The effect of phosphoenolpyruvate on the retention of calcium by liver mitochondria

The mitochondrial isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-M) and glucose homeostasis: has it been overlooked?

BACKGROUND

Plasma glucose levels are tightly regulated within a narrow physiologic range. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake by tissues must be balanced by the appearance of glucose from nutritional sources, glycogen stores, or gluconeogenesis. In this regard, a common pathway regulating both glucose clearance and appearance has not been described. The metabolism of glucose to produce ATP is generally considered to be the primary stimulus for insulin release from beta-cells. Similarly, gluconeogenesis from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) is believed to be the primarily pathway via the cytosolic isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C). These models cannot adequately explain the regulation of insulin secretion or gluconeogenesis.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

A metabolic sensing pathway involving mitochondrial GTP (mtGTP) and PEP synthesis by the mitochondrial isoform of PEPCK (PEPCK-M) is associated with glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. Here we examine whether there is evidence for a similar mtGTP-dependent pathway involved in gluconeogenesis. In both islets and the liver, mtGTP is produced at the substrate level by the enzyme succinyl CoA synthetase (SCS-GTP) with a rate proportional to the TCA cycle. In the beta-cell PEPCK-M then hydrolyzes mtGTP in the production of PEP that, unlike mtGTP, can escape the mitochondria to generate a signal for insulin release. Similarly, PEPCK-M and mtGTP might also provide a significant source of PEP in gluconeogenic tissues for the production of glucose. This review will focus on the possibility that PEPCK-M, as a sensor for TCA cycle flux, is a key mechanism to regulate both insulin secretion and gluconeogenesis suggesting conservation of this biochemical mechanism in regulating multiple aspects of glucose homeostasis. Moreover, we propose that this mechanism may be important for regulating insulin secretion and gluconeogenesis compared to canonical nutrient sensing pathways.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

PEPCK-M, initially believed to be absent in islets, carries a substantial metabolic flux in beta-cells. This flux is intimately involved with the coupling of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. PEPCK-M activity may have been similarly underestimated in glucose producing tissues and could potentially be an unappreciated but important source of gluconeogenesis.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The generation of PEP via PEPCK-M may occur via a metabolic sensing pathway important for regulating both insulin secretion and gluconeogenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Frontiers of Mitochondrial Research.

High-energy compounds mobilize intracellular Ca2+ and activate calpain in cultured cells: is calpain an energy-dependent protease?

Deficiency in energy metabolisms is perhaps the earliest modifiable defect in brain aging and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Several high-energy compounds (HECs) such as ATP, phosphoenolpyruvate, phosphocreatine and acetyl coenzyme A have been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects. To understand their mechanism of actions, we tested the effects of these HECs on intracellular Ca(2+), a central regulator in brain function. Our data showed that the HECs robustly and dose-dependently mobilized intracellular Ca(2+) in cultured SH-SY5Y cells, and the actions were sensitive to intracellular Ca(2+) chelator BAPTA-AM or energy metabolism blocker rotenone. The Ca(2+) influx triggered by the HECs was from both extracellular medium and intracellular stores and the HECs also induced repetitive Ca(2+) oscillations. As these actions were similar to those of classical Ca(2+) agonists, the HECs may be viewed as a new group of physiological Ca(2+) agonists. We also found that the HECs promoted the intracellular activity of calpain, a Ca(2+)-dependent protease, and the enzyme activity fluctuated in concert with cellular energy levels, suggesting that calpain activity may also be energy-driven or energy-dependent. These findings may add to current knowledge for the regulatory mechanisms of Ca(2+) and calpain. Since Ca(2+) and calpain undergo critical dysfunction in brain aging but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, our work may provide a new perspective for clarifying some controversies. More importantly, the HECs, as key intermediates in glucose catabolism, the primary source of energy supply in the brain, may be used as potential drugs for rational prevention of sAD.

