Stabilization of glucosaminephosphate synthase from rat liver by hexose 6-phosphates. Properties and interconversion of two molecular forms.

Glucosaminephosphate synthase (glucosaminephosphate isomerase (glutamine-forming), EC 5.3.1.19) prepared from rat liver by extraction in the presence of glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) followed by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 is susceptible to digestion by trypsin. This enzyme, designated form A, can be converted to tryptic-insusceptible form B upon incubation with Glc-6-P or fructose 6-phosphate (Fru-6-P) at 37 degrees C. The two forms also differ in the degree of activation by dithiothreitol, the degree of inhibition by methyl-glyoxal and the behavior on DEAE-Sephadex and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. During purification with DEAE-Sephadex followed by hydroxyapatite, form B is converted to form A if Fru-6-P is absent and form A to form B if Fru-6-P is present. The two forms are therefore intercovertible. Under the conditions of purification, form B is more stable than form A, since the purity and yield of the final product are greater with form B than with form A. These findings suggest that the two forms of glucosaminephosphate synthase differ conformationally and that the equilibrium position depends on the concentration of Fru-6-P. Glc-6-P is effective only when it gives rise to Fru-6-P by mediation of glucose-phosphate isomerase.     

Yeast phosphofructokinase. 3. Comparison of the allosteric properties of PFKs and PFKd(MgF + )

Yeast phosphofructokinase (PFK) exists in two forms, an ATP-sensitive form, PFKs, and a desensitized form, PFKd(MgF⁺). PFKs exhibits sigmoidal kinetics with respect to Fru-6-P, whereby the S_{0.5, Fru-6-P} is determined by [ATP]. This form of PFK is inhibited by ATP and citrate and allosterically activated by Fru-6-P and AMP. NH₄⁺ activates PFKs and enhances its affinity for substrate Fru-6-P (1–3).PFKd(MgF⁺) in contrast is not inhibited by ATP and citrate, nor activated by Fru-6-P and AMP. Kinetics of the reaction with PFKd(MgF⁺) with respect to Fru6-P are hyperbolic, with $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{=}\text{1}\text{4}\text{?}\text{1}\text{5}$ of S_{0.5, Fm-6-P} for PFKs. NH₄⁺ strongly activates this form.In terms of the model of Monod et al. (4), PFKd(MgF⁺) corresponds to a fixed R-conformation, while PFKs is a limiting T-conformation.     

Enzymatic preparation of high-specific-activity β-d-[6,6′-H]fructose-2,6-bisphosphate: Application to a sensitive assay for fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase

β-d-Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P₂) is an important regulator of eukaryotic glucose homeostasis, functioning as a potent activator of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and inhibitor of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Pharmaceutical manipulation of intracellular Fru-2,6-P₂ levels, therefore, is of interest for the treatment of certain diseases, including diabetes and cancer. [2-³²P]Fru-2,6-P₂ has been the reagent of choice for studying the metabolism of this effector molecule; however, its short half-life necessitates frequent preparation. Here we describe a convenient, economical, one-pot enzymatic preparation of high-specific-activity tritium-labeled Fru-2,6-P₂. The preparation involves conversion of readily available, carrier-free d-[6,6′-³H]glucose to [6,6′-³H]Fru-2,6-P₂ using hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase. The key reagent in this preparation, bifunctional 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase from human liver, was produced recombinantly in Escherichia coli and purified in a single step using an appendant C-terminal hexa-His affinity tag. Following purification by anion exchange chromatography using triethylammonium bicarbonate as eluant, radiochemically pure [6,6′-³H]Fru-2,6-P₂ having a specific activity of 50 Ci/mmol was obtained in yields averaging 35%. [6,6′-³H]Fru-2,6-P₂ serves as a stable, high-specific-activity substrate in a facile assay capable of detecting fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase in the range of 10⁻¹⁴ to 10⁻¹⁵ mol, and it should prove to be useful in many studies of the metabolism of this important biofactor.     

