title: Effect of age on the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in rat liver.
abstract: The effect of age on the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; EC 4.1.1.32) was studied using hepatocytes isolated from 6-, 15-, and 26-mo-old-male Fischer 344 rats fasted for 12 h. The activity of PEPCK in hepatocyte extracts decreased 40-50% (P < 0.05) between 6 and 26 mo of age. The age-related decrease in PEPCK activity was paralleled by a similar decrease (P < 0.05) in the level of PEPCK mRNA. Thus the decrease in PEPCK activity appears to arise from a decrease in level of the PEPCK transcript available for translation. The stability, i.e., half-life of PEPCK mRNA in hepatocytes isolated from 6- and 26-mo-old rats was similar; however, the nuclear transcription of PEPCK by hepatocytes isolated from 26-mo-old rats was 44% lower (P < 0.05) than the nuclear transcription of PEPCK by hepatocytes isolated from 6-mo-old rats. Thus the age-related decline in PEPCK mRNA levels in the liver of fasted rats appears to arise from a decrease in the transcription of PEPCK. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the activity and mRNA level of PEPCK also was observed with age in kidney tissue isolated from rats fasted for 12 h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal 61761.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wimonwatwatee
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005215:Fasting; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)