Purification and enzymatic characterization of PgcM: a β-phosphoglucomutase and glucose-1-phosphate phosphodismutase of Bacillus subtilis

Phosphoglucomutases catalyze the reversible conversion of D-glucose 1-phosphate to D-glucose 6-phosphate, a key metabolic step in all cells. Two classes of phosphoglucomutases have been described so far, using either the alpha- or beta-forms of the phosphorylated sugars. The pgcM gene of Bacillus subtilis was cloned and used to construct a plasmid-based overexpression system for PgcM in Bacillus megaterium. The obtained protein was purified and its enzymatic activities were characterized. PgcM exhibits beta-phosphoglucomutase activity, transforming mainly beta-glucose 1-phosphate to beta-glucose 6-phosphate via the intermediate glucose 1,6-bisphosphate. Nevertheless, alpha-glucose 1-phosphate can also serve as a substrate, but with a seven-fold lower affinity than that observed for the beta-form. Additionally, PgcM exhibits a glucose-1-phosphate phosphodismutase activity using the alpha- and beta-forms as substrates, with affinities comparable to those observed for the phosphoglucomutase activity. Conformational changes of PgcM triggered by cofactors (MgCl2, glucose 1,6-bisphosphate) and substrate (glucose 1-phosphate) were detected by fluorescence spectra. Insertional mutagenesis of pgcM resulted in an inactivation of beta-phosphoglucomutase activity in B. subtilis. These mutants showed growth deficiency on minimal medium containing starch or maltodextrins (maltose to maltoheptaose) compared either to the wild-type or to growth on minimal medium containing glucose.     

Beta-glucose 1-phosphate-interconverting enzymes in maltose- and trehalose-fermenting lactic acid bacteria

Maltose and trehalose catabolic pathways are linked through their common enzyme, beta-phosphoglucomutase, and metabolite, beta-glucose 1-phosphate, in Lactococcus lactis. Maltose is degraded by the concerted action of maltose phosphorylase and beta-phosphoglucomutase, whereas trehalose is assimilated by a novel pathway, including the recently discovered enzyme, trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase, and beta-phosphoglucomutase. In the present study, 40 strains of lactic acid bacteria were investigated for utilization of metabolic reactions involving beta-glucose 1-phosphate. All genera of the low G+C content lactic acid bacteria belonging to the clostridial subbranch of Gram-positive bacteria were represented in the study. The strains, which fermented maltose or trehalose, were investigated for beta-phosphoglucomutase, maltose phosphorylase and trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase activity, as indications of maltose and trehalose catabolic pathways involving beta-glucose 1-phosphate interconversions. Eighty per cent of all strains fermented maltose and, of these strains, 63% were shown to use a maltose phosphorylase/beta- phosphoglucomutase pathway. One-third of the strains fermenting trehalose were found to harbour trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase activity, and these were also shown to possess beta-phosphoglucomutase activity. Mainly L. lactis and Enterococcus faecalis strains were found to harbour the novel trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase/beta-phosphoglucomutase pathway. As lower beta-glucose 1-phosphate interconverting enzyme activities were observed in the majority of glucose-cultivated lactic acid bacteria, glucose was suggested to repress the synthesis of these enzymes in most strains. Thus, metabolic reactions involving the beta-anomer of glucose 1-phosphate are frequently found in both maltose- and trehalose-utilizing lactic acid bacteria.     

