Anabolic Pathways (anabolic + pathway)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


AMP-activated protein kinase in the regulation of hepatic energy metabolism: from physiology to therapeutic perspectives

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2009
B. Viollet
Abstract As the liver is central in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis and energy storage, knowledge of the physiology as well as physiopathology of hepatic energy metabolism is a prerequisite to our understanding of whole-body metabolism. Hepatic fuel metabolism changes considerably depending on physiological circumstances (fed vs. fasted state). In consequence, hepatic carbohydrate, lipid and protein synthesis/utilization are tightly regulated according to needs. Fatty liver and hepatic insulin resistance (both frequently associated with the metabolic syndrome) or increased hepatic glucose production (as observed in type 2 diabetes) resulted from alterations in substrates oxidation/storage balance in the liver. Because AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is considered as a cellular energy sensor, it is important to gain understanding of the mechanism by which hepatic AMPK coordinates hepatic energy metabolism. AMPK has been implicated as a key regulator of physiological energy dynamics by limiting anabolic pathways (to prevent further ATP consumption) and by facilitating catabolic pathways (to increase ATP generation). Activation of hepatic AMPK leads to increased fatty acid oxidation and simultaneously inhibition of hepatic lipogenesis, cholesterol synthesis and glucose production. In addition to a short-term effect on specific enzymes, AMPK also modulates the transcription of genes involved in lipogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis. The identification of AMPK targets in hepatic metabolism should be useful in developing treatments to reverse metabolic abnormalities of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. [source]


REGULATION OF PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA-LYASE ENZYME IN ANNONA FRUIT: KINETIC CHARACTERISTICS AND INHIBITORY EFFECT OF AMMONIA

JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2007
R. MALDONADO
ABSTRACT In this work, we analyzed the kinetic properties of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) extracted from "cherimoya" (Annona cherimola Mill.) fruits ripened at ambient temperature (20C) and stored under several environmental conditions, including high CO2 levels (20%) and low temperature (6C). The effect of different ammonia-related compounds on cherimoya PAL activity was also evaluated. PAL exhibited two different Kmvalues for L-phenylalanine (L-Phe ) and negative substrate cooperativity, with Hill coefficient (napp) values reaching 0.64 and 0.71 for low temperature and high CO2 levels, respectively. The kinetic analysis revealed that ammonia produced mixed inhibition of PAL enzyme, with inhibition constants (Ki and Ki,) values of 0.57 ± 0.2 mM and 2.54 ± 0.2 mM. We propose that the regulation of PAL by ammonia inhibition and the negative cooperativity may be essential in adjusting the active phenylpropanoid metabolism in Annonas to the requirement of L-Phe and in consequence, to the carbon skeleton demand for other anabolic pathways. [source]


Procysteine Stimulates Expression of Key Anabolic Factors and Reduces Plantaris Atrophy in Alcohol-Fed Rats

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 8 2009
Jeffrey S. Otis
Background:, Long-term alcohol ingestion may produce severe oxidant stress and lead to skeletal muscle dysfunction. Emerging evidence has suggested that members of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines play diverse roles in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. Thus, our goals were (i) to minimize the degree of oxidant stress and attenuate atrophy by supplementing the diets of alcohol-fed rats with the glutathione precursor, procysteine, and (ii) to identify the roles of IL-6 family members in alcoholic myopathy. Methods:, Age- and gender-matched Sprague-Dawley rats were fed the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing either alcohol or an isocaloric substitution (control diet) for 35 weeks. Subgroups of alcohol-fed rats received procysteine (0.35%, w/v) for the final 12 weeks. Plantaris morphology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Major components of glutathione metabolism were determined using assay kits. Real-time PCR was used to determine expression levels of several genes. Results:, Plantaris muscles from alcohol-fed rats displayed extensive atrophy, as well as decreased glutathione levels, decreased activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD)-2 (Mn-SOD2), and increased NADPH oxidase-1 gene expression,each indicative of significant oxidant stress. Alcohol also induced gene expression of catabolic factors including IL-6, oncostatin M, atrogin-1, muscle ring finger protein-1, and IGFBP-1. Procysteine treatment attenuated plantaris atrophy, restored glutathione levels, and increased catalase, Cu/Zn-SOD1, and Mn-SOD2 mRNA expression, but did not reduce other markers of oxidant stress or levels of these catabolic factors. Instead, procysteine stimulated gene expression of anabolic factors such as insulin-like growth factor-1, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and cardiotrophin-1. Conclusions:, Procysteine significantly attenuated, but did not completely abrogate, alcohol-induced oxidant stress or catabolic factors. Rather, procysteine minimized the extent of plantaris atrophy by inducing components of several anabolic pathways. Therefore, anti-oxidant treatments such as procysteine supplementation may benefit individuals with alcoholic myopathy. [source]


