Showing papers on "Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase published in 1990"

A radical-chemical route to acetyl-CoA: the anaerobically induced pyruvate formate-lyase system of Escherichia coli.

Abstract: Anaerobically growing Escherichia coli cells contain the enzyme pyruvate formate-lyase which catalyses the non-oxidative cleavage of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and formate. The enzyme is subject to interconversion between inactive and active forms. The active form contains an oxygen-sensitive organic free radical located on the polypeptide chain which is essential for catalysis. It affords a novel homolytic C-C bond cleavage of the pyruvate substrate. The radical is generated by an iron-dependent converter enzyme which requires reduced flavodoxin and adenosyl methionine as co-substrates and pyruvate as a positive allosteric effector. A second converter enzyme, also iron-dependent, accomplishes the removal of the radical. This post-translational interconversion cycle controls the activity state of pyruvate formate-lyase in the anaerobic cell. Anaerobic conditions also regulate pyruvate formate-lyase at the level of gene expression. Multiple promoters are responsible for effecting a twelve to fifteen fold induction and they are coordinately controlled in response to the oxygen and metabolic status of the cell by sequences which are located far upstream of the pfl coding region. The transcription factor Fnr has been identified as being responsible for part of the anaerobic control of pfl expression, probably through direct interaction with the upstream sequences. In contrast, the expression of the gene encoding the first iron-dependent converter enzyme is unaffected by anaerobiosis and is independent of the Fnr protein.

Autoregulation may control the expression of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase structural genes PDC1 and PDC5

Abstract: Recently we deleted the pyruvate decarboxylase structural gene PDC1 from the genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The pdc1 deletion mutants had pyruvate decarboxylase activity due to the presence of a second structural gene [Schaaff, I., Green, J. B. A., Gozalbo, D. & Hohmann, S. (1989) Curr. Genet. 15, 75-81]. We cloned and sequenced this gene which we call PDC5. The predicted amino acid sequences of PDC1 and PDC5 are 88% identical. Deletion of PDC5 did not cause any decrease in the specific pyruvate decarboxylase activity while pdc1 deletion mutants had 80% of the wild-type activity. Deletion mutants lacking both PDC1 and PDC5 did not show any detectable pyruvate decarboxylase activity in vitro and were unable to ferment glucose. This indicates that PDC1 and PDC5 are the only structural genes for pyruvate decarboxylase in yeast. The PDC5 isoenzyme showed a slightly higher Km value for its substrate pyruvate than the PDC1 product (PDC5: Km = 8 mM; PDC1: Km = 5 mM), as measured in crude extract of pdc1 and pdc5 deletion mutants, respectively. PDC5 is only expressed in pdc1 deletion mutants. No mRNA transcribed from PDC5 could be detected in wild-type cells. Thus, in addition to the control by glucose induction, pyruvate decarboxylase activity seems to be subject to autoregulation. Similar phenomena have been described previously for tubulin, histones and a ribosomal protein but not for metabolic enzymes.

Glucose requirement for postischemic recovery of perfused working heart.