Role of inosine 5'-phosphate in activating glucose-bisphosphatase

Glucose-bisphosphate (G1c-1,6-P2) phosphatase has been purified greater than 200-fold from the cytosol of mouse brain. As reported earlier, the enzyme requires inosine monophosphate (IMP) and Mg2+ for activity [Guha, S.K., & Rose, Z. B. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 6634-6637]. Kinetic parameters and the role of IMP have been further investigated. When Glc-1,6-P2 and IMP are both varied, double-reciprocal plots of the data form a parallel line pattern. With 2 mM Mg2+, the Km obtained for G1c-1,6-P2 is 20 microM and the Ka for IMP is 9 microM. Co2+, Mn2+, and Ni2+ activate less effectively than Mg2+. The apparent Ka for Mg2+ decreases with increasing G1c-1,6-P2, and the observed Km of G1c-1,6-P2 decreases with increasing Mg2+. The extrapolated value of the Ka of Mg2+ at infinite substrate is 86 microM. Mg2+ does not affect the Ka of IMP. The phosphatase activity is optimal at pH 7. The phosphatase is not completely specific since mannose 1,6-bisphosphate is hydrolyzed and guanosine monophosphate activates. However, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is no more than a poor inhibitor, and adenine nucleotides are neither activators nor inhibitors. The products of the reaction are glucose-1-P and glucose-6-P, in a ratio of 2:3, and Pi. Both glucose-P's are competitive inhibitors with respect to IMP [Ki(glucose-1-P) = 5 microM; Ki(glucose-6-P) = 18 microM]. Neither glucose-P competes with G1c-1,6-P2. The demonstration of an exchange reaction between G1c-1,6-P2 and glucose-6-P is evidence for the phosphorylation of the enzyme by the substrate. The exchange reaction requires Mg2+ and is inhibited by IMP. The observation of the exchange reaction and its elimination by IMP indicates that the low level of phosphoglucomutase activity that remains with the phosphatase throughout purification is an inherent property of the phosphatase. The requirement of glucose-bisphosphatase for the nucleotide IMP is consistent with possible roles for both G1c-1,6-P2 and IMP in the control of the ATP level in the brain.     

Regulation of rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase by metals, nucleotides, and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate as determined from fluorescence studies

The fluorescent nucleotide analogue formycin 5'-monophosphate (FMP) inhibits rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (I50 = 17 microM, Hill coefficient = 1.2), as does the natural regulator AMP (I50 = 13 microM, Hill coefficient = 2.3), but exhibits little or no cooperativity of inhibition. Binding of FMP to fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase can be monitored by the increased fluorescence emission intensity (a 2.7-fold enhancement) or the increased fluorescence polarization of the probe. A single dissociation constant for FMP binding of 6.6 microM (4 sites per tetramer) was determined by monitoring fluorescence intensity. AMP displaces FMP from the enzyme as evidenced by a decrease in FMP fluorescence and polarization. The substrates, fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and inhibitors, methyl alpha-D-fructofuranoside 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, all increase the maximal fluorescence of enzyme-bound FMP but have little or no effect on FMP binding. Weak metal binding sites on rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase have been detected by the effect of Zn2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+ in displacing FMP from the enzyme. This is observed as a decrease in FMP fluorescence intensity and polarization in the presence of enzyme as a function of divalent cation concentration. The order of binding by divalent cations is Zn2+ = Mn2+ greater than Mg2+, and the Kd for Mn2+ displacement of FMP is 91 microM. Methyl alpha-D-fructofuranoside 1,6-bisphosphate, as well as fructose 6-phosphate and inorganic phosphate, enhances metal-mediated FMP displacement from rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol

2,5-Anhydro-D-mannitol (100 to 200 mg/kg) decreased blood glucose by 17 to 58% in fasting mice, rats, streptozotocin-diabetic mice, and genetically diabetic db/db mice. Serum lactate in rats was elevated 56% by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol, but this could be prevented by dichloroacetate (200 mg/kg) or thiamin (200 mg/kg). In hepatocytes from fasted rats, 1 mM 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol inhibited gluconeogenesis from a mixture of alanine, lactate, and pyruvate. It also inhibited glucose production and stimulated lactate formation from glycerol or dihydroxyacetone. Glycogenolysis in hepatocytes from fed rats was markedly inhibited by 1 mM 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol both in the presence or absence of 1 microM glucagon. 2,5-Anhydro-D-mannitol can be phosphorylated by fructokinase or hexokinase to the 1-phosphate and then by phosphofructokinase to the 1,6-bisphosphate. Rat liver glycogen phosphorylase was inhibited by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1-phosphate (apparent Ki = 0.66 +/- 0.09 mM) but was little affected by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1,6-bisphosphate. Rat liver phosphoglucomutase was inhibited by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1-phosphate (apparent Ki = 2.8 +/- 0.2 mM), whereas 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1,6-bisphosphate served as an alternative activator (apparent K alpha = 7.0 +/- 0.5 microM). Rabbit liver pyruvate kinase was activated by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1,6-bisphosphate (apparent K alpha = 9.5 +/- 0.9 microM), whereas rabbit liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase was inhibited by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1,6-bisphosphate (apparent Ki = 3.6 +/- 0.3 microM). The phosphate esters of 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol would, therefore, be expected to inhibit glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis and stimulate glycolysis in liver.     

