Tissue distribution of human pyruvate kinase isozymes

Polytrauma induces increased expression of pyruvate kinase in neutrophils

Polytrauma (PT) leads to systemic activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Organ damage commonly found in these patients is ascribed to respiratory bursts of activated PMNs. With the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, PMN extracts from PT patients were found to contain a clear protein band not seen in control PMNs from healthy volunteers. This band was identified by amino acid sequencing and Western blotting as pyruvate kinase (PK). Enzymatic assays revealed a 600-fold increase in PK activity in PMNs of PT patients, with the highest levels occurring between the fifth and seventh posttraumatic day. In lymphocytes, no such increase was detectable. As PK is a major regulatory enzyme in glycolysis, glucose-dependent lactate production in PMNs from PT patients was assayed. These cells showed a higher glycolytic lactate production than controls. It was additionally demonstrated that acute activation of respiratory burst activity depends mainly on breakdown of glucose to lactate via the pentose-phosphate pathway and glycolysis. In PMNs from PT patients, this glucose-dependent respiratory burst activity was more than twofold higher than in controls. The increase in expression and activity of PK in PMNs from PT patients may contribute to the high glucose-dependent respiratory burst activity seen in these cells.

Immunocytochemical study of pyruvate kinase isoenzymes in normal and pathologic human liver

In healthy human livers, L pyruvate kinase (L PK) was detected by immunofluorescence and double labelling in hepatocytes and M PK was detected in bile duct epithelial cells. Numerous associations between isoenzyme type and hepatological lesion were observed. In 10 cases of ethanolic cirrhosis, L and M PK were simultaneously observed in the hepatocytes of regenerative nodules, as they were in biliary neoductules; fibrotic regions were L and M PK negative and the hepatocytes in the anastomosing plate system were almost exclusively L PK positive, as in normal subjects. In 12 hepatocarcinomas, cancer cells had a double L and M specificity with variations in the intensity of the M isoenzyme, while the stroma reaction was L and M negative. In five hepatoblastomas, the simultaneous presence of L and M PK was also observed, but the consistently marked intensity of M PK argues in favour of the embryonic nature of this type of cancer. The results suggest that mature, highly differentiated cells exclusively and specifically synthesize one isoenzyme. A double specificity in pathology reflects the dysfunctional state of the hepatic and biliary epithelial cells or a dedifferentiated state which may terminate with the appearance of a cancer.

Immunohistochemical localization of pyruvate kinase isoenzymes in chicken tissues

A method for the localization of pyruvate kinase isoenzymes type L, M2 and M1 in tissue sections is described. Mono-specific antibodies directed against isoenzymes of pyruvate kinase from chicken and the peroxidase antiperoxidase method were used. The following preferential localizations of the isoenzymes in chicken tissues were observed: Pyruvate kinase M1 was found in skeletal muscle. The white muscle fibers were more intensely stained than the red. Some dark muscles (e.g., anterior latissimus dorsi) and the heart muscle showed no reaction with antiserum against pyruvate kinase M1. Pyruvate kinase type L was found in the hepatocytes and in kidney cortex. Pyruvate kinase type M2 was seen in the distal tubules of kidney, in hepatocytes and sinusoidal cells in liver, in lung, adipose tissue, and in the spleen mainly in the bursa dependent areas. Pyruvate kinase type M2 was detected in high concentrations in the granulation tissue of regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy. Liver sections of a hen bearing a pancreatic tumor showed an unusually high content of pyruvate kinase type M2 in some hepatocytes, which were each clustered to spots in the liver parenchyma. Thus, contrary to previous reports, the tissue distribution of isoenzymes in chicken is similar to that of other vertebrates.

Two forms of pyruvate kinase in Escherichia coli. A comparison of chemical and molecular properties

The two forms of pyruvate kinase (ATP:pyruvate 2-O-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40) present in Escherichia coli have been purified from the same cultures and crystallized. A modified procedure for the purification of type I pyruvate kinase is described. Molecular weight, subunit structure, amino acid composition, NH2-terminal amino acid, maps of tryptic peptides and conditions for crystallization have been determined for the two forms. A comparison of these data shows that the two forms are different proteins, each being a tetramer of identical subunits.

