation of cell-free extracts of Trypanosoma brucei, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase behaved as cytosolic enzymes. The two activities could be separated from each other by chromatography on both blue Sepharose and anion exchangers. 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase had a Km for both its substrates in the millimolar range. Its activity was dependent on the presence of inorganic phosphate and was inhibited by phosphoenolpyruvate but not by citrate or glycerol 3-phosphate. The Km of fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase was 7 microM; this enzyme was inhibited by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Ki = 10 microM) and, less potently, by fructose 6-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate and glycerol 3-phosphate. Melarsen oxide inhibited 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (Ki less than 1 microM) and fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (Ki = 2 microM) much more potently than pyruvate kinase (Ki greater than 100 microM). The intracellular concentrations of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and hexose 6-phosphate were highest with glucose, intermediate with fructose and lowest with glycerol and dihydroxyacetone as glycolytic substrates. When added with glucose, salicylhydroxamic acid caused a decrease in the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, ATP, hexose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. These studies indicate that the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is mainly controlled by the concentration of the substrates of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase. The changes in the concentration of phosphoenolpyruvate were in agreement with the stimulatory effect of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate on pyruvate kinase. At micromolar concentrations, melarsen oxide blocked almost completely the formation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate induced by glucose, without changing the intracellular concentrations of ATP and of hexose 6-phosphates. At higher concentrations (3-10 microM), this drug caused cell lysis, a proportional decrease in the glycolytic flux, as well as an increase in the phosphoenolypyruvate concentrations which was restricted to the extracellular compartment. Similar changes were induced by digitonin. It is concluded that the lytic effect of melarsen oxide on the bloodstream form of T. brucei is not the result of an inhibition of pyruvate kinase.     

Synthesis and degradation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in endosperm of castor bean seedlings

The aim of this work was to examine the possibility that fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P₂) plays a role in the regulation of gluconeogenesis from fat. Fru-2,6-P₂ is known to inhibit cytoplasmic fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase and stimulate pyrophosphate:fructose 6-phosphate phosphotransferase from the endosperm of seedlings of castor bean (Ricinus communis). Fru-2,6-P₂ was present throughout the seven-day period in amounts from 30 to 200 picomoles per endosperm. Inhibition of gluconeogenesis by anoxia or treatment with 3-mercaptopicolinic acid doubled the amount of Fru-2,6-P₂ in detached endosperm. The maximum activities of fructose 6-phosphate,2-kinase and fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase (enzymes that synthesize and degrade Fru-2,6-P₂, respectively) were sufficient to account for the highest observed rates of Fru-2,6-P₂ metabolism. Fructose 6-phosphate,2-kinase exhibited sigmoid kinetics with respect to fructose 6-phosphate. These kinetics became hyperbolic in the presence of inorganic phosphate, which also relieved a strong inhibition of the enzyme by 3-phosphoglycerate. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase was inhibited by both phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate, the products of the reaction. The properties of the two enzymes suggest that in vivo the amounts of fructose-6-phosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate, and phosphate could each contribute to the control of Fru-2,6-P₂ level. Variation in the level of Fru-2,6-P₂ in response to changes in the levels of these metabolites is considered to be important in regulating flux between fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 6-phosphate during germination.     

Regulation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration in spinach leaves

Fructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase and fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase have been partially purified from spinach leaves and their regulatory properties studied. Fructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase was activated by phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate, and inhibited by 3-phosphoglycerate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase was inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate and phosphate. The interaction between these effectors was studied when they were varied, alone or in combination, over a range of concentrations representative of those in the cytosol of spinach leaf cells. In conditions when dihydroxyacetone phosphate or 3-phosphoglycerate rise, as is typical during photosynthesis, the fructose 2,6-bisphosphate level will decrease, which will favour sucrose synthesis. In conditions when fructose 6-phosphate accumulates, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate should rise, which will favour a restriction of sucrose synthesis and promotion of starch synthesis.     

Effect of fructose on glycogen synthesis in the perfused rat liver

The effect of fructose on glycogen synthesis was examined in the perfused liver of starved rats. With increasing fructose concentration in the perfusate, glycogen synthesis and the % a form of glycogen synthase increased to a maximum at 2 mM and then decreased, progressively. The glucose 6-P level increased with the increase in fructose concentration. On the other hand, the ATP content was unchanged at a concentration of 2 mM or less and decreased at 3 mM or more. We also showed that the stimulation of glycogen synthesis by fructose at a concentration of 2 mM or less was due to activation of glycogen synthase by accumulated glucose 6-P and that ATP depletion at a concentration of 3 mM or more caused an increase in phosphorylase a and a decrease in glycogen synthase activity even in the presence of a high concentration of glucose 6-P.     

Diagnosis of Hunter's syndrome carriers; Radioactive sulphate incorporation into fibroblasts in the presence of fructose 1-phosphate

Summary Mutual correction of co-cultivated fibroblasts from patients with Hunter's and Hurler's syndrome could be inhibited by either fructose 1-phosphate or mannose 6-phosphate. In the presence of fructose 1-phosphate a 50% mixture of fibroblasts from a patient with Hunter's syndrome and a normal homozygous individual showed an increased³⁵S-sulphate incorporation into acid mucopolysaccharides. When fibroblast cultures from one obligate and two possible carriers of Hunter's syndrome were tested for³⁵S-sulphate incorporation, the cultures showed either twice the normal³⁵S-sulphate incorporation into acid mucopolysaccharides in the presence of fructose 1-phosphate or an abnormally high incorporation in the presence as well as in the absence of the sugar phosphate.     

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.     