Phosphoenolpyruvate cycling via mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase links anaplerosis and mitochondrial GTP with insulin secretion

Pancreatic beta-cells couple the oxidation of glucose to the secretion of insulin. Apart from the canonical K(ATP)-dependent glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), there are important K(ATP)-independent mechanisms involving both anaplerosis and mitochondrial GTP (mtGTP). How mtGTP that is trapped within the mitochondrial matrix regulates the cytosolic calcium increases that drive GSIS remains a mystery. Here we have investigated whether the mitochondrial isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-M) is the GTPase linking hydrolysis of mtGTP made by succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS-GTP) to an anaplerotic pathway producing phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Although cytosolic PEPCK (PEPCK-C) is absent, PEPCK-M message and protein were detected in INS-1 832/13 cells, rat islets, and mouse islets. PEPCK enzymatic activity is half that of primary hepatocytes and is localized exclusively to the mitochondria. Novel (13)C-labeling strategies in INS-1 832/13 cells and islets measured substantial contribution of PEPCK-M to the synthesis of PEP. As high as 30% of PEP in INS-1 832/13 cells and 41% of PEP in rat islets came from PEPCK-M. The contribution of PEPCK-M to overall PEP synthesis more than tripled with glucose stimulation. Silencing the PEPCK-M gene completely inhibited GSIS underscoring its central role in mitochondrial metabolism-mediated insulin secretion. Given that mtGTP synthesized by SCS-GTP is an indicator of TCA flux that is crucial for GSIS, PEPCK-M is a strong candidate to link mtGTP synthesis with insulin release through anaplerotic PEP cycling.

Chondrocyte death is linked to development of a mitochondrial membrane permeability transition in the growth plate

In the companion article, we reported that the local phosphate (Pi) concentration triggers apoptosis in epiphyseal chondrocytes. The goal of the current investigation was to evaluate the apoptotic process in relationship to the energy status of cells in the growth plate. For these studies, we used sections of the adolescent growth plate, as well as cells isolated from the tissue. We found that there was a maturation-dependent loss of mitochondrial function in growth plate chondrocytes and these cells generated energy by glycolysis. Since treatment with the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol as well as the site-specific inhibitors antimycin A and rotenone failed to elicit a further increase in the activity of the glycolytic pathway, we concluded that oxidative metabolism was minimum in these cells. Flow cytometric studies of growth plate cells and confocal microscopy of growth plate sections using the mitochondrial probes Rh123 and DiOC6(3) provided unequivocal evidence that there was loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in hypertrophic cells. Furthermore, the intrinsic fluorescence of the flavoprotein lipoamide dehydrogenase complex of the electron transport chain revealed that the mitochondria were in an oxidized state. Finally, we assessed Bcl-2 expression in these cells. Although immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis showed that the chick cells contained a low level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that transcripts were present in chondrocytes. Based on these observations, we suggest that terminally differentiated chondrocytes undergo a maturation-dependent loss of mitochondrial function. In concert with the low expression of Bcl-2, they become sensitive to signals for programmed cell death. We hypothesize that Pi triggers apoptosis in these energy-compromised cells by promoting a mitochondrial membrane transition, thereby inducing the death process.

Ca2+ releasing effect of perezone on adrenal cortex mitochondria

Ca2+ energy-coupled transport was analized in adrenal cortex mitochondria using the sesquiterpenic drug perezone. Perezone promotes Ca2+ efflux by inducing collapse of the membrane potential and oxidation of pyridine nucleotides. The effect of perezone on mitochondrial Ca2+ release follows a dose-response relationship and is dependent of the reduction of the drug. These data suggest that perezone may produce a cytotoxic effect through an impairment in Ca2+ homeostasis.

The role of phosphoenolpyruvate in insulin secretion: the effect of L-phenylalanine

Incubation of rat islets with phenylalanine increased the tissue content of phosophoenolpyruvate, both in the presence and in the absence of glucose. At the same time, L-phenylalanine neither stimulated nor inhibited insulin release. It is unlikely that insulin secretion is tightly coupled to the availability of phosphoenolpyruvate in rat islets.

