Regulation of genes for glycolytic enzymes in cultured rat hepatoma cell lines.

We examined the control by hormones and culture conditions of the expression of pyruvate kinase L, aldolase B, and a liver-specific 5.4-kb mRNA species [Pichard, A. L. et al. (1985) Biochem. J. 226, 637-644] in three rat hepatoma cell lines, MH1C1, Fao and Faza. The expression level of these markers ranges from 2% (for pyruvate kinase L mRNA) to 10-12% (for 5.4-kb mRNA species) of the glucose-induced mRNA values found in rat liver. The mRNAs of the three liver-specific genes strongly decrease after treatment of the hepatoma cells with cyclic 8-bromo-AMP, cyclic dibutyryl-AMP or forkolin, pyruvate kinase L mRNA being the most sensitive to this inhibiting effect. In contrast, the concentration of pyruvate kinase L mRNA nuclear precursors is not modified by the cyclic AMP analogues, indicating that these agents do not act at the transcriptional level but, instead, probably destabilize the transcripts. Glucose or fructose does not modify the expression of these three marker genes in any of the studied cell lines. Insulin is inefficient in modifying concentrations of the mRNAs for pyruvate kinase L and aldolase B, alone or in the presence of carbohydrates. In contrast, it stimulates about fivefold the expression of the 5.4-kb mRNA species in the MH1C1 cell line; this stimulation is carbohydrate-independent. The hepatoma cell lines mimic, therefore, the effect of cyclic AMP on the inhibition in vivo of the expression of genes encoding glycolytic or lipogenic enzymes [Vaulont, S. et al. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 125, 135-147]. In contrast, the effect of carbohydrates [Munnich, A. et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 10228-10231] is undetectable. The insulin sensitivity of the liver-specific genes is conserved for the 5.4-kb mRNA species only, especially in the MH1C1 cell line, but not for the other investigated mRNAs, which seems to reflect a fundamental difference in the in vivo effect of insulin on these genes. Finally, S1 nuclease mapping of the start-site of pyruvate kinase L gene transcription shows that the normal site used in vivo is also used in the Fao and Faza lines while, in the MH1C1 line, it coexists with multiple aberrant upstream initiation sites.

Characterization and metabolic regulation of a liver-specific 5.4-kilobase mRNA whose synthesis is transcriptionally induced by carbohydrates and repressed by glucagon and cyclic AMP.

Four clones derived from a carbohydrate-induced rat liver cDNA library were found to hybridize with a 5.4-kilobase mRNA species encoding a 36 kDa protein. This mRNA was abundant in the liver, barely detectable in adipocytes and kidney, and absent from the other tissues tested. In the liver, the mRNA was fully induced by a carbohydrate-rich diet, but was undetectable during both starvation and feeding with a protein-rich or lipid-rich diet. Adrenalectomized, thyroidectomized and diabetic animals did not express the mRNA in their liver when re-fed with the carbohydrate-rich diet. When these animals were given the missing hormone, the amount of hybridizable RNA returned to normal values, but administration of the hormone alone failed to induce mRNA synthesis in starved animals. Both glucagon and its second messenger, cyclic AMP, abolished the induction of the mRNA in re-fed animals. Exogenous insulin, whatever the dose, did not reverse the inhibitory action of glucagon. In an isolated nuclei transcription system, no detectable RNA transcripts were found in starved animals, whereas feeding the animals with the carbohydrate-rich diet led to a maximum rate of gene transcription. Although unidentified, this mRNA proves to be a remarkable marker of dietary and hormonal control of gene expression in vivo. It will provide a useful model for further analysis of the role of cyclic AMP in regulating the transcription of eukaryotic genes.

Induction of glycolytic enzyme synthesis in proliferating fibroblasts. Study of phosphofructokinase, glucose phosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase.

