Decrease In Glycolytic Flux Research Articles

Radiation-induced changes in energy metabolism result in mitochondrial dysfunction in salivary glands

Salivary glands are indirectly damaged during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, resulting in acute and chronic hyposalivation. Current treatments for radiation-induced hyposalivation do not permanently restore function to the gland; therefore, more mechanistic understanding of the damage response is needed to identify therapeutic targets for lasting restoration. Energy metabolism reprogramming has been observed in cancer and wound healing models to provide necessary fuel for cell proliferation; however, there is limited understanding of alterations in energy metabolism reprogramming in tissues that fail to heal. We measured extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption rates, assessed mitochondrial DNA copy number, and tested fuel dependency of irradiated primary salivary acinar cells. Radiation treatment leads to increases in glycolytic flux, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production rate at acute and intermediate time points. In contrast, at chronic radiation time points there is a significant decrease in glycolytic flux, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production rate. Irradiated salivary glands exhibit significant decreases in spare respiratory capacity and increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number at days 5 and 30 post-treatment, suggesting a mitochondrial dysfunction phenotype. These results elucidate kinetic changes in energy metabolism reprogramming of irradiated salivary glands that may underscore the chronic loss of function phenotype.

E2F regulation of the Phosphoglycerate kinase gene is functionally important in Drosophila development

The canonical role of the transcription factor E2F is to control the expression of cell cycle genes by binding to the E2F sites in their promoters. However, the list of putative E2F target genes is extensive and includes many metabolic genes, yet the significance of E2F in controlling the expression of these genes remains largely unknown. Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to introduce point mutations in the E2F sites upstream of five endogenous metabolic genes in Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the impact of these mutations on both the recruitment of E2F and the expression of the target genes varied, with the glycolytic gene, Phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk), being mostly affected. The loss of E2F regulation on the Pgk gene led to a decrease in glycolytic flux, tricarboxylic acidcycle intermediates levels, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, and an abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Remarkably, chromatin accessibility was significantly reduced at multiple genomic regions in PgkΔE2F mutants. These regions contained hundreds of genes, including metabolic genes that were downregulated in PgkΔE2F mutants. Moreover, PgkΔE2F animals had shortened life span and exhibited defects in high-energy consuming organs, such as ovaries and muscles. Collectively, our results illustrate how the pleiotropic effects on metabolism, gene expression, and development in the PgkΔE2F animals underscore the importance of E2F regulation on a single E2F target, Pgk.

TMET-06. METABOLIC FATE OF OXALOACETATE IN GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract Oxaloacetate (OAA) inhibits the Warburg effect by reducing the glucose-derived lactate levels in human cancer cell lines. In dose ranging IC50 experiments with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, OAA inhibited cell growth in the concentration range 1.7 - 2.4 mM. Previously, we showed that in the presence of OAA, [U-13C]glucose derived lactate was reduced by 48.8% in GBM cells. OAA also increased survival in mouse models of GBM. Here, we are showing an evidence for the direct utilization of OAA by Glioblastoma (GBM) cells, using uniformly 13C-labeled oxaloacetate ([U-13C]OAA) as a metabolic tracer. Patient-derived GBM cells were grown in DMEM medium containing 11.0 mM glucose and 2.0 mM glutamine. When cells reached confluency, were treated with 4.0 mM [U-13C]OAA in the above DMEM medium. GC-MS based 13C isotopomer analysis showed that [U-13C]OAA entered the cells and get metabolized to generate distinct 13C-labeled isotopomers of aspartate, citrate, glutamate, malate and fumarate. Upon entering TCA cycle, [U-13C]OAA generated M+4 aspartate (3.0%) and citrate (3.2%), and M+3 glutamate (4.1%). During the first turn of the TCA cycle, it produced M+2 aspartate (13.9%), malate (10.5%), and fumarate (8.8%), and after multiple turns, [U-13C]OAA led to the production of the following 13C-labeled isotopomers: M+2 citrate (21.5%), M+2 glutamate (17.2%), M+1 glutamate (5.6%) and M+4 glutamate (2.2%). In addition, [U-13C]OAA also produced [U-13C]pyruvate (17.0%) through PEPCK/PK/ or malic enzyme which further generated similar amount of [U-13C]lactate (17.0%) and [U-13C]alanine (12%). These data demonstrate that GBM cells utilize [U-13C]OAA to perturb TCA cycle and glycolytic pathways, and support our previous observation that OAA-derived pyruvate lead to an increase in the total pyruvate pool and associated decrease in glycolytic flux including the glucose-derived lactate. OAA may metabolically reduce tumor growth in difficult to treat cancers.