Cytosolic free Ca2+ in insulin secreting cells and its regulation by isolated organelles

The role of Ca2+ in secretagogue-induced insulin release is documented not only by the measurements of 45Ca fluxes in pancreatic islets, but also, by direct monitoring of cytosolic free Ca2+, [Ca2+]i. As demonstrated, using the fluorescent indicator quin 2, glyceraldehyde, carbamylcholine and alanine raise [Ca2+]i in the insulin secreting cell line RINm5F, whereas glucose has a similar effect in pancreatic islet cells. The regulation of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis by organelles from a rat insulinoma, was investigated with a Ca2+ selective electrode. The results suggest that both the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria participate in this regulation, albeit at different Ca2+ concentrations. By contrast, the secretory granules do not appear to be involved in the short-term regulation of [Ca2+]i. Evidence is presented that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which is shown to mobilize Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum, is acting as an intracellular mediator in the stimulation of insulin release.

Effect of micromolar concentrations of manganese ions on calcium-ion cycling in rat liver mitochondria

The effects of micromolar concentrations of Mn2+ on the rat liver mitochondrial Ca2+ cycle were investigated. It was found that the addition of Mn2+ to mitochondria which were cycling 45Ca2+ led to a rapid dose dependent decrease in the concentration of extramitochondrial 45Ca2+ of about 1 nmol/mg of protein. The effect was complete within 30 s, was half maximal with 10 microM Mn2+ and was observed in the presence of 3 mM Mg2+ and 1 mM ATP. It occurred over a broad range of incubation temperatures, pH and mitochondrial Ca2+ loads. It was not observed when either Mg2+ or phosphate was absent from the incubation medium, or in the presence of Ruthenium Red. These findings indicate that micromolar concentrations of Mn2+ stimulate the uptake of Ca2+ by rat liver mitochondria, and provide evidence for an interaction between Mg2+ and Mn2+ in the control of mitochondrial Ca2+ cycling.

The transport of cations in mitochondria

The present paper has reviewed several factors related to ion transport and examined the properties of cation transport in mitochondria. The analysis suggests that: (1) The concept that a metabolically dependent electrical potential across the mitochondrial membrane plays a role in determining ion fluxes and steady-state concentrations is not justified and the data indicate that such exchanges are generally electroneutral. (2) Generally, the influx and efflux of an ion proceed by the same mechanism with at least one exception. (3) There are indications that some of the steps in transport are common to several cations. (4) The idea that carrier or ionophoric molecules are involved in cation transport has been examined in some detail together with the possible involvement of some known mitochondrial components. In particular, a model has been introduced in which local charge imbalances produced by H+ fluxes serve as the driving force of transport. The molecules of the complex are arranged in series in a tripartite arrangement including a filter or gate, a nonselective channel and an H+-transferring portion linked to either electron transport or the ATPase. Parts of this model have been introduced by other investigators. Models in which different portions of channels have differing functions have been proposed previously for other transport systems.

The role of inorganic phosphate in the release of Ca2+ from rat-liver mitochondria

The effect of inorganic phosphate on Ca2+ retention has been investigated using phosphate-depleted liver mitchondria. Phosphate induces the release of Ca2+ through an efflux route insensitive to ruthenium red. This effect is not due to functional or structural damage, since mitochondria maintain their membrane potential during phosphate-induced Ca2+ efflux. Direct enzymatic measurement of mitochondria pyridine nucleotides has established that changes in their redox state (i.e. increased oxidation) do not play a role in the phosphate-effect. The phosphate-induced Ca2+ efflux requires transport of phosphate out of mitochondria. However, the fluxes of Ca2+ and phosphate do not coincide: the release of phosphate preceeds that of Ca2+.

