Pyruvate kinase

About: Pyruvate kinase is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5683 publications have been published within this topic receiving 180020 citations. The topic is also known as: ATP:pyruvate 2-O-phosphotransferase & phosphoenolpyruvate kinase.

Regulation of phospho(enol)-pyruvate- and oxaloacetate-converting enzymes in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Abstract: The presence and properties of the enzymes involved in the synthesis and conversion of phospho(enol)pyruvate (PEP) and oxaloacetate (OAA), the precursors for aspartate-derived amino acids, were investigated in three different Corynebacterium strains. This study revealed the presence of both PEP carboxykinase 0.29 μmol·min−1·mg−1 of protein [units (U)·mg−1] and PEP synthetase (0.13 U·mg−1) in C. 2 glutamicum as well as pyruvate kinase (1.4 U·mg−1) and PEP carboxylase (0.16 U·mg−1). With the exception of PEP carboxykinase these activities were also present in glucose-grown C. flavum and C. lactofermentum. Pyruvate carboxylase activity was not detected in all three species cultivated on glucose or lactate. At least five enzyme activities that utilize OAA as a substrate were detected in crude extracts of C. glutamicum: citrate synthase (2 U·mg−1), malate dehydrogenase (2.5 U·mg−1), glutamate: OAA transaminase (1 U·mg−1), OAA-decarboxylating activity (0.89 U·mg−1) and the previously mentioned PEP carboxykinase (0.29 U·mg−1). The partially purified OAA-decarboxylase activity of C. glutamicum was completely dependent on the presence of inosine diphosphate and Mn2+, had a Michaelis constant (Km) of 2.0mm for OAA and was inhibited by ADP and coenzyme A (CoA). Examination of the kinetic properties showed that adenine nucleotides and CoA derivatives have reciprocal but reinforcing effects on the enzymes catalyzing the interconversion of pyruvate, PEP and OAA in C. glutamicum. A model for the regulation of the carbon flow based on these findings is presented.

Effect of pyruvate kinase overproduction on glucose metabolism of Lactococcus lactis

Abstract: Lactococcus lactis strain NZ9000(pNZpyk), which overproduces pyruvate kinase (PK), was constructed. The pNZpyk plasmid carries the P nisA –pyk transcriptional fusion, and the overexpression of its pyk gene was accomplished by using the nisin-inducible expression system of the NZ9000 strain. In vivo 13C- and 31P-NMR spectroscopy was used to evaluate the effect of this modification on the metabolism of glucose in non-growing cells. A detailed description of the kinetics of glucose, end products, glycolytic intermediates, NAD+ and NADH was obtained. A 15-fold increase in the level of PK did not increase the overall glycolytic flux, which, on the contrary, was slightly reduced. Significant differences were observed in (i) the level of 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), metabolites associated with starvation; (ii) the rate of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) depletion upon glucose exhaustion; and (iii) the NAD+/NADH ratio during glucose catabolism. In the mutant, the rate of FBP consumption after glucose depletion was notably accelerated under anaerobic conditions, whereas 3-PGA and PEP decreased to undetectable levels. Furthermore, the level of NAD+ decreased steadily during the utilization of glucose, probably due to the unanticipated reduction in the lactate dehydrogenase activity in comparison with the control strain, NZ9000(pNZ8020). The results show that PK is an important bottleneck to carbon flux only when glucose becomes limiting; in the overproducer this constriction was no longer present, as evidenced by the faster FBP consumption and lack of accumulation of 3-PGA and PEP in anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions. Despite these clear changes, the PK-overproducing strain showed typical homolactic metabolism under anaerobic conditions, as did the strain harbouring the vector plasmid without the pyk insert. However, under an oxygen atmosphere, there was increased channelling of carbon to the production of acetate and acetoin, to the detriment of lactate production.

Antischistosomal and liver protective effects of Curcuma longa extract in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

Abstract: With a view to clarify the induction of the "Crabtree consequence" in liver cells of S. mansoni infected mice, the curative effect of oil extract of C. longa was tested and compared to praziquantel (PZQ) the effective drug against all schistosome species occurring in man. Protein, glucose, glucose-6-phopsphatase, AMP-deaminase, adensoine deaminase, urea concentration, pyravate kinase (PK), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and PK/PEPCK ratio were estimated. In addition, worm burden and ova count in mice infected with S. mansoni were elucidated. The result showed that C. longa normalized the concentration of protein, glucose, AMP-deaminase and adenosine deaminase, which were changed by infection. Moreover, it lowered pyruvate kinase level, while PZQ-treatment induced more elevation of this enzyme. PZQ was more effective in lowering worm burden while C. longa extract was more potent in reducing egg count.