Gluconeogenesis, Glycogen Metabolism, and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway

Objectives:
I. Describe gluconeogenesis and its metabolic role.
A. Cite two reasons why gluconeogenesis is not the simple reverse of glycolysis.
B. Compare glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.
1. What enzymes are different?
2. Why are additional enzymes involved / necessary?
C. Discuss the control points of gluconeogenesis.
1. Which enzyme(s) is(are) allosteric?
2. Describe the allosteric effectors and how they effect the enzymes.
3. Compare / Contrast the control points of gluconeogenesis with the control points of
glycolysis.
II. Describe the process of glycogenolysis.
A. Name the enzyme(s) that catalyzes glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen).
B. Discuss the control points of glycogenolysis.
1. Which enzyme(s) is(are) allosteric?
2. Describe the allosteric effectors and how they effect the enzymes.
III. Describe the process of glycogenesis.
A. Name the enzyme(s) that catalyzes glycogenesis (the synthesis of glycogen).
B. Discuss the control points of glycogenesis.
1. Which enzyme(s) is(are) allosteric?
2. Describe the allosteric effectors and how they effect the enzymes
IV. Pentose Phosphate Pathway or Hexose Monophosphate Shunt.
A. What are the important products of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway?
B. Why are these products important to the cell?
C. Discuss the importance of the oxidative phase of the pathway.
1. Discuss the control points of the oxidative phase of the Pentose Pathway.
a) Describe the allosteric effectors and how they effect the enzymes.
D. Discuss the importance of the recovery (regeneration) phase of the pathway.
1. What is the biochemical importance of the products?
V. Explain the roles of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, and glycogenesis in controlling
blood sugar levels.
VI. Integrate glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glycogenesis, and the pentose phosphate
pathway.
A. Allosteric control points.
B. The effects of glucagon, insulin, and epinephrine on these pathways and on blood sugar levels.
C. Summarize the regulation of blood glucose levels by glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis
and glycogenolysis in the liver.
D. Summarize the regulation of glucose metabolism by glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis
and glycogenolysis in skeletal muscle.
VII. Cori Cycle
A. What is the Cori Cycle?
B. What is the function of the Cori Cycle?
C. How does it accomplish its function?

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 D. Can the Cori Cycle function indefinitely?
VIII. Ask yourself “What If Questions”; e.g., Blood glucose levels drop because of exercise, what
hormone is released, which tissues respond, how???

Background

Glycolysis, the TCA Cycle, and the Electron Transport/Oxidative Phosphorylation Pathway when
functioning together generate a large quantity of ATP by the complete oxidation of glucose to CO2 and H2O.
There are several enzymatic reactions and/or pathways that utilize carbohydrates that need to be examined.
Pathways for:
1. the synthesis new glucose from three and four carbon metabolic intermediates
2. the synthesis of glycogen from glucose
3. the breakdown of glycogen to glucose and glucose-6-phosphate for entry into metabolism
need to be explored.

Finally, the PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY (HEXOSE MONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT) will be discussed. This
pathway serves three functions
1. It generates NADPH for reductive biosynthesis.
2. It generates ribose for nucleotide biosynthesis.
3. It converts excess pentoses into hexoses for entry into the other pathways of carbohydrate
metabolism.

Gluconeogenesis

The body strives to maintain glucose at a concentration of about 1 mg/mL in the blood. It is maintained at
this level in order to have a constant supply for the glucose dependent tissues. Four tissues are dependent
upon glucose alone for energy generation. Red blood cells are absolutely glucose dependent since they have
only glycolysis for energy generation. In the fed state, nervous tissue, adrenal medulla, and testis/ovaries
use only glucose for their energy generation. In the starvation state these three tissues can adapt to other
energy sources if the starvation comes on slowly. After a meal, Insulin stimulates all of the tissues of the
body to take glucose from the blood and utilize it for energy generation and biosynthesis. Between meals,
during a short fast, when blood glucose levels begin to fall, most tissues utilize fatty acids or amino acids to
meet their energy needs sparing the glucose that remains for the four glucose dependent tissues. Glucose is
released from stored glycogen and is synthesized to meet the needs of the glucose dependent tissues.

GLUCONEOGENESIS is the synthesis of “new” glucose from three or four carbon precursors. The three
carbon precursors for gluconeogenesis are lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol. Lactate is obtained from the
constant anaerobic glycolysis in the Red Blood Cell and the occasional anaerobic glycolysis in Skeletal
Muscle. Pyruvate is obtained primarily from amino acid catabolism, and glycerol is from triacylglycerol
catabolism. Oxaloacetate is the four carbon precursor. It is obtained from excess TCA cycle intermediates
and from amino acid catabolism. Gluconeogenesis is a cytosolic process occurring primarily in the liver
and kidney. Under normal conditions the liver performs about 90% of the gluconeogenesis in the human
animal, kidney about 10%, and the small intestine less than 1%. The liver employs gluconeogenesis to
maintain blood glucose levels using lactate, amino acid carbon skeletons, and glycerol as the starting
materials. Gluconeogenesis in the kidney primarily employs the carbon skeletons of amino acids as

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precursors. The amino group is removed from the amino acid as NH4+ and used by the kidney to buffer
excreted metabolic acids. During starvation kidney can perform up to 50% of the gluconeogenesis
necessary to sustain the organism. Kidney takes over this process during starvation in order to produce
sufficient NH4+ to buffer the metabolic acids and to free the liver for ketone body synthesis. The small
intestine performs gluconeogenesis on the glycolytic intermediates released from the ingested food and
absorbed by the cells of the small intestine. The resulting glucose is released into the blood.

Skeletal muscle, while containing the enzymes required for gluconeogenesis, has a very limited
gluconeogenic capacity (<1% of the glucose produced). The lactate produced by anaerobic glycolysis in
skeletal muscle is transported to the liver and converted to glucose by the liver. The subunit composition
and Km of skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase would require extremely high concentrations of lactate in
order for the lactate to pyruvate reaction to occur. The necessary concentration is difficult to attain in
skeletal muscle due to the efficiency of the transporter that moves lactate from the cell into the blood.
Gluconeogenesis in skeletal muscle is primarily used to reduce the concentration of glycolytic intermediates
after a bout of prolonged or extreme contraction. Skeletal muscle converts the intermediates prior to
pyruvate back to glucose-6-phosphate and stores this glucose as glycogen. Any pyruvate formed by
prolonged contraction is either converted to lactate and the lactate is released to the liver for
gluconeogenesis or when the muscle is again well oxygenated it is converted to acetyl-CoA for the TCA
cycle.

Gluconeogenesis - The Pathway

Entry of glycerol into gluconeogenesis will be discussed with triacylglycerol metabolism. This discussion
centers around the utilization of lactate, pyruvate, and oxaloacetate for gluconeogenesis. Since seven of the
ten reactions of glycolysis are freely reversible, these same “glycolytic” enzymes are used during
gluconeogenesis, but in the “reverse” direction. There are three irreversible steps in glycolysis, the reactions
catalyzed by Pyruvate Kinase, Phosphofructokinase-1, and Hexokinase. Different enzymes must be used to
bypassed these irreversible steps during gluconeogenesis.