Control of Photosynthetic Sucrose Synthesis by Fructose 2,6-Bisphosphate : V. Modulation of the Spinach Leaf Cytosolic Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphatase Activity in Vitro by Substrate, Products, pH, Magnesium, Fructose 2,6-Bisphosphate, Adenosine Monophosphate, and Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate

How fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and metabolic intermediates interact to regulate the activity of the cytosolic fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase in vitro has been investigated. Mg²⁺ is required as an activator. There is a wide pH optimum, especially at high Mg²⁺. The substrate dependence is not markedly pH dependent. High concentrations of Mg²⁺ and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate are inhibitory, especially at higher pH. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibits over a wide range of pH values. It acts by lowering the maximal activity and lowering the affinity for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, for which sigmoidal saturation kinetics are induced, but the Mg²⁺ dependence is not markedly altered. On its own, adenosine monophosphate inhibits competitively to Mg²⁺ and noncompetitively to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. In the presence of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, adenosine monophosphate inhibits in a fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-dependent manner. In the presence of adenosine monophosphate, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibits in Mg²⁺-dependent manner. Fructose 6-phosphate and phosphate both inhibit competitively to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate does not affect the inhibition by phosphate, but weakens inhibition by fructose 6-phosphate. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate and hydroxypyruvate inhibit noncompetitively to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and to Mg²⁺, but both act as activators in the presence of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate by decreasing the S_0.5 for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. A model is proposed to account for the interaction between these effectors.     

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.     

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.     

Formation and reorientation of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate in the PMM/PGM reaction: transient-state kinetic studies

The interconversion of glucose 1-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate, catalyzed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase, has been studied by transient-state kinetic techniques. Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate is formed as an intermediate in the reaction, but an obligatory step in the catalytic cycle appears to be the formation of an enzyme-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate complex that is not competent to form either glucose 1-phosphate or glucose 6-phosphate directly. We suggest that during the lifetime of this complex the glucose 1,6-bisphosphate intermediate undergoes the 180 degrees reorientation that is required for completion of the catalytic cycle. The formation of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate from glucose 1-phosphate is in rapid equilibrium relative to the rest of the reaction, where K(eq) = 0.14. In the opposite direction, glucose 1,6-bisphosphate is formed from glucose 6-phosphate with a rate constant of 12 s(-)(1), and the reverse step occurs with a rate constant of 255 s(-)(1). The interconversion of the productive and nonproductive glucose 1,6-bisphosphate complexes occurs with a rate constant of 64 s(-)(1) in one direction and 48 s(-)(1) in the other direction. Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate remains associated with the enzyme during reorientation. Isotope trapping studies indicate that it partitions to form glucose 1-phosphate or glucose 6-phosphate 14.3 times more frequently than it dissociates from the enzyme.     

A binding study of the interaction of beta-D-fructose 2,6-bisphosphate with phosphofructokinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

The binding of beta-D-fructose 2,6-bisphosphate to rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase and rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was studied using the column centrifugation procedure (Penefsky, H. S., (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 2891-2899). Phosphofructokinase binds 1 mol of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate/mol of protomer (Mr = 80,000). The Scatchard plots of the binding of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate to phosphofructokinase are nonlinear in the presence of three different buffer systems and appear to exhibit negative cooperativity. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and glucose 1,6-bisphosphate inhibit the binding of fructose-2,6-P2 with Ki values of 15 and 280 microM, respectively. Sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate, ATP, and high concentrations of phosphate also inhibit the binding. Other metabolites including fructose-6-P, AMP, and citrate show little effect. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase binds 1 mol of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate/mol of subunit (Mr = 35,000) with an affinity constant of 1.5 X 10(6) M-1. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, fructose-6-P, and phosphate are competitive inhibitors with Ki values of 4, 2.7, and 230 microM, respectively. Sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate (1 mM) inhibits approximately 50% of the binding of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose bisphosphatase, but AMP has no effect. Mn2+, Co2+, and a high concentration of Mg2+ inhibit the binding. Thus, we may conclude that fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binds to phosphofructokinase at the same allosteric site for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate while it binds to the catalytic site of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.     