Isolation and characterization of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant deficient in pyruvate kinase activity

A mutant of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is deficient in pyruvate kinase activity has been isolated. The mutant strain is capable of growth when supplied with lactate as the carbon source but not capable of growth when supplied with dextrose or other fermentable sugars or glycerol as the carbon source. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the phenotype of the pyruvate kinase-deficient strain was due to a single nuclear mutation, which was designated pyk1, and preliminary genetic mapping experiments located the pyk1 locus on chromosome I, 30 centimorgans from the ade1 locus. Adenine nucleotide levels in the mutant and parental strains were compared when the cells were subjected to various growth and starvation conditions. When carbon supply and energy production were dissociated by supplying the mutant strain with dextrose, adenine nucleotide levels fell dramatically. This result suggests that the initial reactions of glycolysis are not rate limiting, nor are they readily inhibited by feedback controls.

Pyruvate kinase isozymes in cells isolated from fetal and regenerating rat liver

There are at least three major mammalian isozymes of pyruvate kinase (ATP : pyruvate 2-O-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40), designated K4, L4, and M4. Whereas parenchymal cells from adult rat liver contain only the type L isozyme, parenchymal cells isolated from fetal and regenerating liver were found to synthesize both the K4 and L4 isozymes. A small amount of K-M hybrid was seen in regenerating liver, but there were no detectable M-L or K-L hybrids. Thus, it appears that type L pyruvate kinase is not synthesized at the same time in the same liver cell with either of the other two isozymes. The intermediate electrophoretic bands seen with homogenates of whole fetal liver, and in some earlier work attributed to either hybrid isozymes or to the presence of M4, are contributed by nonparenchymal cells which, in the fetus, are largely hemopoietic. These additional bands of pyruvate kinase are electrophoretically and immunologically similar to the pyruvate kinase isozymes found in adult erythrocytes. The results reported here suggest a very rigorous control in the synthesis of K4 and L4 isozymes in parenchymal cells of both fetal and regenerating liver as opposed to developing neurons and glia, where the shift from synthesis of type K to type M subunits appears to occur gradually and results in the production of substantial amounts of hybrid isozymes.

[Enzyme deficiencies in glycolysis and nucleotide metabolism of red blood cells in nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia (author's transl)]

The detection of enzyme deficiencies in glycolytic and nucleotide metabolism of human red blood cells has enriched the pathophysiological knowledge on the origin of nonspherocytic hemolytic anemias (NSHA). So far for 11 of 13 glycolytic enzymes deficiencies have been described which are connected with alterations of biochemical enzymatic properties. The most frequent enzyme deficiencies are those of GPI and PK. By performance of special electrophoretic techniques genetic studies allow the demonstration of homozygote and double heterozygote defect carriers. Up to now only adenylate kinase and pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase deficiencies have been detected as genetically determined in altered nucleotide metabolism. The metabolic alterations of several enzymopathies have been characterized so well, that the pathophysiological relations between enzyme deficiency and NSHA probably have been found to be a sufficient explanation.

Electrofocusing and kinetic studies of adult and embryonic chicken pyruvate kinases

Chicken embryos less than 15 days old contain only the K isozyme of pyruvate kinase, which appears to exist in vivo as an R,T conformational set with pI values of 7.2 and 6.6, respectively. Sets of lower pI and higher pI K-isozyme variants also are obtained. Whole embryos of 15 days or more of development show progressively increasing amounts of higher pI, lower K0.5S enzymatic variants. Tissue distribution and kinetic properties suggest that the highest pI form (pH 8.8-9.0) is an M-isozyme analogue. The intermediate forms are postulated to be hybrids. Adult liver extracts contain only the embryonic K isozyme; no evidence for an L-isozyme analogue was obtained. All major forms of the enzymes are compared with respect to saturation by phosphoenolpyruvate in the absence of effector and in the presence of fructose 1,6-diphosphate, alanine, serine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and/or Mg-ATP.

