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Biomedical subjects

G Fornaini

Publications and source records attributed to G Fornaini.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The age-dependent metabolic decline of the red blood cell.

The oxidative and non-oxidative utilization of glucose was evaluated in human erythrocytes of different ages, separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation. Young red blood cells are able to metabolize 2.5 times more glucose than old ones; on the other hand, the amount of glucose utilized via the hexose monophosphate shunt does not show any age dependence. Glucose metabolism evaluated during in vivo ageing of a rabbit red cell population shows results very similar to those obtained for human cells. Metabolic stimulation of glucose utilization by high phosphate in both young and old human red cells increases glucose utilization by 40%. In the same way young and old erythrocytes were able to increase the amount of glucose metabolized via the hexose monophosphate shunt when an oxidative stimulus (methylene blue) was introduced. Human erythrocytes of different age possess similar abilities to transport glucose so that an age-dependent defect in glucose transport can be excluded. The ATP content of human and rabbit red blood cells, as a function of cell age, follows the decrease in glucose metabolized via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. Reduced glutathione, on the other hand, after a small decrease associated with the "maturation" of reticulocytes into red cells, remains constant like the rate of the hexose monophosphate shunt.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human erythrocyte phosphoglucomutase: comparison of the kinetic properties of PGM1 and PGM2 isoenzymes.

Kinetic properties of PGM1 and PGM2 phosphoglucomutase "primary" isoenzymes from human erythrocytes were studied. The two enzyme forms share a "ping-pong" kinetic mechanism and show similar Km for substrate (glucose 1-P) and cofactor (glucose 1,6-P2). Micromolar concentrations of fructose 1,6-P2 and glycerate 2,3-P2 inhibit both PGM1 and PGM2 isoenzymes to a similar extent. The sole PGM2 form is affected by ribose monophosphates (ribose 1-P and ribose 5-P) that act as mutase inhibitors vs. glucose 1,6-P2 and as apparent activators vs. glucose 1-P. The interaction between PGM2 isoenzyme and ribose monophosphates is discussed in the light of the ability of this form to also display phosphoribomutase activity.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

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.

Erythrocytes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isoelectric points and charge-dependent separation of erythrocyte phosphoglucomutase isoenzymes (PGM1 and PGM2).

Phosphoglucomutase can bind both negative and positive ions so that it may change its net electric charge according to the buffer species of the medium. For this reason the knowledge of the pIs of the erythrocyte phosphoglucomutase isoenzymes is not sufficient to forecast their separability by procedures based on charge separations such as ion exchange chromatography. In this paper we indicate the condition to obtain a satisfactory separation of the main erythrocyte phosphoglucomutase isoenzymes by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The pI values of the isolated isoenzymes are also reported and compared to those measured by others on whole hemolysates.

Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of hexokinase in the regulation of glucose metabolism in human erythrocytes.

Red blood cell glucose metabolism was studied in erythrocytes from a patient with trisomy 10 p which resulted in + 50% hexokinase specific activity, in normal controls and in cases of heterozygous hexokinase deficiency. The results obtained show that the hexokinase activity level is an important factor in the control of the erythrocyte's glycolytic rate while having no appreciable effect on the hexose monophosphate pathway under resting conditions. No clear conclusion could be drawn when an oxidative stress was present.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Purification and properties of the cytoplasmic hexokinase from rabbit brain.

About 90% of the total hexokinase activity in rabbit brain was found to be associated with mitochondria while the remaining part was found in the cytosolic fraction. The soluble enzyme was purified 4,700-fold to near homogeneity by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography, dye-ligand chromatography and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a specific activity of 110 units/mg of protein and was obtained in 70% yield. The molecular weight of the purified hexokinase was found to be approximately 98,000 both for the native and the denatured enzyme. The isoelectric point, pI, was 6.2 pH units by isoelectric focusing and the enzyme was found to be able to phosphorylate several hexoses. Mg . ATP2-, among the nucleotide substrates, was the most effective phosphate donor. The properties of the purified cytoplasmatic hexokinase were compared with those of the solubilized mitochondrial enzyme. No significant differences were found in molecular weight, isoelectric point, pH dependence of activity, electrophoretic mobility and affinity for glucose and Mg.ATP2-. However, the temperature dependence of activity, and the specificity for several hexose substrates were markedly different.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Action of orthophosphate on rabbit red blood cell hexokinase.

1. Orthophosphate (Pi) at low concentrations, is able to activate the glucose 6-phosphate, glucose-1,6-diphosphate or 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-inhibited hexokinase (E.C. 2.7.1.1). In contrast, at high concentrations it is competitive inhibitor of MgATP2- with a Ki of 20 mM. 2. The Pi effect on inhibited hexokinase is pH dependent and becomes lower as the pH increase. The similar pH-dependence of the Ki of glucose-1,6-diphosphate with the pH-independence of the Ki of glucose 6-phosphate here reported, suggest the coincidence of the C-1 phosphate, of glucose-1,6-diphosphate and Pi binding sites. 3. Activation of uninhibited hexokinase by Pi at pH lower than the physiological ones has been demonstrated to be an artefact.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