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Exercise increases hexokinase II mRNA, but not activity in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Glucose phosphorylation, catalyzed by hexokinase, is the first committed step in glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Hexokinase II (HKII) is the isoform that is present in muscle and is regulated by insulin and muscle contraction. Glucose phosphorylation and HKII expression are both reduced in obese and type 2 diabetic subjects. A single bout of exercise increases HKII mRNA and activity in muscle from healthy subjects. The present study was performed to determine if a moderate exercise increases HKII mRNA expression and activity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Muscle biopsies were performed before and 3 hours after a single bout of cycle ergometer exercise in obese and type 2 diabetic patients. HKII mRNA and activity and glycogen synthase activity were determined in the muscle biopsies. Exercise increased HKII mRNA in obese and diabetic subjects by 1.67 +/- 0.34 and 1.87 +/- 0.26-fold, respectively (P <.05 for both). Exercise did not significantly increase HKI mRNA. When HKII mRNA increases were compared with the 2.26 +/- 0.36-fold increase in HKII mRNA previously reported for healthy lean subjects, no statistically significant differences were found. In contrast to the increase in HKII activity observed after exercise by lean healthy controls, exercise did not increase HKII activity in obese nondiabetic or diabetic subjects. Exercise increased glycogen synthase activity (GS(0.1) and GS(FV)) significantly in both obese nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic patients. The present results indicate that there is a posttranscriptional defect in the response of HKII expression to exercise in obese and type 2 diabetic subjects. This defect may contribute to reduced HKII activity and glucose uptake in these patients.

Adult↗

Altered cellular distribution of hexokinase in skeletal muscle after exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single period of swim exercise to exhaustion on the cellular distribution of hexokinase in rat skeletal muscle. The gastrocnemius muscle from male rats exercised (n = 16) to exhaustion or allowed to remain inactive (n = 14) was analyzed for hexokinase activity (HK) in the whole muscle homogenate and the mitochondrial-rich fraction. Although exercise produced a slight, non-significant, increase in HK activity in the whole muscle homogenate (p less than 0.09), HK activity in the mitochondrial-rich fraction was significantly increased in the exercised muscle (p less than 0.02). This shift in the cellular distribution of HK is towards the more active mitochondrial bound form and indicates an enhanced regulation of HK activity during physical exercise.

Animals↗

Inhibition of human brain pyruvate kinase and hexokinase by phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate: possible relevance to phenylketonuric brain damage.

In phenylketonuria high levels of L-phenylalanine are present along with increased levels of phenylpyruvic acid. The present work shows that L-phenylalanine is a competitive inhibitor of human brain pyruvate kinase and phenylpyruvic acid is an inhibitor of human brain hexokinase. The enzymes have approximately the same K(i) for these inhibitors in adult and in fetal human brain. However, in the fetal human brain the absolute activities for both enzymes are less than 10 per cent of those found in the adult. Thus, the fetal brain enzymes may be more vulnerable to inhibition by these compounds in the phenylketonurics. The inhibition of human brain pyruvate kinase and hexokinase by L-phenylalanine and phenylpyruvic acid may have a role in the brain damage in phenylketonurics.

Aging↗

The structure of a yeast hexokinase monomer and its complexes with substrates at 2.7-A resolution.

From a 2.7-A resolution electron density map we have built a model of the polypeptide backbone of a monomer of yeast hexokinase B (EC 2.7.1.1). This map was obtained from a third crystal form of hexokinase, called BIII, which exhibits space group P212121 and which contains only one monomer per asymmetric unit. The 51,000 molecular weight monomer has an elongated shape (80 A by 55 A by 50 A) and is divided into two lobes by a deep central cleft. The polypeptide chain is folded into three structural domains, one of which is predominantly alpha-helical and two of which each contain a beta-pleated sheet flanked by alpha-helices. Both glucose and AMP bind to these crystals and produce significant alterations in the protein structure. Glucose binds in the deep cleft, as was observed previously in the BII crystal of the dimeric enzyme. AMP, however, binds to a site that is different from the major intersubunit ATP binding site observed in the crystalline dimer. The AMP is found near one of the beta-pleated sheets. From our current interpretation of this electron density map we conclude that neither of the two nucleotide binding regions has the same structure as has been observed for the nucleotide binding regions of the dehydrogenases, adenylate kinase, and phosphoglycerate kinase, although some similarities exist.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Adenosine 5'-O-([gamma-18O]gamma-thio)triphosphate chiral at the gamma-phosphorus: stereochemical consequences of reactions catalyzed by pyruvate kinase, glycerol kinase, and hexokinase.

