Insulin stimulation of intracellular free Ca2+ recovery and Ca(2+)-ATPase gene expression in cultured vascular smooth-muscle cells: role of glucose 6-phosphate

Wa have previously reported that insulin accelerates recovery of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) from pressor agonist-induced Ca2+ loads and stimulates both plasmalemmal and sarcoplasmic-reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase gene expression in cultured and freshly isolated vascular smooth-muscle cells (VSMCs), suggesting that insulin attenuation of vascular tone may result from modulation of [Ca2+]i. Accordingly, we have now evaluated the linkage between this insulin-regulation of VSMC[Ca2+]i and classical actions of insulin (i.e. glucose transport and metabolism). Cultured VSMCs were incubated in the presence or absence of insulin in a medium containing either pyruvate, glucose, 3-O-methylglucose or 2-deoxyglycose. Insulin caused an 87% increase in [Ca2+]i recovery rate after stimulation with arginine-vasopressin (P < 0.01) and caused a marked increase in Ca(2+)-ATPase mRNA and protein levels in the presence of glucose. Comparable increases in both [Ca2+]i recovery and Ca2(+)-ATPase expression were found when glucose was replaced by 2-deoxyglucose. In contrast, no stimulation was found in either the glucose-free or 3-O-methylglucose-containing medium. As both glucose analogues are transported, but only 2-deoxyglucose is phosphorylated, this indicates that glucose transport and metabolism to glucose 6-phosphate is essential for insulin regulation of VSMC [Ca2+]i, possibly via a glucose-6-phosphate-dependent carbohydrate-response element in the Ca2(+)-ATPase gene.

[Hexokinase isoenzyme II has a segment responsible for specific interaction of the enzyme with mitochondrial membranes]

It was found that the ability of rat skeletal muscle hexokinase isozyme II binding to mitochondrial membranes is realized in full in the presence of Mg2+, glucose and putrescine as adsorption reagent. The hexokinase-membrane complexes obtained through the use of these reagents displayed similar stability as could be judged from their dissociation under identical conditions: either in the presence of KCl used in high concentrations or under the effect of a specific solubilization reagent--glucose-6-phosphate used in physiological concentrations. Within the composition of enzyme-membrane complexes hexokinase had the same kinetic properties which differed, however, from those of the nonbound to mitochondria enzyme. The data obtained are discussed in relation to the hexokinase isozyme II domain responsible for the specific binding of the enzyme to mitochondrial membranes and termed as the "adsorption domain". The availability of this domain is postulated in terms of the concept on the adsorption mechanism of hexokinase isozyme II activity control in skeletal muscles.

Contribution of glucose/glucose 6-phosphate cycle activity to insulin resistance in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus

It has been suggested that increased glucose/glucose 6-phosphate substrate cycling impairs net hepatic glucose uptake in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and contributes to hyperglycaemia. To investigate glucose/glucose 6-phosphate cycle activity and insulin action in Type 2 diabetes we studied eight patients and eight healthy control subjects, using the euglycaemic glucose clamp and isotope dilution techniques with purified [2-3H]- and [6-3H] glucose tracers, in the post-absorptive state and eight patients and five healthy control subjects during consecutive insulin infusions at rates of 0.4 and 2.0 mU.kg-1 x min-1. [2-3H]glucose and [6-3H]glucose radioactivity in plasma samples were determined using selective enzymatic detritiation, allowing calculation of glucose turnover rates for each isotope, the difference being glucose/glucose 6-phosphate cycling. Endogenous glucose production ([6-3H]glucose) was greater in diabetic than control subjects in the post-absorptive state (15.6 +/- 1.5 vs 11.3 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg-1 x min-1, p < 0.05) and during the 0.4 mU insulin infusion (10.1 +/- 1.3 vs 5.2 +/- 0.3 mumol.kg-1 x min-1, p < 0.01) indicating hepatic insulin resistance. Glucose/glucose 6-phosphate cycling was significantly greater in diabetic than in control subjects in the post-absorptive state (2.6 +/- 0.4 vs 1.6 +/- 0.2 mumol.kg-1 x min-1, p < 0.05) but not during the 0.4 mU insulin infusion (2.0 +/- 0.4 vs 2.0 +/- 0.3 mumol.kg-1 x min-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of glucose 6-phosphate in the translocation of glycogen synthase in rat hepatocytes

