Effect of glycogenolytic agents on glycogen synthase activity in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Evidence for a Ca2+-mediated regulation of glycogen synthase activity.

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found to respond to the beta-receptor activators, adrenalin and isoproterenol, with a rapid transient increase in cyclic AMP, activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, phosphorylase kinase, deactivation of glycogen synthase and glycogen breakdown. This response was unaffected by the presence of 10 mM EGTA. Incubation of leukocytes with phorbol myristate acetate, which stimulates the hexose monophosphate shunt by a Ca2+ mediated mechanism, resulted in activation of phosphorylase without affecting cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or phosphorylase kinase activity, thus indicating a Ca2+-mediated activation of phosphorylase. This was, however, unaffected by EGTA. Prolonged incubation with phorbol myristate acetate was found to result in a parallel activation of phosphorylase and glycogen synthase secondary to a pronounced depletion of cellular glycogen. Addition of glucose to polymorphonuclear leukocytes resulted in total conversion of phosphorylase a to the b form and activation of glycogen synthase, however, when EGTA was included, the response to glucose was greatly amplified, thus indicating the synthase conversion is regulated by Ca2+ sensitive mechanisms which do not involve phosphorylase kinase. Addition of adrenalin to cells previously activated by glucose resulted in an increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP and activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase but deactivation of synthase was not effectuated under these conditions.

Liver glycogenosis caused by a defective phosphorylase system: hemolysate analysis.

Investigated were 24 cases of glycogenosis caused by a reduction in liver phosphorylase activity. The intravenous glucagon tolerance test could not discriminate between phosphorylase kinase deficiency [glycogen storage disease (GSD) IX] and phosphorylase deficiency (GSD VI). These two subgroups were distinguished by hemolysate enzyme assays: (1) GSD IX was characterized by a residual phosphorylase kinase activity, a low activation curve for endogenous phosphorylase b and increased amylo-1,6-glucosidase activity. (2) GSD VI was characterized by a normal or increased phosphorylase kinase activity, a slight activation of endogenous phosphorylase b and a normal amylo-1,6-glucosidase activity.

Effects of trinitrotoluene on serum phosphorylase A activities and on calcium contents in men and rats.

Wistar rats were exposed to trinitrotoluene (TNT) for 6 weeks. After initiation of TNT exposure, serum phosphorylase A activities and calcium contents were assayed for every 2 weeks. Both of these 2 parameters increased in rats treated with 50 and 100 mg TNT/kg b.w. at 3 intervals. Serum phosphorylase A activities and calcium contents of TNT exposure worker increased too.

[Changes in kinetic properties of pyridoxal-dependent enzymes during dietary vitamin B6 deficiency in rats]. / Izmenenie kineticheskikh svoistv piridoksal'zavisimykh fermentov pri alimentarnoi nedostatochnosti vitamina B6 u krys.

The erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase and renal and intestinal glycogen phosphorylase activities in rats are determined as dependent on their provision with vitamin B6. It has been shown that the aspartate aminotransferase activity decreases and the shape of the aspartate concentration-activity curve changes in the vitamin B6-deficient animals. The B6 insufficiency does not affect the intestinal mucosa glycogen phosphorylase. However the renal phosphorylase activity decreases by 30 percent in the vitamin B6 deficient rats. It occurs due to changes in the affinity of phosphorylase A and B to glucose-1-phosphate but not to AMP. The activation of these investigated enzymes by exogenous pyridoxal phosphate reveals no essential differences between the vitamin B6-deficient and normal rats. The possible causes of the observed changes in the aspartate aminotransferase and phosphorylase activity are discussed.

[Effect of corinfar on the dynamic function and various indices of glycolysis and glycogenolysis in the thrombocytes of patients with unstable stenocardia]. / Vliianie korinfara na dinamicheskie funktsii i nekotorye pokazateli glikoliza i glikogenoliza trombotsitov u bol'nykh nestabil'noi stenokardiei.

An increase in the aggregation properties of platelets accompanied by the activation of glycogenolysis and glycolysis was established in patients with unstable angina as compared to a control group of healthy persons. In most cases corinfar therapy resulted in a positive time course of the main platelet indices and a marked improvement of the patients' status. The correlation between the platelet aggregation index and phosphorylase A activity and their association with a course of disease indicated an opportunity of using these indices as accessory diagnostic criteria and control over therapeutic efficacy in unstable angina.

[Glycogen phosphorylase from human leukocytes. Isolation and kinetic properties]. / Glikogenfosforilaza iz leikotsitov cheloveka. Vydelenie i kineticheskie svoistva.

Homogeneous glycogen phosphorylase from human leukocytes has been obtained. A one-step bioluminescent procedure for the enzyme activity assay has been developed. This method is based on a continuous recording of the product of the glycogen phosphorylase-catalyzed reaction using a coimmobilized multienzyme system (phosphoglucomutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADH:FMN oxidoreductase and bacterial luciferase). The method sensitivity is 10 times as high compared to earlier described methods. The Km values for glycogen (0.2 mg/ml) and phosphate (3.9 mM) at pH 7.9 were determined. AMP was shown to be the enzyme effector.

Activation of the glycogenolytic cascade in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes by different phagocytic stimuli.

Human polymorphonuclear leucocytes were found to respond to activation by immunoglobulin opsonized latex particles and to complement opsonized zymosan particles with a rapid transient increase in cAMP concentration, dissociation of the cAMP dependent protein kinase, activation of glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen break down. However, since phosphorylase kinase was not activated, the activation of phosphorylase is believed to be secondary to non-covalent activation of phosphorylase kinase by Ca2+. Activation by the soluble stimulator phorbol myristate acetate resulted in activation of phosphorylase and glycogen break down, whereas no changes in cAMP concentration, protein kinase activity, or phosphorylase kinase activity were observed. The activation of phosphorylase is ascribed to an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. The response to stimulation by zymosan was strongly inhibited by ethylene glycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N1-tetraacetic acid, which did not affect stimulation by either latex particles or phorbol myristate acetate. The same differential effect of ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N1-tetraacetic acid was observed when the response of the cells was measured as increase in oxygen consumption and activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt.