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An analysis of the relationships among obesity, plasma insulin and hepatic lipogenic enzymes in "viable yellow obese" mice (Avy/a).

The development of obesity, hyperinsulinemia and six hepatic lipogenic enzymes in Avy/a mice were compared to that in a/a mice. Correlation between body weight, liver weight, plasma insulin concentration and activities of hepatic enzymes was analyzed. In the Avy/a mice, body weight, liver weight and plasma insulin level increased steadily as the mice aged. In the a/a mice, the change of these three parameters was much slower. Plasma insulin concentration in a/a mice did not increase until eight months of age. Compared with a/a mice, Avy/a mice had higher 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthetase activities at two months of age; lower citrate cleavage enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities at three months of age; lower citrate cleavage enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and higher acetyl CoA carboxylase activities at five months of age; and higher malic enzyme, citrate cleavage enzyme and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities at eight months of age. There were significant correlations between plasma insulin level and body weight and between plasma insulin level and the activities of malic enzyme and citrate cleavage enzyme in Avy/a mice. The correlation between body weight and malic enzyme and citrate cleavage enzyme activities disappeared after the analysis was adjusted for plasma insulin level.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Metabolic flux analysis with a comprehensive isotopomer model in Bacillus subtilis.

Fluxes in central carbon metabolism of a genetically engineered, riboflavin-producing Bacillus subtilis strain were investigated in glucose-limited chemostat cultures at low (0.11 h(-1)) and high (0.44 h(-1)) dilution rates. Using a mixture of 10% [U-(13)C] and 90% glucose labeled at natural abundance, (13)C-labeling experiments were carried out to provide additional information for metabolic flux balancing. The resulting labeling pattern in the proteinogenic amino acids were analyzed by two-dimensional [(13)C, (1)H] nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. To account rigorously for all available data from these experiments, we developed a comprehensive isotopomer model of B. subtilis central metabolism. Using this model, intracellular carbon net and exchange fluxes were estimated on the basis of validated physiological data and biomass composition in combination with 2D NMR data from 45 individual carbon atom spectra in the amino acids. Glucose catabolism proceeded primarily via glycolysis but pentose phosphate pathway fluxes increased with increasing growth rate. Moreover, significant back fluxes from the TCA cycle to the lower part of glycolysis via the gluconeogenic PEP carboxykinase were detected. The malic enzyme reaction, in contrast, was found to be inactive. A thorough statistical analysis was performed to prove the reliability of the isotopomer balance model and the obtained results. Specifically, a chi(2) test was applied to validate the model and the chi-square criterion was used to explore the sensitivity of model predictions to the experimental data.

Amino Acids↗

Anaplerosis of the citric acid cycle: role in energy metabolism of heart and skeletal muscle.

Efficient energy transfer in heart and skeletal muscle requires a series of moiety-conserved cycles. The intermediaries of the metabolic cycles are finely regulated to maintain a dynamic state of equilibrium. In heart muscle, depletion of the citric acid cycle (TCA cycle) through a block of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase results in a rapid decline of contractile function, which is reversed by the addition of substrates promoting flux through the carboxylating enzymes, malic enzyme, pyruvate carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase. Anaplerosis describes a pathway, which replenishes a metabolic cycle. We show that enzymes for anaplerosis of the TCA cycle are expressed in heart and skeletal muscles. The role of anaplerosis of the TCA cycle in skeletal muscle is not entirely clear, but there is substantial evidence for its operational control during exercise. While the anaplerotic flux of carbon into the TCA cycle exceeds the removal of cycle intermediates, this process is only transient and reverses with prolonged exercise. It remains to be determined, however, whether the initial increase in TCA cycle intermediates is obligatory in order to attain high rates of TCA cycle flux, or primarily reflects a mass action phenomenon owing to increased substrate availability for anaplerotic pathways.

Animals↗

Neuronal pyruvate carboxylation supports formation of transmitter glutamate.