Specific activity of phosphofructokinase is 7-8-fold higher in exponentially growing human fibroblasts than in quiescent cells, but the difference is considerably less pronounced for two other glycolytic enzymes, glucose phosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase. The ratio of the F-type to L-type phosphofructokinase subunits is essentially the same in growing and resting cells, 4:1. F-type-phosphofructokinase-related antigen concentration is decreased in resting cells as compared with proliferating fibroblasts, but relatively less than the enzyme activity; the ratio of the enzyme activity to the antigen concentration (immunological specific activity) is therefore lower in resting than in growing fibroblasts. Synthesis of phosphofructokinase, as a percentage of the total protein synthesis, is about 30-fold greater during the proliferative phase than in quiescent cells, but this difference is only 3-4-fold for glucose phosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase. Modulation of the synthesis of phosphofructokinase therefore seems to be responsible for the changes of its specific activity in function of cell proliferation. The appearance of some inactive cross-reacting material in quiescent cells is probably due to post-translational alteration of the pre-synthesized molecules. Compared with other glycolytic enzymes, such as glucose phosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase seems to be the (or one of the) preferential target of glycolytic induction in proliferating cells.

Two different species of messenger RNAs specify synthesis of M1 and M2 pyruvate kinase subunits.

A study was performed to determine whether M1 and M2 pyruvate kinases were synthesized under the direction of one or two messenger RNAs. We compared M1 and M2 pyruvate kinases purified from fresh tissues with those neosynthesized under the direction of messenger RNAs from tissues synthesizing either M1 or M2. RNA was isolated from rat muscle, lung, spleen and kidney by ethanol precipitation in 7 M guanidium chloride, translated in rabbit reticulocyte system and newly-synthesized pyruvate kinase subunits were purified by microimmunoaffinity chromatography. Pyruvate kinase from fresh muscle and spleen was purified in one step by a similar process. Muscle and spleen RNA directed the synthesis of M subunits with molecular weights of approx. 61000 and 62000, respectively, the same as those of the corresponding fresh tissue monomers. In addition, peptide maps obtained by partial digestion of neosynthesized M1 and M2 with V8 protease from Staphylococcus aureus confirmed that these polypeptides were clearly different.

Modifications of phosphoproteins and protein kinases occurring with in vitro aging of cultured human cells.

We have studied the age-related modifications of endogenous phosphorylations and protein kinases in seven different strains of cultured human cells (two fibroblastic and five human liver-derived strains). Endogenous phosphorylation of phosphopeptides by cells incubated in the presence of [32P]orthophosphate constantly changed with aging; these modifications could not be explained only by loss of replicative capacity of these cells. Total casein and phosvitin kinase activity did not change in the course of in vitro cell aging. Gel filtration chromatography and autophosphorylation of partially purified kinase preparations, however, seemed to indicate some age-related modifications of protein kinases. Electrophoresis of active enzymes demonstrated that some histone/protamine kinases decreased with aging while a new 3':5'-cyclic AMP-independent histone kinase band appeared progressively. It is proposed that new protein kinase isozymes could correspond to new genes progressively activated during cell aging and could be closely related to cell senescence and death.

Partial proteolysis of human L-type phosphofructokinase.

L (liver) type phosphofructokinase subunits purified from human leukocytes are slightly lighter than L subunits from liver and red blood cells. A mild treatment of red blood cell L4 enzyme with subtilisin converts its subunits into forms of similar molecular weight to leukocyte enzyme. From a kinetical point of view, subtilisin-treated L4 phosphofructokinase and leukocyte enzymes are characterized by a decrease of the allosteric properties as compared to non-treated red cell L4 phosphofructokinase.

Purification of F4 phosphofructokinase from human platelets and comparison with the other phosphofructokinase forms.

The phosphofructokinase (ATP:D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11) tetramers F4, F3L and F2L2 have been separated from human platelets, and purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on Dextran Blue-Sepharose 4B. The F subunits have a molecular weight of 85 000, identical to that of the M subunits. By contrast with L-type phosphofructokinase, the F-type enzyme seems to exist predominantly in a tetrameric form and not to aggregate to high molecular weight polymers. Specific activity of pure F4 phosphofructokinase is about 140 IU/mg of protein. Immunologically, it is easy to distinguish all the basic phosphofructokinase forms (i.e. M, L and F types); nevertheless a slight immunological cross-reactivity seems to exist between all these forms.

Phosphofructokinase in human blood cells.

