On the nature of rabbit liver glycogen. I. Branching characteristics.
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Human liver glycogen phosphorylase (HLGP) catalyzes the breakdown of glycogen to maintain serum glucose levels and is a therapeutic target for diabetes. HLGP is regulated by multiple interacting allosteric sites, each of which is a potential drug binding site. We used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to screen for compounds that bind to the purine allosteric inhibitor site. We determined the affinities of a series of compounds and solved the crystal structures of three representative ligands with K(D) values from 17-550 microM. The crystal structures reveal that the affinities are partly determined by ligand-specific water-mediated hydrogen bonds and side chain movements. These effects could not be predicted; both crystallographic and SPR studies were required to understand the important features of binding and together provide a basis for the design of new allosteric inhibitors targeting this site.
Naturally 13C-enriched carbohydrate has been used to label the liver glycogen pool for metabolic studies. The utilization of this glycogen was then monitored by the appearance of 13CO2 in breath. Using this method, it is assumed that during sedentary fasting the contribution of muscle glycogen towards oxidation is negligible. We investigated the influence of a different level of 13C enrichment of muscle glycogen on the 13C enrichment of breath CO2 while the breath test was carried out. In six healthy volunteers, the muscle glycogen stores were grossly depleted by a cycling exercise prior to consumption of the 13C-enriched diet which was given over a 10 h period. The oxidation of liver glycogen was measured during an 18 h sedentary fast. The results were compared with a control group who had not depleted their muscle glycogen before labelling. A higher 13C enrichment of muscle glycogen did not interfere with two parameters of liver glycogen oxidation, i.e. the duration of the plateau phase of 13CO2 and the return to baseline time. It was also shown that the 13C-labelled muscle glycogen was still available after the 18 h fast because a strenuous exercise led to a rapid 13CO2 enrichment. It is concluded that muscle glycogen 13C enrichment does not invalidate a 13CO2 breath test to measure liver glycogen oxidation during a sedentary fast.
A quantitative analysis of the pathways leading to glycogen repletion in rats was conducted. [U-13C]Glucose was administered intra-intestinally into awake fasted animals. The distribution of glucose isotopomers derived from liver glycogen, liver extracts and plasma was performed by GC-MS and 13C NMR. The potential gluconeogenic precursors for liver glycogen, lactate, alanine, glutamate and glutamine, were also analyzed. The amount of glycogen that is synthesized by the direct pathway was found to be 35%. The 13C enrichment of liver lactate, alanine and glucose is similar, indicating that they are the major precursors for liver glycogen synthesis via the indirect pathway. Our results demonstrate that after 24 h fasting, when glucose is supplied, gluconeogenesis from endogenous sources is not shut off.
We report a 19-year-old woman who had a history of type 1 diabetes with recurrent glycogen accumulation in the liver. During her infantile period she presented with no hepatomegaly nor growth retardation. On admission she was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). She also had hepatomegaly and elevated transaminase levels, but these abnormalities had resolved after administration of insulin. However, 4 weeks after DKA marked hepatomegaly and elevated transaminases were reappeared with simultaneous hypoglycemia which suggested an impaired glycogenolysis in the extraordinary conditions. We supposed the partial deficiency of liver glycogen phosphorylase activity in this patient and analyzed the liver glycogen phosphorylase gene (PYGL). Deduced amino acid sequence of the PYGL in this patient was completely identical to that reported by Burwinkel et al. (Y15233), however, the nucleotide sequence of PYGL cDNA was heterozygous for substitutions at positions Asp339 (GAT to GAC) on exon 9 and Ala703 (GCT to GCC on exon 17, respectively. These SNPs were also screened in 51 Japanese normal subjects by PCR-based direct sequencing or PCR-RFLP method. The same genotype observed in this patient was detected in 2 of 51(3.9%) normal subjects. These results suggest that the structure of PYGL coding sequence in this patient is unlikely to account for her excessive liver glycogen accumulation. Further studies including genetic analysis on the promoter region of the gene are necessary to clarify the etiology of susceptibility to excessive liver glycogen storage in patients with type 1 diabetes.
The concentrations of corticosterone in the plasma and adrenal glands and the content of glycogen in the liver were estimated from birth to day 6 after birth in surviving premature mice removed by Caesarean section on day 19 of pregnancy and submitted to reanimation during 30 min; the neonates were nourished by nursing mothers from 30 min after birth. A group of full-term newborns was removed by Caesarean section on day 20 of pregnancy and killed 30 min after reanimation. Premature mice were characterized by neonatal changes of three parameters used. The plasma corticosterone level reached a peak in the first 6 h after birth, then decreased until day 6. The adrenal corticosterone level did not vary significantly 30 min after birth, then decreased progressively until day 2. The liver glycogen content, very high on day 19 of pregnancy, increased 30 min after birth, then fell sharply until day 2. In full-term newborns removed by Caesarean section and killed 30 min after reanimation the plasma corticosterone level increased, whereas the adrenal corticosterone level and the liver glycogen content did not decrease. The adrenal gland of surviving premature mice was able to respond to the stress induced by the reanimation; the stimulation of glucocorticoid function was similar in both neonates.