Abstract: The quantitative importance of glycolysis in cardiomyocyte reenergization and contractile recovery was examined in postischemic, preload-controlled, isolated working guinea pig hearts. A 25-min global but low-flow ischemia with concurrent norepinephrine infusion to exhaust cellular glycogen stores was followed by a 15-min reperfusion. With 5 mM pyruvate as sole reperfusion substrate, severe contractile failure developed despite normal sarcolemmal pyruvate transport rate and high intracellular pyruvate concentrations near 2 mM. Reperfusion dysfunction was characterized by a low cytosolic phosphorylation potential ([ATP]/([ADP][Pi]) due to accumulations of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and lactate. In contrast, with 5 mM glucose plus pyruvate as substrates, but not with glucose as sole substrate, reperfusion phosphorylation potential and function recovered to near normal. During the critical ischemia-reperfusion transition at 30 s reperfusion the cytosolic creatine kinase appeared displaced from equilibrium, regardless of the substrate supply. When under these conditions glucose and pyruvate were coinfused, glycolytic flux was near maximum, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/3-phosphoglycerate kinase reaction was enhanced, accumulation of Pi was attenuated, ATP content was slightly increased, and adenosine release was low. Thus, glucose prevented deterioration of the phosphorylation potential to levels incompatible with reperfusion recovery. Immediate energetic support due to maximum glycolytic ATP production and enhancement of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/3-phosphoglycerate kinase reaction appeared to act in concert to prevent detrimental collapse of [ATP]/([ADP][Pi]) during creatine kinase dysfunction in the ischemia-reperfusion transition. Dichloroacetate (2 mM) plus glucose stimulated glycolysis but failed fully to reenergize the reperfused heart; conversely, 10 mM 2-deoxyglucose plus pyruvate inhibited glycolysis and produced virtually instantaneous de-energization during reperfusion. The following conclusions were reached. (1) A functional glycolysis is required to prevent energetic and contractile collapse of the low-flow ischemic or reperfused heart (2). Glucose stabilization of energetics in pyruvate-perfused hearts is due in part to intensification of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/3-phosphoglycerate kinase activity. (3) 2-Deoxyglucose depletes the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate pool and effects intracellular phosphate fixation in the form of 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate, but the cytosolic phosphorylation potential is not increased and reperfusion failure occurs instantly. (4) Consistent correlations exist between cytosolic ATP phosphorylation potential and reperfusion contractile function. The findings depict glycolysis as a highly adaptive emergency mechanism which can prevent deleterious myocyte deenergization during forced ischemia-reperfusion transitions in presence of excess oxidative substrate.

Involvement of pyruvate dehydrogenase in product formation in pyruvate-limited anaerobic chemostat cultures of Enterococcus faecalis NCTC 775.

Abstract: Enterococcus faecalis NCTC 775 was grown anaerobically in chemostat culture with pyruvate as the energy source. At low culture pH values, high in vivo and in vitro activities were found for both pyruvate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase. At high culture pH values the carbon flux was shifted towards pyruvate formate lyase. Some mechanisms possibly involved in this metabolic switch are discussed. In particular attention is paid to the NADH/NAD ratio (redox potential) and the fructose-1,6-bisphosphate-dependent lactate dehydrogenase activity as possible regulatory factors.

Regulation of Carbon Partitioning to Respiration during Dark Ammonium Assimilation by the Green Alga Selenastrum minutum

Abstract: The assimilation of NH4+ causes a rapid increase in respiration to provided carbon skeletons for amino acid synthesis. In this study we propose a model for the regulation of carbon partitioning from starch to respiration and N assimilation in the green alga Selenastrum minutum. We provide evidence for both a cytosolic and plastidic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. The cytosolic form is inhibited by AMP and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and the plastidic form is inhibited by phosphate. There is only one ATP dependent phosphofructokinase which, based on immunological cross reactivity, has been identified as being localized in the plastid. It is inhibited by phosphoenolpyruvate and activated by phosphate. No pyrophosphate dependent phosphofructokinase was found. The initiation of dark ammonium assimilation resulted in a transient increase in ADP which releases pyruvate kinase from adenylate control. This activation of pyruvate kinase causes a rapid 80% drop in phosphoenolpyruvate and a 2.7-fold increase in pyruvate. The pyruvate kinase mediated decrease in phosphoenolpyruvate correlates with the activation of the ATP dependent phosphofructokinase increasing carbon flow through the upper half of glycolysis. This increased the concentration of triosephosphate and provided substrate for pyruvate kinase. It is suggested that this increase in triosephosphate coupled with the glutamine synthetase mediated decline in glutamate, serves to maintain pyruvate kinase activation once ADP levels recover. The initiation of NH4+ assimilation causes a transient 60% increase in fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. Given the sensitivity of the cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase to this regulator, its increase would serve to inhibit cytosolic gluconeogenesis and direct the triosephosphate exported from the plastid down glycolysis to amino acid biosynthesis.

Glucose-induced activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in isolated rat pancreatic islets.