The 2-[18O]phosphorothioate of D-glycerate, chiral at phosphorus, was prepared. The chiral phosphoryl group was transferred enzymically to ADP [by using enolase and pyruvate kinase (ATP:pyruvate 2-O-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.40)] resulting in the synthesis of adenosine 5'-O-([gamma-18O],gamma-thio)triphosphate. This labeled ATP was used as a thiophosphoryl group donor in the reactions catalyzed by glycerol kinase (ATP:glycerol 3-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.30) and by hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.1). The product from the latter (glucose 6-phosphorothioate) was converted enzymically into glycerol phosphorothioate. Determination of the relative configurations and diastereoisomeric purities of the samples of glycerol phosphorothioate demonstrates that all three phosphokinases (pyruvate kinase, glycerol kinase, and hexokinase) transfer the thiophosphoryl group with complete stereospecificity, and further shows that these reactions follow an identical stereochemical course.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The roles of glycine residues in the ATP binding site of human brain hexokinase.

Mutants of hexokinase I (Arg539 --> Lys, Thr661 --> Ala, Thr661 --> Val, Gly534 --> Ala, Gly679 --> Ala, and Gly862 --> Ala), located putatively in the vicinity of the ATP binding pocket, were constructed, purified to homogeneity, and studied by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and initial velocity kinetics. The wild-type and mutant enzymes have similar secondary structures on the basis of CD spectroscopy. The mutation Gly679 --> Ala had little effect on the kinetic properties of the enzyme. Compared with the wild-type enzyme, however, the Gly534 --> Ala mutant exhibited a 4000-fold decrease in kcat and the Gly862 --> Ala mutant showed an 11-fold increase in Km for ATP. Glucose 6-phosphate inhibition of the three glycine mutants is comparable to that of the wild-type enzyme. Inorganic phosphate is, however, less effective in relieving glucose 6-phosphate inhibition of the Gly862 --> Ala mutant, relative to the wild-type enzyme and entirely ineffective in relieving inhibition of the Gly534 --> Ala mutant. Although the fluorescence emission spectra showed some difference for the Gly862 --> Ala mutant relative to that of the wild-type enzyme, indicating an environmental alteration around tryptophan residues, no change was observed for the Gly534 --> Ala and Gly679 --> Ala mutants. Gly862 --> Ala and Gly534 --> Ala are the first instances of single residue mutations in hexokinase I that affect the binding affinity of ATP and abolish phosphate-induced relief of glucose 6-phosphate inhibition, respectively.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Discrimination of ATP, ADP, and AMPPNP by chaperonin GroEL: hexokinase treatment revealed the exclusive role of ATP.

The double ring chaperonin GroEL binds unfolded protein, ATP, and GroES to the same ring, generating the cis ternary complex in which folding occurs within the cavity capped by GroES (cis folding). The functional role of ATP, however, remains unclear since several reports have indicated that ADP and AMPPNP (5'-adenylyl-beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate) are also able to support the formation of the cis ternary complex and the cis folding. To minimize the effect of contaminated ATP and adenylate kinase, we have included hexokinase plus glucose in the reaction mixtures and obtained new results. In ADP and AMPPNP, GroES bound quickly to GroEL but bound very slowly to the GroEL loaded with unfolded rhodanese or malate dehydrogenase. ADP was unable to support the formation of cis ternary complex and cis folding. AMPPNP supported cis folding of malate dehydrogenase to some extent but not cis folding of rhodanese. In the absence of hexokinase, apparent cis folding of rhodanese and malate dehydrogenase was observed in ADP and AMPPNP. Thus, the exclusive role of ATP in generation of the cis ternary complex is now evident.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Hemoglobin receptor in Leishmania is a hexokinase located in the flagellar pocket.