Whether liver glycogen synthesis and breakdown occur simultaneously during net glycogen synthesis was assessed in fed and fasted healthy humans. The peak intensity of the carbon-1 (C1) resonance of the glycosyl units of glycogen was monitored with 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy during [1-13C]glucose infusion followed by unlabeled glucose infusion. The C1 peak intensity increased almost linearly during the [1-13C]glucose infusion, reflecting a near linear rate of glycogen synthesis. When switched to unlabeled glucose, the C1 peak intensity reached a plateau in the fasted subjects and declined in the fed subjects, reflecting active glycogenolysis during a time of net glycogen synthesis. We conclude that liver glycogen synthesis and degradation occur simultaneously in humans under conditions of net glycogen synthesis. The relative turnover rate was significantly higher in the fed (57 +/- 3%) than in the fasted state (31 +/- 8%; P < 0.01). The results indicate that glycogen may regulate its rate of breakdown and that liver glycogen turnover may be an important factor in limiting the accumulation of liver glycogen in humans.
Streptozotocin induces severe and irreversible hyperglycaemia in experimental animals. The effect of oral administration of D-400 (1 gm/kg/day), a herbomineral formulation on streptozotocin induced-diabetes was studied in rats. Liver glycogen content was assayed biochemically on 2,4 and 8 weeks after D-400 treatment. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity of pancreatic islet cells was assessed on 8th week of D-400 treatment. The microscopic structure of pancreas and liver were examined in both control and treated animals. D-400 treatment showed progressive and significant increase in liver glycogen at 2,4 and 8 weeks respectively. Streptozotocin induced a decrease in pancreatic islet cell superoxide dismutase which was reversed by D-400 treatment for a period of 8 weeks. The free radical scavenging activity of D-400 may be attributed to shilajeet, one of its important ingredient. Streptozotocin induced histopathological changes in pancreas and liver was also partially reversed by D-400. The findings indicate that D-400 helps in improving the glycogen stores in the liver and prevents the streptozotocin induced damage through free radicals by increasing the islet cell superoxide dismutase activity.
Liver glycogen content, blood glucose, insulin, glucagon, and epinephrine were determined during 1 h hemorrhagic hypotension at 60 mmHg and 23 h thereafter in fed and two groups of 24-h food-deprived rats receiving either no infusion or 30% glucose intravenously during hemorrhage. Liver glycogen content was reduced by greater than 90% after 24-h food deprivation. Fed and food-deprived rats given glucose developed similar and substantial elevations of blood glucose during hemorrhage, whereas changes in blood glucose were modest in food-deprived rats given no infusion. In fed rats, liver glycogen was reduced by 60% during the 1-h bleed, but within 2 h after hemorrhage repletion of liver glycogen content commenced. By 6 h, approximately 75% of the glycogen lost during hemorrhage had been restored, and 23 h after hemorrhage liver glycogen content was six times greater compared with nonbled controls. Although glycogen levels increased after hemorrhage in food-deprived animals, the increase was negligible compared with that found in fed rats. Infusion of glucose during hemorrhage or adrenergic blockade after hemorrhage did not alter glycogen repletion in food-deprived rats. Posthemorrhage fed animals had high levels of insulin, glucagon, and epinephrine during hemorrhage, whereas insulin levels remained low in food-deprived rats despite exogenously induced hyperglycemia. It is concluded that rapid and substantial glycogen repletion can occur even immediately poststress. The conditions seem to be related to the nutritional state at the time of the insult.
Effect of somatostatin on liver glycogen metabolism and lipid metabolism were studied in rats in vivo. Somatostatin infused at a rate of 100 ng/min/100 g wt. into the femoral vein resulted in a marked decrease in the blood glucose concentration. The content of glycogen in the liver and the concentration of insulin in the portal vein were also decreased during somatostatin infusion. Glucose was infused at a constant rate of 1.25 mg/min/100 g wt. in combination with somatostatin to prevent the somatostatin-induced hypoglycemia. Under this condition, significant increase in liver glycogen was observed without significant changes in the blood glucose level. The liver glycogen synthase activity did not change significantly during infusion of somatostatin and/or glucose. In contrast, the glycogen phosphorylase activity was markedly inhibited by infusion of somatostatin plus glucose. Liver glycogen phosphorylase was inversely correlated with the blood glucose level. However, there was no correlation between the phosphorylase activity and blood glucose concentration during somatostatin infusion. Infusion of somatostatin alone caused an increase in the blood free fatty acid and a marked decrease in the blood ketone bodies. Glucose-induced decrease in the blood free fatty acids and ketone bodies were partially overcome by the simultaneous infusion of somatostatin. On the basis of these findings, possible physiological roles of somatostatin in regulation of carbohydrate metabolism were discussed.
Liver phosphorylase a activity in intact animals is mostly determined during anesthesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of administering pentobarbital by different routes on activity of liver phosphorylase a. Rats had chronically implanted venous catheters and received pentobarbital (5 mg/100 g body wt) either intraperitoneally, as a slow intravenous infusion, or as an intravenous or intracardial bolus. Times from administration of barbiturate to sampling of the liver were 10 min, 10 min, 85 +/- 32 s (mean +/- SE), and 53 +/- 10 s, respectively. Phosphorylase a activity in % of total phosphorylase activity was 40 +/- 2, 56 +/- 4, 82 +/- 3, and 92 +/- 2, respectively, all significantly different. Thus the route of administration of pentobarbital affects the phosphorylase a activity and should be considered when evaluating this activity. This fact can only be partially explained by differences in duration before the drug takes effect. It is proposed that intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital may anesthetize hepatic sympathetic nerves or have a direct inhibiting effect on phosphorylase a activity.
OBJECTIVE: When naturally (13)C-enriched carbohydrate is used to label hepatic glycogen, (13)C-liver glycogen oxidation can be monitored subsequently by measuring the (13)C enrichment of breath CO(2) during a sedentary fast. In our previous breath test studies, we used a 1-d labeling protocol to enrich liver glycogen. Others found that after 3 d of labeling the liver glycogen (13)C enrichment is identical to the dietary carbohydrate (13)C enrichment. METHODS: We compared a diet protocol in which naturally (13)C-enriched carbohydrate was given for 3 d before the breath test with our previously applied 1-d labeling design. The (13)CO(2) breath test was combined with indirect calorimetry. The results were compared with those from our previous studies. In addition, we compared liver glycogen oxidation rates with those from our present technique and different techniques as used in other published studies. RESULTS: Six healthy volunteers were included in this study. The (13)C enrichment of breath CO(2) at plateau excretion level did not differ after 1 or 3 d on a labeling diet. However, the end of plateau time tended to be later after the 3-d diet, 14.3 h versus 12.5 to 13.5 h postprandially in the 1-d labeling studies. Also, the return to baseline time was later in the 3-d study, at 25.8 h versus 19.0 to 23.2 h postprandially after 1 d of labeling. The liver glycogen oxidation rate was similar in both techniques until 17 h postprandially. After this time the 3-d labeling protocol showed a higher level of liver glycogen oxidation. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the labeling of liver glycogen is slightly less complete after 1 d on a (13)C-enriched diet as compared with 3-d labeling. Our (13)C breath test results compared rather well with studies from the literature using the (13)C-NMR technique, the D(2)O technique, or the (13)CO(2) breath method to measure liver glycogen oxidation.
Cobalt decreases blood glucose in diabetic rats but the mechanisms involved are unclear. To determine the contribution of glycogen metabolism to glycemia-lowering effect, glycogen contents of liver and muscle in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were determined. The liver glycogen was depleted in diabetic rats. But when cobalt was administered to the rats, the glycogen returned to the level of healthy rats, concomitantly with the decrease in blood glucose. The cobalt treatment had no effect on the muscle glycogen in the diabetic rats. The tissue-specific responses of glycogen metabolism suggest the involvement of suppressed glucagon signaling due to cobalt treatment.
Rat liver glycogen was freed of non-covalently bound protein. The backbone protein was purified from the pure glycogen. This protein had a molecular weight of 60,000 daltons and amino acid analysis showed it to be rich in glutamate, serine and the hydrophobic amino acids. In both size and amino acid content it differed from the corresponding rabbit muscle protein. An O-type glycoprotein linkage is suggested.
The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a prior period of exercise is associated with an increase in hepatic glucagon sensitivity. Hepatic glucose production (HGP) was measured in four groups of anesthetized rats infused with glucagon (2 microg. kg(-1). min(-1) iv) over a period of 60 min. Among these groups, two were normally fed and, therefore, had a normal level of liver glycogen (NG). One of these two groups was killed at rest (NG-Re) and the other after a period of exercise (NG-Ex; 60 min of running, 15-26 m/min, 0% grade). The two other groups of rats had a high hepatic glycogen level (HG), which had been increased by a fast-refed diet, and were also killed either at rest (HG-Re) or after exercise (HG-Ex). Plasma glucagon and insulin levels were increased similarly in all four conditions. Glucagon-induced hyperglycemia was higher (P < 0.01) in the HG-Re group than in all other groups. HGP in the HG-Re group was not, however, on the whole more elevated than in the NG-Re group. Exercised rats (NG-Ex and HG-Ex) had higher hyperglycemia, HGP, and glucose utilization than rested rats in the first 10 min of the glucagon infusion. HG-Ex group had the highest HGP throughout the 60-min experiment. It is concluded that hyperglucagonemia-induced HGP is stimulated by a prior period of exercise, suggesting an increased sensitivity of the liver to glucagon during exercise.