Role of pyruvate in maintaining cell viability and energy production under high-glucose conditions

Pyruvate functions as a key molecule in energy production and as an antioxidant. The efficacy of pyruvate supplementation in diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy has been shown in animal models; however, its significance in the functional maintenance of neurons and Schwann cells under diabetic conditions remains unknown. We observed rapid and extensive cell death under high-glucose (> 10 mM) and pyruvate-starved conditions. Exposure of Schwann cells to these conditions led to a significant decrease in glycolytic flux, mitochondrial respiration and ATP production, accompanied by enhanced collateral glycolysis pathways (e.g., polyol pathway). Cell death could be prevented by supplementation with 2-oxoglutarate (a TCA cycle intermediate), benfotiamine (the vitamin B1 derivative that suppresses the collateral pathways), or the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, rucaparib. Our findings suggest that exogenous pyruvate plays a pivotal role in maintaining glycolysis–TCA cycle flux and ATP production under high-glucose conditions by suppressing PARP activity.

Valproate activates the Snf1 kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by decreasing the cytosolic pH

Valproate (VPA) is a widely used mood stabilizer, but its therapeutic mechanism of action is not understood. This knowledge gap hinders the development of more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Using the yeast model to elucidate the effects of VPA on cellular metabolism, we determined that the drug upregulated expression of genes normally repressed during logarithmic growth on glucose medium and increased levels of activated (phosphorylated) Snf1 kinase, the major metabolic regulator of these genes. VPA also decreased the cytosolic pH (pHc) and reduced glycolytic production of 2/3-phosphoglycerate. ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential were increased, and glucose-mediated extracellular acidification decreased in the presence of the drug, as indicated by a smaller glucose-induced shift in pH, suggesting that the major P-type proton pump Pma1 was inhibited. Interestingly, decreasing the pHc by omeprazole-mediated inhibition of Pma1 led to Snf1 activation. We propose a model whereby VPA lowers the pHc causing a decrease in glycolytic flux. In response, Pma1 is inhibited and Snf1 is activated, resulting in increased expression of normally repressed metabolic genes. These findings suggest a central role for pHc in regulating the metabolic program of yeast cells.

Inhibition of alternative respiration system of Scheffersomyces stipitis and effect on glucose or xylose fermentation.

Scheffersomyces stipitis is a Crabtree-negative pentose fermenting yeast, which shows a complex respiratory system involving a cytochrome and an alternative salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM)-sensitive respiration mechanism that is poorly understood. This work aimed to investigate the role of the antimycin A (AA) sensitive respiration and SHAM-sensitive respiration in the metabolism of xylose and glucose by S. stipitis, upon different agitation conditions. Inhibition of the SHAM-sensitive respiration caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in glycolytic flux and oxygen consumption when using glucose and xylose under agitation conditions, but without agitation, only a mild reduction was observed. The combination of SHAM and AA abolished respiration, depleting the glycolytic flux using both carbon sources tested, leading to increased ethanol production of 21.05g/L at 250rpm for 0.5M glucose, and 8.3g/L ethanol using xylose. In contrast, inhibition of only the AA-sensitive respiration, caused increased ethanol production to 30g/L using 0.5M glucose at 250rpm, and 11.3g/L from 0.5M xylose without agitation. Results showed that ethanol production can be induced by respiration inhibition, but the active role of SHAM-sensitive respiration should be considered to investigate better conditions to increase and optimize yields.

SIRT2 ablation inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion through decreasing glycolytic flux.

