Effects of carbamylcholine and pyridostigmine on cytoskeleton-bound and cytosolic phosphofructokinase and ATP levels in different rat tissues.

1. The effects of carbamylcholine (CaCh) (acetylcholine agonist) and pyridostigmine (Pyr) (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor), on the activity of cytoskeleton-bound and cytosolic phosphofructokinase (PFK), the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, and ATP levels, were studied in rat tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, heart, and brain. 2. In the TA muscle, a marked (about three-fold) increase in the allosteric activity of cytosolic (soluble) PFK was found, 3-5 min following the injection of CaCh or Pyr. The intracellular distribution of the enzyme was not affected by both drugs. Stimulation of glycolysis in this muscle was also expressed by a significant increase in the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates and lactate. Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2) levels were unchanged, whereas fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) was increased. Glycogenolysis was also stimulated, as deduced from the decrease in glycogen content. The stimulation of glycolysis, induced by both drugs, was accompanied by an increase in ATP level in the TA muscle. 3. In contrast to the stimulatory action of CaCh or Pyr on glycolysis in the TA muscle, both drugs had no effect on cytosolic and cytoskeletal PFK in heart and brain. However, ATP content in both heart and brain was markedly reduced by these drugs, most probably due to their reported harmful effects on mitochondrial function, leading to tissue damage. 4. Electron microscopic studies of TA muscle and heart from rats treated with CaCh or Pyr, revealed severe damage of heart but no harmful effects on TA muscle, which is a muscle with high glycolytic and low oxidative capacity. The present experiments suggest that the accelerated glycolysis in this muscle induced by both drugs, supplies ATP, thus preventing muscle damage.

Effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on cytoskeleton-bound and cytosolic phosphofructokinase and the levels of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate in rat brain.

We investigated the regulatory mechanisms which may account for the reduction of glycolysis in brain during severe hypoglycemia. Phosphofructokinase (PFK), the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, is known to be regulated by allosteric effectors, as well as by a reversible binding to cell cytoskeleton. These two mechanisms were studied, in rat brain, during insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Our experiments revealed that the intracellular distribution of PFK was not changed during severe hypoglycemia. However, the allosteric activity of the enzyme (assayed under conditions in which it is sensitive to allosteric effectors) from both the cytosolic (soluble) and cytoskeletal fractions, was significantly reduced. This reduction may be attributed to the marked fall in the level of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2), the potent allosteric activator of PFK, as well as to the more moderate decrease in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and the decrease in fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (the product and allosteric activator of the enzyme). In contrast to our previous findings in muscle, the cytoskeleton-bound PFK from brain was found to be sensitive to allosteric effectors like the soluble enzyme. This may explain the reduction in the allosteric activity of PFK in both the cytosolic and cytoskeletal fractions from brain. The decline in cytoskeleton-bound and cytosolic PFK activity, induced by the fall in its allosteric activators, may lead to the reduction in brain glycolytic rate, which was reflected by the marked decrease in lactate content during hypoglycemia.

Rapid changes in carbohydrate metabolism in muscle induced by triiodothyronine; the role of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate.

All of the past research on glucose utilization by muscles focused on the slow action of thyroid hormones. Here we show that experimental hyperthyroidism, which was induced in rats by a single intramuscular injection of 3,3', 5-triiodothyronine (T3) at high concentration, resulted in rapid changes (within minutes) in carbohydrate metabolism in tibialis anterior muscle. There was an increase in lactate content, in the allosteric activity of soluble phosphofructokinase (the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis), and in its product fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, 5 min following the injection of T3, suggesting stimulation of glycolysis. The allosteric activity of mitochondrial-bound, and, to a lesser extent, of soluble hexokinase, was also enhanced. However, the intracellular distribution of the enzymes was unchanged by the hormone. The allosteric stimulation of hexokinase may be attributed to the decrease in glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, which is a potent inhibitor of hexokinase. The level of glucose 6-phosphate, another unknown inhibitor of hexokinase, was not changed by the hormone. The activation of phosphofructokinase following T3 injection may be attributed to the decrease in ATP, an allosteric inhibitor of the enzyme, and the increase in the levels of Pi and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, allosteric activators of the enzyme. Glycogen content was also significantly decreased in muscle 5 min following the injection of T3. These results suggest that in hyperthyroidism, muscle reacts rapidly to the excess of thyroid hormones by stimulation of glycogenolysis, glucose phosphorylation, and glycolysis, to provide ATP, which may serve as a compensatory mechanism to ATP depletion.

Rapid stimulatory effect of insulin on binding of glycolytic enzymes to cytoskeleton of C-6 glial cells, and the antagonistic action of calmodulin inhibitors.