Hb endocytosis in Leishmania is mediated through a 46-kDa protein located in the flagellar pocket. To understand the nature of the Hb receptor (HbR), we have purified the 46-kDa protein to homogeneity from Leishmania promastigote membrane. Purified HbR specifically binds Hb. The gene for HbR was cloned, and sequence analysis of the full-length HbR gene indicates the presence of hexokinase (HK) signature sequences, ATP-binding domain, and PTS-II motif. Four lines of evidence indicate that HbR in Leishmania is a hexokinase: 1) the recombinant HbR binds Hb, and the Hb-binding domain resides in the N terminus of the protein; 2) recombinant proteins and cell lysate prepared from HbR-overexpressing Leishmania promastigotes show enhanced HK activity in comparison with untransfected cells; 3) immunolocalization studies using antibodies against the N-terminal fragment (Ld-HbR-DeltaC) of Ld-HbR indicate that this protein is located in the flagellar pocket of Leishmania; and 4) binding and uptake of (125)I-Hb by Leishmania is significantly inhibited by anti-Ld-HbR-DeltaC antibody and Ld-HbR-DeltaC, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that HK present in the flagellar pocket of Leishmania is involved in Hb endocytosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The involvement of hexokinases in trehalose synthesis.

Yeast cells harboring a MAL2-8c gene accumulate trehalose during the transition phase of growth on glucose due to the presence of the ADPG-dependent trehalose 6-phosphate synthase. Under these conditions, glucokinase appeared not to provide G-6-P for trehalose synthesis and the two hexokinases seemed to act synergistically. After incubation in d-xylose, trehalose levels in these cells dropped almost in 90%, confirming the involvement of both hexokinases in the accumulation of this carbohydrate. Nevertheless, G-6-P levels appeared to be similar in all strains. Some explanations for this paradox are discussed. In stationary phase, neither of the three isoenzymes were involved in trehalose synthesis. Possibly, gluconeogenesis provides the substrate for trehalose synthesis at that stage.

Genotype↗

Hexokinase type II: a novel tumor-specific promoter for gene-targeted therapy differentially expressed and regulated in human cancer cells.

The use of tissue- or tumor-selective promoters in targeted gene therapy for cancer depends on strong and selective activity. Hexokinase type II (HK II) catalyzes the first committed step of glycolysis and is overexpressed in tumors, where it is no longer responsive to normal physiological inhibitors, e.g., glucagon. We show, in a reporter gene assay, activation of HK II in non-small cell lung carcinomas NCI-H661 and NCI-H460 at 61 and 40%, respectively, relative to the activation observed with a constitutive promoter, while it was only 0.9% in different preparations of primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBECs). Similar results were observed in a variety of normal and tumor cells. Moreover, treatment of the transfectants with glucagon did not inhibit promoter activation in the transformed H661 cells, while endogenous HK II in NHBECs is suppressed by glucagon. H460 and H661 cells infected with a recombinant adenovirus carrying an HK II/LacZ expression cassette, AdHexLacZ, demonstrated beta-galactosidase activity that correlated with the level of HK II promoter activation in these cells. Under similar conditions, no enzyme activity was observed in NHBECs. Cells were then infected with AdHexTk and treated with GCV. Our results demonstrate selectivity in toxicity, with a 10- to 100-fold increase in IC50 between lung cancer cell lines H661 and H460, respectively, and NHBECs. There was also a 100-fold increase in IC50 in NHMECs relative to breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. In HepG2 cells, an IC50 of 1 microg/ml was observed, comparable to that of other tumor cell lines. This represents a novel use of the hexokinase type II as a selective promoter in cancer gene therapy.

Adenoviridae↗

Targeting of a germ cell-specific type 1 hexokinase lacking a porin-binding domain to the mitochondria as well as to the head and fibrous sheath of murine spermatozoa.

