A radioassay for phosphofructokinase-1 activity in cell extracts and purified enzyme.

Phosphofructokinase-1 plays a key role in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Its activity can be used as an indicator of the glycolytic flux in a tissue sample. The method most commonly employed to determine phosphofructokinase-1 activity is based on oxidation of NADH by the use of aldolase, triosephosphate isomerase, and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. This method suffers from several disadvantages, including interactions of the auxiliary enzymes with phosphofructokinase-1. Other methods that have been used also require auxiliary enzymes or are less sensitive than a coupled assay. Here, we propose a direct method to determine phosphofructokinase-1 activity, without the use of auxiliary enzymes. This method employs fructose-6-phosphate and ATP labeled with 32P in the gamma position ([gamma-32P]ATP), and leads to the formation of ADP and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate labeled with 32P ([1-32P]fructose-1,6-bisphosphate). Activated charcoal is used to adsorb unreacted [gamma-32P]ATP, and the radioactive product in the supernatant, [1-32P]fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, is analyzed on a liquid scintillation counter. The proposed method is precise and relatively inexpensive, and can be applied to determine phosphofructokinase-1 activity in cellular extracts as well as in the purified enzyme.

Haemolytic anaemia and exercise intolerance due to phosphofructokinase deficiency in related springer spaniels.

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder in dogs causing haemolytic crises and exertional myopathy. The clinical signs may be confused with those of recurrent immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. The deficiency has been commonly observed in field trial (working) English springer spaniels (ESSPs), but also in the conformation line of ESSPs in the USA over the past two decades. This report documents the first family of ESSPs found with PFK deficiency in Europe. Two related adult ESSPs in Denmark had intermittent signs of pigmenturia after exercise (hunting) and had evidence of a regenerative haemolytic anaemia. Based upon DNA sequencing data, both dogs had the previously described nonsense point mutation in the muscle-type PFK gene (delta2228G-->A). Study of 17 related family members using a simple and accurate PFK-DNA test revealed one additional PFK-deficient dog (with minor exercise intolerance), nine carriers and seven normal (or 'clear') ESSPs. Recently, the authors have also identified PFK carriers and affected ESSPs in the UK. Screening for PFK deficiency is recommended for ESSPs with suspicious clinical signs and before using any for field trials or breeding in order to prevent the further spread of this hereditary disorder.

Activation of membrane skeleton-bound phosphofructokinase in erythrocytes induced by serotonin.

We show here that serotonin, both in vivo and in vitro, induced a marked activation of phosphofructokinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, in the membrane-skeleton fraction from erythrocytes. Concomitantly, the hormone induced a striking increase in lactate content, reflecting stimulation of glycolysis. The enzyme's activity in the cytosolic (soluble) fraction remained unchanged. These results suggest a defense mechanism in the erythrocytes against the damaging effects of serotonin, whose concentration in plasma increases in many diseases and is implicated as playing an important role in circulation disturbances.

Effects of potassium antimony tartrate on rat erythrocyte phosphofructokinase activity.

In an earlier study, we observed a marked accumulation of antimony in erythrocytes of rats administered potassium antimony tartrate (Sb) in drinking water. This observation has raised concerns of possible adverse effects on the hematological systems. A study was therefore carried out to investigate the effects of Sb on phosphofructokinase (PFK), a rate-limiting enzyme of erythrocyte glycolysis. Preincubation of PFK with Sb caused a marked inhibition of the enzyme with 95% loss of activity at 5 mM. In comparison, 5 mM sodium arsenite, a known enzyme inhibitor, reduced PFK activity by only 38%. Increasing the concentrations of fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) or magnesium had no effects on the inhibitory potency of Sb. Varying the concentrations of ATP and Sb produced a complex effect on PFK activity. At 1 mM ATP, 0.2 mM Sb was required for 50% inhibition (IC50) of PFK but only 0.05 mM Sb was required for the same inhibition when the concentration of ATP was reduced to 0.2 mM. Glutathione (2-10 mM) and hemoglobin (8-40 micronM partially protected the enzyme from the Sb effect, with the protection being more effective at low antimony concentrations. When Sb was added to assay mixtures after initiation of a PFK reaction with physiological concentrations of ATP (0.2 mM) and F6P (0.1 mM), PFK activity was approximately 50% inhibited by 0.5 mM Sb and completely inhibited by 5 mM Sb. In contrast, glucose utilization in whole blood was only 16% lower over an 8 hour incubation period in the presence of 5 mM Sb. It is concluded that while PFK is markedly inhibited by Sb under in vitro assay conditions, glycolysis in erythrocytes is not significantly affected except at very high Sb concentrations. The weak effect of Sb on glycolysis in erythrocytes may be due in part to the protective effect of hemoglobin and, to a lesser extent, glutathione on PFK.