Specificity of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate synthesis in rabbit skeletal muscle.

1. To compare glucose 1,6-bisphosphate synthesis in different types of cells, we partially purified (2000-fold) a glycerate 1,3 P2-dependent glucose 1,6-bisphosphate synthase from rabbit skeletal muscle. 2. In agreement with the results reported by others for mouse brain and pig skeletal muscle, the enzyme can be separated from bulk phosphoglucomutase (PGM) activity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography of crude cellular extract. This cannot be achieved on human hemolysates where glycerate 1,3-P2-dependent glucose 1,2-bisphosphate synthesis is displayed only by multifunctional PGM2 isoenzymes. 3. The Km values for glycerate 1,3-P2 (0.50 microM), glucose 1-phosphate (90 microM), Mg2+ (0.22 mM), and also pH optimum (7.8) and mol. wt (70,000) of the rabbit skeletal muscle enzyme are similar to those of the enzymes from mouse brain and human red blood cells, but they differ from those reported for the pig skeletal muscle enzyme.     

Conformational cycling in beta-phosphoglucomutase catalysis: reorientation of the beta-D-glucose 1,6-(Bis)phosphate intermediate

Activated Lactococcus lactis beta-phosphoglucomutase (betaPGM) catalyzes the conversion of beta-d-glucose 1-phosphate (betaG1P) derived from maltose to beta-d-glucose 6-phosphate (G6P). Activation requires Mg(2+) binding and phosphorylation of the active site residue Asp8. Initial velocity techniques were used to define the steady-state kinetic constants k(cat) = 177 +/- 9 s(-)(1), K(m) = 49 +/- 4 microM for the substrate betaG1P and K(m) = 6.5 +/- 0.7 microM for the activator beta-d-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (betaG1,6bisP). The observed transient accumulation of [(14)C]betaG1,6bisP (12% at approximately 0.1 s) in the single turnover reaction carried out with excess betaPGM (40 microM) and limiting [(14)C]betaG1P (5 microM) and betaG1,6bisP (5 microM) supported the role of betaG1,6bisP as a reaction intermediate in the conversion of the betaG1P to G6P. Single turnover reactions of [(14)C]betaG1,6bisP with excess betaPGM were carried out to demonstrate that phosphoryl transfer rather than ligand binding is rate-limiting and to show that the betaG1,6bisP binds to the active site in two different orientations (one positioning the C(1)phosphoryl group for reaction with Asp8, and the other orientation positioning the C(6)phosphoryl group for reaction with Asp8) with roughly the same efficiency. Single turnover reactions carried out with betaPGM, [(14)C]betaG1P, and unlabeled betaG1,6bisP demonstrated complete exchange of label to the betaG1,6bisP during the catalytic cycle. Thus, the reorientation of the betaG1,6bisP intermediate that is required to complete the catalytic cycle occurs by diffusion into solvent followed by binding in the opposite orientation. Published X-ray structures of betaG1P suggest that the reorientation and phosphoryl transfer from betaG1,6bisP occur by conformational cycling of the enzyme between the active site open and closed forms via cap domain movement. Last, the equilibrium ratio of betaG1,6bisP to betaG1P plus G6P was examined to evidence a significant stabilization of betaPGM aspartyl phosphate.     

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.     