Incubation of rat hepatocytes with glucose induces the translocation of glycogen synthase from soluble fractions to fractions which sediment at 10,000 g. Incubation of the cells with fructose, galactose, 2-deoxyglucose or 5-thioglucose, which activate glycogen synthase, also resulted in the translocation of the enzyme, whereas 3-O-methylglucose, 6-deoxyglucose and 1,5-anhydroglucitol, which do not cause the activation of the enzyme, were ineffective. Adenosine and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, although activating glycogen synthase, did not induce its translocation. Mannoheptulose, which inhibits glucose phosphorylation, impaired the translocation of glycogen synthase induced by glucose. Furthermore, the extent of the translocation of the enzyme triggered by glucose and other sugars showed a high positive correlation with the intracellular concentration of glucose 6-phosphate. Microcystin, which blocks the activation of glycogen synthase by glucose, but not the accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate, did not affect the translocation of the enzyme. These results indicate that glucose 6-phosphate plays a role in the translocation of glycogen synthase in rat hepatocytes.

Metabolic activation of quercetin mutagenicity

The mutagenicity of quercetin was reinvestigated using the Salmonella/microsome test. The mutagenicity of quercetin was enhanced by the cytosolic fraction of liver extract (S100), or by ascorbate, and even more by the complete liver supernatant (S9) in the presence of cofactors (NADP and glucose-6-phosphate). The formation of metabolites by the S9 enzymes was demonstrated by reverse-phase HPLC.

Regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis by islet endoplasmic reticulum and its role in insulin secretion

Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations have a major role in the regulation of insulin secretion by islet beta-cells. It has recently become apparent that the endoplasmic reticulum plays a prominent role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations under basal conditions and during insulin secretion. This review describes biochemical properties of the endoplasmic reticulum that contribute to intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis including 1) an ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake pump associated with a Ca2+-ATPase located in the endoplasmic reticulum; 2) Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum induced by the second messengers inositol trisphosphate and arachidonic acid as well as the guanine nucleotide GTP; and 3) a Ca2+ sequestration mechanism localized to the endoplasmic reticulum that is regulated by glucose 6-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphatase. The hypothesis is developed that these biochemical mechanisms participate in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and represent central intracellular events involved in the first phase of glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Phosphofructokinase in rat lung during perinatal development: characterization of subunit composition and regulation by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and glucose 1,6-bisphosphate

The subunit composition of phosphofructokinase (ATP: D-fructose-6-phosphate-1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11) was studied in rat lung during perinatal development. No change in subunit composition during this period was observed. The three subunits of phosphofructokinase (L, M and C) were present in a ratio of approx. 65:25:10, respectively. In addition the levels of two effectors of phosphofructokinase were determined in rat lung during perinatal development: glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Until day 20 of gestation (term is 22 days) the glucose 1,6-bisphosphate level remains relatively constant (approx. 0.55 mumol/g protein), decreases before birth and increases sharply up to 1.04 mumol/g protein 2 days after birth. The amount of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in rat lung shows a different developmental profile. A small peak is shown at day 17 of gestation whereas a larger peak up to 36.4 nmol/g protein is shown at days 20 and 21 of gestation. The time of maximal fructose 2,6-bisphosphate content corresponds with the time of glycogen breakdown and acceleration of surfactant synthesis in prenatal rat lung. Both glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate stimulate lung phosphofructokinase. Half maximal stimulations occur in the range of 24.1-70.9 microM glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and 0.17-0.34 microM fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.