With lactate, pyruvate, or oxaloacetate as the precursors, the first steps of gluconeogenesis is the conversion
of these starting materials into phosphoenolpyruvate. Since the reaction catalyzed by Pyruvate Kinase is
irreversible, a different set of enzymes need to be employed for this conversion. The conversion of each of
these three precursors into phosphoenolpyruvate follow slightly different paths. Remember these reactions
are occurring primarily in the liver (≈90%) and to a lesser extent in the kidney (≈10%), small intestine
(≈1%), and skeletal muscle (
1%).

The lactate from anaerobic glycolysis (RBC always; skeletal muscle under “stressed” conditions) is
converted to pyruvate by Lactate Dehydrogenase in the cytosol. The pyruvate is transported from the
cytosol into the mitochondria and once in the mitochondria the pyruvate is converted to oxaloacetate by the
action of Pyruvate Carboxylase. The enzyme requires Biotin as a prosthetic group. This reaction is one of
the anapleurotic reactions of the TCA cycle previously discussed.

This “new” oxaloacetate is converted to phosphoenolpyruvate by the action of the mitochondrial isoenzyme
of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEP Carboxykinase). The resulting phosphoenolpyruvate is
transported out of the mitochondria for gluconeogenesis.
3 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016
 Amino Acids Lactate
NAD
Lactate Dehydrogenase
NADH

Pyruvate Pyruvate

O O

C O C O
H3C C H3C C

O O
Pyruvate Pyruvate
– –
ATP + HCO3 ATP + HCO3
Amino Acids Pyruvate Carboxylase Pyruvate Carboxylase
ADP ADP

O O O O

C C O C C O
O C C O C C
H2 H2
O O
Oxaloacetate Oxaloacetate
NADH GTP
O
Malate Dehydrogenase O PEP Carboxykinase
P –
NAD GDP + HCO3
O
O OH O
C O
C C O H2C C
O C H C
H2 O
O
Malate Phosphoenolpyruvate

Malate
NAD
Malate Dehydrogenase
NADH

Oxaloacetate
GTP
PEP Carboxykinase
–
GDP + HCO3

Phosphoenolpyruvate

When pyruvate from amino acid catabolism is the starting material, the pyruvate is either produced in the

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mitochondria or transported from the cytosol to the mitochondria. Once in the mitochondria the pyruvate is
converted to oxaloacetate by the action of Pyruvate Carboxylase. The oxaloacetate generated from pyruvate
is then converted to malate by the action of the mitochondrial isoenzyme of Malate Dehydrogenase, the
TCA cycle enzyme running in the reverse direction. Malate is transported from the mitochondria to the
cytoplasm by a transport protein, and once in the cytoplasm it is converted back to oxaloacetate by the
action of the cytoplasmic isoenzyme of Malate Dehydrogenase. The net result of these three reactions is the
conversion of pyruvate in the cytoplasm to oxaloacetate in the cytoplasm. Oxaloacetate in the cytoplasm is
converted to phosphoenolpyruvate by the action of the cytoplasmic isoenzyme of Phosphoenolpyruvate
Carboxykinase (PEP Carboxykinase). The resulting phosphoenolpyruvate enters gluconeogenesis.

The starting material oxaloacetate is generated in the mitochondria from amino acid catabolism or it is
drawn out of the TCA cycle to slow the pathway. The oxaloacetate is converted to malate by the action of
the mitochondrial isoenzyme of Malate Dehydrogenase, the TCA cycle enzyme running in the reverse
direction. Malate is transported from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm by a transport protein, and once in
the cytoplasm it is converted back to oxaloacetate by the action of the cytoplasmic isoenzyme of Malate
Dehydrogenase. As seen above, the oxaloacetate formed in the cytoplasm is converted to
phosphoenolpyruvate by the action of the cytoplasmic isoenzyme of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase
(PEP Carboxykinase) and the resulting phosphoenolpyruvate enters gluconeogenesis.

Although, it may not be immediately apparent, there is logic behind these different pathways. During
gluconeogenesis, NADH in the cytoplasm is required for the Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase
step. In the cytoplasm the ratio of [NADH] / [NAD] is normally very low, about 8 × 10–4. These different
pathways generate NADH in the cytoplasm, assuring that there is sufficient NADH for gluconeogenesis.

Two phosphoenolpyruvate molecules are converted to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate by the glycolytic enzymes

catalyzing the “reverse” reactions. Once fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is synthesized for gluconeogenesis a
new enzyme is employed to bypass the irreversible phosphofructokinase-1 step of glycolysis. The
conversion of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to fructose-6-phosphate is catalyzed by the enzyme Fructose-1,6-
bisphosphatase.

Gluconeogenesis in the liver, and to a lesser extent the kidney, is stimulated by the hormone glucagon and in
this case the new glucose is used to maintain blood glucose levels. In these two tissues the glucose-6-
phosphate is converted to glucose by the action of the hydrolase Glucose-6-phosphatase. Glucose-6-
phosphatase is found in liver, kidney, and the small intestine. The liver (primarily) and kidney (secondarily
& during starvation) uses this reaction to maintain blood glucose concentrations. Small intestine uses this
enzyme as a digestive enzyme. Glucose-6-phosphatase is part of a multimeric intrinsic protein embedded in
the membrane of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of these tissues.

This system consists of six different proteins:

(1) Glucose-6-phosphate transport protein
(2) Glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit
(3) Glucose-6-phosphatase regulating protein
(4) Microsomal phosphate transport protein
(5) Microsomal phosphate/pyrophosphate transport protein
(6) Microsomal glucose transport protein (GluT7).

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Glucose-6-phosphate transport protein brings glucose-6-phosphate into the lumen of the ER where the
Glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit / Glucose-6-phosphatase regulating protein complex catalyzes the
hydrolytic removal of phosphate. Microsomal phosphate transport protein and/or Microsomal phosphate/
pyrophosphate transport protein moves the phosphate into the cytoplasm and Microsomal glucose transport
protein (GluT7) moves the glucose into the cytoplasm. As the cytoplasmic concentration of glucose
increases above that in plasma the GluT2 transport protein moves the glucose from the cell to the blood.