The subunit composition of phosphofructokinase from normal and malignant blood cells has been investigated by means of immunologic, electrophoretic, and chromatographic methods. Immunoprecipitation tests were performed with three specific antisera recognizing each of the basic subunits of human phosphofructokinase: muscle, M-type; liver, L-type; and fibroblast, F-type. Mature polymorphonuclear cells contain mainly L-subunits, while lymphocytes and platelets contain hybrids formed of L and F subunits; these hybrids can be electrophoretically separated. Red cell phosphofructokinase is composed of L and M subunits, as judged by its reactivity with anti-L and anti-M-type antisera. The various M-L hybrids composing red cell phosphofructokinase could be only separated by chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose. Lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoblasts from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia contain phosphofructokinase forms similar to those from normal lymphocytes, while the immature granulocytic cells (leukemic myeloblasts and myeloid cells of chronic myeloid leukemia) are characterized by a reinforcement of enzyme inhibition by anti-F-type antiserum. Lymphoid lines in culture (Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced or malignant lymphoma-derived lines) are characterized by the indistinctive expression of all three basic subunits, similar to that found in some fetal tissues. This article represents the first description of the isozymic nature of phosphofructokinase in platelets and white blood cells and of its changes with malignancy and cell culture. This enzyme might represent a useful marker in the characterization of the leukemic cells.

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) isozymes in man. I. Studies of adult human tissues.

Isozymic heterogeneity of human phosphofructokinase was investigated by means of ATP inhibition, immunoneutralization by antihuman muscle-type and antiliver-type phosphofructokinase antisera, solubility in (NH4)2SO4 solutions, and starch gel and polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. The enzymes studied by these methods were purified from various normal and malignant human adult tissues by chromatography on blue Dextran Sepharose 4 B columns. From the results of these studied we suggest that three basic phosphofructokinase isozymes could exist: muscle-type, fibroblast-type, and liver-type isozymes. Muscle-type isozyme is the single form found in adult muscle, and is involved in the enzymes from heart, brain, red cell, and testis. Fibroblast-type isozyme is found mainly in the placenta, fibroblasts kidney, and some malignant tissues. Liver-type phosphofructokinase seems to be very definitely the predominant form in mature polymorphonuclear cells, platelets, and liver. Testis and red cell phosphofructokinase enzymes definitely include msucle-type aand liver-type subunits, associated in various hybrid forms.

Muscle-type phosphorylase activity present in muscle cells cultured from three patients with myophosphorylase deficiency.

Skeletal muscle fibers cultured from three patients whose mature fibers are deficient in glycogen myophosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) were shown to become rather mature, to have no excessive glycogen accumulation, and to develop signifcant myophosphorylase activity. That activity was characterized electrophoretically and immunologically and shown to be muscle phosphorylase rather than a genetically different type, thereby demonstrating true "rejuvenation" in culture of an enzyme genetically programmed ultimately to be deficient.

Isoenzyme pattern of phosphorylase in white blood cells and fibroblasts from patients with liver phosphorylase deficiency.

Isoenzyme patterns of phosphorylase in white blood cells and cultured fibroblasts of a patient affected with liver-type phosphorylase deficiency were studied. Three bands were observed with electrofocusing of white blood cells and liver from controls. In the white blood cells of the patient only two bands were observed. Patient and control fibroblasts showed two bands, probably identical to the two bands observed in the patient's white blood cells. These results indicate that the liver-type phosphorylase is not expressed in the cultured fibroblasts.

Erythrocyte phosphofructokinase deficiency associated with an unstable variant of muscle phosphofructokinase.

A case of chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia due to partial erythrocyte phosphofructokinase deficiency (61% of normal) is reported. Immunological studies in hemolystates, using anti-muscle and anti-leukocyte phosphofructokinase antisera, seemed to indicate that an isozyme of the muscle type was deficient in the patient. This hypothesis was confirmed by the studies of muscle phosphofructokinase; this enzyme was an unstable and fast variant. There was no deficiency in muscle because of the active synthesis of proteins by this tissue, but the deficiency could be detected in erythrocytes, old cells which are no longer able to synthesize proteins.