Accumulation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in mutant cells of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an evidence of phosphofructokinase activity

Phosphoglucose isomerase negative mutant of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulated relatively higher concentration of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P₂) when mannitol induced cells were incubated with this sugar alcohol. Also the toluene-treated cells of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase negative mutant of this organism produced Fru-1,6-P₂ from fructose 6-phosphate in presence of ATP, but not from 6-phosphogluconate. The results together suggested the presence of an ATP-dependent fructose 6-phosphate kinase (EC 2.7.1.11) in mucoid P. aeruginosa.Abbreviations ALD Fru-1,6-P₂ aldolse - DHAP dihydroxyacetone phosphate - F6P fructose 6-phosphate - G6P glucose 6-phosphate - Gly3P glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate - KDPG 2-keto 3-deoxy 6-phosphogluconate - PFK fructose 6-phosphate kinase - PGI phosphoglucose isomerase - 6PG 6-phosphogluconate     

Enzymes regulating glucosamine 6-phosphate synthesis in the zygote of Ascaris suum

Dubinský P., Rybo? M. and Tur?eková ?. 1985. Enzymes regulating glucosamine 6-phosphate synthesis in the zygote of Ascaris suum. International Journal for Parasitology15: 415–419. Formation of glucosamine 6-phosphate, a basic intermediate product of chitin synthesis in the zygote of Ascaris suum is catalyzed by glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.16). The highest activity of the enzyme was observed immediately after fertilization of mature oocytes. High enzyme activity also found in unfertilized oocytes indicates that formation of glucosamine 6-phosphate is catalyzed by enzymes that were present in the oocytes prior to their fertilization. In the Ascaris suum zygote, in contrast to the situation in other organisms, glucosaminephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.10) plays no part in glucosamine 6-phosphate synthesis. The paper discusses possible participation of glucosaminephosphate isomerase in the resynthesis of fructose 6-phosphate from the surplus glucosamine 6-phosphate not utilized for chitin synthesis, and accordingly its involvement in the metabolism of the zygote.     

Glucosaminephosphate synthase of human liver.

Although human liver contains glucosaminephosphate synthase (glucosaminephosphate isomerase (glutamine-forming), EC 5.3.1.19), its activity is rapidly lost during the course of extraction. The inactivation, however, is largely prevented if the extraction medium contains isopropanol at 1% concentration; using these "stabilized" extracts, the glucosaminephosphate synthase activity of human liver has been shown to be similar to the activity previously reported in rat liver. The enzyme precipitated from these extracts by (NH4)2SO4 is inhibited by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, the concentration required to produce a half-maximal inhibition being 6 muM. These results seem to be sufficient to postulate that glucosaminephosphate synthase is important for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine synthesis in human liver. In contrast to the rat liver enzyme, the (NH4)2SO4-precipitated human liver enzyme is resistant to trypsin and undergoes no conversion reaction when incubated with glucose 6-phosphate.     

Studies on the Formation and the Degradation of Glucose 1,6-Bisphosphate in the Beef Liver Homogenate

Four kinds of the enzyme reactions have been reported for the synthesis of Glc-1,6-P₂. However, any activity of Glc-1-P dismutase and phosphoglucokinase was not observed in the beef liver homogenate. When the liver homogenate was incubated with Glc-1-P and Fru-1,6-P₂, a significant amount of Glc-1,6-P₂ was formed. The Glc-1,6-P₂ synthesis activity from Glc-1-P and Fru-1,6-P₂ was caused by the action of phosphoglucomutase present in the liver homogenate. The most remarkable activity for Glc-1,6-P₂ synthesis was observed when the homogenate was incubated with Glc-1-P and glycerate-1,3-P₂. The Glc-1,6-P₂ synthesis activity from Glc-1-P and glycerate-1,3-P₂ was separated from the major peak of phosphoglucomutase activity by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. The peak of Glc-1,6-P₂ synthesis activity, however, still retained phosphoglucomutase activity.

Glc-1,6-P₂ phosphatase activity was mainly observed in the mitochondria and microsome fraction. The properties of Glc-1,6-P₂ phosphatase were differentiated from those of acid phosphatase and Glc-6-P phosphatase.     

