Galactose-1-phosphate inhibits cytochrome c oxidase and causes mitochondrial dysfunction in classic galactosemia.

Classic galactosemia is an inborn error of metabolism caused by mutations in the GALT gene resulting in the diminished activity of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase enzyme. This reduced GALT activity leads to the buildup of the toxic intermediate galactose-1-phosphate and a decrease in ATP levels upon exposure to galactose. In this work, we focused our attention on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the context of this metabolic disorder. We observed that galactose-1-phosphate accumulation reduced respiratory rates in vivo and changed mitochondrial function and morphology in yeast models of galactosemia. These alterations are harmful to yeast cells since the mitochondrial retrograde response is activated as part of the cellular adaptation to galactose toxicity. In addition, we found that galactose-1-phosphate directly impairs cytochrome c oxidase activity of mitochondrial preparations derived from yeast, rat liver, and human cell lines. These results highlight the evolutionary conservation of this biochemical effect. Finally, we discovered that two compounds - oleic acid and dihydrolipoic acid - that can improve the growth of cell models of mitochondrial diseases, were also able to improve galactose tolerance in this model of galactosemia. These results reveal a new molecular mechanism relevant to the pathophysiology of classic galactosemia - galactose-1-phosphate-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction - and suggest that therapies designed to treat mitochondrial diseases may be repurposed to treat galactosemia.

The yeast protein Ubx4p contributes to mitochondrial respiration and lithium-galactose-mediated activation of the unfolded protein response.

In the presence of galactose, lithium ions activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) by inhibiting phosphoglucomutase activity and causing the accumulation of galactose-related metabolites, including galactose-1-phosphate. These metabolites also accumulate in humans who have the disease classic galactosemia. Here, we demonstrate that Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains harboring a deletion of UBX4, a gene encoding a partner of Cdc48p in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, exhibit delayed UPR activation after lithium and galactose exposure because the deletion decreases galactose-1-phosphate levels. The delay in UPR activation did not occur in yeast strains in which key ERAD or proteasomal pathway genes had been disrupted, indicating that the ubx4Δ phenotype is ERAD-independent. We also observed that the ubx4Δ strain displays decreased oxygen consumption. The inhibition of mitochondrial respiration was sufficient to diminish galactose-1-phosphate levels and, consequently, affects UPR activation. Finally, we show that the deletion of the AMP-activated protein kinase ortholog-encoding gene SNF1 can restore the oxygen consumption rate in ubx4Δ strain, thereby reestablishing galactose metabolism, UPR activation, and cellular adaption to lithium-galactose challenge. Our results indicate a role for Ubx4p in yeast mitochondrial function and highlight that mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum functions are intertwined through galactose metabolism. These findings also shed new light on the mechanisms of lithium action and on the pathophysiology of galactosemia.

The UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Giardia lamblia is redox regulated and exhibits promiscuity to use galactose-1-phosphate.

BACKGROUND: Giardia lamblia is a pathogen of humans and other vertebrates. The synthesis of glycogen and of structural oligo and polysaccharides critically determine the parasite's capacity for survival and pathogenicity. These characteristics establish that UDP-glucose is a relevant metabolite, as it is a main substrate to initiate varied carbohydrate metabolic routes. RESULTS: Herein, we report the molecular cloning of the gene encoding UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from genomic DNA of G. lamblia, followed by its heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzyme was characterized to have a monomeric structure. Glucose-1-phosphate and UTP were preferred substrates, but the enzyme also used galactose-1-phosphate and TTP. The catalytic efficiency to synthesize UDP-galactose was significant. Oxidation by physiological compounds (hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide) inactivated the enzyme and the process was reverted after reduction by cysteine and thioredoxin. UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine pyrophosphorylase, the other UTP-related enzyme in the parasite, neither used galactose-1-phosphate nor was affected by redox modification. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in G. lamblia the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is regulated by oxido-reduction mechanism. The enzyme exhibits the ability to synthesize UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose and it plays a key role providing substrates to glycosyl transferases that produce oligo and polysaccharides. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The characterization of the G. lamblia UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase reinforces the view that in protozoa this enzyme is regulated by a redox mechanism. As well, we propose a new pathway for UDP-galactose production mediated by the promiscuous UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase of this organism.

Overexpression of the aldose reductase GRE3 suppresses lithium-induced galactose toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lithium induces a 'galactosemia-like' phenotype as a consequence of inhibition of phosphoglucomutase, a key enzyme in galactose metabolism. Induced galactose toxicity is prevented by deletion of GAL4, which inhibits the transcriptional activation of genes involved in galactose metabolism and by deletion of the galactokinase (GAL1), indicating that galactose-1-phosphate, a phosphorylated intermediate of the Leloir pathway, is the toxic compound. As an alternative to inhibiting entry and metabolism of galactose, we investigated whether deviation of galactose metabolism from the Leloir pathway would also overcome the galactosemic effect of lithium. We show that cells overexpressing the aldose reductase GRE3, which converts galactose to galactitol, are more tolerant to lithium than wild-type cells when grown in galactose medium and they accumulate more galactitol and less galactose-1-phosphate. Overexpression of GRE3 also suppressed the galactose growth defect of the 'galactosemic'gal7- and gal10-deleted strains, which lack galactose-1-P-uridyltransferase or UDP-galactose-4-epimerase activities, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of GRE3 was independent of the inositol monophosphatases INM1 and INM2. We propose that lithium induces a galactosemic state in yeast and that inhibition of the Leloir pathway before the phosphorylation step or stimulation of galactitol production suppresses lithium-induced galactose toxicity.

[Glucose-6-phosphatase from nuclear envelope in rat liver]. / Glucosa-6-fosfatasa de envoltura nuclear de hígado de rata.

Nuclear envelope (NE) and microsomal glucosa-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) activities were compared. Intact microsomes were unable to hydrolyze mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P), on the other hand, intact NE hydrolyzes this substrate. Galactose-6-phosphate showed to be a good substrate for both NE and microsomal enzymes, with similar latency to that obtained with M-6-P using microsomes. In consequence, this substrate was used to measure the NE integrity. The kinetic parameters (Kii and Kis) of the intact NE G-6-Pase for the phlorizin inhibition using glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) and M-6-P as substrates, were very similar. The NE T1 transporter was more sensitive to amiloride than the microsomal T1. The microsomal system was more sensitive to N-ethylmalemide (NEM) than the NE and the latter was insensitive to anion transport inhibitors DIDS and SITS, which strongly affect the microsomal enzyme. The above results allowed to postulate the presence of a hexose-6-phosphate transporter in the NE which is able to carry G-6-P and M-6-P, and perhaps other hexose-6-phosphate which could be different from that present in microsomes or, if it is the same, its activity could by modified by the membrane system where it is included. The higher PPi hydrolysis activity of the intact NE G-6-Pase in comparison to the intact microsomal, suggests differences between the Pi/PPi transport (T2) of both systems. The lower sensitivity of the NE G-6-Pase to NEM suggests that the catalytic subunit of this system has some differences with the microsomal isoform.

Functional characteristics of hexokinase bound to the type a and type B sites of bovine brain mitochondria.

Hexokinase is released from Type A sites of brain mitochondria in the presence of glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6-P); enzyme bound to Type B sites remains bound. Hexokinase of freshly isolated bovine brain mitochondria (Type A:Type B, approximately 40:60) selectively uses intramitochondrial ATP as substrate and is relatively insensitive to the competitive (vs ATP) inhibitor and Glc-6-P analog, 1,5-anhydroglucitol 6-phosphate (1,5-AnG-6-P). After removal of hexokinase bound at Type A sites, the remaining enzyme, bound at Type B sites, does not show selectivity for intramitochondrial ATP and has increased sensitivity to 1,5-AnG-6-P. Thus, the properties of the enzyme bound at Type B sites are modified by removal of hexokinase bound at Type A sites. It is suggested that mechanisms for regulation of mitochondrial hexokinase activity, and thereby cerebral glycolytic metabolism, may depend on the ratio of Type A:Type B sites, which varies in different species.

Effect of uridine on hepatic galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase.

Uridine sugar nucleotides are important intermediates in galactose metabolism and may play a role in the long-term galactose toxicity in human galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency galactosemia. Since administration of uridine, a precursor of uridine nucleotides, has been considered as a therapeutic measure, we have investigated the effects of this compound on the activity of rat hepatic transferase. Uridine has been found to be an inhibitor of the enzyme in in vitro studies and to cause an increase in galactose-1-phosphate in liver perfused with galactose which is consistent with physiologic inhibition of the enzyme. Uridine is a partial linear competitive inhibitor of UDPglucose and an uncompetitive inhibitor of galactose-1-phosphate. These findings suggest caution should be applied in giving the compound to subjects with genetically limited transferase activity because of the possibility of inhibiting the small amount of residual enzyme.

Perinatal galactose metabolism.

Galactose is a major nutrient in normal newborn infants and serves as a substrate for energy production and fuel storage and a regulator of carbohydrate assimilation. Inborn errors of galactose metabolism have contributed to our understanding of the potential toxicity of this carbohydrate. In addition to the classic acute manifestations of neonatal galactosemia, long-term follow-up of surviving patients have revealed unusual neurodevelopmental and reproductive problems. Many investigators have suggested that the newborn infant can utilize galactose better than adults and that neonatal galactose assimilation exceeds that of glucose. Galactose may be an excellent substitute for glucose among hyperinsulinemic infants of diabetic mothers or premature infants with glucose intolerance. However, until further investigations are performed to define the role of galactose in newborn nutrition and to determine its potential toxicity, galactose should not be used as the primary carbohydrate in sick newborn infants.