[Enzymes of glycogen metabolism in chick embryo liver]

Abstract

At all stages of ontogenesis glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) from liver chick embryos in represented by an isoenzyme whose properties are close to those of isoenzyme IL or F. Total enzyme activity (a+b forms) from the 8th day of development up to hatching gradually increases 1.5-fold, a practically complete activation of enzyme being observed by the end of embryogenesis. Phosphorylase b possesses high catalytic activity in the presence of 1 mM AMP and it activated by protamine and 0.2 M Na2SO4. Glycogen synthetase (EC 2.4.1.11) has a constant Km(UDFG) value during ontogenesis. This value is about 5.10(-4) M in the presence of 10 mM glucose-6-phosphate, both for I- and D-forms of enzyme. The total enzyme activity reaches its maximum on the 17th postembryonic day and is decreased more than 6-fold thereafter. In the course of embryogenesis the I/D ratio is increased from 0.2 on the 8th day of development up to 0,45 during extensive accumulation of glycogen and falls down to 0.33 before hatching. Glycogen biosynthesis in embryonic liver is wellcorrelated with the increase in the I/D ratio, i.e. the increase of the active form of enzyme. The proportion of granular glycogen in embryonic liver is increased from 15% up to 90% of total glycogen content between the 8th and 14th days of development. The activity of glycogen synthetase contained in granular glycogen is increased from 40% in the 8-day-old embryos up to 90% in the 18-day-old ones. The activity of phosphorylase is found in granular glycogen only on the 12th day of embryogenesis and reaches its maximum (80% of total enzyme activity) only on the 19th days of development. It is concluded that in the adult chicken liver the embronic enzymes--glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen synthetase--are retained.