The key role of fructose-2,6-bis-phosphate in the temporal organization of carbohydrate metabolism. An auto-oscillating mathematical model

A mathematical model describing the periodical temporal organization of the open futile cycle fructose-6-phosphate in equilibrium fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F6P in equilibrium F1,6P2) is investigated. The oscillations in this cycle are caused by the regulatory cycle F6P in equilibrium fructise-2,6-bisphosphate (F2,6P2), catalyzed by phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2) with a cascade of covalent chemical modification. The apparent product activation of PFK-2 by F2,6P2 together with the F2,6P2 outflux from the regulatory cycle create square-shaped oscillations in the concentration of F2,6P2, a powerful reciprocal regulator of the enzymes of the futile cycle F6P in equilibrium F1,6P2. Compared to the mechanisms of the autonomous regulation of the F6P in equilibrium F1,6P2 cycle suggested previously, the new one provides an excellent temporal separation of the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathways and possesses a considerably larger region of existence of the self-oscillatory behaviour.     

Physiological role of beta-phosphoglucomutase in Lactococcus lactis

A beta-phosphoglucomutase (beta-PGM) mutant of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ATCC 19435 was constructed using a minimal integration vector and double-crossover recombination. The mutant and the wild-type strain were grown under controlled conditions with different sugars to elucidate the role of beta-PGM in carbohydrate catabolism and anabolism. The mutation did not significantly affect growth, product formation, or cell composition when glucose or lactose was used as the carbon source. With maltose or trehalose as the carbon source the wild-type strain had a maximum specific growth rate of 0.5 h(-1), while the deletion of beta-PGM resulted in a maximum specific growth rate of 0.05 h(-1) on maltose and no growth at all on trehalose. Growth of the mutant strain on maltose resulted in smaller amounts of lactate but more formate, acetate, and ethanol, and approximately 1/10 of the maltose was found as beta-glucose 1-phosphate in the medium. Furthermore, the beta-PGM mutant cells grown on maltose were considerably larger and accumulated polysaccharides which consisted of alpha-1,4-bound glucose units. When the cells were grown at a low dilution rate in a glucose and maltose mixture, the wild-type strain exhibited a higher carbohydrate content than when grown at higher growth rates, but still this content was lower than that in the beta-PGM mutant. In addition, significant differences in the initial metabolism of maltose and trehalose were found, and cell extracts did not digest free trehalose but only trehalose 6-phosphate, which yielded beta-glucose 1-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate. This demonstrates the presence of a novel enzymatic pathway for trehalose different from that of maltose metabolism in L. lactis.     

Regulation of adult and fetal myocardial phosphofructokinase. Relief of cooperativity and competition between fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, ATP, and citrate

To clarify the physiological role of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in the perinatal switching of myocardial fuels from carbohydrate to fatty acids, the kinetic effects of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate on phosphofructokinase purified from fetal and adult rat hearts were compared. For both enzymes at physiological pH and ATP concentrations, 1 microM fructose 2,6-bisphosphate induced a greater than 10-fold reduction in S0.5 for fructose 6-phosphate and it completely eliminated subunit cooperativity. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate may thereby reduce the influence of changes in fructose 6-phosphate concentration on phosphofructokinase activity. Based on double-reciprocal plots and ATP inhibition studies, adult heart phosphofructokinase activity is more sensitive to physiological changes in ATP and citrate concentrations than to changes in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentrations. Fetal heart phosphofructokinase is less sensitive to ATP concentration above 5 mM and equally sensitive to citrate inhibition. The fetal enzyme has up to a 15-fold lower affinity for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, rendering it more sensitive to changes in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration than adult heart phosphofructokinase. Together, these factors allow greater phosphofructokinase activity in fetal heart while retaining sensitive metabolic control. In both fetal and adult heart, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is primarily permissive: it abolishes subunit cooperativity and in its presence phosphofructokinase activity is extraordinarily sensitive to both the energy balance of the cell as reflected in ATP concentration and the availability of other fuels as reflected in cytosolic citrate concentration.     

Phosphoglucomutase: its role in the response of pancreatic islets to glucose epimers and anomers

Rat pancreatic islets display phosphoglucomutase activity. The velocity of glucose-1-phosphate conversion to glucose-6-phosphate is increased in a dose-related fashion by glucose-1,6-bisphosphate. The islet homogenate, like purified muscle phosphoglucomutase, also catalyzes the synthesis of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate from glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. The rate of the latter reaction is about 10,000 times lower than that of glucose-1-phosphate conversion to glucose-6-phosphate in the presence of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate. D-glucose and D-mannose, but not D-galactose nor D-fructose, markedly increase the islet content in glucose-1,6-bisphosphate. Such a content is twice higher in islets exposed for 5 minutes to alpha-D-glucose than in islets exposed to beta-D-glucose. The process of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthesis, as catalyzed by the alpha-stereospecific phosphoglucomutase, may play a role in the metabolic and, hence, secretory responses of the islets to glucose epimers and anomers.     

