Underestimation of the Pentose–Phosphate Pathway in Intact Primary Neurons as Revealed by Metabolic Flux Analysis

Abstract

The rates of glucose oxidized at glycolysis and pentose–phosphate pathway (PPP) in neurons are controversial. Using [3-3H]-, [1-14C]-, and [6-14C]glucose to estimate fluxes through these pathways in resting, intact rat cortical primary neurons, we found that the rate of glucose oxidized through PPP was, apparently, ∼14% of total glucose metabolized. However, inhibition of PPP rate-limiting step, glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) dehydrogenase, increased approximately twofold the glycolytic rate; and, knockdown of phosphoglucose isomerase increased ∼1.8-fold the PPP rate. Thus, in neurons, a considerable fraction of fructose-6-phosphate returning from the PPP contributes to the G6P pool that re-enters PPP, largely underestimating its flux.