Metabolism of ketone bodies, oleate and glucose in lymphocytes of the rat.

Isolated incubated lymphocytes utilized acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate or oleate at about 0.5 mumol/min per g dry wt. These rates were not markedly affected by concanavalin A or by starvation of the donor animal. When ketone bodies replaced glucose in the culture medium, they could not support lymphocyte proliferation when cells were cultured for 48 h. Addition of oleate (0.5 mM) to isolated lymphocytes increased the rate of O2 consumption markedly, suggesting that it could contribute about 30% to O2 consumption. The rate of oleate uptake and the stimulated rate of O2 consumption were maximal at 0.5 M-oleate; this is in contrast with the effect in some other tissues, in which the rate of fatty acid oxidation is linear with concentration up to about 2 mM. Since the normal plasma concentration of fatty acid in the fed state is about 0.5 mM, this suggests that lymphocytes can utilize fatty acids at a maximal rate in the fed state. Ketone bodies or oleate decreased the rate of glucose utilization by incubated lymphocytes; ketone bodies decreased the rate of pyruvate oxidation and increased the intracellular concentration of hexose monophosphate and citrate, suggesting that 6-phosphofructokinase is inhibited by citrate, and hexokinase by glucose 6-phosphate. These effects may be important not so much in conserving glucose in the whole animal but in maintaining the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates necessary for biosynthetic processes during proliferation.     

H+ production by antimycin-inhibited mitochondria.

1. The maximum activity of hexokinase in lymphocytes is similar to that of 6-phosphofructokinase, but considerably greater than that of phosphorylase, suggesting that glucose rather than glycogen is the major carbohydrate fuel for these cells. Starvation increased slightly the activities of some of the glycolytic enzymes. A local immunological challenge in vivo (a graft-versus-host reaction) increased the activities of hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, confirming the importance of the glycolytic pathway in cell division. 2. The activities of the ketone-body-utilizing enzymes were lower than those of hexokinase or 6-phosphofructokinase, unlike in muscle and brain, and were not affected by starvation. It is suggested that the ketone bodies will not provide a quantitatively important alternative fuel to glucose in lymphocytes. 3. Of the enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle whose activities were measured, that of oxoglutarate dehydrogenase was the lowest, yet its activity (about 4.0μmol/min per g dry wt. at 37°C) was considerably greater than the flux through the cycle (0.5μmol/min per g calculated from oxygen consumption by incubated lymphocytes). The activity was decreased by starvation, but that of citrate synthase was increased by the local immunological challenge in vivo. It is suggested that the rate of the cycle would increase towards the capacity indicated by oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in proliferating lymphocytes. 4. Enzymes possibly involved in the pathway of glutamine oxidation were measured in lymphocytes, which suggests that an aminotransferase reaction(s) (probably aspartate aminotransferase) is important in the conversion of glutamate into oxoglutarate rather than glutamate dehydrogenase, and that the maximum activity of glutaminase is markedly in excess of the rate of glutamine utilization by incubated lymphocytes. The activity of glutaminase is increased by both starvation and the local immunological challenge in vivo. This last finding suggests that metabolism of glutamine via glutaminase is important in proliferating lymphocytes.     

Glutamine metabolism in isolated incubated adipocytes of the rat.

1. Phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity in the epididymal fat-pad was 15.1 nmol/min per mg of protein. Glutaminase activity demonstrated differences with respect to adipose-tissue sites. Considerable variation was found in different sites of adipose tissue from lean control and Zucker obese animals. 2. Adipocytes incubated in the presence of 2 mM-glutamine utilized glutamine at a rate of 1.8 mumol/h per g dry wt., and glutamate, ammonia, lactate and alanine were produced. Addition of glucose plus insulin increased the rates of glutamine utilization and glutamate, ammonia, lactate and alanine production. Isoprenaline alone or plus glucose further stimulated the rate of glutamine utilization and formation of end products. 3. The rate of incorporation of 14C from glutamine into CO2 was similar to that of glucose, but the rate of incorporation into triacylglycerol was much less. Addition of unlabelled glucose or glucose plus insulin stimulated the rate of incorporation of [14C]glutamine into triacylglycerol, but had no effect on that of 14CO2 formation. Isoprenaline plus glucose increased the rate of incorporation of [14C]glutamine into CO2, but decreased the rate of incorporation into triacylglycerol. 4. In the absence of insulin, the rate of [14C]glutamine incorporation into triacylglycerol was related to the glucose concentration (0-10 mM). However, in the presence of insulin, the rate of incorporation of [14C]glutamine was maximal at 1 mM-glucose.     

Metabolism of glucose, glutamine, long-chain fatty acids and ketone bodies by murine macrophages.

Maximum activities of some key enzymes of metabolism were studied in elicited (inflammatory) macrophages of the mouse and lymph-node lymphocytes of the rat. The activity of hexokinase in the macrophage is very high, as high as that in any other major tissue of the body, and higher than that of phosphorylase or 6-phosphofructokinase, suggesting that glucose is a more important fuel than glycogen and that the pentose phosphate pathway is also important in these cells. The latter suggestion is supported by the high activities of both glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. However, the rate of glucose utilization by 'resting' macrophages incubated in vitro is less than the 10% of the activity of 6-phosphofructokinase: this suggests that the rate of glycolysis is increased dramatically during phagocytosis or increased secretory activity. The macrophages possess higher activities of citrate synthase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase than do lymphocytes, suggesting that the tricarboxylic acid cycle may be important in energy generation in these cells. The activity of 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase is higher in the macrophage, but that of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is very much lower than those in the lymphocytes. The activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase is higher in macrophages, suggesting that fatty acids as well as acetoacetate could provide acetyl-CoA as substrate for the tricarboxylic acid cycle. No detectable rate of acetoacetate or 3-hydroxybutyrate utilization was observed during incubation of resting macrophages, but that of oleate was 1.0 nmol/h per mg of protein or about 2.2% of the activity of palmitoyltransferase. The activity of glutaminase is about 4-fold higher in macrophages than in lymphocytes, which suggests that the rate of glutamine utilization could be very high. The rate of utilization of glutamine by resting incubated macrophages was similar to that reported for rat lymphocytes, but was considerably lower than the activity of glutaminase.     

Glutamine metabolism in lymphocytes of the rat.

The metabolism of glutamine in resting and concanavalin-A-stimulated lymphocytes was investigated. In incubated lymphocytes isolated from rat mesenteric lymph nodes, the rates of oxygen and glutamine utilization and that of aspartate production were approximately linear with respect to time for 60 min, and the concentrations of adenine nucleotides plus the ATP/ADP or ATP/AMP concentration ratios remained approximately constant for 90 min. The major end products of glutamine metabolism were glutamate, aspartate and ammonia: the carbon from glutamine may contribute about 30% to respiration. When both glucose and glutamine were presented to the cells, the rates of utilization of both substances increased. Evidence was obtained that the stimulation of glycolysis by glutamine could be due, in part, to an activation of 6-phosphofructokinase. Starvation of the donor animal increased the rate of glutamine utilization. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase inhibitor mercaptopicolinate decreased the rate of glutamine utilization by 28%; the rates of accumulation of glutamate and ammonia were decreased, whereas those of lactate, aspartate and malate were increased. The mitogen concanavalin A increased the rate of glutamine utilization (by about 51%). The rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA caused by concanavalin A in cultured lymphocytes was very low in the absence of glutamine; it was increased about 4-fold at 1 microM-glutamine and was maximal at 0.3 mM-glutamine; neither other amino acids nor ammonia could replace glutamine.     

Pentose phosphate pathway in rat colonic epithelium

The colonic cells of the large intestine are one of the most proliferative tissues of the animal body. The pentose pathway has an essential role in cell division and growth being the only pathway forming ribose 5-P necessary for all nucleotide and nucleic acid sunthesis. The pentose pathway may also provide reducing potential as NADPH for biosynthesis and C-3- C-8 glycolyl compounds. The maximum catalytic capacities of the reactions of the non-oxidative pentose pathway for the conversion of ribose 5-P to hexose and triose phosphates by the proximal and distal colon under feeding and starvation regimes are among the highest in the animal body. The qualitative presence of the oxidative pentose pathway was assessed by measurement of the C-1/C-6 ratio value of 1.67-1.82. Enzymes of the F-type and L-type pentose pathways are present in colonocytes and their maximum catalytic activities in colonocyte cytosol are reported. The contribution of the F-type pentose cycle to the total glucose metabolism of colonocytes, measured by the specific yield method, is negligibly low (approximately 1.5%). Colonic epithelial cells use glucose at a high rate (7.1 +/- 0.33 mumol min-1g-1 dry wt) and 79% of the glucose is converted to lactate. Arabinose 5-P has an intermediary role in the formation of keto pentose, sedoheptulose and hexose phosphates from ribose 5-P by colonocyte cytosol. The intermediary and reaction products of [1-13C] ribose 5-P dissimilation by colonocytes is investigated by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The 13C positional isotope distributions show labelling of C-1 and C-3 of hexose 6-phosphates consistent with either the theoretical predictions of the F-type pentose pathway or of the activities of exchange reactions catalysed by transketolase and/or transaldolase. Measurements of exchange reactions showed that the C-1/C-3 labelling of these compounds is mostly, if not wholly, attributable to exchange catalysis by these group transferring enzymes. The results suggest that the F-type PC has little role in the glucose metabolism of colonocytes and pentose phosphate formation may thus occur by a contribution (approx 20% of the total glucose metabolism) by the alternate L-type pathway.     

Carbohydrate metabolism in the isolated perfused rat kidney

1. Anaerobic formation of lactate from glucose by isolated perfused rat kidney (411mumol/h per g dry wt.) was three times as fast as in aerobic conditions (138mumol/h per g). 2. In aerobic or in anaerobic conditions, the ratio of lactate production to glucose utilization was about 2. 3. Starvation or acidosis caused a decline of about 30% in the rate of aerobic glycolysis. 4. The rate of formation of glucose from lactate by perfused kidney from a well-fed rat, in the presence of 5mm-acetoacetate (83mumol/h per g dry wt.), was of the same order as the rate of aerobic glycolysis. 5. During perfusion with physiological concentrations of glucose (5mm) and lactate (2mm) there were negligible changes in the concentration of either substrate. 6. Comparison of kidneys perfused with lactate, from well-fed or starved rats, showed no major differences in contents of intermediates of gluconeogenesis. 7. The tissue concentrations of hexose monophosphates and C(3) phosphorylated glycolytic intermediates (except triose phosphate) were decreased in anaerobic conditions. 8. Aerobic metabolism of fructose by perfused kidney was rapid: the rate of glucose formation was 726mumol/h per g dry wt. and of lactate formation 168mumol/h per g (dry wt.). Glycerol and d-glyceraldehyde were also released into the medium. 9. Aerobically, fructose generated high concentrations of glycolytic intermediates. 10. Anaerobic production of lactate from fructose (74mumol/h per g dry wt.) was slower than the aerobic rate. 11. In both anaerobic and aerobic conditions the ratio [lactate]/[pyruvate] in kidney or medium was lower during perfusion with fructose than with glucose. 12. These results are discussed in terms of the regulation of renal carbohydrate metabolism.     

Effect of B- and T-cell mitogens on the maximum activities of hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and glutaminase in bone marrow cells and thymocytes of the rat during four hours of culture.

1. Cells from the bone marrow and cells from the thymus of the rat were incubated in the presence of glucose and glutamine and phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin-A or lipopolysaccharide. Cells were harvested at times up to 4 hr, extracted and maximum activities of hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase or glutaminase measured. 2. In bone marrow cells, there were little changes in enzyme activities except for an increase in the activity of citrate synthase which was prevented by concanavalin-A. This mitogen also caused a decrease in the activity of hexokinase. 3. In contrast, in thymocytes, the activities of hexokinase and glutaminase were decreased in the control condition but addition of lipopolysaccharide, a B-cell mitogen prevented these decreases in activity and concanavalin-A maintained the activity of glutaminase. Concanavalin-A caused a decrease in hexokinase activity but a marked increase in that of glutaminase. 4. It is suggested that changes in the maximum activities of hexokinase and glutaminase over this 4 hr period may represent the effect of removal of thymus-produced growth factors, whose effects can be replaced, at least in part, by two mitogens.     

Activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, 3-oxo acid coenzyme A-transferase and aceto-acetyl-coenzyme A thiolase in nervous tissue from vertebrates and invertebrates

1. The maximum activities of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase in nervous tissue from 18 different animals from different phyla range from 5.1 to 17.6 and from 24.0mumol/min per g fresh wt. respectively. In any one tissue the activities of these two enzymes are, in general, very similar. The rate of glucose utilization by the brain in vivo is much lower than the activities of hexokinase or phosphofructokinase. It is suggested that the high activities of these enzymes indicate a capacity for glycolysis which may be used by the brain during hypoxia or during conditions of extreme neuronal activity. 2. The activities of 3-oxo acid CoA-transferase and acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase in the nervous tissues range from 1.1 to 15.3 and from 0.7 to 4.5mumol/min per g fresh wt. respectively. Unfortunately the activities of these enzymes cannot be used to estimate maximal flux through the ketone-body-utilization pathway, since they may catalyse reactions that are close to equilibrium. Nonetheless, the presence of these enzymes in nervous tissue from a large variety of animals suggests that the importance of ketone bodies as a fuel for nervous tissue may be widespread in the animal kingdom.     

Glucose and glutamine utilization by rat lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils in culture: a comparative study

Glucose and glutamine utilization and production of glutamate and lactate were determined for up to 48 h in lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils cultured in medium rich in metabolites and vitamins. Glucose was utilized by the three cell types in culture in the following order: neutrophils > monocytes > lymphocytes, whereas lactate was produced in the order: monocytes > neutrophils > lymphocytes. The consumption of glucose followed the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase but it was not related to hexokinase activity. Glutamine was consumed by the three leukocyte types in culture as follows: neutrophils > lymphocytes > or = monocytes. The consumption of glutamine was not fully related to the activity of phosphate-dependent glutaminase. The production of glutamate was not remarkably different among the three cell types. For comparison, glutamine and glucose utilization and glutamate and lactate production were also evaluated using 1-h incubated leukocytes. Under this condition, only glucose or glutamine was added to the medium. Glucose was utilized as follows: neutrophils > monocytes > lymphocytes, whereas lactate was produced in the following order: monocytes > or = neutrophils > lymphocytes. Glutamine was consumed as follows: neutrophils > lymphocytes > monocytes, whereas glutamate was produced as follows: neutrophils > or = monocytes = lymphocytes. The ratio of the amount of glucose/glutamine consumed by 1-h incubated cells was 0.5 for neutrophils, 1.5 for monocytes, and 0.3 for lymphocytes. However, the three cell types cultured for 48 h utilized glucose to a much higher degree than glutamine. The ratio of the amount of glucose/glutamine utilized by the cultured cells was 8.9 for neutrophils, 16.4 for monocytes, and 6.7 for lymphocytes. These observations support the proposition that glutamine is required in much higher amounts than glucose to accomplish the total metabolic requirement of leukocytes. Under conditions closer to physiological when the availability of a variety of metabolites and vitamins is not restricted, glucose is the preferred substrate for lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils.     

Effect of alloxan-diabetes on gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis in isolated rabbit liver cells.

1. Neither alloxan-diabetes nor starvation affected the rate of glucose production in hepatocytes incubated with lactate, pyruvate, propionate or fructose as substrates. In contrast, glucose synthesis with either alanine or glutamine was increased nearly 3- and 12-fold respectively, in comparison with that in fed rabbits. 2. The addition of amino-oxyacetate resulted in about a 50% decrease in glucose formation from lactate in hepatocytes isolated from fed, alloxan-diabetic and starved rats, suggesting that both mitochondrial and cytosolic forms of rabbit phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase function actively during gluconeogenesis. 3. Alloxan-diabetes resulted in about 2-3-fold stimulation of urea production from either amino acid studied or NH4Cl as NH3 donor, whereas starvation caused a significant increase in the rate of ureogenesis only in the presence of alanine as the source of NH3. 4. As concluded from changes in the [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio, in hepatocytes from diabetic animals the mitochondrial redox state was shifted toward oxidation in comparison with that observed in liver cells isolated from fed rabbits.     

Glucose metabolism in perfused skeletal muscle. Effects of starvation, diabetes, fatty acids, acetoacetate, insulin and exercise on glucose uptake and disposition.