Suppressive effect of nobiletin and epicatechin gallate on fructose uptake in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells

Abstract

Inhibition of excessive fructose intake in the small intestine could alleviate fructose-induced diseases such as hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We examined the effect of phytochemicals on fructose uptake using human intestinal epithelial-like Caco-2 cells which express the fructose transporter, GLUT5. Among 35 phytochemicals tested, five, including nobiletin and epicatechin gallate (ECg), markedly inhibited fructose uptake. Nobiletin and ECg also inhibited the uptake of glucose but not of L-leucine or Gly-Sar, suggesting an inhibitory effect specific to monosaccharide transporters. Kinetic analysis further suggested that this reduction in fructose uptake was associated with a decrease in the apparent number of cell-surface GLUT5 molecules, and not with a change in the affinity of GLUT5 for fructose. Lastly, nobiletin and ECg suppressed the permeation of fructose across Caco-2 cell monolayers. These findings suggest that nobiletin and ECg are good candidates for preventing diseases caused by excessive fructose intake.     

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and the control of glycolysis in bovine spermatozoa

Epididymal bovine sperm contain fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity which is inhibited by AMP and by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Sperm phosphofructokinase displays kinetic characteristics that are typical of the F-type and it is stimulated by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. The concentration of sperm fructose 2,6-bisphosphate remained unaffected at 1-2 microM when the glycolytic rate was either increased by glucose, caffeine or antimycin, or decreased by alpha-chlorohydrin or 6-chloro-6-deoxyglucose.     

Formation of glycolate by a reconstituted spinach chloroplast preparation

A reconstituted preparation requiring fructose 6-phosphate, transketolase, triphosphopyridine nucleotide, ferredoxin, fragmented spinach chloroplasts, and light capable of forming glycolate at rates of about 10 micromoles per milligram of chlorophyll per hour has been characterized. The glycolaldehyde-transketolase addition product could be substituted for fructose 6-phosphate and transketolase. The stoichiometry of the reaction was: 1 mole of fructose 6-phosphate consumed for each mole of glycolate and of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide produced. Evidence was presented indicating that glycolate formation was coupled to the photosystems of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Synthesis of glycolate is envisaged as the result of either (a) a reaction between the upper two carbon atoms derived from fructose 6-phosphate and an uncharacterized oxidant generated by photosystem 2 or (b) hydrogen peroxide produced by the reoxidation of reduced triphos-phopyridine nucleotide or reduced ferredoxin by molecular oxygen.     

Pathway and regulation of erythritol formation in Leuconostoc oenos.

It was recently observed that Leuconostoc oenos GM, a wine lactic acid bacterium, produced erythritol anaerobically from glucose but not from fructose or ribose and that this production was almost absent in the presence of O2. In this study, the pathway of formation of erythritol from glucose in L. oenos was shown to involve the isomerization of glucose 6-phosphate to fructose 6-phosphate by a phosphoglucose isomerase, the cleavage of fructose 6-phosphate by a phosphoketolase, the reduction of erythrose 4-phosphate by an erythritol 4-phosphate dehydrogenase and, finally, the hydrolysis of erythritol 4-phosphate to erythritol by a phosphatase. Fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase was copurified with xylulose 5-phosphate phosphoketolase, and the activity of the latter was competitively inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate, with a Ki of 26 mM, corresponding to the Km of fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase (22 mM). These results suggest that the two phosphoketolase activities are borne by a single enzyme. Extracts of L. oenos were also found to contain NAD(P)H oxidase, which must be largely responsible for the reoxidation of NADPH and NADH in cells incubated in the presence of O2. In cells incubated with glucose, the concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate and of fructose 6-phosphate were higher in the absence of O2 than in its presence, explaining the stimulation by anaerobiosis of erythritol production. The increase in the hexose 6-phosphate concentration is presumably the result of a functional inhibition of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase because of a reduction in the availability of NADP.     

Phosphonomethyl analogues of hexose phosphates.

The analogue of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in which the phosphate group, -O-PO3H2, on C-6 is replaced by the phosphonomethyl group, -CH2-PO3H2, was made enzymically from the corresponding analogue of 3-phosphoglycerate. It was a substrate for aldolase, which was used to form it, but not for fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. It was hydrolysed chemically to yield the corresponding analogue of fructose 6-phosphate [i.e. 6-deoxy-6-(phosphonomethyl)-D-fructose, or, more strictly, 6,7-dideoxy-7-phosphono-D-arabino-2-heptulose]. This proved to be a substrate for the sequential actions of glucose 6-phosphate isomerase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Thus seven out of the nine enzymes of the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways so far tested catalyse the reactions of the phosphonomethyl isosteres of their substrates.     

Regulation of rat liver fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase

An enzyme activity that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate from the C-2 position of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate has been detected in rat liver cytoplasm. The S0.5 for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was about 15 microM and the enzyme was inhibited by fructose 6-phosphate (Ki 40 microM) and activated by Pi (KA 1 mM). Fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase activity was purified to homogeneity by specific elution from phosphocellulose with fructose by specific elution from phosphocellulose with fructose 6-phosphate and had an apparent molecular weight of about 100,000, 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase activity copurified with fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase activity at each step of the purification scheme. Incubation of the purified protein with [gamma-32P]ATP and the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase resulted in the incorporation of 1 mol of 32P/mol of enzyme subunit (Mr = 50,000). Concomitant with this phosphorylation was an activation of the fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase and an inhibition of the 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase activity. Glucagon addition to isolated hepatocytes also resulted in an inhibition of 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase and activation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase measured in cell extracts, suggesting that the hormone regulates the level of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate by affecting both synthesis and degradation of the compound. These findings suggest that this enzyme has both phosphohydrolase and phosphotransferase activities i.e. that it is bifunctional, and that both activities can be regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation.