Adenine nucleotides and magnesium ions in relation to control of mammalian cerebral-cortex hexokinase

Abstract

1. The kinetics of inhibition of brain soluble cytoplasmic hexokinase by ADP were examined in relation to variations in the concentrations of Mg2+ and ATP. The type of inhibition observed was dependent on the Mg2+/ATP ratio. 2. ADP at Mg2+/ATP ratios 2:1 exhibited inhibition of the ‘mixed’ type; at Mg2+/ATP ratios 1:1 the inhibition appeared to be competitive with regard to ATP. 3. Inhibition by free ATP was observed when the Mg2+/ATP ratio was less than 1:1. The inhibition was also of the ‘mixed’ type with respect to MgATP2−. 4. The inhibitions due to ADP and to free ATP were not additive. The results suggested that there may be up to four sites in the soluble enzyme: for glucose, glucose 6-phosphate, ADP and MgATP2−. 5. The ‘free’ non-particulate intracellular Mg2+ concentration was measured and concluded to be about 1·5mm. 6. The concentrations in vivo of Mg2+ and ATP likely to be accessible to a cytoplasmic enzyme are suggested to be below those that yield maximum hexokinase rates in vitro. The enzymic rates were measured at relevant suboptimum concentrations of Mg2+ and ATP in the presence of ADP. Calculations that included non-competitive inhibition due to glucose 6-phosphate (56–65% at 0·25mm) resulted in net rates very similar to the measured rates for overall glycolysis. This system may therefore provide a basis for effective control of cerebral hexokinase.