Glucose metabolism in the erythrocytes of the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

14CO2 production from [1-14C] glucose, the rate of glycolysis measured by the value of lactate production and the activities of various enzymes were determined in buffalo erythrocytes. Buffalo red cell glycolytic metabolites were estimated and used for the calculation of the mass action ratios of reactions catalyzed by the glycolytic enzymes of Bubalus bubalis. A comparison of the values of the mass action ratios with the equilibrium constants of the various glycolytic reactions indicate that hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase reactions are displaced from equilibrium, suggesting a regulatory role for each of these enzymes in buffalo erythrocyte glycolysis.

Isozyme analysis of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte phosphofructokinase from insulin resistant individuals.

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was characterized by immunological titration with subunit specific antibodies and column chromatography on QAE-Sephadex in three different groups: control, type II diabetic, and obese individuals. It was found that PMN phosphofructokinase in the three groups consists mainly of a mixture of L4 and M4 homotetramers with possibly some hybrid forms. The predominant subunit was the L-type. A 24% decrease in the specific activity of the L-type isozyme was observed and an intermediate form (I-isozyme) having 23% of the total activity in diabetic individuals appeared. In obese individuals a 30% decrease was observed in the activity of M-type isozyme and 9% of the total activity corresponded to the intermediate form. Kinetic studies showed different regulatory properties among the isozymes from the three groups. The lower PFK activity found in diabetic and obese individuals can be associated with the decreased activity in the L-type isozyme (for diabetic individuals) and in the M-type isozyme (for obese individuals); the lower activity can also be associated with the four times lower affinity for F-6-P showed by the M-type isozyme, the decreased sensitivity to ATP inhibition (for both isozymes), and the appearance of an intermediate form with a different kinetic behaviour.

Improvement of hemolysis in muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency by restriction of exercise.

A 29-year-old woman with muscle phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency had exercise intolerance, painful cramps, elevation of muscle enzyme levels in the serum and compensated hemolysis. After the restriction of exercise, the creatine kinase level and indirect bilirubin level decreased, and the reticulocyte count and haptoglobin level were normalized. It is suggested that the hemolysis which was accelerated by exercise was improved by restriction of exercise.

Erythrocyte fragility and chronic intermittent pigmenturia in a dog.

A 2-year-old spayed female Shetland Sheepdog had recurrent episodes of discolored urine. Treatments administered for presumed urinary tract infection did not prevent recurrence. Episodes of pigmenturia appeared to correlate with stressful situations or excessive activity. Examination of urine sediment consistently revealed that RBC were not evident, despite a positive result for blood on urinalysis. This was suggestive of hemoglobinuria, and diagnostic testing was instituted to determine the underlying cause. Results of alkaline and osmotic fragility tests were useful in determining that an increase in erythrocyte fragility was the underlying cause of the recurrent pigmenturia. Erythrocyte fragility testing should be considered in animals that do not respond to appropriate treatments for pigmenturia.

Purification and kinetic properties of phosphofructokinase from Rana ridibunda erythrocytes.

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) from Rana ridibunda erythrocytes was purified about 570-fold by column chromatography on Cibacron Blue Sepharose. The resulting enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 1.94 U/mg protein and a pH maximum of 7.6. The molecular weight as determined by HPLC chromatography was 330,000 Da. The S0.5 value for fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) was 5.6 mM and the Km for ATP 0.87 mM. The enzyme was sensitive to inhibition by ATP which was increased with lower F6P concentrations. At physiological levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (0.35 mumol/ml RBC), 20% of PFK activity was inhibited. Significant activations under cellular conditions were exercised by AMP and, to a lesser extent, by Pi. Micromolar concentrations of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and glucose-1,6-bisphosphate were also potent activators of the erythrocyte enzyme. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (10-50) microM activated the enzyme to a limited extent. With respect to these effects, it is suggested that PFK is a significant enzyme in regulating the glycolytic flux of Rana ridibunda red blood cells. The existence of a regulatory mechanism controlled by the energy status of the red cell, as well as the state of oxygenation of haemoglobin, is discussed, in which PFK occupies a central role.