Insulin was shown in our previous experiments to induce an increase in binding of glycolytic enzymes to muscle cytoskeleton. We show here the same stimulatory effect of insulin in C-6 glial cells in culture. In these cells, like in muscle, a short time of incubation with insulin (1-10 min) induced an increase in cytoskeleton bound phosphofructokinase and aldolase. This stimulatory effect of insulin could be prevented by treatment with calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine, thioridazine or CGS 9343 B (a potent and selective inhibitor of calmodulin activity), which strongly suggests that calmodulin is involved in this action of insulin. Our previous experiments have shown that growth factors and Ca(2+) also induce a rapid, calmodulin-mediated stimulation of binding of glycolytic enzymes to cytoskeleton. The present and previous results suggest that the rapid binding of glycolytic enzymes to cytoskeleton, may be a general mechanism, in different cells, in signal transduction of insulin, growth factors and other Ca(2+) -mobilizing hormones. The accelerated cytoskeletal glycolysis will supply local ATP, which is required for the rapid cytoskeletal-membrane rearrangements following the binding of hormone to its receptor.

Effects of long-term streptozotocin diabetes on cytoskeletal and cytosolic phosphofructokinase and the levels of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in different rat muscles.

We show here that long-term streptozotocin diabetes affects differently the intracellular distribution of phosphofructokinase (PFK), the rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis, in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles. Diabetes, which causes ultrastructural damage in both muscle fibers, induced a decrease in PFK binding to cytoskeleton in gastrocnemius muscle but not in the tibialis anterior muscle. However, the allosteric activity of cytoskeleton-bound and soluble PFK was reduced in both kinds of muscles, most probably due to the decrease in the level of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, the potent allosteric activator of the enzyme. Levels of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate remained unchanged. A change in the allosteric properties of the cytoskeleton-bound PFK was found only in the diabetic tibialis anterior muscle; in contrast to normal muscle, where only the soluble but not the bound enzyme responded to allosteric effectors, in the diabetic tibialis anterior muscle, the bound enzyme exhibited allosteric properties similar to the soluble enzyme. The reduction in both cytosolic and cytoskeletal PFK, and, thereby, glycolysis in these two kinds of muscles, which results most probably from the reported high pathological intracellular Ca2+ concentration, may contribute to muscle damage in diabetes.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) rapidly stimulates binding of glycolytic enzymes to muscle cytoskeleton, prevented by calmodulin antagonists.

Glycolytic enzymes are known to be controlled by reversible binding to cytoskeleton. Our previous experiments have shown that insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and Ca2+ induce a rapid and transient stimulation of binding of glycolytic enzymes to muscle cytoskeleton. We show here that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) exerts a similar action. Incubation of rat diaphragm muscle in the presence of PDGF resulted in rapid and transient stimulation of binding of phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.11) and aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) to muscle cytoskeleton. The increase in cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes induced by PDGF was prevented by treatment with the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine or CGS 9343B (a potent and selective inhibitor of calmodulin activity), which strongly suggests that Ca(2+)-calmodulin is involved in this effect of PDGF. Similarly, we previously found that stimulation of cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes exerted by insulin, EGF, or Ca2+, was also calmodulin mediated. The present and previous results suggest that the rapid, Ca(2+)-calmodulin-mediated increase in cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes, may be a general mechanism in the cell, in signal transduction of insulin, growth factors, and other Ca(2+)-mobilizing hormones. The accelerated cytoskeletal glycolysis will provide local ATP, which is required for the rapid cytoskeletal-membrane rearrangements following binding of growth factor or hormone to its receptor.

Serotonin-induced decrease in brain ATP, stimulation of brain anaerobic glycolysis and elevation of plasma hemoglobin; the protective action of calmodulin antagonists.

1. Injection of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) to rats, induced a dramatic fall in brain ATP level, accompanied by an increase in P(i). Concomitant to these changes, the activity of cytosolic phosphofructokinase, the rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis, was significantly enhanced. Stimulation of anaerobic glycolysis was also reflected by a marked increase in lactate content in brain. 2. Brain glucose 1,6-bisphosphate level was decreased, whereas fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was unaffected by serotonin. 3. All these serotonin-induced changes in brain, which are characteristic for cerebral ischemia, were prevented by treatment with the calmodulin (CaM) antagonists, trifluoperazine or thioridazine. 4. Injection of serotonin also induced a marked elevation of plasma hemoglobin, reflecting lysed erythrocytes, which was also prevented by treatment with the CaM antagonists. 5. The present results suggest that CaM antagonists may be effective drugs in treatment of many pathological conditions and diseases in which plasma serotonin levels are known to increase.

Stimulatory effect of epidermal growth factor on binding of glycolytic enzymes to muscles cytoskeleton and the antagonistic action of calmodulin inhibitors.

We report here on a novel mechanism involved in epidermal growth factor (EGF) action, which shows that EGF rapidly stimulates binding of the glycolytic enzymes, phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11), and aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) to muscle cytoskeleton. This effect was demonstrated both in vivo, in the tibialis anterior muscle from rats injected with EGF, and in vitro, in the isolated rat diaphragm muscle incubated with EGF. The increase in cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes induced by EGF was prevented, in both the in vivo and in vitro experiments, by treatment with the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine or CGS 9343B (a potent and selective inhibitor of calmodulin activity), which strongly suggests that Ca2+ and calmodulin are involved in this effect of EGF. Our previous findings have revealed that insulin or Ca2+ exert a similar rapid stimulation of cytoskeletal glycolysis, which is also calmodulin mediated. We now hypothesize that this may be a general mechanism of signal transduction in the cell, involving Ca(2+)-mobilizing hormones and growth factors, and supplying local ATP, in the vicinity of cytoskeleton-membrane, which is required for the rapid cytoskeletal-membrane rearrangements upon membrane-induced events.

Uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation abolishes the stimulatory action of insulin on the binding of glycolytic enzymes to muscle cytoskeleton.

1. We show here that treatment of diaphragm muscle with 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, abolished the stimulatory action of insulin on binding of the glycolytic enzymes, phosphofructokinase (PFK) and aldolase, to muscle cytoskeleton. This effect was demonstrated with low concentration of DNP, which caused only a small decrease in ATP and did not affect the basic levels of cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes. 2. Higher concentrations of DNP, which induced a drastic decline in ATP content, caused a decrease in cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes and damage to myofibrils. 3. These results suggest that mitochondrial ATP is required for both the preservation of the basal levels of cytoskeleton-bound glycolytic enzymes and cell structure, as well as for the expression of the stimulatory action of insulin on glycolytic enzymes' binding to muscle cytoskeleton.

The dual effects of Ca2+ on binding of the glycolytic enzymes, phosphofructokinase and aldolase, to muscle cytoskeleton.

We show here that in rat diaphragm muscle, a short time of incubation with the Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187 induced an increase in cytoskeleton-bound phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) and aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13), whereas a longer period of incubation, which causes a pathological rise in intracellular Ca2+, induced a decrease in bound enzymes. Lactate concentration correlated with both phases of Ca2+ action on the binding of the enzymes. The increase in cytoskeleton-bound enzymes could be prevented by treatment with the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine or CGS 9343B (a novel, potent, and selective inhibitor of calmodulin activity). These results suggest that calmodulin is involved in the Ca(2+)-induced binding of the enzymes to muscle cytoskeleton.

Sequence of insulin effects on cytoskeletal and cytosolic phosphofructokinase, mitochondrial hexokinase, glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels, and the antagonistic action of calmodulin inhibitors, in diaphragm muscle.

1. Time-curves of insulin effects on energy-producing systems in different cellular compartments of rat diaphragm muscle have revealed: (a) a rapid (within minutes) and transient stimulatory effect of insulin on cytoskeletal phosphofructokinase and aldolase and mitochondrial hexokinase. (b) A slower and consistent stimulatory effect on glucose 1,6-bisphosphate level, with concomitant gradual activation of cytosolic phosphofructokinase. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels were not changed by insulin. (c) Lactate concentration correlated with the stimulation of cytoskeletal and cytosolic glycolysis. 2. Calmodulin antagonists, trifluoperazine or CGS 9343B, prevented all these effects of insulin. 3. These results suggest that cytoskeletal glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidation are the source of ATP for the rapid actions of insulin, whereas cytosolic glycolysis is the source of ATP for the slow actions of insulin. Calmodulin is involved in all these effects of insulin.

Insulin rapidly stimulates binding of phosphofructokinase and aldolase to muscle cytoskeleton.

1. We report here on a novel action of insulin which shows that the hormone stimulates binding of phosphofructokinase (PFK) and aldolase to muscle cytoskeleton. 2. This effect was demonstrated both in vivo, by injection of insulin, in the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles, as well as in vitro, in the isolated rat diaphragm muscle incubated with insulin. 3. Insulin exerted this effect at physiologic range of concentrations and very rapidly (about 50% stimulation of binding occurred within 1 min). 4. The possible physiological significance of this rapid action of insulin, is to provide local ATP, generated by the accelerated cytoskeletal glycolysis, for other rapidly insulin-stimulated membrane-cytoskeleton processes.

Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187 and the Ca(2+)-mobilizing hormones serotonin, vasopressin, and bradykinin increase mitochondrially bound hexokinase in muscle.

We show that a rise in cytosolic-free Ca2+ in muscle, induced by Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187 or by the Ca(2+)-mobilizing hormones serotonin, vasopressin, and bradykinin, increases the binding of hexokinase to mitochondria in muscle. This increase could be prevented by treatment with the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine or CGS 9343B (a novel, potent, and selective inhibitor of calmodulin activity) which strongly suggests that calmodulin is involved in the Ca(2+)-induced binding of the enzyme to muscle mitochondria.

Effect of the calmodulin antagonist CGS 9343B on skin burns.

1. CGS 9343B is a novel, potent and selective inhibitor of calmodulin activity, which unlike other known calmodulin antagonists, does not inhibit protein kinase C activity and does not possess potential antidopaminergic activity. Here we show that CGS 9343B, like other calmodulin antagonists reported previously, is most effective in treatment of burns. 2. The effectiveness of CGS 9343B on skin burns was evaluated by electron microscopic studies, as well as by measurements of hemoglobin, ATP and enzymes which are markedly changed in the burned skin. 3. As CGS 9343B is a more selective probe for calmodulin function than other inhibitors, the similarity of its effects on burns to that of other calmodulin antagonists, strongly suggest that their action on burns is mediated through calmodulin inhibition.

Effects of epinephrine on glucose-1,6-bisphosphate and carbohydrate metabolism in skin.

1. Injection of epinephrine induced in skin a decrease in the level of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2), which was accompanied by correlated changes in the activities of several enzymes which are modulated by this regulator. 2. These effects were blocked by the alpha adrenergic blocker phentolamine, in contrast to muscle where the hormone increases Glc-1,6-P2, acting through beta receptors. 3. The changes in the enzymes' activities, as well as in glycogen and lactate content induced by epinephrine, reveal that the hormone causes, in skin, a stimulation of glycogenolysis and glycolysis, as well as an acceleration of pentose phosphate pathway. 4. The reduction in glycogen content induced by epinephrine, was blocked by the beta adrenergic blocker propranolol, whereas the hormone's effects on the other processes were mainly mediated through alpha receptors.

Therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of skin burns with several calmodulin antagonists.

1. Several calmodulin antagonists abolished the decrease in ATP level and in the activities of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial and soluble hexokinase, induced by burns in the rat skin. 2. These antagonists had also a protective action on the blood capillaries and erythrocyte membrane, as judged by the electron microscopic appearance, as well as the abolishment of hemoglobin increase and burn edema. 3. Of all the compounds investigated here, the most effective were trifluoperazine and thioridazine, which are also known as the more potent calmodulin antagonists. 4. The present experiments suggest that calmodulin antagonists may be effective drugs in treatment of burns, having both therapeutic and prophylactic action.

Treatment of frostbite with the calmodulin antagonists thioridazine and trifluoperazine.

1. Thioridazine and trifluoperazine, which have been previously found in this laboratory to be the most effective calmodulin antagonists in treatment of burns, are shown here to be also effective in the treatment of frostbite. 2. Electron microscopic studies have revealed a complete reversal of both the vascular and skin tissue damage induced by frostbite. 3. The reversal of the vascular damage was also demonstrated by the ability of these compounds to abolish the increase in hemoglobin content in the skin. 4. The reversal of the skin tissue damage was also revealed by the ability of these compounds to raise the decreased ATP level and the reduced activities of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial and soluble hexokinase in skin, induced by frostbite, to normal control levels.

Opposite changes with age in liver and muscle in the mitochondrial and soluble glucose-1,6-bisphosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.

Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2), the powerful regulator of carbohydrate metabolism, was markedly decreased in liver of adult rats (2 months of age) as compared to young rats (1-2 weeks of age). This regulator was found to be present in both the mitochondrial and soluble fractions of liver. Its concentration in both these fractions was decreased with age. Concomitant to the decrease in Glc-1,6-P2, which is a potent inhibitor of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, the activity of this enzyme was markedly increased with age in both the mitochondrial and soluble fractions. However, the increase in this enzyme's activity was more pronounced in the mitochondrial fraction. The mitochondrial enzyme was more susceptible to inhibition by Glc-1,6-P2 as compared to the soluble enzyme, and this may explain the greater enhancement in its activity with age in this fraction. The tibialis anterior muscle exhibited changes with age opposite to those found in liver; Glc-1,6-P2 concentration, in both the mitochondrial and soluble fractions of muscle increased with age, and this increase was accompanied by a concomitant reduction in the activity of the mitochondrial and soluble 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Similar to liver, the mitochondrial enzyme was more affected by age, as it also exhibited a greater susceptibility to inhibition by Glc-1,6-P2.