Phosphoenolpyruvate

Enolase

2-Phosphoglycerate

Phosphoglycerate Mutase

3-Phosphoglycerate
ATP

PO4–3 Phosphoglycerate Kinase

ADP

1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate
NADH

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase
NAD

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dihydroxyacetone phosphate

Triosephosphate Isomerase

Aldolase
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
H2O
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase
PO4–3

Fructose-6-phosphate

Phosphohexose Isomerase

Glucose-6-phosphate
H2O
Glucose-6-phosphatase
PO4–3

Glucose

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 Glucose-6-
phosphate
Phosphate
Glucose




     






Glucose-6-
phosphate

Phosphate

Glucose

Energetics of Gluconeogenesis

When the cell uses lactate or pyruvate as the precursor for gluconeogenesis, six high energy phosphate
bonds are required for the synthesis of one glucose molecule. Two high energy phosphate bonds are used
for the conversion of lactate or pyruvate to phosphoenolpyruvate; one from ATP the other from GTP. A
third is used to convert 3-phosphoglycerate to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Since two lactate or pyruvate are
required for one glucose a total of six high energy phosphate bonds are required. Oxaloacetate as a
precursor spares two high energy phosphate bonds; only four high energy phosphate bonds are required per
glucose synthesized.

Control of Gluconeogenesis

Pyruvate carboxylase is an allosteric enzyme activated by Acetyl-CoA and ATP. In the absence of acetyl-
CoA this enzyme has little activity. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is also an allosteric enzyme. It is
allosterically inhibited by AMP and Fructose-2-6-bisphosphate.

Insulin also plays a role in controlling gluconeogenesis. Insulin, when present after a carbohydrate rich
meal, inhibits the synthesis of Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and
Glucose-6-phosphatase. Glucagon has the opposite effect, it stimulates the synthesis of these three
enzymes.

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 Glycogen Metabolism - An Overview

Glycogen is the storage form of glucose in mammalian tissues. All tissues are able to store glycogen to a
greater or lesser extent. Liver and skeletal muscle are the major sites of glycogen storage. The kidney ranks
third. Heart muscle, platelets, and adipose tissue store a small but measurable amount. Liver and kidney
store glycogen in times of high blood glucose concentrations, in times of plenty. When blood glucose
begins to drop below normal levels the glycogen is broken down and the resluting is glucose released into
the blood. Muscle stores glycogen as a quick source of glucose for prolonged or rapid muscle contraction.

Glycogenolysis - Glycogen Breakdown

HOC
H2

C
C O HOC
H2
OH
OH C
C C
C O
C
OH
O
OH C
C
C
O
O OH
Glycogen
O P OH

Glycogen Phosphorylase A
(Phosphorylase A)

CH 2 OH

C O CH
2 OH

C
C OH C O
C O

O P O OH
OH C C
OH
C C
OH O
C
O
Glucose-1-Phosphate OH

Glycogen

GLYCOGENOLYSIS is the metabolic breakdown of glycogen. Glycogen is broken down into glucose-6-
phosphate and glucose by the action of three enzymes. The enzyme Glycogen Phosphorylase A (or more
simply Phosphorylase A {“A” indicates the “active” form}) catalyzes the PHOSPHOROLYSIS of glycogen at
the numerous nonreducing ends of the molecule. Phosphorylase A belongs to the hydrolysis class of
enzymes. Hydrolysis is the cleavage of a chemical bond by adding HO-H across the bond; phosphorolysis
is similar, except HO-PO3–2 is added across the chemical bond. The reaction catalyzed by Glycogen

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Phosphorylase A is depicted below. Each time Phosphorylase A catalyzes its reaction a glucose-1-phosphate
and glycogen molecule one residue shorter is produced.

Debranching Enzyme
{Oligo (1,6  1,4) Glucantransferase}

H2O
Debranching Enzyme
{Oligo (1,6  1,4) Glucantransferase}

Phosphorylase A is forced to stop the phosphorolysis process four glucose residues from an α1 → 6
branch point. Glycogen phosphorylase A is non reactive toward the last four glucose residues of a
glycogen branch; this structure does not fit into its substrate/active site. This shortened “branch” of
the glycogen “tree” is called the Limit Dextrin. Before Phosphorylase can continue its action, the
branch point of the limit dextrin must be removed. This is accomplished by the action of
Debranching Enzyme or Oligo (1,6 → 1,4) Glucantransferase. This enzyme catalyzes a two step
reaction. First, it moves 3 of the 4 remaining glucose residues from the limit dextrin to the non
reducing end of a nearby glycogen branch. Second, it hydrolytically cleaves the α1 → 6 branch point
releasing a molecule of glucose.

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The glucose-1-phosphate that is formed by the action of glycogen phosphorylase is converted to glucose-6-
phosphate by the reversible action of Phosphoglucomutase. In liver and kidney, the stored glycogen is used
to maintain blood glucose levels. The glucose-6-phosphate coming from glycogen is converted to glucose
by Glucose-6-Phosphatase. Only liver, kidney, and the small intestine contain Glucose-6-Phosphatase.
Once in the blood stream, the glucose is used by other tissues, especially nervous tissue, red blood cells, and
the adrenal medulla. In all other tissues, especially skeletal muscle cells the glucose-6-phosphate enters
glycolysis for energy generation.

Control of Glycogenolysis

Glycogen Phosphorylase is controlled by reversible covalent modification. When blood glucose

concentrations drop Glucagon is released from the pancreas and Protein Kinase A is activated in the liver.
In skeletal muscle Epinephrine, via the Gs effector system activates Protein Kinase A Glycogen
Phosphorylase Kinase (or more simply Phosphorylase Kinase), a very specific protein kinase, is activated
when phosphorylated by Protein Kinase A. The phosphorylated active form of Glycogen Phosphorylase
Kinase then adds phosphate to Glycogen Phosphorylase converting the enzyme from the totally inactive
form Glycogen Phosphorylase B to the active form Glycogen Phosphorylase A. Glycogen Phosphorylase A
is an allosteric enzyme. In the liver it is allosterically inhibited by Glucose. In skeletal muscle it is
allosterically activated by Ca2+ and AMP and allosterically inhibited by ATP. Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 1
catalyzes the hydrolytic removal of phosphate from Phosphorylase A converting it into the inactive
Phosphorylase B.

Glycogenesis - Glycogen Synthesis

In times of high blood glucose concentrations the body stores some Glucose
ATP
of the glucose in the form of glycogen. Liver and skeletal muscle
are the major sites of glycogen storage. Kidney, heart, platelets, and   
 
adipose tissue store glycogen to a lesser extent. GLYCOGENESIS is
the pathway that stores glucose as glycogen. ADP
Glucose-6-
Before glucose can be polymerized into glycogen it must be phosphate
activated. Glucose is phosphorylated by Hexokinase forming
glucose-6-phosphate. This reaction traps the glucose in the cell and
forms a pool of glucose-6-phosphate that is drawn upon, based on 

cellular needs, by the various metabolic pathways. To activate the
glucose-6-phosphate for GLYCOGENESIS and other anabolic
polymerization reactions it is converted to glucose-1-phosphate by Glucose-1-
the reversible action of Phosphoglucomutase and the Glucose-1- phosphate
phosphate is then coupled to UTP by the action of UDP-Glucose UTP
pyrophosphorylase forming UDP-Glucose and P2O7


(pyrophosphate). This reaction is energy expensive since the release

of pyrophosphate from UTP and its subsequent hydrolysis into
phosphate ions by Inorganic pyrophosphatase liberates the same P2O7
amount of energy as the hydrolysis of two ATP to ADP. UDP- UDP-Glucose
glucose is the activated form of glucose used for biosynthesis and

10 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

galactose metabolism.