Cloning of a complete protein-coding sequence of human platelet-type phosphofructokinase isozyme from pancreatic islet.

We have cloned a full length protein-coding sequence of human platelet-type phosphofructokinase (PFK) from pancreatic islet cDNA library. The platelet-type PFK was composed of 784 amino acids and had a deduced molecular weight of 85,590. Homologies in the primary structure with muscle- and liver-type PFK were 71 and 67%. Clear similarities of the amino and carboxyl halves with a prokaryotic PFK indicated an evolutionary event that duplicated genes of a prototype PFK fused into larger genes of eukaryotic PFKs. Amino acid residues constituting the binding sites for various allosteric modulators were well conserved, while a couple of different residues at the inhibitory ATP sites among three isozymes may partly explain their varied degree of sensitivities to ATP. Considerable amount of platelet-type PFK expression was demonstrated in brain, heart, kidney, colon and testis.

Enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in human breast carcinoma: relationship with serum hormones.

The enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and their relationship with circulating estradiol (ET2) and prolactin (Prl) were studied in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with fibroadenoma and carcinoma of breast. The activities of all the glycolytic enzymes studied were increased in breast carcinoma tissues except for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase which showed decreased activity. Among the glycolytic enzymes studied, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were found to be stimulated by elevated levels of serum ET2 and further stimulated by a simultaneous increase in Prl. However, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase was more specifically stimulated by Prl rather than ET2. None of the glycolytic enzymes studied was altered in fibroadenoma breast tissues.

Enzyme-to-enzyme tunnelling between phosphoglucoisomerase and phosphofructokinase.

1. Cross-linked and permeabilized rat erythrocytes were incubated for 2-5 min at 37 degrees C in the presence of ATP and either D-[U-14C]glucose 6-phosphate (3 mM) mixed with unlabelled D-fructose 6-phosphate (1 mM) or D-[U-14C]fructose 6-phosphate (1 mM) mixed with unlabelled D-glucose 6-phosphate (3 mM). 2. The contribution of molecules derived from the radioactive ketohexose ester relative to the total amount of newly formed D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was lower than the time-related average value for such a relative contribution in the pool of D-fructose 6-phosphate. 3. From such a difference, it was calculated that, under the present experimental conditions, 13.1 +/- 2.0% of the molecules of D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate formed during incubation are directly derived from D-glucose 6-phosphate by a process of enzyme-to-enzyme channelling between phosphoglucoisomerase and phosphofructokinase, rather than originating from the free pool of D-fructose 6-phosphate. 4. A comparable value of 13.2 +/- 3.2% was reached when the process of enzyme-to-enzyme tunnelling was judged from the 3H/14C ratio in D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate formed by permeabilized erythrocytes exposed for 5-15 min to D-glucose 6-phosphate (3 or 5 mM) mixed with tracer amounts of both D-[1-14C]glucose 6-phosphate and D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate.

[Effects of selenium on the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis system in rat liver].

We studied the effect of selenium on the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis system in the rat liver. Significant decreases in glucose level in the serum were observed from the 4th day after daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of selenite (173 micrograms/kg, 78.9 micrograms/kg of selenium base equivalent). Selenium was also effective in reducing a precursor of gluconeogenesis, lactate, alanine or glycerol, in the serum. Moreover, there were significant decreases in the activities of pyruvate carboxylase and glucose-6-phosphatase, a rate-limiting enzyme of gluconeogenesis, in the liver of selenium-treated rates. On the contrary, the activities of glycokinase and phosphofructokinase, a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis, in the liver of rat treated with selenium significantly increased in comparison with the control group. These data, therefore, indicated that the hypoglycemic effect of selenium might be due to the acceleration of glucose metabolism and the inhibition of glucose synthesis in the liver, suggesting a decrease in a source of precursor supply for the gluconeogenesis.