Pyrophosphate Fructose-6-P 1-Phosphotransferase from Tomato Fruit : Evidence for Change during Ripening

Three forms of pyrophosphate fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) were purified from both green and red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit: (a) a classical form (designated Q₂) containing α- (66 kilodalton) and β- (60 kilodalton) subunits; (b) a form (Q₁) containing a β-doublet subunit; and (c) a form (Q₀) that appeared to contain a β-singlet subunit. Several lines of evidence suggested that the different forms occur under physiological conditions. Q₂ was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity; Q₁ and Q₀ were highly purified, but not to homogeneity. The distribution of the PFP forms from red (versus green) tomato was: Q₂, 29% (90%); Q₁, 47% (6%); and Q₀, 24% (4%). The major difference distinguishing the red from the green tomato enzymes was the fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P₂)-induced change in K_m for fructose-6-phosphate (Fru-6-P), the `green forms' showing markedly enhanced affinity on activation (K<sub>m</sub> decrease of 7-9-fold) and the `red forms' showing either little change (Q₀, Q₁) or a relatively small (2.5-fold) affinity increase (Q₂). The results extend our earlier findings with carrot root to another tissue and indicate that forms of PFP showing low or no affinity increase for Fru 6-P on activation by Fru-2,6-P₂ (here Q₁ and Q₀) are associated with sugar storage, whereas the classical form (Q₂), which shows a pronounced affinity increase, is more important for starch storage.     

The bacterial wilt,uptake of phosphate,and phosphate ester levels in the resistant and susceptible alfalfa plants

7 days or 7 weeks old alfalfa plants (Medicago sativa L.), susceptible (S) and resistant (R) to bacterial wilt, were inoculated withCorynebacterium michiganense pv.insidiosum and on day 8 and 15 after inoculation the levels of acid-soluble phosphate esters (P-esters) were determinated by means of³²P labelling in the shoots or roots. The most significant changes were recorded in the roots of the older R plants grown in full Knop nutrient solutions on day 8 after inoculation. The marked reduction of inorganic phosphate (P₁) uptake by whole R plants is accompanied by a decrease in the levels of fructose-l, 6-bisphosphate (Fru-P₂), glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6-P), fructose-6-phosphate (Fru-6-P), adenosine mono-, and diphosphate (AMP and ADP), phosphorylcholine (P-choline) and a proportional increase in the level of P₁. In the S plants, infection affected neither P₁ uptake nor P₁ proportions. In the plants grown after inoculation in diluted Knop’s solutions (0.147 mM KH₂PO₄), infection induced a reduction of the radial transport of P₁ to the segments of R roots whereas a reduction of the levels was only recorded in some P-esters [AMP, ADP, dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), and P-choline, but no decrease of Fru-P₂, Glc-6-P and Fru-6-P]. In the S plants, P₁ transport and the levels of P-esters were increased by the infection. P₁ transport exhibited considerable metabolic dependence (DNP, DCCD). Bacterial infection probably had no influence on the activity of the plasma membrane ATPases.     

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.     

Multifunctional Properties of Beef Liver Phosphoglucomutase

Liver phosphoglucomutase was found to catalyze also the reaction of Glc-1,6-P₂ formation from Glc-1-P and Fru-1,6-P_z or Glc-1-P and glycerate-1,3-P₂. The specific activity of Glc-1,6-P₂ formation from Glc-1-P and Fru-1,6-P₂ was 1/9200 of that of the mutase activity. The activity of Glc-1,6-P₂ formation from Glc-1-P and glycerate-1,3-P₂ was 1/122,000 of the mutase activity. From the results of the kinetics and the thermal inactivation experiments, the reaction of the mutase and Glc-1,6-P₂ synthesis were strongly suggested to occur at the same active site of liver phosphoglucomutase.

Liver phosphoglucomutase exhibited the Glc-1,6-P₂ phosphatase activity only in the presence of xylose 1-phosphate. The specific activity of phosphatase was only 1/154,000 of that of the mutase activity.     