Multiple isoforms of type 1 hexokinase (HK1) are transcribed during spermatogenesis in the mouse, including at least three that are presumably germ cell specific: HK1-sa, HK1-sb, and HK1-sc. Each of these predicted proteins contains a common, germ cell-specific sequence that replaces the porin-binding domain found in somatic HK1. Although HK1 protein is present in mature sperm and is tyrosine phosphorylated, it is not known whether the various potential isoforms are differentially translated and localized within the developing germ cells and mature sperm. Using antipeptide antisera against unique regions of HK1-sa and HK1-sb, it was demonstrated that these isoforms were not found in pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids, condensing spermatids, or sperm, suggesting that HK1-sa and HK1-sb are not translated during spermatogenesis. Immunoreactivity was detected in protein from round spermatids, condensing spermatids, and mature sperm using an antipeptide antiserum against the common, germ cell-specific region, suggesting that HK1-sc was the only germ cell-specific isoform present in these cells. Two-dimensional SDS-PAGE suggested that all of the sperm HK1-sc was tyrosine phosphorylated, and that the somatic HK1 isoform was not present. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that HK1-sc was associated with the mitochondria and with the fibrous sheath of the flagellum and was found in discrete clusters in the region of the membranes of the sperm head. The unusual distribution of HK1-sc in sperm suggests novel functions, such as extramitochondrial energy production, and also demonstrates that a hexokinase without a classical porin-binding domain can localize to mitochondria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fructokinase and hexokinase from pollen grains of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): possible role in pollen germination under conditions of high temperature and CO2 enrichment.

The processes of pollen grain development and germination depend on the uptake and metabolism of pollen sugars. In pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), initial sugar metabolism includes sucrose hydrolysis by invertase and subsequent phosphorylation of glucose and fructose by hexose kinases. The main objective of this study was to investigate changes in fructokinase (EC 2.7.1.4) and hexokinase (EC.2.7.1.1) activities in pepper flowers during their development, and to study the possible roles of these enzymes in determining pollen germination capacity under high temperature and under CO(2) enrichment, previously shown to modify sugar concentrations in pepper pollen (Aloni et al., 2001 Physiologia Plantarum 112: 505-512). Fructokinase (FK) activity was predominant in pepper pollen, and increased during pollen maturation. Pollen hexokinase (HK) activity was low and did not change throughout pollen development. High-temperature treatment (day/night, 32/26 degrees C) of pepper plants reduced the percentage of pollen that germinated compared with that under normal temperatures (26/22 degrees C), and concomitantly reduced the activity of FK in mature pollen. High temperature also reduced FK and HK activity in the anther. Under high ambient CO(2) (800 micro l l(-1)) pollen FK activity was enhanced. The results suggest that pollen and anther FK may play a role in the regulation of pollen germination, possibly by providing fructose-6-phosphate for glycolysis, or through conversion to UDP-glucose (UDPG) to support the biosynthesis of cell wall material for pollen tube growth. High temperature stress and CO(2) enrichment may influence pollen germination capacity by affecting these pathways.

Calcium Chloride↗

Sorbitol uptake is regulated by glucose through the hexokinase pathway in vegetative peach-tree buds.

In peach trees (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Redhaven), sorbitol is a primary photosynthetic product and may play an important role in the budbreak process. Surprisingly, before budbreak (from January to early March), the concentration of sorbitol in the xylem sap decreases, while that of hexoses (glucose and fructose) increases. The aim of this work was to study the control of sorbitol uptake into vegetative buds by hexoses. Sorbitol uptake was selectively inhibited by hexoses at low and physiological concentrations and this effect was both reversible and concentration-dependent. In addition, the active uptake of sorbitol significantly declined in the plasma membrane vesicles-enriched fraction purified from glucose-treated vegetative buds, suggesting that the inhibitory action of glucose was at the membrane level. Finally, among several glucose analogues tested, only hexokinase substrates (2-deoxyglucose and mannose) were able to mimic the glucose effect, which was completely blocked by the hexokinase inhibitor mannoheptulose. These results represent the first steps towards a better understanding of polyol transport control in plants.

Biological Transport↗

Identification, cloning and sequence determination of the genes specifying hexokinase A and B from yeast.

The hexokinase A (HKA) and hexokinase B (HKB) genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been cloned from a library of yeast genomic DNA. Using an in vitro glucose phosphorylation assay, the HKB gene was located on a plasmid carrying a 13.6 kb fragment of yeast DNA. After subcloning the relevant restriction fragments, the nucleotide sequence of the HKB gene was determined. Using this information, we were able to locate the HKA gene on a plasmid carrying this gene, which we then sequenced. Approximately 43% of the amino acid sequence of HKB was determined directly from 24 tryptic peptides. The results are in complete agreement with those derived from the DNA sequence and are consistent with the results of x-ray crystallography. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of HKA and HKB show that 378 out of 485 residues are identical. The 5' flanking region of the A gene contains nucleotide sequences expected for genes that are expressed at relatively high levels in yeast. The 24 base pair hyphenated palindrome at the 3' end of the HKB gene may be a site for termination of transcription of this gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and properties of hexokinase from the starfish, Asterias amurensis.

