Regulation of hexokinase in a freeze avoiding insect: role in the winter production of glycerol

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
A M Muise, K B Storey

Abstract

Hexokinase from larvae of the freeze-avoiding goldenrod gall moth, Epiblema scudderiana, was purified 20-fold using chromatography on DE52 Sephadex, phosphocellulose, and blue dextran. Final specific activity was 75.8 U/mg and SDS-PAGE gave a molecular weight of 94,000 for the monomer. Arrhenius plot showed a break at 16 degrees or 12 degrees C in the absence vs. presence of 10% v/v glycerol, indicating a conformational change in the enzyme at lower temperatures but suggesting a stabilizing effect of glycerol. Comparison of hexokinase kinetic properties at 22 degrees and 4 degrees C showed higher affinity for both glucose and ATP (Km values were 45-50% lower), as well as for the cofactor Mg(2+), at the lower temperature. Furthermore, product inhibition by glucose-6-phosphate and ADP was reduced at 4 degrees C. Glucose levels rise in E. scudderiana as an apparent by-product of high rates of glycogenolysis during glycerol synthesis. The temperature-dependent properties of hexokinase would facilitate the recycling of this glucose back into the pathway of glycerol synthesis and could help to achieve the near stoichiometric conversion of glycogen to glycerol that is seen during cold hardening. Arch.

References

Jul 1, 1972·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·A C Chou, J E Wilson
Jul 1, 1982·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·M MagnaniM Dachà
Jul 1, 1980·Analytical Biochemistry·S S Qadri, J S Easterby

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Citations

Sep 4, 2009·Annual Review of Entomology·Estela L Arrese, Jose L Soulages
Dec 1, 2015·Journal of Thermal Biology·Matthew J EverattScott A L Hayward
Mar 16, 2017·Scientific Reports·Zhen YueZhangwu Zhao
Jul 19, 2008·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·Kathy A ClowWilliam R Driedzic
Mar 3, 2007·Molecular Genetics and Genomics : MGG·Monika Swiatecka-HagenbruchThomas Börner
Aug 28, 2001·Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine : CCLM·J MairB Puschendorf

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