Release of transmitter glutamate implies a drain of alpha-ketoglutarate from neurons, because glutamate, which is formed from alpha-ketoglutarate, is taken up by astrocytes. It is generally believed that this drain is compensated by uptake of glutamine from astrocytes, because neurons are considered incapable of de novo synthesis of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, which requires pyruvate carboxylation. Here we show that cultured cerebellar granule neurons form releasable [(14)C]glutamate from H(14)CO(3)(-) and [1-(14)C]pyruvate via pyruvate carboxylation, probably mediated by malic enzyme. The activity of pyruvate carboxylation was calculated to be approximately one-third of the pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in neurons. Furthermore, intrastriatal injection of NaH(14)CO(3) or [1-(14)C]pyruvate labeled glutamate better than glutamine, showing that pyruvate carboxylation occurs in neurons in vivo. This means that neurons themselves to a large extent may support their release of glutamate, and thus entails a revision of the current view of glial-neuronal interactions and the importance of the glutamine cycle.

Animals↗

Iron-ascorbate cleavable malic enzyme from hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis: purification and characterization.

Two isoforms of NAD(P)(+)-dependent malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.39) were isolated from hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis. A positively charged isoform at pH 7 was obtained in a single purification step using cation-exchange chromatography. The second isoform, negatively charged at pH 7.5, was partially purified using a combination of anion-exchange and affinity chromatography. Both isoforms displayed similar physical and kinetic properties. Molecular weight determination of the native enzyme suggested a homotetrameric arrangement of the 60 kDa subunits. The enzyme utilized NAD+ (Km, 6-6.3 microM) preferentially to NADP+ (Km, 125-145 microM). The NAD(+)-dependent activity showed a broad pH optimum with maximum under alkaline conditions (pH 9) likely to be present inside hydrogenosomes. Immunocytochemical studies using a polyclonal rabbit antibody raised against purified T. vaginalis malic enzyme proved hydrogenosomal localization of the enzyme. Subfractionation of hydrogenosomes suggested an association of the malic enzyme with the hydrogenosomal membranes. The 60 kDa malic enzyme subunit was highly sensitive to non-enzymatic cleavage by an iron-ascorbate system resulting in two enzymatically inactive fragments of about 31 kDa. Microsequencing of the fragments revealed that the 60 kDa subunit was cleaved at the metal-binding site between Asp279-Ile280. The enzyme inactivation was inhibited by an excess of manganese. Iron-dependent posttranslational modification might contribute to the regulation of malic enzyme activity in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aging decreases retinoic acid and triiodothyronine nuclear expression in rat liver: exogenous retinol and retinoic acid differentially modulate this decreased expression.

The expression of nuclear receptors of retinoic acid (RAR) and triiodothyronine (TR) was analyzed in the liver of rats aged 2.5 (young), 6 (adult) and 24 (aged) months. In aged rats, decreased binding properties, binding capacity (Cmax) and affinity (Ka), of nuclear receptors were observed. This resulted, at least in part, from decreased transcription of receptor genes in that the amount of their mRNA also decreased. Moreover, the activity of malic enzyme (ME) and tissue transglutaminase (tTG), whose genes are TR and RAR responsive, respectively, was reduced in aged rats. These results are in agreement with the decreased binding capacity of these receptors. An inducer-related increase of RAR and TR expression was observed 24 h after a single dose of retinoic acid administration (5 mg/kg), while retinol administration (retinyl palmitate, 13 mg/kg) was without incidence on nuclear receptor expression in aged rats.

Aging↗

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 as a key transcription factor for nutritional induction of lipogenic enzyme genes.