De novo glycogen synthesis (GLYCOGENESIS) starts on a

HO O
protein called Glycogenin. Glycogenin forms a tight CH2

complex with Glycogen Synthase, and once this complex C O NH

is formed a glucose from UDP-glucose is transferred to a C OH C O O

N O
specific Tyrosine residue on Glycogenin. Glycogenin is OH C C O P O P O
CH2
the catalyst for this first step in the synthesis process. The OH OH OH O

anomeric carbon of glucose, the reducing end of glucose,

is attached to the tyrosine of glycogenin. Glycogenin now OH OH

catalyzes the formation of a short polysaccharide by

transferring seven (7) additional glucose residues from UDP-glucose to the glucose residues previously
attached to glycogenin. All of the glycosidic bonds in this short polymer are α1 → 4. This short
oligosaccharide (8 glucose residues) synthesized on glycogenin serves as a substrate for the two enzymes
that synthesize the remainder of the glycogen “tree”.

 

O
OH

Glycogenin
OH
OH
Glycogenin O

OH
OH

UDP–
glucose UDP
7 UDP–
glucose
 


  
7 UDP

HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO

O O O O O O O O

OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH
HO

OH
O

OH
O

OH
O

OH
O

OH
O

OH
O

OH
O

OH
O
Glycogenin

Glycogen Synthase catalyzes the transfer of glucose from UDP-glucose to the C-4 hydroxyl group at the
non reducing end(s) of the growing glycogen molecule.

OH OH
  OH OH



O O O O

OH OH OH OH

O OH O OH
O O
OH OH OH OH
OH OH OH HO OH OH OH OH HO OH OH
H2C

O O O O O O O O O O O O O C

OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH C OH C

O O O O O OH O O O O O O OH
C C

OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH

UDP–
glucose UDP

11 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

Branching Enzyme or Amylo (1,4 → 1,6) Transglycosylase removes the last 6 or 7 glucose residues from
the nonreducing end of a growing branch at least 11 residues long and transfers them to the C-6 hydroxyl of
a glucose residue of the same chain or another chain forming the α1 → 6 branch point. Each branching
reaction adds a new non reducing end at which growth can occur.

 




→

 

Control of Glycogenesis

Glycogen Synthase is controlled by reversible covalent modification and allosterically. Glycogen Synthase
is a substrate for cAMP Dependent Protein Kinase (Protein Kinase A) {Gs effector system}, Glycogen
Phosphorylase Kinase {Gs effector system}, Protein Kinase C {Gq effector system}, Calmodulin-Dependent
Protein Kinase {Gq effector system}, and/or Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 {Insulin system}. When
Glycogen Synthase is phosphorylated, it is inactive and under very tight allosteric control. The
phosphorylated from of the enzyme is called Glycogen Synthase D (Dependent). This form of the enzyme
is dependent upon the concentration of glucose-6-phosphate for activity. It is strongly allosterically
activated by glucose-6-phosphate. The dephosphorylated form is the active / Independent form. When
dephosphorylated it is Independent of allosteric control (Glycogen Synthase I) and functioning at maximal
rate regardless of the glucose-6-phosphate concentration. Phosphorylated Glycogen Synthase is
dephosphorylated by Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 1.

Pentose Phosphate Pathway - Hexose Monophosphate Shunt

The PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY or the HEXOSE MONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT meets three needs of the cell:

1. it oxidizes glucose-6-phosphate (glucose) to generate NADPH for reductive biosynthetic reactions

2. it generates RIBOSE-5-PHOSPHATE for nucleotide biosynthesis
3. it is used to convert (excess) PENTOSES into HEXOSES. These “new” hexoses can then enter the other
pathways of carbohydrate metabolism.

This pathway is active

1. in tissues that synthesize fatty acids and steroids, i.e., liver, adrenal gland, and adipose tissue.
2. in tissues that are actively undergoing cell division, i.e., liver, skin, intestine, and bone marrow.
3. in tissues at a high risk of oxidative damage, i.e., the RBC.
Greater than 50% of the glucose utilized by erythrocytes is passed down this pathway. The NADPH that is
generated by this pathway is used by the RBC to maintain the iron of hemoglobin in the reduced, Fe+2, state.
Oxidized hemoglobin (Fe+3) is non-functional.

The PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY can be divided into an oxidative phase and a non-oxidative recovery or
rearrangement phase. The oxidative phase produces NADPH from NADP+ as glucose-6-phosphate is

12 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

oxidized in three steps to the five carbon ketose, ribulose-5-phosphate. During the non-oxidative recovery
phase pentoses from the oxidative phase or from exogenous sources are converted into hexoses that can
enter “mainstream” carbohydrate metabolism.

The Pentose Phosphate Pathway - Oxidative Phase

The first step of the oxidative phase produces 6-phosphogluconolactone when glucose-6-phosphate is
oxidized. The hydroxyl group on the anomeric carbon (C-1) is raised from the hemiacetal oxidation state to
the oxidation state of a cyclic ester, a lactone. The ester bond is between the new carboxyl group on C-1
and the hydroxyl group on C-5. As glucose-6-phosphate is oxidized, NADP+ is reduced to NADPH. This
reaction is catalyzed by Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase.

In the second step of the pathway, the cyclic ester 6-phosphogluconolactone is hydrolyzed forming 6-
phosphogluconate. Lactones will spontaneously breakdown. However, the spontaneous break down is not
fast enough for the cell to survive so to speed the process is catalyzed by Gluconolactonase.

O O

O P O O P O
CH2 CH2
O O
O
Glucose-6-phosphate
O
Dehydrogenase
OH OH O

OH OH (6) OH
NADP+
OH OH
NADPH

Glucose-6-phosphate 6-Phosphoglucono-δ-lactone

H 2O

Gluconolactonase
(6)

O O
H2C OH C

C O HC OH
6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase
HC OH HO CH

HC OH
(6)
HC OH
O
HC NADP+ HC OH
O P O CO2 NADPH O
HC
O O P O
Ribulose-5-phosphate O

6-Phosphogluconate

13 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

The hydroxyl group on carbon 3 of 6-phosphogluconate is oxidized to a ketone group and a second NADP+
is reduced to NADPH. This two step reaction involves oxidation of the secondary alcohol group on C-3 to a
ketone followed by a β type elimination that expels the carboxyl group on carbon 1 as CO2
(decarboxylation) leaving the product ribulose-5-phosphate. This reaction is catalyzed by 6-
Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase. This reaction marks the end of the oxidative phase.