Regulation by testosterone of the glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase activity in the male reproductive organs of rat

Accessory reproductive organs of male rat were found to contain high activities of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase (glucosaminephosphate isomerase (glutamine-forming), EC 5.3.1.19). Castration caused drastic reduction (75%) in the enzyme activity of ventral prostate. Testosterone propionate administration restored the enzyme activity while cortisol and estradiol-17β did not cause any effect. Cycloheximide blocked the stimulation caused by testosterone.     

Phosphorylation of rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase 1 by the cAMP dependent protein kinase,the cAMP independent synthase kinase and the phosvitin kinase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Summary cAMP dependent protein kinase and cAMP independent synthase kinase incorporated up to two P_i/subunit in rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase I. The first P_i/subunit was incorporated much faster than the second. After incorporation of one Pi/subunit by the CAMP dependent protein kinase, the ratio of independence (RI) was 0.20 and the dissociation constant K_c for Glc-6-P was 0.3 mm, and quite different from the RI of 0.02 and K_c (Glc-6-P) of 1 mM, obtained when one P_i/subunit was incorporated by the cAMP independent synthase kinase. Within the first P_i/subunit, the cAMP dependent protein kinase predominantly phosphorylated in the trypsin sensitive region (60–70%), corresponding to two trichloro-acetic acid soluble tryptic phosphopeptides, termed site-1 and site-2. Site-2 was found to be phosphorylated prior to site-1. CNBr degradation resolved the phosphorylated regions in two phosphopeptides with M_r 28,000 and 10,000.The larger CNBr phosphopeptides were derived from the trypsin sensitive region. Within the first P_i/subunit, synthase kinase almost exclusively phosphorylated in the trypsin insensitive region (80%) corresponding to the smaller CNBr phosphopeptide. However, when two P_i/subunit were incorporated by either the cAMP dependent protein kinase or the synthase kinase the phosphates were almost equally distributed between the trypsin sensitive and insensitive regions and K_c (Glc-6-P) increased to 2 mm, Maximum phosphorylation (2.8–3.3 P_i/subunit and K_c (Glc-6-P) 9–11 mm) was only obtainable when both the cAMP dependent protein kinase and the synthase kinase were present.The phosvitin kinase very slowly incorporated one P_i/subunit.We suggest that within the first P₁subunit phosphorylation in the trypsin insensitive region determine the affinity for the allosteric activator, glucose-6-phosphate. Thereafter phosphorylation in the trypsin sensitive region is the major determinant. Purified glycogen-free rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase binds glycogen with lower affinity than polymorphonuclear leukocyte glycogen synthase. Glycogen was found to increase the initial rate of phosphorylation and facilitate the phosphorylation of site-1.Abbreviations cAMP adenosine cyclic 3:5-monophosphate - Glc-6-P glucose-6-phosphate - UDP-Glc uridine 5-diphosphoglucose - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis(-aminoethylether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - CNBr cyanogen bromide - DTT dithiothreitol - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - RI ratio of independence     

A model study of the fructose diphosphatase-phosphofructokinase substrate cycle

A fructose diphosphatase–phosphofructokinase substrate cycle has been reconstructed in vitro to provide a system that recycles fructose 6-phosphate and hydrolyses ATP to ADP and P_i. The concerted actions of glucose phosphate isomerase, phosphofructokinase, aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase catalysed the loss of ³H from [5-³H,U-¹⁴C]glucose 6-phosphate. This was used as the basis of a method for the estimation of the fructose diphosphatase–phosphofructokinase substrate cycle. For the reconstructed cycle, the rate of decrease of the ³H/¹⁴C ratio in [5-³H,U-¹⁴C]hexose 6-phosphate was proportional to the rate of fructose 6-phosphate substrate cycling. A detailed theoretical treatment of this relationship is developed, which enables the rate of substrate cycling to be determined in vivo.     

Enzyme regulation in c(4) photosynthesis : identification and localization of activities catalyzing the synthesis and hydrolysis of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate in corn leaves

Activities catalyzing the synthesis of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase or Fru-6-P,2K) and its breakdown (fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase or Fru-2,6-P₂ase) were identified in leaves of corn (Zea mays), a C₄ plant. Fru-6-P,2K and Fru-2,6-P₂ase were both localized mainly, if not entirely, in the leaf mesophyll cells. A partially purified preparation containing the two activities revealed that the kinase and phosphatase were regulated by metabolite effectors in a manner generally similar to their counterparts in C₃ species. Thus, corn Fru-6-P,2K was activated by inorganic phosphate (Pi) and fructose-6-phosphate, and was inhibited by 3-phosphoglycerate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Fru-2,6-P₂ase was inhibited by its products, fructose-6-phosphate and Pi. However, unlike its spinach equivalent, corn Fru-2,6-P₂ase was also inhibited by 3-phosphoglycerate and, less effectively, by dihydroxyacetone phosphate. The C₄ Fru-6-P,2K and Fru-2,6-P₂ase were also quite sensitive to inhibition by phosphoenolpyruvate, and each enzyme was also selectively inhibited by certain other metabolites.     

Ligand-induced conformations of rat brain hexokinase: studies with hexoses, hexose 6-phosphates, and nucleoside triphosphates leading to development of a new model for the enzyme

Various ligands of rat brain hexokinase (ATP:d-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) have been found to protect the enzyme against either (or both) chymotryptic digestion or inactivation by glutaraldehyde. Using this protective effect, the K_d for various enzyme-ligand complexes has been estimated: hexokinase-Glc, K_d = 0.24 ± 0.03mM (chymotryptic digestion), K_d = 0.26 ± 0.07mM (glutaraldehyde inactivation); hexokinase-Glc-6- P, K_d = 0.041 ± 0.005m M (glutaraldehyde inactivation); hexokinase-ATP, K_d = 1.01 ± 0.28mM (chymotryptic digestion); hexokinase-ATP-Mg ²⁺, K_d = 0.07-0.08mM (chymotryptic digestion). Other nucleoside triphosphates (UTP, ITP, GTP, and CTP) were much less effective than ATP at protecting against chymotrypsin. Various hexoses were tested for their ability to protect against glutaraldehyde. Only ?good” substrates (mannose, 2-deoxyglucose) protected; nonsubstrates (galactose, arabinose) and N-acetylglucosamine, a competitive inhibitor of Glc binding, were not effective. Various hexose 6-phosphates were tested for their ability to protect against glutaraldehyde inactivation. Glc-6-P was much more effective than were mannose-6-P, galactose-6-P, or fructose-6-P. It was observed that ?good” substrates (Glc, mannose) increased the effectiveness of Glc-6-P at solubilizing the mitochondrial form of the enzyme; galactose and N-acetylglucosamine had no effect on solubilization by Glc-6-P. These results are taken as an indication of enhanced Glc-6-P binding in the presence of Glc, as previously reported by Ellison et al. (J. Biol. Chem., 250, 1864–1871, 1975). Along with previous studies on ligand-induced conformations and kinetics of this enzyme, these results form the basis for a new model for brain hexokinase. This model specifically takes into account the ligand-induced conformations at various points in the catalytic cycle and specifically accounts for the ability of various hexoses to serve as substrates and hexose 6-phosphates to serve as inhibitors in terms of their ability to induce specific conformations of the enzyme. The properties of the various conformations involved in the model are designated by a four-letter code which facilitates comparison and discussion.     