Abstract: 1. Rat pancreatic islets were isolated and then maintained in culture for 2-4 days before being incubated in groups of 100 in the presence of different glucose (0-20 mM) or CaCl2 (1.2-4.2 mM) concentrations, or with uncoupler. 2. Increases in extracellular glucose concentration resulted in increases in the amount of active, non-phosphorylated, pyruvate dehydrogenase in the islets, with half-maximal effects around 5-6 mM-glucose. Increasing extracellular glucose from 3 to 20 mM resulted in a 4-6-fold activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase within 2 min. 3. The total enzyme activity was unchanged, and averaged 0.4 m-unit/100 islets at 37 degrees C. 4. These changes in active pyruvate dehydrogenase were broadly similar to changes in insulin secretion by the islets. 5. Increasing extracellular Ca2+ or adding uncoupler also activated pyruvate dehydrogenase to a similar degree, but only the former was associated with increased insulin secretion.

Isoenzymes of pyruvate kinase.

Abstract: -. 1 3 . Miernyk. J. A. & Dennis. I>. 1 ( 1982) I’lurit I’hyxiol. 69. 825-828 Journet. E. P. & Douce. R. ( 1 984) (‘. K. Acud. Sci. /’(iris Ser. 111 298, 365-370 Hotha, F. C. & Dennis, D. R. ( 1986) Arch. Bioc,hem. Bioplrvs. 245.96I03 Fothergill. L. A. & Harkins. R. N . ( 1982) /’roc.. K. Soc. London H215, 19-44 White. M. F. & Fothergill-Gilmore. L. A. (1988) FEES Lett. 229,383-387 Winn. S. I., Watson. H. C.. Harkins. R. N. & Fothergill. L. A. ( I 98 I ) l’ldos. Truns. R. Soc. London H 293, I 2 1 1 30 Watson. H. C. (1982) Protein Data Bank Entry: Phosphoglycerare mutase (yeast). Brookhaven, New York Winn. S. I., Watson, H. C.. Fothergill. L. A. & Harkins. R. N. ( 1977) Hiocliem. .Sot. Truns. 5 . 657-659 Sasaki. R., Sugimoto. E. & Chiba. H. ( I 966) Arch. Hiodiom.

Regulation of the gene expression of glucokinase and L-type pyruvate kinase in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes by hormones and carbohydrates.

Abstract: The regulation of the gene expression of two important glycolytic enzymes, glucokinase and L-type pyruvate kinase, by hormones and carbohydrates was studied, in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. Insulin caused time- and dose-dependent increases in the amounts of the mRNAs of the two enzymes in hepatocytes, although glucokinase responded to this hormone faster than L-type pyruvate kinase. The induction of glucokinase mRNA by insulin did not require the presence of glucose itself, but that of the L-type isozyme was dependent on the glucose concentration. For this effect, fructose and glycerol could partially substitute for glucose, but pyruvate and 2-deoxyglucose, a nonmetabolizable glucose analog, could not. The time course of insulin induction in the presence of fructose, but not of glycerol, was similar to that in the presence of glucose. In the presence of glycerol, the mRNA increased in a diphasic manner: the first increase, which probably reflected the effects of fructose and glycerol in normal liver, reached a maximum after 3 h, whereas the second increase corresponded to the increase in the presence of glucose. These results suggested that some metabolite of glucose was required for the insulin-induced increase in L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA. Cycloheximide inhibited the effects of insulin on the two mRNAs, suggesting that ongoing protein synthesis is required in both cases. The addition of 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, also inhibited the effects of insulin. However, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate alone did not induce the two mRNAs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Light as a signal influencing the phosphorylation status of plant proteins.

Abstract: The phosphorylation-status of a number of plant enzymes has been shown to be altered in response to light. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is phosphorylated (more active) in C4 plants in the light but CAM phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is phosphorylated (more active) in the dark. C4 plant pyruvate, Pi dikinase is dephosphorylated (activated) in the light and sucrose phosphate synthase is less phosphorylated (more active) in the light. The mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase is inactivated (phosphorylated) in the light. The reversal of these events occurs in the dark or when photosynthesis is inhibited. Phytochrome and blue light receptors also alter the phosphorylation-status of proteins. The evidence is rapidly increasing in support of signal transduction networks in plants that involve light reception.