To elucidate the physiological role of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), the hepatic mRNA levels of genes encoding various lipogenic enzymes were estimated in SREBP-1 gene knockout mice after a fasting-refeeding treatment, which is an established dietary manipulation for the induction of lipogenic enzymes. In the fasted state, the mRNA levels of all lipogenic enzymes were consistently low in both wild-type and SREBP-1(-/-) mice. However, the absence of SREBP-1 severely impaired the marked induction of hepatic mRNAs of fatty acid synthetic genes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase, that was observed upon refeeding in the wild-type mice. Furthermore, the refeeding responses of other lipogenic enzymes, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, ATP citrate lyase, malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and S14 mRNAs, were completely abolished in SREBP-1(-/-) mice. In contrast, mRNA levels for cholesterol biosynthetic genes were elevated in the refed SREBP-1(-/-) livers accompanied by an increase in nuclear SREBP-2 protein. When fed a high carbohydrate diet for 14 days, the mRNA levels for these lipogenic enzymes were also strikingly lower in SREBP-1(-/-) mice than those in wild-type mice. These data demonstrate that SREBP-1 plays a crucial role in the induction of lipogenesis but not cholesterol biosynthesis in liver when excess energy by carbohydrates is consumed.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Metabolic studies on the development of ethanol-induced fatty liver in KK-Ay mice.

Mechanisms involved in the development of the alcoholic fatty liver in KK-Ay mice were investigated. Incorporation studies using [14C]acetate and [3H]palmitate indicated that the half-life of hepatic triglycerides was doubled in the ethanol-ingesting mice, and utilization of the exogenous fat was significantly increases as compared with that of the control. No persistent alteration was recognized in hepatic oxidation of palmitate, as estimated by in vitro experiments using liver slices obtained from control and ethanol-drinking mice. Enzymic studies indicated that the activities of acetyl COA carboxylase, ATP citrate lyase, malic enzyme, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were increased with ethanol drinking. The increment in hepatic triglycerides accumulated during ethanol ingestion was largely accounted for by palmitoleic, oleic, and linoleic acids. These findings demonstrated an augmentation in hepatic lipogenesis as well as an increased utilization of exogenous fats. Ethanol drinking did not cause any appreciable change in plasma triglyceride level and metabolism of adipose tissue. In summary of the present studies, accelerated lipogenesis and increased utilization of the dietary fats may be possible causal factors in the alcoholic fatty liver of KK-Ay mice.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

NAD(+)-dependent malic enzyme of Rhizobium meliloti is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

DEAE-cellulose chromatography of extracts of free-living Rhizobium meliloti cells revealed separate NAD(+)-dependent and NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme activities. The NAD+ malic enzyme exhibited more activity with NAD+ as cofactor, but also showed some activity with NADP+. The NADP+ malic enzyme only showed activity when NADP+ was supplied as cofactor. Three independent transposon-induced mutants of R. meliloti which lacked NAD+ malic enzyme activity (dme-) but retained NADP+ malic enzyme activity were isolated. In an otherwise wild-type background, the dme mutations did not alter the carbon utilization phenotype; however, nodules induced by these mutants failed to fix N2. Structurally, these nodules appeared to develop like wild-type nodules up to the stage where N2-fixation would normally begin. These results support the proposal that NAD+ malic enzyme, together with pyruvate dehydrogenase, functions in the generation of acetyl-CoA required for TCA cycle function in N2-fixing bacteroids which metabolize C4-dicarboxylic acids supplied by the plant.

Bacterial Proteins↗

NAD+-malic enzyme. Regulatory properties of the enzyme from Ascaris suum.

The regulatory properties of the NAD-dependent malic enzyme from the mitochondria of Ascaris suum have been studied. The malate saturation curve exhibits sigmoidicity and the degree of this sigmoidicity increases as the pH is increased. Fumarate was the only compound tested that stimulated the enzyme activity, whereas oxalacetate was the most powerful inhibitor. Activation by low levels of fumarate was found to be competitive with malate. It is proposed that this stimulation has physiological significance in controlling the dismutation reaction in the parasite. The branched-chain volatile fatty acid excretion products, tiglate, 2-methylbutanoate, and 2-methylpentanoate, inhibited the enzyme activity and this inhibition was competitive with malate. The Ki values for these compounds are in the physiological range of their concentrations; therefore, it is suggested that they may aid in controlling the malic enzyme activity in vivo. Oxalacetate inhibition of malic enzyme activity was competitive with malate, and the Ki values decreased with an increase in pH. Two alternatives are proposed which could account for the lack of oxalacetate decarboxylation by the ascarid malic enzyme.

