Molecular cloning of DNA sequences complementary to rat liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA. Nutritional regulation of mRNA levels

Nutritional regulation of mRNA processing

Understanding how a cell adapts to dietary energy in the form of carbohydrate versus energy in the form of triacylglycerol requires knowledge of how the activity of the enzymes involved in lipogenesis is regulated. Changes in the activity of these enzymes are largely caused by changes in the rate at which their proteins are synthesized. Nutrients within the diet can signal these changes either via altering hormone concentrations or via their own unique signal transduction pathways. Most of the lipogenic genes are regulated by changes in the rate of their transcription. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is unique in this group of enzymes in that nutritional regulation of its synthesis involves steps exclusively at a posttranscriptional level. G6PD activity is enhanced by the consumption of diets high in carbohydrate and is inhibited by the consumption of polyunsaturated fat. In this review, evidence is presented that changes in the rate of synthesis of the mature G6PD mRNA involves regulation of the efficiency of splicing of the nascent G6PD transcript. Furthermore, this regulation involves the activity of a cis-acting sequence in the G6PD primary transcript. This sequence in exon 12 is essential for the inhibition of G6PD mRNA splicing by PUFA. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutrients alter nuclear posttranscriptional events will provide new information on the breadth of mechanisms involved in gene regulation.

Differential effects of coconut oil- and fish oil-enriched diets on tricarboxylate carrier in rat liver mitochondria

The mitochondrial tricarboxylate carrier (TCC) plays an important role in lipogenesis being TCC-responsible for the efflux from the mitochondria to the cytosol of acetyl-CoA, the primer for fatty acid synthesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of two high-fat diets with different fatty acid composition on the hepatic TCC activity. Rats were fed for 3 weeks on a basal diet supplemented with 15% of either coconut oil (CO), abundant in medium-chain saturated fatty acids, or fish oil (FO), rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Mitochondrial fatty acid composition was differently influenced by the dietary treatments, while no appreciable change in phospholipid composition and cholesterol level was observed. Compared with CO, the TCC activity was markedly decreased in liver mitochondria from FO-fed rats; kinetic analysis of the carrier revealed a decrease of the Vmax, with no change of the Km. No difference in the Arrhenius plot between the two groups was observed. Interestingly, the carrier protein level and the corresponding mRNA abundance decreased following FO treatment. These data indicate that FO administration markedly decreased the TCC activity as compared with CO. This effect is most likely due to a reduced gene expression of the carrier protein.

Starvation-induced posttranscriptional control of rat liver mitochondrial citrate carrier expression

Starvation has been associated with a reduced citrate carrier (CTP) activity in rat liver mitochondria. In the present study the molecular mechanism responsible for this reduction was investigated. Northern blot analysis performed with hepatic total RNA showed a decrease of about 40% in the CTP mRNA abundance in starved rats, when compared to fed animals. Nuclear run-on assay did not reveal any appreciable difference in the rate of CTP mRNA synthesis between the two groups of animals, while the apparent half-life of CTP mRNA in hepatocytes from fed and starved rats was 11 and 6h, respectively. Therefore, these results suggest that in starved rats the regulation of hepatic CTP expression occurs at posttranscriptional level. Moreover, the reduced CTP activity in starved animals gradually increased by refeeding. The carrier activity reached fed rat values 6-9h following refeeding. Interestingly, the accumulation of CTP mRNA raised in parallel with the transport activity.

Dietary regulation of expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The family of enzymes involved in lipogenesis is a model system for understanding how a cell adapts to dietary energy in the form of carbohydrate versus energy in the form of triacylglycerol. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is unique in this group of enzymes in that it participates in multiple metabolic pathways: reductive biosynthesis, including lipogenesis; protection from oxidative stress; and cellular growth. G6PD activity is enhanced by dietary carbohydrates and is inhibited by dietary polyunsaturated fats. These changes in G6PD activity are a consequence of changes in the expression of the G6PD gene. Nutrients can regulate the expression of genes at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional steps. Most lipogenic enzymes undergo large changes in the rate of gene transcription in response to dietary changes; however, G6PD is regulated at a step subsequent to transcription. This step is involved in the rate of synthesis of the mature mRNA in the nucleus, specifically regulation of the efficiency of splicing of the nascent G6PD transcript. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutrients alter nuclear posttranscriptional events will help uncover new information on the breadth of mechanisms involved in gene regulation.

Regulatory signals in messenger RNA: determinants of nutrient–gene interaction and metabolic compartmentation

Nutrition has marked influences on gene expression and an understanding of the interaction between nutrients and gene expression is important in order to provide a basis for determining the nutritional requirements on an individual basis. The effects of nutrition can be exerted at many stages between transcription of the genetic sequence and production of a functional protein. This review focuses on the role of post-transcriptional control, particularly mRNA stability, translation and localization, in the interactions of nutrients with gene expression. The effects of both macronutrients and micronutrients on regulation of gene expression by post-transcriptional mechanisms are presented and the post-transcriptional regulation of specific genes of nutritional relevance (glucose transporters, transferrin, selenoenzymes, metallothionein, lipoproteins) is described in detail. The function of the regulatory signals in the untranslated regions of the mRNA is highlighted in relation to control of mRNA stability, translation and localization and the importance of these mRNA regions to regulation by nutrients is illustrated by reference to specific examples. The localization of mRNA by signals in the untranslated regions and its function in the spatial organization of protein synthesis is described; the potential of such mechanisms to play a key part in nutrient channelling and metabolic compartmentation is discussed. It is concluded that nutrients can influence gene expression through control of the regulatory signals in these untranslated regions and that the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by these mechanisms may influence nutritional requirements. It is emphasized that in studies of nutritional control of gene expression it is important not to focus only on regulation through gene promoters but also to consider the possibility of post-transcriptional control.

Insulin regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene expression is rapamycin-sensitive and requires phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) controls the flow of carbon through the pentose phosphate pathway and also produces NADPH needed for maintenance of reduced glutathione and reductive biosynthesis. Hepatic expression of G6PDH is known to respond to several dietary and hormonal factors, but the mechanism behind regulation of this expression has not been characterized. We show that insulin similarly induces expression of endogenous hepatic G6PDH and a reporter construct containing 935 base pairs of the G6PDH promoter linked to luciferase in transient transfection assays. Using well tested and structurally distinct inhibitors of Ras farnesylation, lovastatin and B581, and a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase activation, PD 98059, we show that the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is not utilized for the insulin-induced stimulation of G6PDH gene expression in primary rat hepatocytes. Similarly, using well characterized inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, wortmannin and LY 294002, we show that PI 3-kinase activity is necessary for the induction of G6PDH expression by insulin. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of FRAP protein, which is involved in the activation of pp70 S6 kinase, blocks the insulin induction of G6PDH, suggesting that S6 kinase is also necessary for the insulin induction of G6PDH expression.

Mechanisms by which carbohydrates regulate expression of genes for glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes

Regulation of gene expression by nutrients is an important mechanism in the adaptation of mammals to their nutritional environment. This is especially true for enzymes involved in the storage of energy, such as the lipogenic and glycolytic enzymes in liver and adipose tissue. Transcription of the genes for lipogenic and glycolytic enzymes is stimulated by glucose in adipose tissue, liver, and pancreatic beta-cells. Several lines of evidence suggest that glucose must be metabolized to glucose-6-phosphate to stimulate gene transcription. In adipose tissue, insulin increases the expression of lipogenic enzymes indirectly by stimulating glucose uptake. In the liver, insulin also acts indirectly by stimulating the expression of glucokinase and, hence, by increasing glucose metabolism. Glucose response elements have been characterized for the L-pyruvate kinase and S14 genes. They have in common the presence of a sequence 5'-CACGTG-3', which binds a transcription factor called USF (upstream stimulatory factor). Another glucose response element, which uses a transcription factor named Sp1, has been characterized in the gene for the acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase. The mechanisms linking glucose-6-phosphate to the glucose-responsive transcription complex are largely unknown.

Regulation of lipogenic enzyme expression by glucose in liver and adipose tissue: a review of the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms

Regulation of gene expression by nutrients is an important part of the mechanisms allowing mammals to adapt to their nutritional environment. This is especially true for enzymes involved in the storage of energy such as the lipogenic and glycolytic enzymes in the liver and adipose tissue. We review in the present paper the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of glycolytic and lipogenic enzyme gene expression by glucose. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that FAS and ACC gene expression is upregulated by glucose in adipose tissue, FAS, ACC and L-PK expression in the liver and ACC and L-PK expression in a pancreatic beta-cell line. This regulation involves the stimulation of their transcription. In order for glucose to act as a gene inducer, it must be metabolized. In adipose tissue, insulin increases indirectly the expression of FAS and ACC by stimulating glucose metabolism through its well-known effect on glucose transport. In the liver, the action of insulin is also indirect by allowing the expression of glucokinase and hence by increasing glucose metabolism. In the liver, fructose has a potentiating effect on the stimulation of gene expression by glucose through its stimulatory effect on glucokinase activity. Several evidences suggest that glucose-6-phosphate is the signal metabolite: (i) the effect of glucose is mimicked by 2-deoxyglucose (a glucose analogue whose metabolism stops after its phosphorylation by hexokinase) in adipose tissue and beta-cell line but not in the liver in which 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate does not accumulate, (ii) intracellular glucose-6-phosphate concentration varies in parallel with ACC, FAS and L-PK mRNA concentrations in liver, adipose tissue and beta-cell line, (iii) in vivo, the kinetics of hexose-phosphate fits with the time-related pattern of gene induction. Glucose response elements have been characterized on three genes, L-PK, S14 (a gene which codes for a protein of unknown function but which is directly related to lipogenesis) and FAS. These glucose response elements have all in common the presence of a sequence 5'-CACGTG-3' which binds a transcription factor of the basic domain, helix-loop-helix, leucine zipper family called USF/MLTF, although the organization of the overall glucose response element probably differs from one gene to another. The mechanisms linking glucose-6-phosphate to the glucose responsive transcription complex are presently largely unknown.

Upregulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in response to hepatocellular oxidative stress: studies with diquat

The expression of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, E.C. 1.1.1.49) is hypothesized to be modulated by free radicals during oxidative stress. The ability of diquat, a compound known to enhance oxidative stress through generation of reactive oxygen species, to modulate the expression of G6PDH in primary cultures of Fischer-rat hepatocytes was examined. Diquat-treated hepatocytes maintained in a chemically defined medium showed both a time- and concentration-dependent increase in G6PDH enzyme activity. This increase in enzyme activity was accounted for by an increase in both G6PDH mRNA and immunoreactive protein, suggesting control at a pretranslational level. The possibility that diquat increased transcription by transfecting cells with a chimeric gene containing 935 bp of the G6PDH promoter (-878 to +57) linked to the gene for chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) was examined. Hepatocytes transiently transfected with this chimera, and subsequently treated with diquat, exhibited an increase in CAT activity. However, hepatocytes transfected with a chimera containing 287 bp of the G6PDH promoter (-230 to +57) exhibited only basal CAT activity in the presence of diquat. These results suggest that regions in the DNA sequences required for diquat-induced expression of G6PDH lie between base pairs -878 and -230 of the G6PDH gene. These findings are suggestive that oxidative stress in hepatocytes increased the expression of G6PDH activity and protein and that the increased expression is controlled at the transcriptional level.

Isolation and sequence of a rat glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter

A 935 bp fragment of the rat glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) gene containing promoter activity was isolated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This fragment was sequenced and primer extension analysis showed a transcription initiation site in agreement with the human and mouse genes. Computer analysis of the sequence showed a 60% and 78% similarity to the human and mouse G6PDH sequences, respectively. A TATA box element, TTAAAT, was found and shown to be 100% similar to the human and mouse TATA box elements. Based on sequence comparison, some putative transcriptional regulatory elements were also found.

Regulation of liver glucose-6-P dehydrogenase levels in female rats

1. Gender differences in the dietary regulation of rat liver glucose-6-P dehydrogenase activity, synthesis and mRNA levels were examined. 2. As expected, in normal rats fed a standard chow diet, females have higher G6PD activity than males because they have more G6PD mRNA and therefore a higher rate of G6PD synthesis. 3. In contrast, the decreased dietary induction in female rats is due to a more rapid rate of G6PD degradation rather than a decrease in G6PD mRNA or synthesis.

Effects of acetaldehyde on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and mRNA levels in primary rat hepatocytes in culture

Ethanol has been shown to induce the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). To clarify the mechanism behind this induction, we examined the role of acetaldehyde (AA), the first product of ethanol metabolism. In primary adult rat hepatocytes maintained in chemically defined medium, we examined the effect of AA on G6PDH activity, mRNA levels and lipid synthesis. We observe a 40% increase in G6PDH activity and a similar increase in mRNA levels, following exposure to 100 microM AA. The increase in activity was found to be maximal at 24 h while mRNA levels increased over controls as early as 3 h. The induction in G6PDH by AA was found to occur at lower concentrations and earlier time points than those reported using ethanol. The role of insulin, a known inducer of G6PDH activity was studied alone and in combination with AA on both G6PDH activity and mRNA levels as well as lipid biosynthesis. Insulin (300 ng/ml) was found to increase G6PDH activity, mRNA levels and [14C]-acetate incorporation into lipid. It was also shown to have an additive effect with AA on G6PDH activity, suggesting their actions are mediated via different mechanistic pathways. No change in [14C]-acetate incorporation into lipid, however, was observed with acetaldehyde alone.

Molecular characterization of the Escherichia coli K-12 zwf gene encoding glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase

In Escherichia coli K-12, expression of zwf, the gene for glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, is coordinated with the cellular growth rate and induced by superoxide-generating agents. To initiate the study of the molecular mechanisms regulating its expression, the gene was cloned and its DNA sequence was determined. The 5' ends of zwf mRNA isolated from cells growing in glucose and acetate minimal media were mapped. The map was complex in that transcripts mapped to -45, -52, and -62, with respect to the beginning of the coding sequence. Three analytical methods were used to search the DNA sequence for putative promoters. Only one sequence for a promoter recognized by the sigma 70 form of RNA polymerase was found by all three search routines that could be aligned with a mapped transcript, indicating that the other transcripts arise by processing of the mRNA. A computer-assisted search did not reveal a thermodynamically stable long-range mRNA secondary structure that is capable of sequestering the translation initiation region, which suggests that growth-rate-dependent regulation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase level may not be carried out by a mechanism similar to the one for the gene (gnd) for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. The DNA segment between the -10 hexamer and the start point of transcription resembles the discriminator sequence of stable RNA genes, which has been implicated in stringent control and growth-rate-dependent regulation.

Solution hybridization quantitation of G6PD mRNA in rat epididymal fat pads

A solution hybridization assay is systematically characterized and used to quantitate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) mRNA from epididymal fat pads in fasted and glucose-induced rats. G6PD mRNA and specific activity increase 9-fold and 2-fold, respectively. The 9-fold increase in G6PD synthesis reported previously (Wolfe et al. (1979) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 89, 108-115) can, therefore, be accounted for by the increase in G6PD mRNA. This solution hybridization assay is sensitive enough to quantitative levels of G6PD mRNA in total liver RNA from a fasted rat, one of the least abundant sources of this mRNA. It can, therefore, be used to answer several questions about the regulation of G6PD synthesis in rat tissues. Preliminary results suggest that the dietary regulation of G6PD mRNA in rat liver is much larger than previously reported.

Quantitation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA by solution hybridization: correlation with rates of synthesis

Rat liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is one of several proteins involved in lipid metabolism whose synthesis is regulated by diet. In experiments reported here, rats were fasted or fed diets until a new steady state level of G6PD was produced. Livers were used to measure G6PD activity, synthesis and mRNA simultaneously. Since accurate quantitation of G6PD mRNA by Northern blots was found to be difficult in noninduced animals a new solution hybridization assay was also used. Noninduced rats have approx. One molecule of G6PD mRNA per liver cell. Changes in G6PD mRNA are larger than previously reported and, at the steady state, can completely account for the 33-fold change in G6PD activity and synthesis when fasted rats are refed a high carbohydrate diet. In contrast, a high fat carbohydrate-free diet does not increase G6PD mRNA and dibutyryl cAMP lowers G6PD mRNA. Since changes in G6PD synthesis and activity are closely correlated, degradation of G6PD is not significantly regulated.

Long-term adaptive response to dietary protein of hexose monophosphate shunt dehydrogenases in rat kidney tubules

We have studied the effects of several different macronutrients on the kinetic behaviour of rat renal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH). Rats were meal-fed with high-carbohydrate/low-protein, high-protein/low-carbohydrate and high-fat diets. High-protein increased renal G6PDH and 6PDGH activities by 66 per cent and 70 per cent respectively, without significantly changing the Km values of either and each Hexose monophosphate dehydrogenase activity increased steadily, reaching a significant difference on day 4. A rise in carbohydrate or fat in the diets, produced no significant change in either the activity or the kinetic parameters, Vmax and Km of the two dehydrogenases. In addition, the administration of a high-protein diet for 8 days significantly increased both the pentose phosphate pathway flux (92.6 per cent) and the kidney weigth (35 per cent), whereas no significant changes in these parameters were found when the animals were treated with the other diets. Our results suggest that an increase in the levels of dietary protein induces a rise in the intracellular levels of these enzymes. The possible role of this metabolic pathway in the kidneys under these nutritional conditions is also discussed.

Effects of nutrients and insulin on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase synthesis in rat liver

The transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase induction of rat liver was investigated using a cDNA cloned in our laboratory. By feeding a carbohydrate/protein diet to fasted rats, the mRNA concentration and enzyme induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) reached maximal levels about 10-fold those in the fasted rats at 16 h and 72 h, respectively, whereas the transcriptional rate was increased about 3-fold in 6 h. In the protein fed (without carbohydrate) group, both the mRNA concentration and enzyme induction were increased to about 60% of the levels in the carbohydrate/protein fed group and in the group fed on a carbohydrate diet (without protein) to 30-40%. Further, dietary fat significantly reduced the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction to less than half, suggesting that dietary fat primarily reduced transcription. Thus, dietary nutrients appear to be involved in the steps preceding the translation. On the other hand, in diabetic rats, the transcriptional rate was significantly decreased as compared to the normal level and restored by insulin-treatment in 4 h. The mRNA concentration was very low in diabetic rats, and was restored to the normal level by insulin treatment in 8 h, and was half restored by fructose feeding. However, the enzyme induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was scarcely restored by fructose, unless accompanied by insulin treatment. Thus, it is suggested that insulin is involved in translation as well as in transcription. Further, the insulin-dependent increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA was blocked by cycloheximide, suggesting that synthesis of a peptide is required.

Regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by diet and thyroid hormone

The regulation of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH; EC 1.1.1.49) RNA by thyroid hormone and high carbohydrate (sucrose) diet was studied. Previous studies from several laboratories have demonstrated that thyroid hormone modulates G6PDH activity. However, the point at which thyroid hormone exerts this regulation has not been adequately addressed. In order to assess the role of thyroid hormone in this regulation, levels of G6PDH mRNA were determined in hypothyroid rats maintained on normal or high carbohydrate diets with or without thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine; T3) supplementation. A dot-blot hybridization procedure with nick-translated cDNA probes was used to directly assess the relative concentrations of G6PDH mRNA. Enzyme activity increased when the animals were treated with T3 and/or placed on a high carbohydrate diet. However, there was no effect of T3 and diet, alone or in combination, on G6PDH mRNA levels in hypothyroid rats. The data suggests that thyroid hormone and high carbohydrate diet are acting at a translational level to increase G6PDH enzyme activity in these animals.

Sex-linked changes in immunoreactive glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat liver

The level of hepatic immunoreactive glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase protein was found to correlate well with the enzyme activity in adult rats fed the stock laboratory diet in a variety of hormonal conditions. The amount of immunoreactive protein and enzyme activity was 2-fold greater in sexually mature female rats compared with aged matched male animals. However, this difference was absent in diabetic animals, and furthermore although triiodothyronine administration to the diabetic male rat could restore the level of enzyme activity to that of the normoglycaemic animal, it was much less effective in the female animal. In contrast, administration of insulin to the normoglycaemic animal increased the level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the female, but was without effect in the male. These results are discussed in relation to the possible role of thyroid status and steroid sex hormones in the regulation of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Ethanol-glucocorticoid regulation of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The effect of ethanol, alone and in combination with glucocorticoid and insulin, on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH; EC 1.1.1.49) was studied in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes maintained in a chemically defined medium. Maintenance of hepatocytes from fasted animals in a culture medium devoid of hormones and ethanol resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in G6PDH activity in 48 hr. Parallel cultures treated with glucocorticoid and insulin or glucocorticoid, insulin and ethanol stimulated enzyme activity 6- and 9-fold, respectively in 48 hr. Treatment with ethanol for 48 hr potentiated basal and glucocorticoid plus insulin-induced enzyme activity 1.4-fold. The activity of G6PDH mRNA, estimated by cell-free translation of hepatic mRNA in a mRNA-dependent reticulocyte lysate and by RNA dot-blot hybridization, was compared with enzyme activity and relative rate of G6PDH synthesis. The increases in enzyme activity observed in response to glucocorticoid and insulin or ethanol, alone or in combination with glucocorticoid and insulin, were paralleled by comparable increases in the rate of synthesis and mRNA levels of G6PDH. The results of this study show that the glucocorticoids, insulin and ethanol interact to stimulate the synthesis of G6PDH primarily by increasing the concentration of G6PDH mRNA.