Microsomal Membrane Permeability and the Hepatic Glucose-6-phosphatase System

We have proposed that glucose-6.phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9) is a two-component system consisting of (a) a glucose-6-P-specific transporter which mediates the movement of the hexose phosphate from the cytosol to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (or cisternae of the isolated microsomal vesicle), and (b) a nonspecific phosphohydrolase-phosphotransferase localized on the luminal surface of the membrane (Arion, W. J., Wallin, B. K., Lange, A. J., and Ballas, L. M. (1975) Mol. Cell. Biochem. 6, 75-83). Additional support for this mode1 has been obtained by studying the interactions of D-mannose-6-P and o-mannose with the enzyme of untreated (i.e. intact) and taurocholate-disrupted microsomes. An exact correspondence was shown between the mannose-6-P phosphohydrolase activity at low substrate concentrations and the permeability of the microsomal membrane to EDTA. The state of intactness of the membrane influenced the kinetics of mannose inhibition of glucose-6-P hydrolysis; uncompetitive and noncompetitive inhibitions were observed for intact and disrupted microsomes, respectively. The apparent K, for glucose-6-P was smaller with intact preparations at mannose concentrations above 0.3 M. Mannose significantly inhibited total glucose-6-P utilization by intact microsomes, whereas D-glucose had a stimulatory effect. Both hexoses markedly enhanced the rate of glucose-6-P utilization by disrupted microsomes. The actions of mannose on the glucose-6-phosphatase of intact microsomes fully support the postulated transport model. They are predictable consequences of the synthesis and accumulation of mannose-6-P in the cisternae of microsomal vesicles which possess a nonspecific, multifunctional enzyme on the inner surface and a limiting membrane permeable to D-ghcOSe, D-mannose, glucose-6-P, but impermeable to mannose-6-P. The latency of the mannose-6-P phosphohydrolase activity is proposed as a reliable, quantitative index of microsomal membrane integrity. The inherent limitations of the use of EDTA permeability for this purpose are discussed.