If the pentose phosphate pathway is performed for the generation of ribose-5-phosphate along with NADPH
generation, the ribulose-5-phosphate is converted to ribose-5-phosphate by the action of Ribulose-5-
Phosphate Isomerase. This is one of the reactions of the non-oxidative phase and the pathway would end
here.

If (excess) pentoses are to be converted to hexoses the entire non-oxidative part of the pathway is required.
In this example, to balance the reactions of the non-oxidative phase of the pathway, six pentoses from the
oxidative phase of the pathway or from exogenous sources (six ribulose-5-phosphate / 30 carbons) will enter
the recovery phase and be converted to five hexoses (30 carbons). Two things to note at this point. First,
any multiple of three pentoses (i.e., 3, 6, 9 …) allows us to balance the carbons on paper (e.g., 3 pentoses go
to 2 hexoses & 1 triose, etc.). Second, how the cell balances the flow of carbon through the non oxidative
phase depends upon cellular conditions at that moment, i.e. what the cell has versus what the cell needs.

The Pentose Phosphate Pathway - Recovery Phase

H2C OH

C O

HC OH

HC OH
O
HC
O P O

O
Ribulose-5-phosphate

Ribulose-5- Ribulose-5-
phosphate phosphate
3-Epimerase Isomerase
(4) (2)

H2C OH H O
C
C O
HC OH
HO CH
Xylulose-5- Ribose-5-
HC OH
phosphate HC OH phosphate
O HC OH
HC
O
O P O HC
O P O
O
O

Two ribulose-5-phosphate are converted to two ribose-5-phosphate by the action of Ribulose-5-Phosphate

Isomerase. The other four ribulose-5-phosphate are converted to four xylulose-5-phosphate by the action of
14 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016
Ribulose-5-phosphate 3-Epimerase.

Carbon 1 & 2 from (two) xylulose-5-phosphate are transferred to (two) ribose-5-phosphate. This reaction
produces (two) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and (two) sedoheptulose-7-phosphate. This reaction is
catalyzed by Transketolase. The enzyme contains Thiamine Pyrophosphate as a prosthetic group. The
Transketolase reaction involves movement of ketone groups and reactions that involve ketone functional
groups usually require Thiamine Pyrophosphate.

H O H 2C OH
H2C OH
C C O
C O
HC OH H O
HO CH
HO CH Transketolase C
HC OH HC OH
HC OH + HC OH
+ HC OH
O
Thiamine HC OH O
HC O Pyrophosphate H 2C
HC
O P O HC OH O P O
O P O
O
O H2 C O
O
O P O Glyceraldehyde-
Xylulose-5-
Ribose-5- O 3-phosphate
phosphate
phosphate Sedoheptulose- (2)
(2)
(2) 7-phosphate

(2)

The first three carbons of the (two) sedoheptulose-7-phosphate are now transferred to the (two)
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to form (two) erythrose-4-phosphate and (two) fructose-6-phosphate. This
reaction is catalyzed by Transaldolase.

H 2C OH H 2C OH H O

C O C
C O
H O HC OH
HO CH HO CH
C
HC OH
Transaldolase
OH + HC OH
+ HC OH
HC
H 2C
O
HC OH O HC OH
H 2C O P O
O
HC OH O P O H2C
O
O O P O
H2 C O Erythrose-4-
O P O Glyceraldehyde- O phosphate
O 3-phosphate Fructose- (2)
Sedoheptulose- (2) 6-phosphate
7-phosphate (2)

(2)

During the last step of the non oxidative recovery phase carbons 1 & 2 from the remaining (two) xylulose-5-
phosphate are transferred to the (two) erythrose-4-phosphate to form (two) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and
(two) fructose-6-phosphate molecules. This reaction is also catalyzed by the enzyme Transketolase.

15 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

 H 2C OH
H2C OH C O
H O
C O H O
C HO CH
Transketolase C
HO CH HC OH HC OH +
HC OH
+ HC OH
HC OH
Thiamine HC OH O
O O Pyrophosphate H 2C
HC H 2C O
H2C O P O
O P O O P O O P O
O
O O O Glyceraldehyde-
Xylulose-5- Erythrose-4- Fructose- 3-phosphate
phosphate phosphate 6-phosphate (2)
(2) (2) (2)

Using enzymes from Gluconeogenesis allows the cell to convert the four fructose-6-phosphate and the two
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate into five molecules glucose-6-phosphate. These glucose-6-phosphate
molecules can enter any of the pathways of carbohydrate metabolism.

With this pathway the cell can

1. generate 12 NADPH from the complete oxidation of one glucose molecule by using the oxidative
phase and the complete recovery phase. {6 glucose-6-phosphate → 5 glucose-6-phosphate + 6 CO2}
2. generate 2 NADPH and 1 ribose-5-phosphate from 1 glucose-6-phosphate by using the oxidative
phase and part of the recovery phase.
3. convert excess pentoses into hexoses by utilizing the recovery phase.
4. generate ribose-5-phosphate by utilizing the recovery phase in reverse.

Control of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway

The Pentose Phosphate Pathway is controlled at the first step of the oxidative stage. Glucose-6-phosphate
Dehydrogenase is an allosteric enzyme. It is allosterically inhibited by NADPH and it is allosterically
stimulated by NADP+ and glucose-6-phosphate. When the cell has a full charge of NADPH the pathway is
inhibited, when the cell needs NADPH for biosynthesis it is stimulated.

Integration and Control of Carbohydrate Metabolism

The five pathways of carbohydrate metabolism are integrated into a functional whole by reciprocal control
of the allosteric enzymes in the pathways and by the action of three hormones; Insulin, Glucagon, and
Epinephrine. Before the action of the hormones are discussed, the control of carbohydrate metabolism by
the allosteric enzymes will be reviewed.

Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose for energy, 2 ATP are obtained from this pathway. Starting with
lactate or pyruvate Gluconeogenesis requires 6 high energy phosphate molecules (4 ATP & 2 GTP) and two
three carbon fragments to synthesize one glucose. Glycogenolysis is the breakdown of glycogen.
Glycogenesis is the synthesis of glycogen. To prevent futile cycles the cell needs to control these pathways.
When glycolysis is turned “on”, gluconeogenesis should be turned “off”; when glycogenolysis is turned

16 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

“on”, glycogenesis should be turned “off”; etc. The allosteric enzymes and allosteric regulators of these
pathways function to assure that futile cycles do not occur.

Integration by Allosteric Control

Glycogenolysis vs. Glycogenesis

Glycogen Phosphorylase B has, for the most part, no measurable activity. When phosphorylated by
Phosphorylase Kinase it is converted to Glycogen Phosphorylase A and becomes active and under
differential allosteric control depending on the tissue. Glycogen in muscle fuels contraction. Phosphorylase
A in skeletal muscle is allosterically activated by Ca2+ and AMP and allosterically inhibited by ATP. Ca2+
signals that the muscles are contracting and AMP signals a low energy state. ATP signals that the muscle
has sufficient energy. Liver glycogen is used to raise and/or maintain blood glucose concentrations. In the
liver Glycogen Phosphorylase A is allosterically inhibited by glucose , indicating that blood glucose levels
have returned to normal. When glucose is bound to Glycogen Phosphorylase A it causes a conformational
change in the enzymes exposing the phosphorylated serine residues and Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 1
catalyzes the hydrolytic removal of phosphate from the active Phosphorylase A converting it into the
inactive Phosphorylase B.