Animals↗

Utilization of oxalacetate by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: evidence for coupling between malic enzyme and malic dehydrogenase.

Growth of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain BD413 in malate-mineral medium resulted in the excretion of large quantities of oxalacetate. Malate was virtually depleted by the time the cell density reached 60% of its final value; most of the remaining growth took place at the expense of oxalacetate. Experiments in which oxalacetate was used as the initial substrate showed that pyruvate was not utilized until most of the oxalacetate disappeared. The generation time for growth on malate or oxalacetate was approximately 40 min; the generation time for growth on pyruvate was 62 min, which implies that pyruvate transport may be rate limiting. Oxalacetate and pyruvate, however, supported approximately the same growth yield. These observations suggested that the first step in the utilization of oxalacetate as an energy source consisted of an enzymatic decarboxylation of the keto acid to pyruvate and CO(2). Three enzyme reactions that carry out this decarboxylation have been detected in extracts of A. calcoaceticus. The first, which functioned maximally at pH 4.8, was attributable to the oxalacetate decarboxylase activity of oxidized diphosphopyridine nucleotide-malic enzyme. The second and third, which functioned in the neutral pH range, resulted from coupling of oxidized diphosphopyridine nucleotide-malic enzyme to reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent malic dehydrogenase, and oxidized triphosphopyridine nucleotide-malic enzyme to a reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent malic dehydrogenase. The efficiency of these coupled reactions was high enough so that the overall reaction could be physiologically significant.

Acinetobacter↗

Comparative study of the lipogenic potential of human and rat adipose tissue.

The reported low activity of lipogenic enzymes (especially adenosine triphosphate [ATP]-citrate lyase) in human adipose tissue led to the general conclusion that in humans lipogenesis occurs primarily in the liver. However, recent studies indicate that the liver plays a minor role in de novo lipogenesis and suggest that adipose tissue may be the principal lipogenic human tissue. In an attempt to resolve these contradictions we reinvestigated the lipogenic potential of human adipose tissue and compared with adipose tissue of rats fed a high-fat diet for 2 weeks and fasted overnight before death. These conditions mimic the nutritional state of patients at the moment of tissue sampling. We found that overnight fasting of the rats maintained previously for 12 days on a high-fat diet caused a decrease of ATP-citrate lyase of about 7-fold. Thus, in human adipose tissue, the mean activity of ATP-citrate lyase was approximately 8 times lower than in rats fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight, and about 50 times lower than in rats maintained on normal laboratory diet. Unlike ATP-citrate lyase, fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity was only slightly lower in human adipose tissue than in rats maintained on a normal laboratory diet. Comparable FAS activity was found when rats were fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight. The average activities of human adipose tissue acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were approximately 3-, 4-, and 6-fold lower than in adipose tissue from rats fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight before tissue sampling, while the activity of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in humans was higher than in rat adipose tissue. No significant differences in lipogenic enzyme activities were found between male and female and between lean and obese patients. The rate of fatty acid synthesis in intact pieces of human adipose tissue was approximately 5 times lower than in adipose tissue pieces of rats fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight before tissue samples were taken. The comparison of the lipogenic potential of humans and rats (maintained on the diet to mimic the nutritional state of patients at the time of tissue sampling) suggests that human adipose tissue is an important site of fatty acid synthesis.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Alterations in retinoid X receptor-alpha expression contribute to cell-type dependent differences in thyroid hormone regulation of malic enzyme transcription.

