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PCK 1 expression is correlated with the plasma glucose level in the duck
Author(s) -
Chen L.,
Zeng T.,
Li G. Q.,
Liu R.,
Tian Y.,
Li Q. H.,
Lu L. Z.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/age.12540
Subject(s) - biology , phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase , anas , gene expression , gluconeogenesis , endocrinology , medicine , gene , fatty acid , biochemistry , genetics , metabolism
Summary Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (soluble) ( PCK 1 ) is a key gene in gluconeogenesis and glyceroneogenesis. Although its functions have been extensively studied in mice, bats and humans, little is known in ducks. Here, PCK 1 functions were studied using a duck domestication model and a 48‐h fasting experiment. We found PCK 1 expression significantly decreased in two breeds of domestic ducks (Jinyun Pockmark ducks and Cherry Valley ducks) as compared with wild ducks ( Anas platyrhynchos ). Simultaneously, plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides and free fatty acid in domestic ducks were lower than in wild ducks. When compared with fed ducks, the plasma triglyceride level was observed to be significantly decreased, while the glucose and free fatty acid levels remained constant in 48‐h fasting ducks. The expression analysis of gluconeogenic genes revealed that fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase genes ( FBP 1 and FBP 2 ) and the glucose‐6‐phosphatase gene ( G6 PC 2 ) were not changed, whereas PCK 1 was significantly upregulated. In addition, the reported regulators of PCK 1 , including forkhead box A2 ( FOXA 2 ) gene and orphan nuclear receptor NR 4A family genes ( NR 4A1 , NR 4A2 and NR 4A3 ), exhibited similar expression levels between 48‐h fasting ducks and fed ducks, suggesting that PCK 1 is not regulated by these genes in the duck under fasting conditions. In conclusion, PCK 1 expression may affect plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides and free fatty acid during the duck domestication process. This work demonstrates for the first time in duck that PCK 1 is a key gene in maintaining plasma glucose homeostasis during fasting and that the upregulated expression of PCK 1 may be responsible for constant plasma free fatty acid level by the glyceroneogenesis process.