1. The regulation of glucose uptake and disposition in skeletal muscle was studied in the isolated perfused rat hindquarter. 2. Insulin and exercise, induced by sciatic-nerve stimulation, enhanced glucose uptake about tenfold in fed and starved rats, but were without effect in rats with diabetic ketoacidosis. 3. At rest, the oxidation of lactate (0.44 mumol/min per 30 g muscle in fed rats) was decreased by 75% in both starved and diabetic rats, whereas the release of alanine and lactate (0.41 and 1.35 mumol/min per 30 g respectively in the fed state) was increased. Glycolysis, defined as the sum of lactate+alanine release and lactate oxidation, was not decreased in either starvation or diabetes. 4. In all groups, exercise tripled O2 consumption (from approximately 8 to approximately 25 mumol/min per 30 g of muscle) and increased the release and oxidation of lactate five- to ten-fold. The differences in lactate release between fed, starved and diabetic rats observed at rest were no longer apparent; however, lactate oxidation was still several times greater in the fed group. 5. Perfusion of the hindquarter of a fed rat with palmitate, octanoate or acetoacetate did not alter glucose uptake or lactate release in either resting or exercising muslce; however, lactate oxidation was significantly inhibited by acetoacetate, which also increased the intracellular concentration of acetyl-CoA. 6. The data suggest that neither that neither glycolysis nor the capacity for glucose transport are inhbitied in the perfused hindquarter during starvation or perfusion with fatty acids or ketone bodies. On the other hand, lactate oxidation is inhibited, suggesting diminished activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase. 7. Differences in the regulation of glucose metabolism in heart and skeletal muscle and the role of the glucose/fatty acid cycle in each tissue are discussed.     

Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in lymphoid tissue. Nature of the endogenous substrates and their contribution to the respiratory fuel of the sliced rat spleen in vitro.

1. Tissue glycogen contributes, maximally, only 10% of the respiratory fuel of the rat spleen slice in the absence of an added carbon source, and makes no significant contribution when glucose (3mM) is added. 2. The reserves of fatty acid in the form of triglyceride (35.5mumol of fatty acid/g dry wt. of tissue) fall by approx. 25% after incubation of spleen slices with or without added glucose for 2h, and , on this basis, account for 32% of the oxidative fuel. 3. In contrast, the total oxidative contribution of fatty acid reserves to the respiratory fuel, determined on the basis of inhibiton of respiration by 2-bromostearate, is 42-52%. This range includes tissue from both starved and well-fed animals and is not significantly altered by the presence of added glycose (3mM). 4. Large quantities of NH3 (31-35mumol//h per g dry wt. of tissue) are produced by spleen slices incubated in the absence of added substrates, and this value is suppressed by approx. 50% on incubation with glucose (3mM). Adenine nucleotide breakdown can account for only 17% of the total ammonia produced. 5. Individual free amino acid concentrations in spleen were determined, both in vivo and in slices before and after 60 min of incubation. Although the total free amino acid pool size increases by 45% during incubation, owing to protein breakdown, the tissue concentrations of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine and alanine do not increase. It is suggested that these amino acids areoxidized in a net sense to CO2 and water with the liberation of free NH3 via transamination reactions, glutaminase, the purine nucleotide cycle and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. 6. It is concluded that the normal endogenous metabolism of sliced rat spleen (43-52% due to lipids, 30% due to amino acids and 10% due to glycogen) is modified by added glycose only to the extent that glycogen oxidation and 50% of the contribtion made by ino acids are suppressed; endogenous lipid metabolism is unaffected.     

Starvation alters the activity and mRNA level of glutaminase and glutamine synthetase in the rat intestine

The metabolism of glutamine, the main respiratory fuel of enterocytes, is governed by the activity of glutaminase and glutamine synthetase. Because starvation induces intestinal atrophy, it might alter the rate of intestinal glutamine utilization. This study examined the effect of starvation on the activity, level of mRNA, and distribution of mRNA of glutaminase and glutamine synthetase in the rat intestine. Rats were randomized into groups and were either: (1) fed for 2 days with rat food ad libitum or (2) starved for 2 days. Standardized segments of jejunum and ileum were removed for the estimation of enzyme activity, level of mRNA, and in situ hybridization analysis. The jejunum of the fed rats had a greater activity of both enzymes per centimeter of intestine (P < 0.01), a greater glutaminase specific activity (1.97 +/- 0.45 vs. 1.09 +/- 0.34 micromol/hr/mg protein, P < 0.01), and a lower level of glutaminase and glutamine synthetase mRNA. The ileum of the fed rats had a greater activity of glutamine synthetase per centimeter of intestine (162.9 +/- 50.6 vs. 91.0 +/- 23.1 nmol/hr/cm bowel, P < 0.01), a lower level of glutaminase mRNA, and a greater level of glutamine synthetase mRNA. In situ hybridization analysis showed that starvation does not alter the distribution of glutaminase and glutamine synthetase mRNA in the intestinal mucosa. This study confirms that starvation decreases the total intestinal activity per centimeter of both glutaminase and glutamine synthetase. More importantly, the results indicate that the intestine adapts to starvation by accumulating glutaminase mRNA. This process prepares the intestine for a restoration of intake.     

