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The nature of the primer for glycogen synthesis in muscle
Author(s) -
Lomako Joseph,
Lomako Wieslawa M.,
Whelan William J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(90)80959-m
Subject(s) - primer (cosmetics) , chemistry , glycogen , biochemistry , computational biology , biology , organic chemistry
We and others have reported that glycogenin, the covalently bound protein found in muscle glycogen, also exists in muscle in a glycogen‐free form ( M r , 38 000–39 000) that is autocatalytic, undergoes self‐glucosylation and acts as a primer for glycogen synthesis. We now report that this entity is not present in a fresh muscle extract. Instead it exists within a pro form of much higher molecular mass which breaks down spontaneously to the M r , 38 000–39 000 form. Such breakdown is accelerated by the addition of α‐amylase and is prevented by protease inhibitors. Multiple intermediates of the breakdown process have been detected, each capable of undergoing glucosylation.