| Abstract: | The regulatory properties of adenylate cyclase in small intestinal mucosa were investigated. Glucagon, epinephrine and isoproterenol failed to activate the cAMP synthesis; prostaglandin E1 caused a 2.8-fold, while cholera toxin-a 4.5-fold stimulation. The latter was not able to increase the rate of glucose synthesis from alanine in vitro, but increased markedly the in vivo incorporation of 14C-labeled alanine into the mucus glucosamine. Unlabeled glucosamine excretion was also enhanced 3-fold. This provides evidence for the involvement of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis enzyme systems in the mucosal glycoprotein synthesis. It was assumed that both metabolic pathways may play a common physiological role, namely, to convert carbohydrates and gluconeogenic precursors into the substrate for glucosamine synthesis which is thought to be a rate-limiting step in small intestinal mucus secretion. |
