title: Cloning and characterization of feline islet glucokinase.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucokinase (GK) is a metabolic enzyme encoded by the GCK gene and expressed in glucose-sensitive tissues, principally pancreatic islets cell and hepatocytes. The GK protein acts in pancreatic islets as a "glucose sensor" that couples fluctuations in the blood glucose concentration to changes in cellular function and insulin secretion. GCK and GK have proposed importance in the development and progression of diabetes mellitus and are potential therapeutic targets for diabetes treatment. The study was undertaken to determine the nucleotide sequence of feline pancreatic GK cDNA, predict the amino acid sequence and structure of the feline GK protein, and perform comparative bioinformatic analysis of feline cDNA and protein. Routine PCR techniques were used with cDNA from feline pancreas. Clones were assembled to obtain the full length cDNA. Protein prediction and modeling were performed using bioinformatic tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Full-length feline pancreatic GK cDNA contains a 1398 nucleotide coding sequence with high identity to other pancreatic GK cDNAs. The deduced 465 amino acid feline protein has 15 amino acid substitutions not found in other mammalian GK proteins but maintains high structural homology with human GK. Feline pancreatic GK is highly conserved at nucleotide and protein levels. Residues crucial for substrate binding and catalysis are completely conserved in the feline protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Molecular analysis predicts that feline pancreatic GK functions similarly to other mammalian GK proteins.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindbloom-Hawley
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LeCluyse
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vandersande
authors.forename: Gerald Henry
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lushington
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Ave, Manhattan, KS 66506-5606, USA. tscherme@vet.ksu.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schermerhorn
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D005941:Glucokinase