Control of CO2 fixation regulation of stromal fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in spinach by pH and Mg2+ concentration

The effect of pH and of Mg²⁺ concentration on the light activated form of stromal fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) was studied using the enzyme rapidly extracted from illuminated spinach chloroplasts. The (fructose-1,6-bisphosphate^4-)(Mg²⁺) complex has been identified as the substrate of the enzyme. Therefore, changes of pH and Mg²⁺ concentrations have an immediate effect on the activity of FBPase by shifting the pH and Mg²⁺ dependent equilibrium concentration of the substrate. In addition, changes of pH and Mg²⁺ concentration in the assay medium have a delayed effect on FBPase activity. A correlation of the activities observed using different pH and Mg²⁺ concentrations indicates, that the effect is not a consequence of the pH and Mg²⁺ concentration as such, but is caused by a shift in the equilibrium concentration of a hypothetical inhibitor fructose-1,6-bisphosphate^3- (uncomplexed), resulting in a change of the activation state of the enzyme. The interplay between a rapid effect on the concentration of the substrate and a delayed effect on the activation state enables a rigid control of stromal FBPase by stromal Mg²⁺ concentrations and pH. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is allosterically inhibited by fructose-6-phosphate in a sigmoidal fashion, allowing a fine control of the enzyme by its product.Abbreviations Fru1,6 bis P fructose-1,6-bisphosphate - Fru6P fructose-6-phosphate - FBPase fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase Some of these results have been included in a preliminary report (Heldt et al. 1984)     

Purification and properties of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase of Bacillus subtilis.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate 1-phosphohydrase, EC 3.1.3.11) of Bacillus subtilis is a constitutive enzyme that was purified 1000-fold (30% yield) to 80% purity as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis where it exhibits a band corresponding to 72,000 daltons. It sediments at 15 S in sucrose density gradients indicating a molecular weight of 380,000, but apparently is very asymmetric. Its activity is irreversibly inactivated in the absence of Mn2+. The enzyme specifically catalyzes dephosphorylation of D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate with a pH optimum of 8.0. It has 40 to 60% of full activity in the absence of P-enolpyruvate; 20 microM P-enolpyruvate activates it maximally. High concentrations of monovalent cations also activate, NH4+ being most effective. Inhibitors fall into two groups. 1) Nucleoside monophosphates, phosphorylated coenzymes, and polynucleotides inhibit competitively with P-enolpyruvate (AMP (Ki = 2 microM) and dAMP are most effective). 2) The inhibition by nucleoside di- and triphosphates, PPi, and highly phosphorylated nucleotides (guanosine 5'-triphosphate 3'-diphosphate (pppGpp) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate 3'-diphosphate are most effective) is not competed by P-enolpyruvate but is partially overcome by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (2 microM). Therefore, highly phosphorylated nucleotides (pppGpp and others), produced in over 0.2 mM concentrations upon step down from fast to slow growth rates (Gallant, J., and Lazzarini, R.A. (1976) in Protein Synthesis (McConkey, E.H., ed) Vol. 2, pp. 309-349, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York), can reduce the conversion rate of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate during gluconeogenesis. Comparing glycolytic growth on D-glucose and gluconeogenic growth on L-malate, the intracellular concentrations of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate differ but are both above the Km (13 microM) of the enzyme, those of AMP are similar, whereas those of P-enolpyruvate (0.18 mM versus 1.3 mM) indicate that the enzyme has only 40% of its full activity during glycolysis; nucleotides other than AMP may inhibit additionally. Thus, the futile cycle of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate synthesis and degradation during glycolysis is partially avoided, but the cells are poised for rapid adaptation upon change to gluconeogenic growth conditions.