The relevance of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate formation and degradation to human red blood cell metabolism

In human erythrocytes, in the absence of specific enzymes, G1,6P2 synthesis and degradation are carried out by phosphoglucomutase PGM2 isoenzymes. The results presented, obtained by using partially purified preparations of these enzyme forms, suggest that erythrocyte G1,6P2 may play a crucial role in the physiological interconversion of several important sugar monophosphates.

Glycogen storage disease type Ib: familial bleeding tendency

A mild bleeding tendency with characteristics of the von Willebrand disease was documented in family members of a girl with glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD) Ib). It was assumed that a defective glucose-6-phosphate dependent microsomal glycoprotein synthesis was involved in the bleeding disorder of the patient and the GSD Ib heterozygotes.

The participation of glucose-1,6-diphosphate in the regulation of hexokinase and phosphoglucomutase activities in brains of young and adult rats

1. The level of glucose-1,6-diphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2), the powerful regulator of carbohydrate metabolism, was found to be strikingly decreased in brains of adult rats (5 months of age) as compared to young (10-14 days of age). 2. This age-related decrease in Glc-1,6-P2, the potent inhibitor of hexokinase and activator of phosphoglucomutase, was accompanied by a correlated increase in the activity of hexokinase and a reduction in phosphoglucomutase. 3. Evidence is provided showing that Glc-1,6-P2 participates in the regulation of these enzymes' activities with age. 4. The age-related changes in Glc-1,6-P2 and in the enzymes' activities in brain were opposite to those which we previously found in skeletal muscle. 5. These results suggest that Glc-1,6-P2 is involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism during growth in both brain and muscle, as well as in the interrelationship between these two tissues.

Investigations on the possible involvement of phospholipids in the glucose-6-phosphate transport system of rat-liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase

Interrelationships between the catalytic behavior of glucose-6-phosphatase and the structure of rat-liver microsomal membranes were investigated. 2. Rabbit anti-microsomal serum completely inhibited glucose-6-phosphate hydrolysis in detergent-modified microsomes but showed no inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity of intact or mechanically disrupted vesicles. 2. Controlled proteolysis of intact microsomes using carboxypeptidase A and/or aminopeptidase M largely denatured enzymes situated on the outer surface of the microsomal vesicles such as monodehydroascorbate reductase and cytochrome c reductase. However, it did not affect the glucose-6-phosphatase activity at all, which remained in a latent state within the membrane. 3. Temperature studies on glucose-6-phosphatase have revealed that only the enzyme activity of intact microsomes exhibited a nonlinear Arrhenius plot, whereas detergent-modified microsomes showed a linear temperature response. 4. Treatment of microsomes with phospholipase C and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate resulted in an apparent loss of about 65% and 85% of the original glucose-6-phosphatase activity and was closely correlated with hydrolysis and chemical modification of phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively. These apparent inactivations could be reversed by addition of Triton X-114 alone without any phospholipid supplementation. These observations indicate that glucose-6-phosphatase is buried within the microsomal membrane, not exposed on either side. They also suggest that phospholipids are involved in the glucose-6-phosphate transport mechanism.

An approach to a molecular understanding of exocytotic insulin release

By the use of an in vitro insulin releasing system, new insights into the meechanisms underlying the insulin exocytotic process have been gained. It is proposed that insulin release is initiated by glucose interacting with a glucoreceptor on the plasma membrane. Some properties of this receptor are discussed. It is postulated that after initiation of secretion, continued insulin release is under the control of phosphorylated intermediates of glucose metabolism, i.e. glucose-6-phosphate and phosphoenol pyruvate, operating via a membrane-bound protein kinase. The initiation of insulin release by glucose, and the augmentation of this initiation by the above mentioned intermediates, is viewed as a modified cascade system. The cascade theory of insulin secretion is postulated as an alternative to the threshold distribution hypothesis of insulin secretion. The action of tolbutamide in relation to the two pool theory of insulin secretion is discussed.