Organic mercurial diuresis: inhibition of glutamine utilization in the acidotic rat.

Organic mercurials inhibit mitochondrial glutamine metabolism in vitro while metabolic acidosis, a condition in which the predominant renal fuel is glutamine, potentiates mercurial diuresis. The following studies were undertaken to determine whether potentiation of diuresis reflects mercurial inhibition of glutamine utilization. (1) All three mercurials employed (mersalyl, chlormerodrin, and p-chloromercuribenzoate) are diuretics in the rat and this effect was potentiated by NH4Cl. (2) Despite reabsorbing less sodium, mercurial-treated rats had lower kidney ATP content (4.35 +/- 0.26 and 3.84 +/- 0.43 mumol/g dry weight (mercurial plus NH4Cl) than did controls (4.95 +/- 0.31 and 4.87 +/- 0.39 mumol/g dry weight (NH4Cl). (3) Isolated kidneys from NH4Cl and NH4Cl plus mercurial treated rats were perfused with 1 mM L-[U-14C]glutamine to determine rates of extraction and oxidation. Mercurial-treated acidotic rat kidneys had a reduced rate of glutamine uptake (40.8 +/- 7.4 vs. 64.8 +/- 5.8 mumol/h per kidney), a diminished rate of glutamine conversion to CO2 (14.8 +/- 3.6 vs. 26.4 +/- 5.2 mumol/h per kidney), and a reduction in glucose production (16 +/- 5 vs. 27 +/- 4 mumol/h per kidney). These results are consistent with an effect of organic mercurials upon glutamine utilization, limiting ATP availability, and thereby reducing tubular active sodium reabsorption.     

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.     

Regulation of flux through glutaminase and glutamine synthetase in isolated perfused rat liver

1. Glutaminase and glutamine synthetase are simultaneously active in the intact liver, resulting in an energy consuming cycling of glutamine at a rate up to 0.2 mumol per g per min. 2. An increase in portal glutamine concentration was followed by an increased flux through glutaminase, but flux through glutamine synthetase remained unchanged. Glutaminase flux was also increased by ammonium ions or glucagon; these effects were additive. 3. Glutamine synthetase flux was increased by ammonium ions, but this activation was partly overcome by increasing portal glutamine concentrations. Glutamine synthetase flux was slightly increased by glucagon at portal glutamine concentrations of about 0.2-0.3 mM, but was strongly inhibited above 0.6 mMs. 4. During experimental metabolic acidosis there was an increased net release of glutamine by the liver, being due to opposing changes of flux through glutaminase and glutamine synthetase. Conversely, an increased glutamine uptake by the liver during metabolic alkalosis was observed due to an inhibition of glutamine synthetase and an activation of glutaminase. However, the two enzyme activities respond differently depending on whether glucagon or ammonium ions are present.     

Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in lymphoid tissue. Quantitative aspects of [U-14C]glucose oxidation by rat spleen slices.

When washed spleen slices from fed rats are incubated with 3 mm-[U-14C]glucose, the rate of glucose utilization (46.2 mumol/h per g dry wt.) is sufficient to account, theoretically, for 80% of the O2 consumption. Measurement of net lactate production, however, and the fate of the radioactive carbon, indicates that the contribution of glucose to the respiratory fuel of the tissue is only 25-30% whereas 60-70% of the glucose utilized is converted into lactate. At saturating glucose concentrations (above 5 mm) its contribution to the respiratory fuel of the slice is increased to a maximum value of 34-39%. Only 2% of the glucose utilized is metabolized via the oxidative steps of the pentose phosphate pathway. Starvation for 72 h marginally increases both the rate of glucose utilization (by 21%) and its net contribution to the respiratory fuel (by 29%). Insulin, glucagon, adrenaline and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate have no significant effect on either the rate of glucose utilization or on the pattern of radioactive isotope distribution. The uptake of glucose is increased by only 20%, whereas the production of lactate doubles when slices are incubated under anaerobic conditions. In assessing the suitability of spleen slices for metabolic studies, the only serious major perturbation, compared with the freeze-clamped organ, is an elevated mitochondrial [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio (connected with increased endogenous NH3 production) that is partially restored to normal values on incubation with glucose. Equal proportions of erythrocytes and leucocytes are found in the washed spleen slice. Metabolic contributions of the constituent cell populations in the washed slice are calculated and it is concluded that lymphocytes account for the major part of the glycolytic metabolism (80-90%), whereas the contribution of erythrocytes is insignificant.     

