Rapid exchange of high energy carrying molecules between intracellular compartments is essential in sustaining cellular energetic homeostasis. Adenylate kinase (AK)-catalyzed transfer of adenine nucleotide -and ␥-phosphoryls has been implicated in intracellular energy communication and nucleotide metabolism. To demonstrate the significance of this reaction in cardiac energetics, phosphotransfer dynamics were determined by [18 O]phosphoryl oxygen analysis using 31 P NMR and mass spectrometry. In hearts with a null mutation of the AK1 gene, which encodes the major AK isoform, total AK activity and -phosphoryl transfer was reduced by 94% and 36%, respectively. This was associated with up-regulation of phosphoryl flux through remaining minor AK isoforms and the glycolytic phosphotransfer enzyme, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. In the absence of metabolic stress, deletion of AK1 did not translate into gross abnormalities in nucleotide levels, ␥-ATP turnover rate or creatine kinase-catalyzed phosphotransfer. However, under hypoxia AK1-deficient hearts, compared with the wild type, had a blunted AK-catalyzed phosphotransfer response, lowered intracellular ATP levels, increased P i /ATP ratio, and suppressed generation of adenosine. Thus, although lack of AK1 phosphotransfer can be compensated in the absence of metabolic challenge, under hypoxia AK1-knockout hearts display compromised energetics and impaired cardioprotective signaling. This study, therefore, provides first direct evidence that AK1 is essential in maintaining myocardial energetic homeostasis, in particular under metabolic stress.
Adenylate kinase (AK)1 catalyzes reversible phosphotransfer, 2 ADP 7 AMP ϩ ATP, and participates in de novo synthesis, regeneration and salvage of adenine nucleotides (1-5). AK is particularly abundant in tissues with high energy turnover, where it facilitates transfer of energy-rich -and ␥-phosphoryls and regulates vital ATP-dependent cellular processes (6 -10).In fact, AK may serve as an integral component of phosphotransfer networks, along with creatine kinase (CK) and glycolysis, effectively coupling ATP-generating with ATP-consuming or ATP-sensing intracellular sites (11-15).In the heart, CK-catalyzed phosphotransfer is the major pathway that can transfer high energy phosphoryls derived from the ␥-phosphoryl of ATP (10, 16 -18). Although less active than CK, AK catalysis provides a unique mechanism for transfer and utilization of both ␥-and -phosphoryls in the ATP molecule (10, 15). In this way, AK-catalyzed phosphotransfer doubles the energetic potential of ATP and could provide an additional energetic source under conditions of increased energy demand (10, 19). However, due to lack of membrane permeant and selective AK inhibitors, the biological importance of AK in heart muscle and its role in sustaining myocardial energetics under conditions of metabolic stress have not been established.We have recently demonstrated that deletion of the AK1 gene, which encodes the major AK isoform, produces a phenotype with reduced skelet...