Triiodothyronine (T3) stimulates a marked increase (> 40-fold) in transcription of the malic enzyme gene in chick embryo hepatocytes (CEH), but has no effect on malic enzyme transcription in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) that express nuclear T3 receptors (TR) at levels which are similar to those of CEH. Heterodimerization of the TR with other nuclear proteins is a potential mechanism for the regulation of T3 action. For example, heterodimers of retinoid X receptors (RXR) and TR bind to T3 response elements (T3RE) with higher affinity and modulate transcription more effectively than TR homodimers. In the present report, we investigated the role of RXR in mediating differences in T3 responsiveness of the malic enzyme gene between CEH and CEF. Data from gel mobility shift analyses demonstrated that endogenous TRs from CEH and CEF bind to the major T3RE of the malic enzyme gene primarily as heterodimers with RXR alpha or a protein highly related to RXR alpha. The total binding activity of RXR alpha/TR complexes in CEF was decreased relative to that observed in CEH. Cell-type dependent differences in RXR alpha/TR complex formation were greater in cells incubated in the presence of T3 because T3 treatment increased RXR alpha/TR binding activity in CEH but had no effect on RXR alpha/TR binding activity in CEF. Decreased RXR alpha/TR complex formation in CEF relative to CEH was associated with a reduction in the abundance of RXR alpha protein and RXR alpha mRNA in the former cell-type. Expression of exogenous RXR alpha in CEF increased the T3 responsiveness of the malic enzyme promoter by about 4-fold. In contrast, expression of exogenous RXR alpha in CEH had no effect on the regulation of malic enzyme transcription by T3. These observations support the hypothesis that alterations in RXR alpha expression contribute to cell-type dependent differences in T3 responsiveness of the malic enzyme gene.

Animals↗

Influence of coconut kernel protein on lipid metabolism in alcohol fed rats.

Male albino rats were given ethanol (3.76 g/kg body weight/day) to induce hyperlipidemia. The rats showed increased concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum and tissues. Inclusion of coconut protein and L-arginine into ethanol fed rats produced lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL+ VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides and atherogenic index in the serum. Concentration of tissue cholesterol and triglycerides was also lower in these groups. Administration of coconut protein and L-arginine in the ethanol fed rats caused decreased activity of HMG-CoA reductase in the liver and increased activity of lipoprotein lipase in the heart. The activities of malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were also lower in these groups. Feeding coconut protein and L-arginine in ethanol treated rats showed increased concentration of hepatic bile acids and fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids. All these effects were comparable in rats fed coconut protein and those fed L-arginine. These observations indicate that the major factor responsible for the hypolipidemic effect of coconut protein is due to the high content of L-arginine.

Alcohols↗

Impact of feeding ethanolic extract of root bark of Cananga odorata (Lam) on reproductive functions in male rats.

The 50% ethanolic extract of the root bark of C. odorata administered orally at the dose of 1g/kg body weight/day for 60 days resulted in decreased epididymal sperm motility and sperm count in male albino rats. Morphological abnormalities were also observed in the sperms. The testicular glycogen, the activities of 3beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, sorbitol dehydrogenase in seminal vesicle, fructose in seminal plasma and serum testosterone were significantly decreased in treated group. While testicular cholesterol level, the concentration of the fecal bile acids, urinary excretion of 17 ketosteroids, the activities of 17beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, epididymal lactate dehydrogenase and that of testicular HMG CoA reductase were increased in treated group when compared to control. The results suggest that the ethanolic extract of C. odorata possesses the spermatotoxic effects in male albino rats.

Administration, Oral↗

The NADPH-producing pathways (pentose phosphate and malic enzyme) are regulated by the NADPH consumption in rat mammary gland.

We have studied the changes in the activity of the pentose phosphate cycle and the malic enzyme produced by the activation or inhibition of different NADPH-consuming pathways. Kynurenate, an acetyl-CoA-carboxylase inhibitor produced a decrease in the flux through the NADPH-producing pathways pentose phosphate cycle and malic enzyme. Acini (isolated from mammary gland) incubated in the presence of ter-butyl-hydroperoxide, a compound which is metabolized via a NADPH-consuming pathway, showed a substantial increase in the pentose phosphate cycle and the malic enzyme pathways.

Animals↗