Alternative splicing of novel exons of rat heart-type fructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase gene

Role of precursor mRNA splicing in nutrient-induced alterations in gene expression and metabolism

Precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) splicing is a critical step in gene expression that results in the removal of intronic sequences from immature mRNA, leading to the production of mature mRNA that can be translated into protein. Alternative pre-mRNA splicing is the process whereby alternative exons and/or introns are selectively included or excluded, generating mature mRNAs that encode proteins that may differ in function. The resulting alterations in the pattern of protein isoform expression can result in changes in protein-protein interaction, subcellular localization, and flux through metabolic pathways. Although basic mechanisms of pre-mRNA splicing of introns and exons are reasonably well characterized, how these mechanisms are regulated remains poorly understood. The goal of this review is to highlight selected recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing by nutrients and modulation of nutrient metabolism that result from changes in pre-mRNA splicing.

Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate is lower in copper deficient rat cerebellum despite higher content of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase

Limitation in copper (Cu) leads to pathophysiology in developing brain. Cu deficiency impairs brain mitochondria and results in high brain lactate suggesting augmented anaerobic glycolysis. AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a cellular energy "master-switch" that is thought to augment glycolysis through phosphorylation and activation phosphofructokinase 2 (PFK2) resulting in increases of the glycolytic stimulator fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F2,6BP). Previously, Cu deficiency has been shown to augment cerebellar AMPK activation. Cerebella of Cu-adequate (Cu+) and Cu-deficient (Cu-) rat pups were assessed to evaluate if AMPK activation in Cu- cerebella functioned to enhance PFK2 activation and increase F2,BP concentration. Higher levels of pAMPK were detected in Cu- cerebella. However, PFK2 activity, mRNA, and protein abundance were not affected by Cu deficiency. Surprisingly, F2,6BP levels were markedly lower in Cu- cerebella. Lower F2,6BP may be due to inhibition of PFK2 by citrate, as citrate concentration was significantly higher in Cu- cerebella. Data suggest AMPK activation in Cu- cerebellum does not augment glycolysis through a PFK2 mechanism. Furthermore, other metabolite data suggest that glycolysis may actually be blunted, since levels of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate were higher in Cu- cerebella than controls.

A role for PFK-2/FBPase-2, as distinct from fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, in regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells

PFK-2/FBPase-2 (6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase) catalyses the formation and degradation of fructose 2,6-P2 (fructose 2,6-bisphosphate) and is also a glucokinase-binding protein. The role of fructose 2,6-P2 in regulating glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells is unresolved. We down-regulated the endogenous isoforms of PFK-2/FBPase-2 with siRNA (small interfering RNA) and expressed KA (kinase active) and KD (kinase deficient) variants to distinguish between the role of PFK-2/FBPase-2 protein and the role of its product, fructose 2,6-P2, in regulating β-cell function. Human islets expressed the PFKFB2 (the gene encoding isoform 2 of the PFK2/FBPase2 protein) and PFKFB3 (the gene encoding isoform 3 of the PFK2/FBPase2 protein) isoforms and mouse islets expressed PFKFB2 at the mRNA level [RT–PCR (reverse transcription–PCR)]. Rat islets expressed PFKFB2 lacking the C-terminal phosphorylation sites. The glucose-responsive MIN6 and INS1E cell lines expressed PFKFB2 and PFKFB3. PFK-2 activity and the cell content of fructose 2,6-P2 were increased by elevated glucose concentration and during pharmacological activation of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), which also increased insulin secretion. Partial down-regulation of endogenous PFKFB2 and PFKFB3 in INS1E by siRNA decreased PFK-2/FBPase-2 protein, fructose 2,6-P2 content, glucokinase activity and glucoseinduced insulin secretion. Selective down-regulation of glucose-induced fructose 2,6-P2 in the absence of down-regulation of PFK-2/FBPase-2 protein, using a KD PFK-2/FBPase-2 variant, resulted in sustained glycolysis and elevated glucose-induced insulin secretion, indicating an over-riding role of PFK-2/FBPase-2 protein, as distinct from its product fructose 2,6-P2, in potentiating glucose-induced insulin secretion. Whereas down-regulation of PFK-2/FBPase-2 decreased glucokinase activity, overexpression of PFK-2/FBPase-2 only affected glucokinase distribution. It is concluded that PFK-2/FBPase-2 protein rather than its product fructose 2,6-P2 is the over-riding determinant of glucose-induced insulin secretion through regulation of glucokinase activity or subcellular targeting.

Splice isoform of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase-4: expression and hypoxic regulation

The 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB) is responsible for maintaining the cellular levels of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate which is a key regulator of glycolysis. Here we have studied the expression of PFKFB-4 isozyme in the DB-1 melanoma cells. An additional isoform of PFKFB-4 mRNA with 148 bases insert in the amino-terminal region at high constitutive levels was identified in these cells. The expression of this splice isoform as well as main isoform of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase was responsible to hypoxia and dimethyloxalylglycine, an inhibitor of HIF-1 alpha hydroxylase enzymes, suggesting that the hypoxia responsiveness of PFKFB-4 gene in these cells is regulated by HIF-1alpha protein. Hypoxic induction of PFKFB4 mRNA in the DB-1 melanoma cells correlates with the expression of PFKFB-3 and VEGF mRNA which are known as HIF-1 dependent genes. Thus, our results clearly demonstrated the existence of splice isoform of PFKFB-4 mRNA in the DB-1 melanoma cells and its overexpression under hypoxic conditions.

Hypoxic regulation of the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase gene family (PFKFB-1-4) expression in vivo

When oxygen becomes limiting, cells shift primarily to a glycolytic mode for generation of energy. A key regulator of glycolytic flux is fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-BP), a potent allosteric regulator of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK-1). The levels of F-2,6-BP are maintained by a family of bifunctional enzymes, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB or PFK-2), which have both kinase and phosphatase activities. Each member of the enzyme family is characterized by their phosphatase:kinase activity ratio (K:B) and their tissue-specific expression. Previous work demonstrated that one of the PFK-2 isozyme genes, PFKFB-3, was induced by hypoxia through the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway. In this study we examined the basal and hypoxic expression of three members of this family in different organs of mice. Our findings indicate that all four isozymes (PFKFB-1-4) are responsive to hypoxia in vivo. However, their basal level of expression and hypoxia responsiveness varies in the different organs studied. Particularly, PFKFB-1 is highly expressed in liver, heart and skeletal muscle, with the highest response to hypoxia found in the testis. PFKFB-2 is mainly expressed in the lungs, brain and heart. However, the highest hypoxia responses are found only in liver and testis. PFKFB-3 has a variable low basal level of expression in all organs, except skeletal muscle, where it is highly expressed. Most importantly, its hypoxia responsiveness is the most ample of all three genes, being strongly induced in the lungs, liver, kidney, brain, heart and testis. Further studies showed that PFKFB-1 and PFKFB-2 were highly responsive to hypoxia mimics such as transition metals, iron chelators and inhibitors of HIF hydroxylases, suggesting that the hypoxia responsiveness of these genes is also regulated by HIF proteins. In summary, our data demonstrate that PFK-2 genes are responsive to hypoxia in vivo, indicating a physiological role in the adaptation of the organism to environmental or localized hypoxia/ischemia.

14-3-3s regulate fructose-2,6-bisphosphate levels by binding to PKB-phosphorylated cardiac fructose-2,6-bisphosphate kinase/phosphatase

The cardiac isoform of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/ fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2), regulator of the glycolysis-stimulating fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, was among human HeLa cell proteins that were eluted from a 14-3-3 affinity column using the phosphopeptide ARAApSAPA. Tryptic mass fingerprinting and phospho-specific antibodies showed that Ser466 and Ser483 of 14-3-3-affinity-purified PFK-2 were phosphorylated. 14-3-3 binding was abolished by selectively dephosphorylating Ser483, and 14-3-3 binding was restored when both Ser466 and Ser483 were phosphorylated with PKB, but not when Ser466 alone was phosphorylated by AMPK. Furthermore, the phosphopeptide RNYpS(483)VGS blocked binding of PFK-2 to 14-3-3s. These data indicate that 14-3-3s bind to phosphorylated Ser483. When HeLa cells expressing HA-tagged PFK-2 were co-transfected with active PKB or stimulated with IGF-1, HA-PFK-2 was phosphorylated and bound to 14-3-3s. The response to IGF-1 was abolished by PI 3-kinase inhibitors. In addition, IGF-1 promoted the binding of endogenous PFK-2 to 14-3-3s. When cells were transduced with penetratin-linked AARAApSAPA, we found that this reagent bound specifically to 14-3-3s, blocked the IGF-1-induced binding of HA-PFK-2 to 14-3-3s, and completely inhibited the IGF-1-induced increase in cellular fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. These findings suggest that PKB-dependent binding of 14-3-3s to phospho-Ser483 of cardiac PFK-2 mediates the stimulation of glycolysis by growth factor.