Abstract
We and others have reported that glycogenin, the covalently bound protein found in muscle glycogen, also exists in muscle in a glycogen-free form (Mr, 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 Mr, 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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 8-12 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | FEBS letters |
Volume | 268 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 30 1990 |
Keywords
- Glycogen biogenesis
- Glycogenin
- Protein glucosylation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology