Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase explained

Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase
Ec Number:2.7.1.106
Cas Number:56214-39-2

Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase is a type of enzyme called a phosphotransferase and is involved in mammalian starch and sucrose metabolism (KEGG, 2.7.1.106). It catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to glucose-1-phosphate, yielding 3-phosphoglycerate and glucose-1,6-bisphosphate.[1]

(image courtesy of the BRENDA enzyme database)

The enzyme requires a divalent metal ion cofactor. Zinc (Zn2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Manganese (Mn2+), Calcium (Ca2+), Nickel (Ni2+), Copper (Cu2+), Cadmium (Cd2+) are all proven effective cofactors in vitro. Additionally, the enzyme appears to function optimally in a pH range from 7.3–8.7 and at a temperature of 25 °C.[1]

Metabolic significance of the catalyzed reaction

The main product, glucose-1,6-bisphosphate, appears to have several functions:

1. Inhibition of hexokinase, an enzyme used in the first step of glycolysis.[2]

2. Activation of phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) and pyruvate kinase, both of which are enzymes involved in activation of the glycolytic pathway.[2] [3]

3. It acts as a coenzyme for phosphoglucomutase in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.[4]

4. It acts as a cofactor for phosphopentomutase, which produces D-ribose-5-phosphate.[5] 5. acts as a phosphate donor molecule for unknown nonmetabolic effector proteins.[4]

6. It increases in concentration during skeletal muscle contraction.[6]

7. Its dephosphorylation yields glucose-6-phosphate, which is an important precursor molecule in glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway.

Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate is most likely used in correlation with gluconeolysis. The product’s inhibition of hexokinase and activation of PFK-1 and pyruvate kinase is indicative of its role in glycolysis. Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate inhibit hexokinase stopping the production glucose-6-phosphate from D-glucose. Its activation of PFK-1 and pyruvate kinase shows that glycolysis still continues without the production of glucose-6-phosphate from D-glucose. This means that the glucose-6-phosphate needed for glycolysis most likely comes from gluconeolysis.

The reactant glucose-1-phosphate is produced by gluconeolysis.[7] This reactant can also form D-glucose-6-phosphate,[8] which is needed for glycolysis. It can therefore be inferred that it is possible when glucose-1-phosphate is produced, it makes glucose-1,6-bisphosphate (with glucose-1,6-bisophosphate synthase) and glucose-6-phosphate. The glucose-1,6-bisphosphate increase the activity of glycolysis, of which glucose-6-phosphate is a reagent.

In addition, one of the reactants (1,3-bisphosphoglycerate) and one of the products(3-phosphoglycerate) are intermediates in the 'payoff' phase of glycolysis. In other words, two molecules involved with glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase are able to be both created and recycled in the glycolytic pathway.

The reactant glucose 1-phosphate is an important precursor molecule inmany different pathways, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis andthe pentose phosphate pathway.

Regulation of the enzyme

Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase is allosterically inhibited by inorganic phosphate, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate (a product), citrate, lithium, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and acetyl CoA.[1]

The inhibition of the enzyme by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is most likely a feedback inhibition due to the product of the enzyme (glucose-1,6-bisphosphate) activation of PFK-1 (the enzyme which produces fructose-1,6-bisphosphate). When too much fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is produced, it inhibited the production of more PFK-1 activator.

The enzyme is also inhibited by PEP, which is a reagent of pyruvate kinase. The product of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase (glucose-1,6-bisphosphate) activates pyruvate kinase.

Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase appears to be activated by the presence of one of its substrates: 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (glycerate-1,3-bisphosphate).[6]

Enzyme structure

No structure determination of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase has been documented to date. Nevertheless, studies have shown that its structure appears to be markedly similar to a related enzyme called phosphoglucomutase. Both enzymes contain serine linked phosphates in their active sites, both have the same molecular weights, and both require a metal ion cofactor. Perhaps most importantly, both enzymes produce glucose-1,6-bisphosphate as either a product or an intermediate.[9]

Relevant links

KEGG: starch and sucrose metabolism with glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase (EC# 2.7.1.106)
http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/show_pathway?map00500+2.7.1.106

BRENDA enzyme database link for glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase (EC# 2.7.1.106)
http://www.brenda.uni-koeln.de/php/result_flat.php4?ecno=2.7.1.106

Structure of phosphoglucomutase in the protein data bank
http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/explore.do?structureId=1LXT

Notes and References

  1. Rose IA, Warms JV, Kaklij G . A specific enzyme for glucose 1,6-bisphosphate synthesis . J. Biol. Chem. . 250 . 9 . 3466–70 . May 1975 . 235548 .
  2. Piatti E, Accorsi A, Piacentini MP, Fazi A . Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate-overloaded erythrocytes: a strategy to investigate the metabolic role of the bisphosphate in red blood cells . Arch. Biochem. Biophys. . 293 . 1 . 117–21 . February 1992 . 1309980 . 10.1016/0003-9861(92)90373-5.
  3. Bassols AM, Carreras J, Cussó R . Changes in glucose 1,6-bisphosphate content in rat skeletal muscle during contraction . Biochem. J. . 240 . 3 . 747–51 . December 1986 . 3827864 . 1147482 . 10.1042/bj2400747.
  4. Yip V, Pusateri ME, Carter J, Rose IA, Lowry OH . Distribution of the glucose-1,6-bisphosphate system in brain and retina . J. Neurochem. . 50 . 2 . 594–602 . February 1988 . 2826701 . 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb02952.x.
  5. Kammen HO, Koo R . Phosphopentomutases. I. Identification of two activities in rabbit tissues . J. Biol. Chem. . 244 . 18 . 4888–93 . September 1969 . 5824563 .
  6. Lee AD, Katz A . Transient increase in glucose 1,6-bisphosphate in human skeletal muscle during isometric contraction . Biochem. J. . 258 . 3 . 915–8 . March 1989 . 2730576 . 1138452 . 10.1042/bj2580915.
  7. Cowgill RW . Lobster muscle phosphorylase: purification and properties . J. Biol. Chem. . 234 . 3146–53 . December 1959 . 13812491 .
  8. Joshi JG, Handler P . PHOSPHOGLUCOMUTASE. I. PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF PHOSPHOGLUCOMUTASE FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI . J. Biol. Chem. . 239 . 2741–51 . September 1964 . 14216423 .
  9. Rose IA, Warms JV, Wong LJ . Inhibitors of glucose-1,6-bisphosphate synthase . J. Biol. Chem. . 252 . 12 . 4262–8 . June 1977 . 558982 .