Phosphorylation of glycogen synthase in a homogenate of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Summary Glycogen synthase I in a homogenate of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was phosphorylated under imitated physiological conditions utilizing the endogenous protein kinases. At subsequent steps of phosphorylation the³²P-labelled synthase was purified and characterized. Limited tryptic hydrolysis of the³²P-labelled synthase released four phosphopeptides (t-A, t-B, t-C, t-D) and subsequent chymotrypsinization of the trypsin resistant core released three phosphopeptides (c-A, c-B, c-C). One P_i/subunit was incorporated within 8–10 min and 2.2 P_i/subunit within 60 min increasing the K_c for Gle-6-P to 4–6 mM. The initial phosphorylation up to 0.8 P_i/subunit occurred mainly in peptide c-A and a linear relation between ratio of independence (RI) of glycogen synthase in the interval RI 0.85 to RI 0.05 and phosphorylation of this peptide to 0.5 P_i was observed. Phosphorylation of this peptide is responsible for the decrease in ratio of independence. From experiments with inhibitors and activators, the initial phosphorylation was found predominantly catalysed by the endogenous cAMP independent synthase kinase, however, the endogenous cAMP dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase kinase also phosphorylate endogenous glycogen synthase I to a minor degree. Circumstantial evidence for a Ca-dependent synthase kinase different from phosphorylase kinase is presented. The endogenous Gle-6-P dependent glycogen synthase occurring in a homogenate of leukocytes disrupted in the presence of NaF incorporated 1.07 P_i/subunit and K_c for Glc-6-P was increased from 6–8 mM to 20 mM. From the present and previous experiments [7] a total of 8 major phosphorylatable sites have been defined, one on each of the peptides t-A, t-B, t-C, c-B and c-C and two on peptide c-A, which in addition may contain a third site for phosphorylase kinase. Assuming identical subunits, only 13 out of 32 sites are thus covalently modified at maximum phosphorylation. The operational defined synthase R (K_c for Glc-6-P 0.5 mM) and D (K_c for Glc-6-P 2–8 mM) activities correspond to synthase with about 0.8 P_i and 1.8–2.3 P_i/subunit, respectively.     

Subunit interactions in pig-kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase: Binding of substrate induces a second class of site with lowered affinity and catalytic activity

Background

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, a major enzyme of gluconeogenesis, is inhibited by AMP, Fru-2,6-P₂ and by high concentrations of its substrate Fru-1,6-P₂. The mechanism that produces substrate inhibition continues to be obscure.

Methods

Four types of experiments were used to shed light on this: (1) kinetic measurements over a very wide range of substrate concentrations, subjected to detailed statistical analysis; (2) fluorescence studies of mutants in which phenylalanine residues were replaced by tryptophan; (3) effect of Fru-2,6-P₂ and Fru-1,6-P₂ on the exchange of subunits between wild-type and Glu-tagged oligomers; and (4) kinetic studies of hybrid forms of the enzyme containing subunits mutated at the active site residue tyrosine-244.

Results

The kinetic experiments with the wild-type enzyme indicate that the binding of Fru-1,6-P₂ induces the appearance of catalytic sites with lower affinity for substrate and lower catalytic activity. Binding of substrate to the high-affinity sites, but not to the low-affinity sites, enhances the fluorescence emission of the Phe219Trp mutant; the inhibitor, Fru-2,6-P₂, competes with the substrate for the high-affinity sites. Binding of substrate to the low-affinity sites acts as a “stapler” that prevents dissociation of the tetramer and hence exchange of subunits, and results in substrate inhibition.

Conclusions

Binding of the first substrate molecule, in one dimer of the enzyme, produces a conformational change at the other dimer, reducing the substrate affinity and catalytic activity of its subunits.

General significance

Mimics of the substrate inhibition of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase may provide a future option for combatting both postprandial and fasting hyperglycemia.     

Glycogen synthase: the existence of a single demonstrable from in bovine adipose tissue.

Glycogen synthase from bovine adipose tissue has been kinetically characterized. Glucose 6-phosphate increased enzyme activity 50-fold with an activation constant (A_0.5) of 2.6 mm. Mg²⁺ reversibly decreased this A_0.5 to 0.75 mm without changing the amount of stimulation by glucose 6-phosphate. Mg²⁺ did not alter the apparent K_m for UDP-glucose (0.13 mm). The pH optimum was broad and centered at pH 7.6. The glucose 6-phosphate activation of the enzyme was reversible and competitively inhibited by ATP (K_i = 0.6 mm) and P_i(K_i = 2.0 mm). The use of exogenous sources of glycogen synthase and glycogen synthase phosphatase suggests that (i) adipose tissue glycogen synthase phosphatase activity in fed mature steers is low or undetectable, and (ii) endogenous bovine adipose tissue glycogen synthase can be activated to other glucose 6-phosphate-dependent forms by addition of adipose tissue extracts from fasted steers or fed rats.