Pyruvate kinase isozymes in man. I. M type isozymes in adult and foetal tissues, electrofocusing and immunological studies

Anti human M2 type and anti human L type pyruvate kinase sera allowed us to distinguish two groups of pyruvate kinase in man. Erythrocyte and liver (L type) enzymes on the one hand were inhibited by anti L and not all by anti M2 serum; pyruvate kinase from all the other tissues on the other hand were inhibited by anti M2 and not at all by anti L serum. This latter group represent the M type pyruvate kinase isozymes. The M type isozymes have been studied by electrofocusing in thin layer acrylamide-ampholine gel. In adult tissues 4 types of isozymes were found, designated, from acid to alkaline pH, as M2 (predominant form in spleen, leukocytes, lung...), M3, M4 and M1 (predominant form in muscle and brain). In foetal tissues an extra band M2, called M2f, more anodic than M2, was added to the previously described isozymes. Except in brain (in which the isozymes M2, M3, M4 and M1 were found), the most anodic bands (M2f, M2 and M3) were predominant in all the foetal tissues. The isozymes M2f and M2 seem therefore to be the original M type pyruvate kinase forms from which the other isozymes issue. The rate of each isozyme seems to depend on tissue factors characterizing the state of differentiation of some tissues, as indicated by the ability of adult muscle extracts to change the isozymes M2 and M3 into more cathodic forms.

Evidence for three enzymatic activities in one electrophoretic band of 3-phosphoglycerate mutase from red cells

Electrophoresis of 3-phosphoglycerate mutase from erythrocytes of man and several animal species has been performed on cellulose acetate strips. In most cases the electrophoretic pattern of this enzymatic activity shows three bands. 2,3-diphosphoglycerate phosphatase and diphosphoglycerate mutase from erythrocytes of the same species have been revealed after migration during the same electrophoresis. We found that the band of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate phosphatase and the band of diphosphoglycerate mutase activities migrate at the same level as one of the bands corresponding to 3-phosphoglycerate mutase. Here, we discuss the possible existence of a single molecule carrying three enzymatic activities.

Insignificance of gluconeogenesis in human blood platelets

Human blood platelets contain no detectable activity of the enzymes fructose diphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11), phospho-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.32) and pyruvate carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.1.). Glucose-6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) activity is very low. Phosphofructokinase present in human blood platelets, catalyzes a reaction which can be stimulated by AMP in a platelet homogenate, due to the presence of endogenous ADP and myokinase. These enzymes are responsible for the formation of fructose-6-phosphate from fructose-1, 6-diphosphate. Pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) in human blood platelets belongs to the M-type, which is not inhibited by ATP, at least not under the conditions applied. The results obtained indicate that gluconeogenesis in human blood platelets is not present in the way which has been established for liver and kidney.

Chromosome assignment of some human enzyme loci: mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase to 7, mannosephosphate isomerase and pyruvate kinase to 15 and probably, esterase D to 13

Eleven independent man-mouse hybrids and 40 subclones from four to them were analysed for up to 42 enzyme markers. Nine subclones from three hybrid lines were fully karyotyped. The data presented suggest that the gene for the human enzyme MOR-M can be assigned to chromosome 7, whilst those for MPI and PK-3 are on chromosome 15. The use of a small number of well-characterized hybrids for gene assigments is discussed as well as the significance of some known human linkage relationships.

Four new pyruvate kinase (PK) variants and a classical PK deficiency

Four new red-cell pyruvate kinase (PK) variants are presented along with one case of so-called classical type PK deficiency. PK 'Tokyo II' had a low activity, Km (PEP) and Vmax, but a normal urea stability and only slight deviation from normal in neutralization tests by antiserum. It had a normal nucleotide specificity, abnormal electrophoretic mobility (fast moving) and the variant was associated with a mild hemolytic anaemia. PK 'Maebashi' had a low activity, high Km (PEP), low Vmax, urea instability, decreased reactivity to antiserum, normal electrophoretic mobility, normal nucleotide specificity and was associated with a moderate haemolytic anaemia. PK 'Tsukiji' had low activity, high Km (PEP), markedly high Vmax, urea instability, decreased reactivity to antiserum, abnormal electrophoretic mobility (fast moving) and grossly abnormal nucleotide specificity especially abnormal behaviour to ADP. The haemolytic process in this case was moderate to severe. PK 'Ube' was electrophoretically abnormal (fast moving) but otherwise had normal characteristics and the propositus was healthy and not anaemic. PK 'Ube' was found by electrophoretic screening for genetic PK polymorphism. In the classical type PK deficiency, the usual red-cell PK (PK-R1 and PK-R2) was not demonstrable by electrophoresis but instead M2-type PK was present, presumably by compensatory process. Kinetic studies confirmed that the patient's red-cell PK consisted of M2-type PK. This patient had a severe haemolytic anaemia.