Characterization of the hormone-sensitive Ca2+ uptake activity of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum

The characteristics and kinetics of calcium uptake activity were studied in isolated hepatic microsomes. The sustained accumulation of calcium was ATP- and oxalate-dependent. Glucagon increased microsomal Ca2+ uptake upon either in vivo injection, or in vitro perfusion of the hormone in the liver. In contrast, the effect of insulin depended on the route of administration. Calcium accumulation by subsequently isolated hepatic microsomes increased when insulin was injected intraperitoneally whereas it decreased when the hormone was perfused directly into the liver. These effects of glucagon and insulin were dose dependent. When insulin was added to the perfusate prior to the addition of glucagon, insulin blocked the glucagon-stimulated increase in microsomal Ca2+ uptake. Cyclic AMP mimicked the effect of glucagon on microsomal Ca2+ accumulation when the cyclic nucleotide was perfused into the liver. The effects of glucagon and insulin on the kinetics of hepatic microsomal Ca2+ uptake were investigated. In microsomes isolated from perfused rat livers treated with glucagon the V of the uptake was significantly increased over the control values (12.2 vs. 8.6 nmol Ca2+ per min per mg protein, P less than 0.02). In contrast, the addition of insulin to the perfusate significantly decreased the V of Ca2+ uptake by subsequently isolated microsomes (6.8 vs. 8.3 nmol Ca2+ per min per mg protein, P less than 0.05). However, neither hormone had an effect on the apparent Km for Ca2+ (4.1 +/- 0.5 microM) of the reaction. The effect of these hormones on the activity of Ca2+-stimulated ATPase was also studied. No significant changes in either V or Km for Ca2+ of the enzymatic reaction were detected.

The nature of the calcium ion efflux induced in rat liver mitochondria by the oxidation of endogenous nicotinamide nucleotides

Ca2+ efflux from rat liver mitochondria can occur when endogenous nicotinamide nucleotides are oxidized. It is suggested that nicotinamide nucleotide induced by acetoacetate sensitizes the mitochondria to damaage resulting from the accumulation of Ca2+ in the presence of Pi. Thus, acetoacetate-induced Ca2+ efflux is associated with a loss of respiratory control. Both the effluxes induced by acetoacetate and by high Ca2+ accumulation are prevented by ATP plus oligomycin, although these agents do not prevent the endoagenous nicotinamide nucleotides from becoming oxidized on addition of acetoacetate. Acetoacetate addition only results in Ca2+ release if the Ca2+ and Pi concentration are above a critical value. The acetoacetate-induced Ca2+ effflux is exactly paralled by the virtually complete collapse of the membrane potential. The presence of acetoacetate decreases the concentration of total Ca2+ necessary to induced mitochondrial damage by about 130 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein. It is concluded that acetoacetate-induced efflux occurs by reversal of the Ca2+ uniporter after the collapse of the membrane potential.

The regulation of brain mitochondrial calcium-ion transport. The role of ATP in the discrimination between kinetic and membrane-potential-dependent calcium-ion efflux mechanisms

Mitochondria from guinea-pig cerebral cortex incubated in the presence of Pi or acetate are unable to regulate the extramitochondrial free Ca2+ at a steady-state which is independent of the Ca2+ accumulated in the matrix. This is due to the superimposition on kinetically regulated Ca2+ cycling of a membrane-potential-dependent reversal of the Ca2+ uniporter. The latter efflux is a consequence of a low membrane potential, which correlates with a loss of adenine nucleotide loss from the matrix, enable the mitochondria to maintain a high membrane potential and allow the mitochondria to buffer the extramitochondrial free Ca2+ precisely when up to 200 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein is accumulated in the matrix. The steady-state extramitochondrial free Ca2+ is maintained as low as 0.3 microM. The Na+-activated efflux pathway is functional in the presence of ATP and oligomycin and accounts precisely for the change in steady-state free Ca2+ induced by Na+ addition. The need to distinguish carefully between kinetic and membrane-potential-dependent efflux pathways is emphasized and the competence of brain mitochondria to regulate cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations in vivo is discussed.