Hexokinase from pyloric caeca of the starfish, Asterias amurensis, was purified to a specific activity of 148 units/mg protein. The purified enzyme appeared to be homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Ultrogel AcA 34 gel filtration was about 50,000. The enzyme showed a broad pH optimum ranging from 7.4 to 9.5. The Km values for D-glucose, D-fructose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-mannose, D-glucosamine and ATP were 0.045, 4, 0.21, 0.05, 0.35 and 0.3 mM, respectively. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-xylose and D-galactose were not phosphorylated. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by the reaction products, glucose 6-phosphate and ADP, but not by high levels of D-glucose. The starfish hexokinase thus resembled mammalian isozyme A with respect to kinetic properties.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Phenotype of transgenic mice overexpressing GLUT4 and hexokinase II in muscle.

To optimize glucose utilization, double transgenic mice were created by crossing mice overexpressing glucose transporter GLUT4 with mice overexpressing hexokinase (HKII) in muscle. Transgenic mice overexpressing GLUT4 alone have exhibited improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin action. In vitro studies of hexose uptake in soleus muscle from transgenic mice suggested that GLUT4 was limiting the glucose flux except at high glucose concentration, where hexokinase became the limiting step. In vivo, glucose tolerance was similar in GLUT4 and GLUT4/HKII mice, although stimulated plasma insulin values were significantly lower in the latter group. Insulin tolerance tests performed in diabetic GLUT4 vs. diabetic GLUT4/HKII transgenic mice yielded identical results. Again, endogenous insulin in GLUT4/HKII mice during a mild hyperglycemic clamp was stimulated by only two- vs. fourfold in GLUT4 mice. Although the overexpression of HKII alone resulted in increased glucose utilization in several muscles, the overexpression of GLUT4 plus HKII did not augment basal or stimulated in vivo glucose utilization compared to GLUT4 overexpression. In conclusion, GLUT4 is rate limiting for muscle glucose utilization but HKII might be important under hyperglycemia. The addition of HKII to GLUT4 overexpression is not sufficient to further augment glucose tolerance or insulin action. In GLUT4/HKII double transgenic mice, glucose clearance is tempered by a low insulin stimulated level.

Animals↗

Further support for the glucose hypothesis of metrizamide toxicity. The effect of metrizamide and glucose analogue-free contrast media on hexokinase.

Metrizamide neurotoxicity has been hypothesized to be caused by an inhibitory effect of the drug on glucose metabolism. Metrizamide contains a glucose side chain, and glucose analogues including metrizamide have been shown to be inhibitors of hexokinase, an enzyme that is central to cerebral glucose metabolism. We studied the effect of the nonionic contrast agents iohexol, iotrol, and iopamidol, and the ionic contrast meglumine diatrizoate, on hexokinase in vitro. Although metrizamide reproducibly caused competitive inhibition of the reaction, the nonglucose contrast agents had no significant effect on the enzyme. These results add further support for the glucose hypothesis of metrizamide neurotoxicity.

Contrast Media↗

Structural dynamics of yeast hexokinase during catalysis.

The binding of the substrate glucose to yeast hexokinase results in a substantial enzyme conformational change that is essential for catalysis and may be important for the enzyme's specificity, as well as the control of its activity. From high-resolution crystal structures of the monomeric enzyme crystallized both in the presence and in the absence of glucose, we find that glucose binds into the deep cleft that separates the molecule into two lobes and causes these two lobes to move together and close off the cleft. The structure of the hexokinase crystallized in the presence of xylose and ADP is being determined at low resolution. In this crystal form, the enzyme was thought to be in the conformation of the ternary complex. However, a low-resolution structure of this crystal form shows clearly that the enzyme is in the 'open' form and is not a ternary complex. Crystals of the A isozyme with glucose and ADP may be. Further, chemically sequenced tryptic peptides are being incorporated into the model obtained by crystallographic refinement at 2.1 A resolution. Completion of the sequence and the structure of the ternary complex should allow a detailed description of the enzymatic mechanism of this kinase and the role of substrate-induced conformational changes in catalysis and control.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