Rationale: Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent protein deacylases known to have protective effects against age-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. SIRT2 is the only primarily cytoplasmic isoform and its overall role in glucose homeostasis remains uncertain.Methods: SIRT2-knockout (KO) rats were constructed to evaluate the role of SIRT2 in glucose homeostasis. The effect of SIRT2 on β-cell function was detected by investigating the morphology, insulin secretion, and metabolomic state of islets. The deacetylation and stabilization of GKRP in β-cells by SIRT2 were determined by western blot, adenoviral infection, and immunoprecipitation.Results: SIRT2-KO rats exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), without change in insulin sensitivity. SIRT2 deficiency or inhibition by AGK2 decreased GSIS in isolated rat islets, with lowered oxygen consumption rate. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of SIRT2 enhanced insulin secretion from rat islets. Metabolomics analysis revealed a decrease in metabolites of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle in SIRT2-KO islets compared with control islets. Our study further demonstrated that glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP), an endogenous inhibitor of glucokinase (GCK), was expressed in rat islets. SIRT2 overexpression deacetylated GKRP in INS-1 β-cells. SIRT2 knockout or inhibition elevated GKRP protein stability in islet β-cells, leading to an increase in the interaction of GKRP and GCK. On the contrary, SIRT2 inhibition promoted the protein degradation of ALDOA, a glycolytic enzyme.Conclusions: SIRT2 ablation inhibits GSIS through blocking GKRP protein degradation and promoting ALDOA protein degradation, resulting in a decrease in glycolytic flux.

Light-inducible flux control of triosephosphate isomerase on glycolysis in Escherichia coli.

An engineering tool for controlling flux distribution on metabolic pathways to an appropriate state is highly desirable in bioproduction. An optogenetic switch, which regulates gene expression by light illumination is an attractive on/off switchable system, and is a promising way for flux control with an external stimulus. We demonstrated a light-inducible flux control between glycolysis and the methylglyoxal (MGO) pathway in Escherichia coli using a CcaS/CcaR system. CcaR is phosphorylated by green light and is dephosphorylated by red light. Phosphorylated CcaR induces gene expression under the cpcG2 promoter. The tpiA gene was expressed under the cpcG2 promoter in a genomic tpiA deletion strain. The strain was then cultured with glucose minimum medium under green or red light. We found that tpiA messenger RNA level under green light was four times higher than that under red light. The repression of tpiA expression led to a decrease in glycolytic flux, resulting in slower growth under red light (0.25 hr -1 ) when compared to green light (0.37 hr -1 ). The maximum extracellular MGO concentration under red light (0.2 mM) was higher than that under green light (0.05 mM). These phenotypes confirm that the MGO pathway flux was enhanced under red light.

Shear stress and oxygen availability drive differential changes in opossum kidney proximal tubule cell metabolism and endocytosis.

Kidney proximal tubule (PT) cells have high-metabolic demands to drive the extraordinary ion and solute transport, water reabsorption, and endocytic uptake that occur in this nephron segment. Increases in renal blood flow alter glomerular filtration rate and lead to rapid mechanosensitive adaptations in PT transport, impacting metabolic demand. Although the PT reabsorbs essentially all of the filtered glucose, PT cells rely primarily on oxidative metabolism rather than glycolysis to meet their energy demands. We lack an understanding of how PT functions are impacted by changes in O2 availability via cortical capillaries and mechanosensitive signaling in response to alterations in luminal flow. Previously, we found that opossum kidney (OK) cells recapitulate key features of PT cells in vivo, including enhanced endocytic uptake and ion transport, when exposed to mechanical stimulation by culture on an orbital shaker. We hypothesized that increased oxygenation resulting from orbital shaking also contributes to this more physiologic phenotype. RNA seq of OK cells maintained under static conditions or exposed to orbital shaking for up to 96 hours showed significant time- and culture-dependent changes in gene expression. Transcriptional and metabolomics data were consistent with a decrease in glycolytic flux and with an increased utilization of aerobic metabolic pathways in cells exposed to orbital shaking. Moreover, we found spatial differences in the pattern of mitogenesis vs development of ion transport and endocytic capacities in our culture system that highlight the complexity of O2 -dependent and mechanosensitive crosstalk to regulate PT cell function.

Orbital shaking drives differential changes in OK proximal tubule cell metabolism and endocytosis

Kidney proximal tubule (PT) cells have high metabolic demands to drive the extraordinary ion and solute transport, water reabsorption, and endocytic uptake that occur in this nephron segment. Increases in renal blood flow alter glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and lead to rapid mechanosensitive adaptations in PT transport, impacting metabolic demand. Although the PT reabsorbs essentially all of the filtered glucose, PT cells rely primarily on oxidative metabolism rather than glycolysis to meet their energy demands. We lack an understanding of how PT metabolism is impacted by changes in O2 availability via cortical capillaries and mechanosensitive signaling in response to alterations in luminal flow. Previously, we found that opossum kidney (OK) cells recapitulate key features of PT cells in vivo, including enhanced endocytic uptake and ion transport, when exposed to mechanical stimulation by culture on an orbital shaker. We hypothesized that increased oxygenation resulting from orbital shaking also contributes to this more physiologic phenotype. RNA Seq of OK cells maintained under static conditions or exposed to orbital shaking for up to 96h revealed significant time‐ and culture‐dependent changes in gene expression. Transcriptional and metabolomics data were consistent with a decrease in glycolytic flux and with an increased utilization of aerobic metabolic pathways in cells exposed to orbital shaking. Moreover, we found spatial differences in the pattern of mitogenesis and endocytic capacity in our culture system that highlight the complexity of O2‐dependent and mechanosensitive crosstalk to regulate PT cell function.Support or Funding InformationTsinghua MD Scholars ProgramNIH R01 DK101484NIH P30 DK079307This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