Glycogen Synthase D is allosterically activated by glucose-6-phosphate. When glucose and glucose-6-

phosphate levels are high in the cell glycogen synthase is stimulated and glycogen phosphorylase A is
inhibited. In addition Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 1 catalyzes the hydrolytic removal of phosphate from the
inactive (dependent) Glycogen Synthase D converting it into the active (independent) Glycogen Synthase I.

Glycolysis vs. Gluconeogenesis

Pyruvate Kinase catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate with the generation of ATP.
This allosteric enzyme is inhibited by ATP, acetyl-CoA, alanine, and fatty acids. It is activated by
fructose-1,6-phosphate and AMP. Pyruvate Carboxylase is one of the enzymes necessary for the conversion
of pyruvate or lactate to phosphoenolpyruvate in gluconeogenesis. This allosteric enzyme is activated by
acetyl-CoA and ATP. When acetyl-CoA levels are elevated glycolysis is inhibited at Pyruvate Kinase and
gluconeogenesis is stimulated at Pyruvate Carboxylase. When acetyl-CoA levels are low glycolysis is
stimulated (inhibition of Pyruvate Kinase removed) and gluconeogenesis is inhibited (stimulus of Pyruvate
Carboxylase removed).

Phosphofructokinase-1 catalyzes the conversion of fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate in

glycolysis. This allosteric enzyme is inhibited by ATP and citrate and is activated by AMP and fructose-2,6-
bisphosphate. In gluconeogenesis Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase catalyzes the reverse reaction, the
conversion of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to fructose-6-phosphate. This allosteric enzyme is inhibited by
fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and AMP. When cellular concentrations of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and AMP
are elevated, glycolysis is stimulated and gluconeogenesis in inhibited. When cellular concentrations of
fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and AMP are low, glycolysis is inhibited (stimulus of Phosphofructokinase-1
removed) and gluconeogenesis in stimulated (inhibition of Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase removed).

Phosphofructokinase-2 is the bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes either the conversion of fructose-6-
phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (kinase activity) or the conversion of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate to

17 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

fructose-6-phosphate (phosphatase activity). Phosphofructokinase-2 is under allosteric control. Its Kinase
Activity is stimulated by PO4–3 and inhibited by citrate; whereas its Phosphatase Activity is inhibited by
PO4–3 and stimulated by citrate. This pair of allosteric modulators of Phosphofructokinase-2 assures that
Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis are reciprocally controlled. When the cell is energy poor the concentration
of PO4–3 is high and the concentration of citrate is low stimulating the kinase activity resulting in an increase
in fructose-2,6-bisphosphate that stimulates Glycolysis and inhibits Gluconeogenesis. When the cell is
energy rich the concentration of PO4–3 is low and the concentration of citrate is high stimulating the
phosphatase activity resulting in a decrease in fructose-2,6-bisphosphate that inhibits Glycolysis (stimulus
removed) and stimulating Gluconeogenesis (inhibition removed).

Glucose
Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate
Phosphofructokinase 2
(kinase activity) Phosphofructokinase 2
Hexokinase Glucose-6-phosphatase (+) PO4–3
(–) glucose-6- (phosphatase activity)
(–) citrate (–) PO4–3
phosphate
(+) citrate
Glucose-6-phosphate Fructose-6-phosphate

Phosphofructokinase 1
(+) fructose-2,6-bisphosphate Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase
(+) AMP (–) fructose-2,6-bisphosphate
(–) ATP (–) AMP
(–) citrate

Glucose-1-phosphate Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate Phosphoenolpyruvate

Pyruvate
Kinase
(–) ATP
(+) fructose-1,6- (–) acetyl-CoA
bisphosphate (–) fatty acids

UDP-Glucose Oxaloacetate Pyruvate

Glycogen Phosphorylase A Pyruvate
Glycogen Synthase D {phophorylated form} Carboxylase
{phosphorylated form} (–) glucose (Liver) (+) acetyl-CoA
(+) glucose-6-phosphate (–) ATP (Muscle) (+) ATP
(+) AMP (Muscle)
(+) Ca2+ (Muscle)

Glycogen Amino Lactate


  


 
 Acids and/or

 





 
 Amino Acids











  


 



 











 



There is cross talk between Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway. Xylulose-5-
phosphate one of the intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway stimulates the activity of
Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 2A. When blood glucose concentrations are high, cellular glucose-6-phosphate
concentrations in the liver are high. Glucose-6-phosphate is the starting material for the energy generating
reactions of Glycolysis, the TCA Cycle, & Et/OxPhos and it is the starting substrate for the pentose
phosphate pathway. The pentose phosphate pathway generates NADPH for lipid biosynthesis and pentoses

18 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016
for nucleotide biosynthesis. As Xylulose-5-phosphate from the Pentose Phosphate Pathway builds up it
allosterically stimulates Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 2A which removes phosphate from
Phosphofructokinase-2 stimulating its kinase activity. With the kinase activity stimulated, the concentration
of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate increases which increases the rate of glycolysis and ATP generation assuring
that the cell has the energy it needs for lipid biosynthesis and nucleotide biosynthesis.

Hormonal Control

Insulin, glucagon, and epinephrine also play a role in controlling the pathways of carbohydrate metabolism.

Insulin

Insulin

Receptor

Receptor phosphorylation

IRS-1

Grb2+Sos+Ras PI-3K

Raf-1(a) PKB(i)+PDK-1

Transcription Phosphorylates
MEK(a) PKB(a)
Factors

MAPK(a)
Stimulates Synthesis

Elk1(a) Glycogen GluT4

Synthase Transporter
Kinase(a) Insertion
Elk1(a)+SRF
ATP
ADP
Stimulates
Synthesis PO4–3–Glycogen
Inhibits Synthase
Synthesis Kinase(i)
Enzymes for GM Protein
Cell Growth & Hexokinase Site 1
Cell Division + ATP
Phosphofructokinase-1 ADP
+
Phosphofructokinase-2 GM Protein
+ Site 1–PO4–3
Pyruvate Kinase
Protein
Phosphatase 1
Phosphoenolpyruvate PO4–3–Glycogen PO4–3–Glycogen
Carboxykinase Phosphorylase A Synthase D
+
H2O H2O
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase
+ PO4–3 PO4–3
Glucose-6-phosphatase
Glycogen Glycogen

Phosphorylase B Synthase I

19 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

Insulin via its tyrosine kinase receptor stimulates glucose transport into insulin dependent cells by
stimulating the translocation of glucose transporters (GluT4) from storage vesicles in the cytoplasm to the
plasma membranes. It stimulates Glycolysis by inducing the synthesis of several important glycolytic
enzymes (Hexokinase, Phosphofructokinase-1, Phosphofructokinase-2, and Pyruvate Kinase,). Insulin also
stimulates Glycogenesis by inhibiting the action of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3. The insulin activated
kinases phosphorylates the GM protein at site 1. {GM stands for muscle-specific glycogen-targeting subunit,
there is a GL protein that performs the same function in the liver and probably similar proteins in other
tissues.} GM protein phosphorylated at site 1 stimulates Protein Phosphatase 1 to removed phosphate from
Glycogen Synthase D rendering it active and from Glycogen Phosphorylase A rendering it inactive Insulin
inhibits gluconeogenesis by repressing the synthesis of Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, Fructose-1,6-
bisphosphatase, and Glucose-6-phosphatase.