Mononuclear leukocytes from obese patients with type II diabetes have reduced activity of hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

In the present study we measured the activity of some cytosolic enzymes involved in intracellular glucose metabolism in mononuclear leukocytes from 77 obese subjects of which 39 were nondiabetic and 38 had newly-diagnosed untreated type II diabetes mellitus. 28 subjects (19 nondiabetic and 18 diabetic) had also a study of insulin binding to monocytes. 35 subjects (14 nondiabetic, 21 diabetic) underwent an insulin tolerance test for the evaluation of in vivo insulin action. Mononuclear leukocytes from diabetic obese patients showed significantly lower activities of hexokinase (HK), 6-phosphofructokinase (PFK) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), while pyruvate kinase (PK) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activities were similar in the two groups. In the whole population HK and G6PDH activities inversely correlated with fasting and 2-h OGTT plasma glucose levels. Neither plasma insulin levels nor maximal specific insulin binding to monocytes were significantly correlated with any of the enzyme activities measured. Conversely, the parameter of insulin action generated by insulin tolerance test significantly correlated with HK, G6PDH and 6PGDH. These results indicate that in obese subjects the presence of diabetes is associated with a reduced activity of some enzymes of glucose metabolism in mononuclear leukocytes. This multiple enzymatic defect is correlated with the impairment of in vivo insulin action.

Developmental changes in the erythrocyte metabolism in bandicoot Isoodon macrourus.

Activities of 13 different enzymes were measured in the erythrocytes of juvenile and adult bandicoots, Isoodon macrourus. Seven of these enzymes had significantly (p < 0.05 or less) greater activities in the juveniles compared to the adult animals. The activity of one enzyme--phosphofructokinase--was significantly (p < 0.01) lower in the juveniles. However, the activity of NADH-methaemoglobin reductase (MR) was similar in the two groups of animals. The rates of lactate production using four different substrates (glucose, galactose, inosine and adenosine) were also higher in the juveniles. These results indicate that the erythrocytes of juvenile bandicoots are metabolically more active than those of the adult animals and follow the general pattern of higher metabolic activity in the young red cells in eutherian mammals, with possible exception of NADH-MR activity.

Inherited phosphofructokinase deficiency in an American cocker spaniel.

A 3-year-old female American Cocker Spaniel with a chronic hemolytic disorder and hemolytic crises was found to have M-type phosphofructokinase deficiency. This inherited erythroenzymopathy and myopathy is commonly diagnosed in English Springer Spaniels, but the family study of this Cocker Spaniel, although supporting an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, did not reveal any English Springer Spaniel ancestors. Molecular genetic studies did, however, identify the same mutation in this dog as we previously reported in the English Springer Spaniel breed, suggesting that this mutation originated prior to the separation of these 2 breeds.

Changes of enzyme activity levels in red blood cells in hemodialysis patients by recombinant human erythropoietin.

In a phase II clinical trial to test the ability of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) to reverse the anemia of patients undergoing hemodialysis, the changes of enzyme activity in red blood cells were evaluated in 5 hemodialysis anemic patients who were treated with r-HuEPO. Concerning the activity levels measured, the following conclusions are drawn. 1) HK, ALD, TPI, G6PD and 6PGD were statistically significantly increased at the time when the hematocrit has risen by 8% with the use of r-HuEPO. 2) The enzyme activity levels of PFK, GA3PD, MPGM, ENOL, PK, GR and ADA were higher than normal already before the r-HuEPO treatment. 3) The increases of HK and G6PD by r-HuEPO, as age dependent enzymes, may reflect the generation of young red blood cells. 4) In view of the fact that they are related to ATP production in the glycolysis cycle, we infer that increases of red blood cell enzymes by r-HuEPO may play at least some part in bringing a sensation of "well-being" to severely anemic patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Regional chromosomal assignment of the human platelet phosphofructokinase gene to 10p15.

A cDNA for human platelet 6-phosphofructokinase (PFKP) has been isolated from a human Raji cell line cDNA library. Using this cDNA as a probe, the gene for human PFKP, previously mapped to chromosome 10pter-p11.1, has been further localized to 10p15 by non-isotopic in situ hybridization.