Interactions between glutamine metabolism and cell-volume regulation in perfused rat liver

1. In the presence of near-physiological glutamine concentrations, exposure of perfused rat liver to hypotonic perfusion media switched glutamine balance across the liver from net release to net uptake. This was due to both stimulation of flux through glutaminase and inhibition of flux through glutamine synthetase. Conversely, during exposure to hypertonic media, net glutamine release from the liver increased due to inhibition of glutaminase flux and slight stimulation of flux through glutamine synthetase. The effect of perfusate osmolarity on glutaminase flux was observed at an NH4Cl concentration (0.5 mM) sufficient for near-maximal ammonia stimulation of glutaminase. This indicates the involvement of different mechanisms of glutaminase flux control by extracellular osmolarity changes and ammonia. The effects of anisotonicity on flux through glutamine-metabolizing enzymes were fully reversible. Glutamine (0.6 mM) stimulated urea synthesis from NH4Cl (0.5 mM) during hypotonic and normotonic conditions. 2. Exposure to hypotonic and hypertonic media led, after initial liver-cell swelling and shrinkage, respectively to volume-regulatory K+ fluxes which largely restored the initial liver-cell volume despite the continuing osmotic challenge. Even after completion of cell-volume regulatory K+ fluxes, the effects of perfusate osmolarity on hepatic glutamine metabolism persisted. This indicates that in anisotonicity the liver cell is left in an altered metabolic state, even after completion of volume-regulatory responses. 3. During perfusion with isotonic media, addition of glutamine (3 mM) led to an increase of liver mass by about 4% within 2 min, which was accompanied by a net K+ uptake by the liver. Thereafter, the new steady state of increased liver mass was maintained throughout glutamine infusion. When the liver mass had reached this new steady state, a net release of K+ from the liver of about 3 mumol/g liver was observed during the following 10 min. Withdrawal of glutamine was followed by a slow reuptake of K+ and the liver mass returned to its initial value. Following exposure to glutamine (3 mM), the intracellular glutamine concentration (as calculated from glutamine tissue levels, taking into account the extracellular space determined with the [3H]inulin technique) rose from about 1 mM to 30-35 mM within about 12 min, indicating a 10-12-fold concentrative uptake of glutamine into the liver cells and an osmotic challenge for the hepatocyte. When intracellular glutamine had reached its steady-state concentration, net K+ efflux from the liver was also terminated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

pH control of hepatic glutamine degradation. Role of transport

Glutamine uptake is decreased in isolated perfused rat liver when the extracellular pH is lowered. This is also observed in the presence of ammonia concentrations nearly 20-fold above that required for half-maximal stimulation of glutaminase, indicating that the effect is not explained by a submaximal ammonium activation of the enzyme. In livers perfused with a physiological glutamine concentration (0.6 mM), the tissue glutamine but not glutamate content is strongly dependent on the extracellular pH and increases from 2.9 mumol/g to 4.7 mumol/g liver when the extracellular pH is increased from 7.3 to 7.5. Subfractionation of the livers revealed that the mitochondrial glutamine concentration increases from about 15 mM to 50 mM, when the extracellular pH is raised from 7.3 to 7.7, whereas the cytosolic glutamine concentration increases only slightly. Simultaneously the cytosolic and mitochondrial pH values are largely unaffected, being 7.25 and 7.7 respectively. Thus, the pH gradient between mitochondria and cytosol remains unchanged when the extracellular pH varies. Amiloride (2 mM) inhibits glutamine uptake by the liver and abolishes the extra/intracellular pH gradient. With amiloride present, tissue glutamine levels are no longer dependent on extracellular pH and are only about 2 mumol/g liver. It is concluded that pH control of glutaminase flux is also mediated by variations of the mitochondrial glutamine concentration pointing to a regulatory role of the glutamine carrier in the mitochondrial membrane for hepatic glutamine breakdown.