P P
P P

Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase
Glycogen Glycogen Kinase P

Kinase
Synthase Synthase
Glycogen
Phosphorylase
Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase
Glycogen
Glycogen Glycogen Phosphorylase
Kinase

Kinase
Synthase Synthase
P
P P
P P

GM Protein
Phosphatase-1

P P P P P
P P P P P
Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase

Glycogen Glycogen
Kinase

Kinase

Synthase Synthase
Glycogen
Phosphorylase
Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase

Glycogen
Glycogen Glycogen Phosphorylase
Kinase

Kinase

Synthase Synthase

ADP

Protein
GM Phosphatase-1
Protein
Kinase B

ATP

20 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

 Glucagon

Glycogen Synthase
Liver Kinase 3
(dephosphorylated)
Glucagon Receptor Gs Adenylate Cyclase Protein Kinase A (active)

Glycogen Synthase I Glycogen Synthase D

(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
(active) (inhibited)
(free of allosteric control) (under allosteric control)
ATP
ADP

Phosphorylase Phosphorylase
Kinase Kinase
(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated) Pyruvate Kinase Pyruvate Kinase
(inactive) ATP (active) (dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
ADP (active) (inactive)
ATP
ADP

Protein Kinase C

Glycogen Glycogen Ca++ – Calmodulin Protein Kinase

Phosphorylase B Phosphorylase A
(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
(active) ADP
(inhibited) ATP
ATP
(under allosteric control
ADP
based on [glucose])
Phosphofructokinase 2 Phosphofructokinase 2
(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
(kinase - active) (kinase - inactive)
(phosphatase - inactive) (phosphatase - active)
H 2O
PO4–3
Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 2A

(allosterically activated by Xylulose-5-Phosphate)

The liver and adipose tissue are the only “organs” with significant numbers of glucagon receptors. With
respect to carbohydrate metabolism, the major effects of glucagon are on the liver, where it functions to
increase blood glucose levels. Glucagon in the liver stimulates glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis
and inhibits glycolysis and glycogen synthesis. Glucagon activates protein kinase A by the Gs effector
system. The active protein kinase A phosphorylates four proteins in the liver; Glycogen Phosphorylase
Kinase, Glycogen Synthase, Pyruvate Kinase, and Phosphofructokinase-2.

Glycogen Phosphorylase Kinase (Phosphorylase Kinase) when phosphorylated is converted from an

inactive protein kinase to an active protein kinase. Phosphorylase kinase is a relatively specific enzyme. It
has only two substrates. The active Phosphorylase Kinase phosphorylates, transfers phosphate from ATP to
Glycogen Phosphorylase and it transfers phosphate from ATP to Glycogen Synthase.

When Glycogen Phosphorylase Kinase transfers phosphate from ATP to Glycogen Phosphorylase, it is
converted from the inactive “B” form to the active “A” form. Phosphorylated Glycogen Phosphorylase

21 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

actively catalyzes the breakdown of glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate. The glucose-1-phosphate is
converted to glucose-6-phosphate by the action of Phosphoglucomutase, the glucose-6-phosphate is
dephosphorylated by Glucose-6-phosphatase, and the glucose is released into the blood stream.

Glycogen Synthase when phosphorylated (by Protein Kinase A and/or the other protein kinases{see above})
is converted to the “D” form that is inactive and dependent upon positive allosteric regulators for activity.
With glycogen synthase inactivated, glycogen synthesis is inhibited. Hence, the action of Glucagon inhibits
glycogen synthesis and stimulates glycogen breakdown. The glucose released by glycogenolysis is used to
increase blood glucose concentrations.

Pyruvate Kinase, when phosphorylated is inactive. This stops glycolysis at cyclic AMP response element
phosphoenolpyruvate. The phosphoenolpyruvate present in the cell is then binding protein
CREB
used for gluconeogenesis, rather than ATP generation.
(dephosphorylated)
When Phosphofructokinase-2 is phosphorylated the kinase activity is  ATP
inhibited and the formation of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate from fructose-6- 

phosphate is inhibited. Phosphorylation stimulates the phosphatase activity  ADP
and the hydrolysis of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate to fructose-6-phosphate is
stimulated. The decrease in fructose-2,6-bisphosphate concentrations
removes the major stimulus of Phosphofructokinase-1 activity. By CREB
(phosphorylated)
removing a stimulus, the enzyme is inhibited and consequently glycolysis
is inhibited. The decrease in fructose-2,6-bisphosphate concentration
removes the major inhibitor of Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity. By Active Transcription
removing an inhibitor the enzyme is stimulated and consequently Factor Stimulates
gluconeogenesis is stimulated. Synthesis of

Glucagon by way of the Gs transduction system activates Protein Kinase A.

The action of Protein Kinase A results in the phosphorylation of Pyruvate 

 !
Kinase and Phosphofructokinase-2 effectively inhibiting glycolysis and 
stimulating gluconeogenesis. The glucose-6-phosphate from 
gluconeogenesis is converted to glucose by the action of Glucose-6- 
phosphatase, and this glucose is released from the liver cell to maintain 
blood glucose levels.

Some of the catalytic subunit of PKA activated by Glucagon moves to the nucleus where it phosphorylates
CYCLIC AMP RESPONSE ELEMENT BINDING PROTEIN (CREB). CREB when phosphorylated is an active
transcription factor that binds to Response Elements in the promoter region of several genes. With respect
to carbohydrate metabolism, it binds to Response Elements in the promoter region of Phosphoenolpyruvate
Carboxykinase, Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and Glucose-6-phosphatase to stimulate their synthesis.
{More detail on Response Elements will be forth coming in the Control of Gene Expression section.}

Epinephrine

22 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

 Glycogen Synthase
Skeletal Muscle Kinase 3
(dephosphorylated)
Gs (active)
Epinephrine Receptor Adenylate Cyclase Protein Kinase A

Glycogen Synthase I Glycogen Synthase D

(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
(active) (inhibited)
(free of allosteric control) (under allosteric control)
ATP
ADP
Protein Kinase C
Ca++ – Calmodulin Protein Kinase
Phosphorylase Phosphorylase
Kinase Kinase
(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
(inactive) (active) Protein Phosphatase Protein Phosphatase
ATP
Inhibitor 1 Inhibitor 1
ADP
(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated)
(inactive) (active)
ATP
ADP

Glycogen Glycogen
Phosphorylase B Phosphorylase A Protein Phosphatase 1
(dephosphorylated) (phosphorylated) (active)
(inhibited) (active)
ATP
ADP
(under allosteric control
depending upon energy
charge in the cell)

GM GM phosphorylated @ site 2 Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor 1

Dissociation from Protein Phosphatase 1 Complex
Glycogen Granule (Protein Phosphatase 1 Inhibited)
ATP

ADP

The major effects of epinephrine are on skeletal muscle. It readies the muscle for the “Fight or Flight”
response. In skeletal muscle, epinephrine inhibits glycogen synthesis and stimulates glycogen breakdown.
Epinephrine functions via a serpentine membrane receptor coupled to the Gs protein, adenylate cyclase, and
protein kinase A (cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase or PKA). Activated PKA phosphorylates three
enzymes and one non-enzyme protein in skeletal muscle. The enzymes phosphorylated are Glycogen
Phosphorylase Kinase, Glycogen Synthase, and Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor 1. The non-enzyme protein
phosphorylated is GM protein at site 2.

Glycogen Phosphorylase Kinase (or Phosphorylase Kinase) when phosphorylated is converted from an
inactive protein kinase to an active protein kinase. Phosphorylase kinase is a relatively specific enzyme. It
has only two substrates. The active Phosphorylase Kinase phosphorylates, transfers phosphate from ATP to
Glycogen Phosphorylase and it transfers phosphate to Glycogen Synthase.

When Glycogen Phosphorylase Kinase transfers phosphate from ATP to Glycogen Phosphorylase, it is
converted from the inactive “B” form to the active “A” form. Phosphorylated Glycogen Phosphorylase
actively catalyzes the breakdown of glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate. The glucose-1-phosphate is
converted to glucose-6-phosphate by the action of Phosphoglucomutase, and the glucose-6-phosphate enters
Glycolysis to generate ATP to fuel continued muscle concentration.

23 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

Glycogen Synthase when phosphorylated (by Protein Kinase A and/or the other protein kinases{see above})
is converted to the “D” form that is inactive and dependent upon positive allosteric regulators for activity.
With glycogen synthase inactivated, glycogen synthesis is inhibited. Hence the action of Epinephrine
increases the concentration of metabolizable glucose within skeletal muscle by stimulating glycogenolysis
and inhibiting glycogenesis.

The response is prolonged by the phosphorylation of GM protein at site 2 and Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor
1. Site 2 phosphorylated GM causes Protein Phosphatase 1 to dissociate from the glycogen granule
preventing it access to Glycogen Phosphorylase A (phosphorylated, active form) and Glycogen Synthase D
(phosphorylated, less active dependent form).

Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor 1 is activated when it is phosphorylated. Only the active, phosphorylated
form can bind to the enzyme Protein Phosphatase 1. Protein Phosphatase 1 hydrolytically removes
phosphate from the proteins phosphorylated by protein kinase A and other serine / threonine protein kinases.
When phosphorylated Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor 1 binds to the dissociated Protein Phosphatase 1 and the
activity of Protein Phosphatase 1 is inhibited. The effects of Epinephrine on skeletal muscle are prolonged
since Protein Phosphatase 1 is dissociated from the glycogen granule and it is bound by an inhibitor protein.
To reverse the effects a different protein phosphatase (?) must remove the phosphate from site 2 of the GM
protein and from Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor 1.

Epinephrine also stimulates the release of glucagon from the pancreas.

P P
P P
Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase

Glycogen Glycogen P
Kinase

Kinase

Synthase Synthase
Glycogen
Phosphorylase
Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase

Glycogen
Glycogen Glycogen Phosphorylase
Kinase

Kinase

Synthase Synthase
P
P P
P P

Protein Inhibitor
GM Phosphatase-1

Protein
Kinase A
P

Inhibitor

P
ATP

24 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016
 P P
P P

Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase
Glycogen Glycogen P

Kinase

Kinase
Synthase Synthase
Glycogen
Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase

Phosphorylase
Glycogen
Glycogen Glycogen Phosphorylase

Kinase

Kinase
Synthase Synthase
P
P P
P P

GM
Inhibitor
P

P Protein
Phosphatase-1

Cori Cycle

Gluconeogenesis is an important source of glucose for muscle cells during times of prolonged muscle
contraction, during anaerobic metabolism. The muscle cell contains enough ATP for 1.5 to 2 seconds of
maximal muscular contraction. CREATINE PHOSPHATE, stored in muscle cells, can supply the energy of
another 2 seconds of contraction. Muscle cells store glycogen and this stored glucose can supply the energy
for 5 additional minutes of muscular contraction. After this time the muscle’s glucose and glycogen will be
exhausted. Muscles can contract for longer than 5 minutes, from where do they obtain the energy.

During prolonged muscular contraction, lactate is produced in the muscle. This lactate is released into the
blood stream and travels to the liver where it is absorbed. Some of the lactate is converted to pyruvate and
then completely oxidized to CO2 and H2O by the TCA CYCLE and ET/OXPHOS to generate ATP. Liver is
always well oxygenated so the TCA CYCLE and ET/OXPHOS is always running at peak efficiency. The
remainder of the lactate is converted to glucose by liver gluconeogenesis using the ATP generated by
aerobic metabolism. The liver releases this glucose into the blood stream, the muscle absorbs it, and uses it
in anaerobic glycolysis to generate ATP in order to sustain muscular contraction. This process, this cycle, is
called the CORI CYCLE.

With continued muscular contraction blood glucose levels begin to drop because the skeletal muscle is
utilizing more glucose from the blood than the liver can supply from the CORI CYCLE. The decrease in
blood glucose levels simulates the release of glucagon. This hormone stimulates the liver to raise blood
glucose concentrations and stimulates the adipose tissue to release triacylglycerols. The fatty acids of the

25 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016

triacylglycerols are used for ATP generation in the liver and other tissues, and the 3 carbon glycerol is used
by the liver as a carbon source for gluconeogenesis. A large amount of acetyl-CoA is generated from the
released fatty acids, more than what is needed or can be used by the liver. The excess acetyl-CoA is
converted to KETONE BODIES. Ketone bodies are small acidic molecules synthesized from excess acetyl-
CoA. Eventually you have to stop, or the muscular pain and cramps forces you to stop: “you hit the wall”.
Although the liver is very efficient at converting lactate to glucose, the muscle while contracting
anaerobically is able to convert glucose to lactate at a fast rate. An athlete, and individual, is forced to stop
due to the decrease in cellular pH caused by the generation and build up of lactic acid (lactate) and the
acidic ketone bodies.

26 ©Kevin R. Siebenlist, 2016