61 - Mitochondrial dynamics regulates metabolism during aging

Cellular metabolism is intimately linked to mitochondrial functions. Mitochondrial dynamics is regulated by mitochondrial fission and fusion that influence the shape, size, and number of mitochondria. Dynamin-related guanosine triphosphatases regulate fission and fusion events: dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) regulates fission; mitofusin-1 and 2 (MFN1, MFN2) anchored in the outer mitochondrial membrane and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) anchored in the inner mitochondrial membrane regulate fusion. Replicative and chronological lifespan are two different modes of cellular aging. Chronological lifespan (CLS) is defined as the duration during which quiescent normal cells retain their capacity to re-enter the proliferative cycle and then exit back to quiescence. This study investigates whether mitochondrial dynamics regulates metabolism during CLS . Results from bioenergetics measurements of quiescent primary cultures of normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) from subjects of different ages showed significant decreases in the glycolytic flux: 2-10 npH cell-1 s-1 in older (58-y, 61-y, 63-y, 68-y, and 70-y) compared to 12-16 npH cell-1 s-1 in younger (newborn, 3-d, 5-m, and 1-y) subjects. Surprisingly, mitochondrial respiration (oxygen consumption rate; OCR) increased significantly during CLS: 36-77 amol O2 cell-1 s-1 in older compared to 24-29 amol O2 cell-1 s-1 in younger subjects. The decrease in glycolytic flux and increase in OCR during CLS were also associated with a decrease in lactate and increase in ATP levels. Mitochondrial dynamics shifted more towards fusion during CLS. Genetic knock-down of MFN1 and OPA1 in old NHFs decreased OCR and enhanced glycolysis. These results support the hypothesis that mitochondrial dynamics regulates metabolic plasticity during aging; MFN1 and OPA1 regulate this process.

Mitofusin 1 and optic atrophy 1 shift metabolism to mitochondrial respiration during aging

SummaryReplicative and chronological lifespan are two different modes of cellular aging. Chronological lifespan is defined as the duration during which quiescent normal cells retain their capacity to re‐enter the proliferative cycle. This study investigated whether changes in metabolism occur during aging of quiescent normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) and the mechanisms that regulate these changes. Bioenergetics measurements were taken in quiescent NHFs from younger (newborn, 3‐day, 5‐month, and 1‐year) and older (58‐, 61‐, 63‐, 68‐, and 70‐year) healthy donors as well as NHFs from the same individual at different ages (29, 36, and 46 years). Results show significant changes in cellular metabolism during aging of quiescent NHFs: Old NHFs exhibit a significant decrease in glycolytic flux and lactate levels, and increase in oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and ATP levels compared to young NHFs. Results from the Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test show that old NHFs with a lower Bioenergetic Health Index (BHI) are more prone to oxidative stress compared to young NHFs with a higher BHI. The increase in OCR in old NHFs is associated with a shift in mitochondrial dynamics more toward fusion. Genetic knockdown of mitofusin 1 (MFN1) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) in old NHFs decreased OCR and shifted metabolism more toward glycolysis. Downregulation of MFN1 and OPA1 also suppressed the radiation‐induced increase in doubling time of NHFs. In summary, results show that a metabolic shift from glycolysis in young to mitochondrial respiration in old NHFs occurs during chronological lifespan, and MFN1 and OPA1 regulate this process.

Differentiation of Human Neural Stem Cells into Motor Neurons Stimulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Decreases Glycolytic Flux.

Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in vitro offers a way to study cell types that are not accessible in living patients. Previous research suggests that hPSCs generate ATP through anaerobic glycolysis, in contrast to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in somatic cells; however, specialized cell types have not been assessed. To test if mitobiogenesis is increased during motor neuron differentiation, we differentiated human embryonic stem cell (hESC)- and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human neural stem cells (hNSCs) into motor neurons. After 21 days of motor neuron differentiation, cells increased mRNA and protein levels of genes expressed by postmitotic spinal motor neurons. Electrophysiological analysis revealed voltage-gated currents characteristic of excitable cells and action potential formation. Quantitative PCR revealed an increase in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α), an upstream regulator of transcription factors involved in mitobiogenesis, and several of its downstream targets in hESC-derived cultures. This correlated with an increase in protein expression of respiratory subunits, but no increase in protein reflecting mitochondrial mass in either cell type. Respiration analysis revealed a decrease in glycolytic flux in both cell types on day 21 (D21), suggesting a switch from glycolysis to OXPHOS. Collectively, our findings suggest that mitochondrial biogenesis, but not mitochondrial mass, is increased during differentiation of hNSCs into motor neurons. These findings help us to understand human motor neuron mitobiogenesis, a process impaired in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

FoxO transcription factors and endurance training: a role for FoxO1 and FoxO3 in exercise-induced angiogenesis.

FoxO transcription factors and endurance training: a role for FoxO1 and FoxO3 in exercise-induced angiogenesis.

PFKFB3 Regulates Oxidative Stress Homeostasis via Its S-Glutathionylation in Cancer

Whereas moderately increased cellular oxidative stress is supportive for cancerous growth of cells, excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are detrimental to their growth and survival. We demonstrated that high ROS levels, via increased oxidized glutathione (GSSG), induce isoform-specific S-glutathionylation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) at residue Cys206, which is located near the entrance to the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase catalytic pocket. Upon this ROS-dependent, reversible, covalent modification, a marked decrease in its catalytic ability to synthesize fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2), the key glycolysis allosteric activator, was observed. This event was coupled to a decrease in glycolytic flux and an increase in glucose metabolic flux into the pentose phosphate pathway. This shift, in turn, caused an increase in reduced glutathione (GSH) and, ultimately, resulted in ROS detoxification inside HeLa cells. The ability of PFKFB3 to control the Fru-2,6-P2 levels in an ROS-dependent manner allows the PFKFB3-expressing cancer cells to continue energy metabolism with a reduced risk of excessive oxidative stress and, thereby, to support their cell survival and proliferation. This study provides a new insight into the roles of PFKFB3 as switch that senses and controls redox homeostasis in cancer in addition to its role in cancer glycolysis.

Chronic Suppression of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase 1 in β-Cells Impairs Insulin Secretion via Inhibition of Glucose Rather Than Lipid Metabolism

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) currently is being investigated as a target for treatment of obesity-associated dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. To investigate the effects of ACC1 inhibition on insulin secretion, three small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes targeting ACC1 (siACC1) were transfected into the INS-1-derived cell line, 832/13; the most efficacious duplex was also cloned into an adenovirus and used to transduce isolated rat islets. Delivery of the siACC1 duplexes decreased ACC1 mRNA by 60-80% in 832/13 cells and islets and enzyme activity by 46% compared with cells treated with a non-targeted siRNA. Delivery of siACC1 decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by 70% in 832/13 cells and by 33% in islets. Surprisingly, siACC1 treatment decreased glucose oxidation by 49%, and the ATP:ADP ratio by 52%, accompanied by clear decreases in pyruvate cycling activity and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Exposure of siACC1-treated cells to the pyruvate cycling substrate dimethylmalate restored GSIS to normal without recovery of the depressed ATP:ADP ratio. In siACC1-treated cells, glucokinase protein levels were decreased by 25%, which correlated with a 36% decrease in glycogen synthesis and a 33% decrease in glycolytic flux. Furthermore, acute addition of the ACC1 inhibitor 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid (TOFA) to beta-cells suppressed [(14)C]glucose incorporation into lipids but had no effect on GSIS, whereas chronic TOFA administration suppressed GSIS and glucose metabolism. In sum, chronic, but not acute, suppression of ACC1 activity impairs GSIS via inhibition of glucose rather than lipid metabolism. These findings raise concerns about the use of ACC inhibitors for diabetes therapy.