Deficiency of the α and β subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase in a patient with lactic acidosis and unexpected sudden death

Abstract: An infant with moderate muscular hypotonia and congenital lactic acidosis died suddenly at the age of 3 months. Autopsy revealed no abnormalities responsible for this unexpected death. Measurement of mitochondrial enzymes involved in energy production indicated a severely decreased total pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity in muscle tissue (0.23 nmoles · min−1 · mg protein−1, control range 2.8–8.7) and moderately decreased PDHC activity in fibroblasts (0.27 nmoles · min−1 · mg protein−1, control range 0.37–2.32). The activity of the first component E1 (pyruvate dehydrogenase) in muscle tissue was 10 times lower than that of controls (0.008 nmoles · min−1 · mg protein−1, control range 0.10–0.25). The activities of dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) and various other mitochondrial enzymes were normal. Immunochemical analysis in skeletal muscle tissue and fibroblasts demonstrated a decrease in the amount of the α and β subunits of E1. The features of this patient are compared with those of other patients reported in the literature with immunochemically confirmed combined E1 α and β deficiency.

Slow-binding inhibition of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex by acetylphosphinate

Abstract: The pyruvate analogue acetylphosphinate (CH3-CO-PO2H2) inhibits the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1) of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex in a time-dependent process with biphasic reaction kinetics. The formation of an initial, rapidly reversible enzyme-inhibitor complex (EI) with an apparent Ki of 0.12 +/- 0.025 microM is followed by the conversion to a tighter complex (EI) at a maximal rate of k3 = 0.87 +/- 0.34 min-1. The inhibition is reversible (dissociation rate constant k4 = 0.038 +/- 0.002 min-1), requires the presence of the cofactors thiamin pyrophosphate and Mg2+, and is competitive with regard to pyruvate. The microscopic rate constants give a value of 5 nM for the overall dissociation constant [Ki = [E] [I]/[( EI] + [EI]) = Kik4/(k3 + k4)] compared with values of 10 and 3.5 nM obtained by steady-state methods. Thus acetylphosphinate binds by 5 orders of magnitude more tightly to pyruvate dehydrogenase than does pyruvate (Km = 0.35 mM). Acetylphosphinate also affects the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex fluorescence when excited at 290 nm in a time-dependent manner with a maximal rate constant of 0.99 min-1, suggesting a conformational change in the enzyme complex as the slow step in conversion of EI to EI (k3). All these features taken together suggest that the interaction of the pyruvate dehydrogenase with acetylphosphinate involves the formation of a thiamin pyrophosphate-acetylphosphinate adduct that resembles the normal reaction intermediate, 2-(1-carboxy-1-hydroxyethyl)thiamin pyrophosphate (alpha-lactylthiamin pyrophosphate).

Longer-term regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in cultured rat cardiac myocytes

Abstract: The increased activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase induced in hearts of rats by starvation for 48 h was maintained following preparation of cardiac myocytes, and it was also maintained, though at a decreased level, after 25 h of culture in medium 199. This loss of PDH kinase activity was not prevented by n-octanoate, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or glucagon. The PDH kinase activity of myocytes from fed rats was increased to that of starved rats after 25 h of culture with n-octanoate, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or both agents together.

Kinetic characterization of the pyruvate and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes from human heart

Abstract: The Michaelis constant values for the highly purified pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) from human heart are 25, 13 and 50 microM for pyruvate, CoA and NAD, respectively. Acetyl-CoA produces a competitive inhibition of PDC (Ki = 35 microM) with respect to CoA, whereas NADH produces the same type of inhibition with respect to NAD (Ki = 36 microM). The oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC) from human heart has active sites with two different affinities for 2-oxoglutarate ([S]0.5 of 30 and 120 microM). ADP (1 mM) decreases the [S]0.5 values by a half. The inhibition of OGDC (Ki = 81 microM) by succinyl-CoA is of a competitive type with respect to CoA (Km = 2.5 microM), whereas that of NADH (Ki = 25 microM) is of a mixed type with respect to NAD (Km = 170 microM).

Phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase type K in human gliomas by a cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate-independent protein kinase.

Abstract: In recent years, we reported the isozyme shift of pyruvate kinase from the M- toward the K-type in human neuroectodermal tumors. To investigate whether this shift enables phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase in these tumors, we studied 29 different specimens of human brain tumors for endogenous pyruvate kinase phosphorylation. While in normal human brain no phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase was detected, in all brain tumors pyruvate kinase became phosphorylated. There was no correlation between the extent of the pyruvate kinase phosphorylation and the histological classification and grading or the pyruvate kinase isozyme composition of the tumors. Only pyruvate kinase type K, and not type M, served as a substrate in the phosphorylation reaction. The phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase could be completely inhibited by addition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, a positive effector of pyruvate kinase type K; alanine, however, a negative effector, and phospho-enol-pyruvate, a substrate in the pyruvate kinase reaction, had no effect. While pyruvate kinase type L in liver is phosphorylated by a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, the incorporation of phosphate into pyruvate kinase in human brain tumors appeared to be cyclic AMP independent and occurred exclusively on serine residues.

Inhibition of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase from Trichomonas vaginalis by pyruvate and its analogues. Comparison with the pyruvate decarboxylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Abstract: Pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and the pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex both catalyse the CoA-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate but differ in size, subunit composition and mechanism. Comparison of the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase from the protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis and the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex shows that both are inactivated by incubation with pyruvate under aerobic conditions in the absence of co-substrates. However, only the former is irreversibly inhibited by incubation with hydroxypyruvate, and only the latter by incubation with bromopyruvate. Pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase activity is potently, but reversibly, inhibited by addition of bromopyruvate in the presence of CoA, and it is suggested that the mechanism involves formation of an adduct between CoA and bromopyruvate in the active site of the enzyme. It is proposed that both enzymes are inactivated by pyruvate through a mechanism involving oxidation of an enzyme-bound thiamin pyrophosphate/substrate adduct to form a tightly bound inhibitory species, possibly thiamin thiazolone pyrophosphate as hypothesized by Sumegi & Alkonyi.

Effect of lipoic acid in a patient with defective activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, and branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase

Abstract: Lactic acidosis and accumulation of 3-hydroxybutyrate and other citric acid cycle intermediates were found in an infant with a lethal syndrome of metabolic acidosis and renal tubular acidosis. Nevertheless, the patient was relatively well for 4 mo of life. The activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, and branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase were all reduced to levels 9 to 29% of control. In contrast, the activity of lipoamide dehydrogenase was normal. The conversion of 1-14C-leucine and 1-14C-valine to 14CO2 and of U-L-14C-valine to its major metabolic product 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid by fibroblasts derived from the patient was less than 5% of control. Cultivation of the patient's fibroblasts in medium enriched with lipoic acid markedly improved these in vitro conversions of leucine and valine.

Pyruvate sparing by butyrate and propionate in proliferating colonic epithelium.

Abstract: 1 1 The effects of fasting and fasting followed by refeeding on the relative activities of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in isolated rat colonocytes were estimated by the rate of production of 14CO2 from [1-14C] pyruvate and [3-14C] pyruvate, respectively 2 2 Decarboxylation of pyruvate by the PDH complex exceeded that by the TCA cycle in both fasted and fasted/refed colonocytes, was higher in distal than in proximal colon, and was stimulated by refeeding following a fast 3 3 Oxidation of pyruvate by both the PDH complex and the TCA cycle was inhibited by butyrate 4 4 Propionate alone had no effect, but synergized with butyrate to further reduce pyruvate decarboxylation by the TCA cycle 5 5 Preferential utilization of butyrate by proliferating colonic epithelial cells is postulated to maximize the energy yield and spare pyruvate and its precursors for alternative synthetic roles necessary for active cell division