Project description:The hexosamine pathway (HP) is a key anabolic pathway whose product uridine 5’-diphospho-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is an essential precursor for all glycosylation processes in mammals. It modulates the ER stress response, is implicated in cancer and diabetes, and HP activation extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. The highly conserved glutamine fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase 1 (GFAT 1) is the first and rate-limiting HP enzyme. GFAT 1 activity is modulated through UDP-GlcNAc feedback inhibition and by kinase signaling, including Ser205 phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA). The consequence and molecular mechanism of GFAT 1 PKA phosphorylation, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the GFAT 1 R203H substitution that elevates UDP-GlcNAc levels in C. elegans, leading to ER stress resistance. In human GFAT-1, the R203H substitution interfered with UDP-GlcNAc inhibition and with PKA-mediated Ser205 phosphorylation. Of note, Ser205 phosphorylation had two discernible effects: It lowered baseline GFAT 1 activity while abolishing UDP-GlcNAc feedback inhibition. Thus, GFAT-1 phosphorylation by PKA uncoupled the feedback loop of the HP and depending on UDP-GlcNAc availability, phosphorylation by PKA lowers or enhances GFAT 1 activity in vivo. Mechanistically, our data indicate that the relative positioning of the two GFAT 1 domains might be affected by phosphorylation and we propose a model how Ser205 phosphorylation modulates the activity and feedback inhibition of GFAT 1.
Project description:Within this study we demostrate that NleB2 from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is a arginine-glucose transferase. Using in vitro and in vivo assays we demostrate that control of the utelisation of UDP-GlcNAc or UDP-Glc is controlled by a single amino acid.
Project description:UDP-sugars were identified as extracellular signaling molecules, assigning a new function to these compounds in addition to their well defined role in intracellular substrate metabolism and storage. Previously regarded as an orphan receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) P2Y14 (GPR105) was found to bind extracellular UDP and UDP-sugars. Little is known about the physiological functions of this GPCR. To study its physiological role we used a gene-deficient (KO) mouse strain expressing the bacterial LacZ reporter gene to monitor the physiological expression pattern of P2Y14. We found that P2Y14 is mainly expressed in pancreas and salivary glands and in subpopulations of smooth muscle cells of the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, lung and uterus. Among other phenotypical differences KO mice showed a significantly impaired glucose tolerance following oral and intraperitoneal glucose application. An unchanged insulin tolerance suggested altered pancreatic islet function. Transcriptome analysis of pancreatic islets showed that P2Y14 deficiency significantly changed expression of components involved in insulin secretion. Insulin secretion tests revealed a reduced insulin release from P2Y14-deficient islets highlighting P2Y14 as a new modulator of proper insulin secretion. 10 samples from pancreatic islets isolated from wildtype mice; 10 samples from pancreatic islets isolated from P2Y14-knockout mice
Project description:UDP-sugars were identified as extracellular signaling molecules, assigning a new function to these compounds in addition to their well defined role in intracellular substrate metabolism and storage. Previously regarded as an orphan receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) P2Y14 (GPR105) was found to bind extracellular UDP and UDP-sugars. Little is known about the physiological functions of this GPCR. To study its physiological role we used a gene-deficient (KO) mouse strain expressing the bacterial LacZ reporter gene to monitor the physiological expression pattern of P2Y14. We found that P2Y14 is mainly expressed in pancreas and salivary glands and in subpopulations of smooth muscle cells of the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, lung and uterus. Among other phenotypical differences KO mice showed a significantly impaired glucose tolerance following oral and intraperitoneal glucose application. An unchanged insulin tolerance suggested altered pancreatic islet function. Transcriptome analysis of pancreatic islets showed that P2Y14 deficiency significantly changed expression of components involved in insulin secretion. Insulin secretion tests revealed a reduced insulin release from P2Y14-deficient islets highlighting P2Y14 as a new modulator of proper insulin secretion.
Project description:Tamoxifen-induced deletion of endogenous GlcCer-synthesizing enzyme UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) in keratin K14-positive cells results in epidermal GlcCer depletion. We used microarrays to investigate the molecular consequences of Ugcg-depleted mouse epidermis.
Project description:Characterization of genes specifically expressed in mouse primary quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSC) compared to the whole liver by RNA-sequencing and single cell RNA sequencing as well as effect of UDP-glucose treatment on mouse primary HSC.
Project description:To better understand the pathophysiology of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) deficiency in humans, we studied the mechanisms by which a GALT-deficient yeast survived on galactose medium. Under normal conditions, GALT-deficient yeast cannot grow in medium that contains 0.2% galactose as the sole carbohydrate, a phenotype of Gal(-). We isolated revertants from a GALT-deficient yeast by direct selection for growth in galactose, a phenotype of Gal(+). Comparison of gene expression profiles among wild-type and revertant strains on galactose medium revealed that the revertant down-regulated genes encoding enzymes including galactokinase, galactose permease, and UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (the GAL regulon). By contrast, the revertant strain up-regulated the gene for UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, UGP1. There was reduced accumulation of galactose-1-phosphate in the galactose-grown revertant cells when compared to the GALT-deficient parent cells.
Project description:In Trypanosoma brucei, there are fourteen enzymatic biotransformations that collectively convert glucose into five essential nucleotide sugars: UDP-Glc, UDP-Gal, UDP-GlcNAc, GDP-Man and GDP-Fuc. These biotransformations are catalyzed by thirteen discrete enzymes, five of which possess putative peroxisome targeting sequences. Published experimental analyses using immunofluorescence microscopy and/or digitonin latency and/or subcellular fractionation and/or organelle proteomics have localized eight and six of these enzymes to the glycosomes of bloodstream form and procyclic form T. brucei, respectively. Here we increase these glycosome localizations to eleven in both lifecycle stages while noting that one, phospho-N-acetylglucosamine mutase, also localizes to the cytoplasm. In the course of these studies, the heterogeneity of glycosome contents was also noted. These data suggest that, unlike other eukaryotes, all of nucleotide sugar biosynthesis in T. brucei is compartmentalized to the glycosomes in both lifecycle stages.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE22334: Induction of apoptotic processes in Capan-1 pancreatic carcinoma cells by restoration of p16INK4a expression GSE22336: UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase (GNE) is an inducer of apoptotic processes in Capan-1 pancreatic carcinoma cells: GNE silencing Refer to individual Series
Project description:Tamoxifen-induced deletion of endogenous GlcCer-synthesizing enzyme UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) in keratin K14-positive cells results in epidermal GlcCer depletion. We used microarrays to investigate the molecular consequences of Ugcg-depleted mouse epidermis. Ugcgfl/fl K14CreERT2 vs. Ugcgfl/fl samples taken at day 21 post tamoxifen induction