Stimulation, Monitoring, and Analysis of Pathway Dynamics by Metabolic Profiling in the Aromatic Amino Acid Pathway

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 6 2004
M. Oldiges
Using a concerted approach of biochemical standard preparation, analytical access via LC-MS/MS, glucose pulse, metabolic profiling, and statistical data analysis, the metabolism dynamics in the aromatic amino acid pathway has been stimulated, monitored, and analyzed in different tyrosine-auxotrophic l -phenylalanine-producing Escherichiacoli strains. During the observation window from ,4 s (before) up to 27 s after the glucose pulse, the dynamics of the first five enzymatic reactions in the aromatic amino acid pathway was observed by measuring intracellular concentrations of 3-deoxy- d -arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate DAH(P), 3-dehydroquinate (3-DHQ), 3-dehydroshikimate (3-DHS), shikimate 3-phosphate (S3P), and shikimate (SHI), together with the pathway precursors phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and P5P, the lumped pentose phosphate pool as an alternative to the nondetectable erythrose 4-phosphate (E4P). Provided that a sufficient fortification of the carbon flux into the pathway of interest is ensured, respective metabolism dynamics can be observed. On the basis of the intracellular pool measurements, the standardized pool velocities were calculated, and a simple, data-driven criterion-called "pool efflux capacity" (PEC)-is derived. Despite its simplifying system description, the criterion managed to identify the well-known AroB limitation in the E. coli strain A (genotype ,( pheA tyrA aroF)/pJF119EH aroFfbrpheAfbramp) and it also succeeded to identify AroL and AroA (in strain B, genotype ,( pheA tyrA aroF)/pJF119EH aroFfbrpheAfbraroB amp) as promising metabolic engineering targets to alleviate respective flux control in subsequent l -Phe producing strains. Furthermore, using of a simple correlation analysis, the reconstruction of the metabolite sequence of the observed pathway was enabled. The results underline the necessity to extend the focus of glucose pulse experiments by studying not only the central metabolism but also anabolic pathways. [source]


Didox, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, induces apoptosis and inhibits DNA repair in multiple myeloma cells

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
N. Raje
Summary Ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is the enzyme that catalyses the rate-limiting step in DNA synthesis, the production of deoxynucleotides. RR activity is markedly elevated in tumour tissue and is crucial for cell division. It is therefore an excellent target for cancer chemotherapy. This study examined the anti-myeloma activity of Didox (3,4-Dihydroxybenzohydroxamic acid), a novel RR inhibitor (RRI). Our data showed that Didox induced caspase-dependent multiple myeloma (MM) cell apoptosis. Didox, unlike other RRIs that mainly target the pyrimidine metabolism pathway, targets both purine and pyrimidine metabolism pathways in MM, as demonstrated by transcriptional profiling using the Affymetrix U133A 2·0 gene chip. Specifically, a ,2-fold downregulation of genes in these anabolic pathways was shown as early as 12 h after exposure to Didox. Furthermore, apoptosis was accompanied by downregulation of bcl family proteins including bcl-2, bclxl, and XIAP. Importantly, RR M1 component transcript was also downregulated, associated with decreased protein expression. Genes involved in DNA repair mechanisms, specifically RAD 51 homologue, were also downregulated. As Didox acts on MM cells by inhibiting DNA synthesis and repair, combination studies with melphalan, an agent commonly used in MM, were performed. A strong in vitro synergism was shown, with combination indices of <0·7 as determined by the Chou,Talalay method. These studies therefore provide the preclinical rationale for evaluation of Didox, alone and in combination with DNA-damaging agents, to improve patient outcome in MM. [source]