Gene expression of glucokinase regulatory protein in regenerating rat liver

The activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of glucokinase, and the concentration and mRNA levels of its regulatory protein, were analyzed during liver regeneration. The activity of glucokinase and the concentration of its regulatory protein decreased to 30% and 50%, respectively, after liver resection, remaining low after 1 week. No significant variations in the level of these proteins were found in sham-operated animals. The regulatory protein/glucokinase molar ratio increased during the replicative phase, to a maximum at 48 hours. The mRNA levels of glucokinase and of its regulatory protein decreased rapidly after partial hepatectomy to minimum values at 6 hours (15%) and at 12 hours (4%), respectively, returning to normal values at 24 hours and 168 hours, respectively. Sham-operated animals showed a similar decrease in mRNA levels during the prereplicative phase of liver regeneration, suggesting that the initial effects observed in the gene expression of these proteins were due to surgical stress. During the replicative phase, a specific inhibition of the regulatory protein's gene expression was observed in the regenerating liver. A decrease in the content of regulatory protein and the glucokinase activity, and an increase in the molar ratio of these two proteins correlate with the observed decrease in glycolytic flux, providing further evidence that the phosphorylation of glucose is a control point in the glycolytic/gluconeogenic flux during liver regeneration.(Hepatology 1997 Feb;25(2):324-8)

Gene expression of glucokinase regulatory protein in regenerating rat liver.

The activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of glucokinase, and the concentration and mRNA levels of its regulatory protein, were analyzed during liver regeneration. The activity of glucokinase and the concentration of its regulatory protein decreased to 30% and 50%, respectively, after liver resection, remaining low after 1 week. No significant variations in the level of these proteins were found in sham-operated animals. The regulatory protein/glucokinase molar ratio increased during the replicative phase, to a maximum at 48 hours. The mRNA levels of glucokinase and of its regulatory protein decreased rapidly after partial hepatectomy to minimum values at 6 hours (15%) and at 12 hours (4%), respectively, returning to normal values at 24 hours and 168 hours, respectively. Sham-operated animals showed a similar decrease in mRNA levels during the prereplicative phase of liver regeneration, suggesting that the initial effects observed in the gene expression of these proteins were due to surgical stress. During the replicative phase, a specific inhibition of the regulatory protein's gene expression was observed in the regenerating liver. A decrease in the content of regulatory protein and the glucokinase activity, and an increase in the molar ratio of these two proteins correlate with the observed decrease in glycolytic flux, providing further evidence that the phosphorylation of glucose is a control point in the glycolytic/gluconeogenic flux during liver regeneration.

Flying insects: model systems in exercise physiology.

Insect flight is the most energy-demanding exercise known. It requires very effective coupling of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis and regeneration in the working flight muscles. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of locust flight muscle in vivo has shown that flight causes only a small decrease in the content of ATP, whereas the free concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) were estimated to increase by about 3-, 5- and 27-fold, respectively. These metabolites are potent activators of glycogen phosphorylase and phosphofructokinase (PFK). Activation of glycolysis by AMP and Pi is reinforced synergistically by fructose 2,6-biphosphate (F2,6P2), a very potent activator of PFK. During prolonged flight locusts gradually change from using carbohydrate to lipids as their main fuel. This requires a decrease in glycolytic flux which is brought about, at least in part, by a marked decrease in the content of F2,6P2 in flight muscle (by 80% within 15 min of flight). The synthesis of F2,6P2 in flight muscle can be stimulated by the nervous system via the biogenic amine octopamine. Octopamine and F2,6P2 seem to be part of a mechanism to control the rate of carbohydrate oxidation in flight muscle and thus function in the metabolic integration of insect flight.

Mode of action of the qcr9 and cat3 mutations in restoring the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae tps1 mutants to grow on glucose.

Mutations in the TPS1 gene, which encodes trehalose-6-P synthase, cause a glucose-negative phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Antimycin A or disruption of the QCR9 gene, which encodes one subunit of the cytochrome bc1 complex, restore the ability to grow in glucose-containing media. Under these conditions the cell excreted a large amount of glycerol, corresponding to about 20% of the glucose taken up. Suppression appears to be achieved by diversion of accumulated glycolytic intermediates to the production of glycerol, thereby providing NAD+ and phosphate for the glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase reaction. Analysis of the mutation sci1-1, which also suppresses the glucose-negative phenotype of tps1 mutants, showed that glucose transport was decreased in sci1-1 mutants. The gene SCI1 was cloned and its nucleotide sequence revealed it to be identical to CAT3/SNF4. The suppression mediated by sci1-1 is attributable to a decrease in glycolytic flux.