T. Lietz et al., KETONE-BODIES ACTIVATE GLUCONEOGENESIS IN ISOLATED RABBIT RENAL CORTICAL TUBULES INCUBATED IN THE PRESENCE OF AMINO-ACIDS AND GLYCEROL, Acta Biochimica Polonica, 44(2), 1997, pp. 323-331
In isolated rabbit renal kidney-cortex tubules 2 mM glycerol, which is
a poor gluconeogenic substrate, does not induce glucose formation in
the presence of alanine, while it activates gluconeogenesis on substit
ution of alanine by aspartate, glutamate or proline. The addition of e
ither 5 mM 3-hydroxybutyrate or 5 mM acetoacetate to renal tubules inc
ubated with alanine+glycerol causes a marked induction of glucose prod
uction associated with inhibition of glutamine synthesis. In contrast,
the rate of the latter process is not altered by ketones in the prese
nce of glycerol and either aspartate, glutamine or proline despite the
stimulation of glucose formation. Acceleration of gluconeogenesis by
ketone bodies in the presence of amino acids and glycerol is probably
due to (i) stimulation of pyruvate carboxylase activity, (ii) activati
on of malate-aspartate shuttle as concluded from elevated intracellula
r levels of malate, aspartate and glutamate, as well as (iii) diminish
ed supply of ammonium for glutamine synthesis from alanine resulting f
rom a decrease in glutamate dehydrogenase activity.