Multi‐tasking of biosynthetic and energetic functions of glycolysis explained by supply and demand logic

Abstract

After more than a century of research on glycolysis, we have detailed descriptions of its molecular organization, but despite this wealth of knowledge, linking the enzyme properties to metabolic pathway behavior remains challenging. These challenges arise from multi-layered regulation and the context and time dependence of component functions. However, when viewed as a system that functions according to the principles of supply and demand, a simplifying theoretical framework can be applied to study its regulation logic and to assess the coherence of experimental interpretations. These principles are universally applicable, as they emphasize the common metabolic tasks of glycolysis: the provision of free-energy carriers, and precursors for biosynthesis and stress-related compounds. Here we will review the regulation of multi-tasking by glycolysis and consider how an understanding of this central metabolic pathway can be pursued using general principles, rather than focusing on the biochemical details of constituent components.

Polyphosphate is involved in cell cycle progression and genomic stability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…It is important to note that while this increase may appear a relatively modest demand, it must be satisfied in a matter of minutes. Taking into account that the concentration of orthophosphate in exponentially growing cells is approximately 20 mM (Auesukaree et al ., ; Pinson et al ., ; van Heerden et al ., ) and it remains rather constant throughout the cell cycle (Fig. ), a homeostatic mechanism must therefore be in place to buffer the sudden phosphate demand generated by DNA duplication.…”

“…At the same time, cells take in phosphate from the environment by means of specific transport systems (Lenburg and O'Shea, ; Persson et al ., ). In yeast, this intake‐consumption equilibrium produces an intracellular, free‐orthophosphate concentration of approximately 20 mM (Auesukaree et al ., ; Pinson et al ., ; van Heerden et al ., ). Apart from the steady consumption and intake of phosphate, there is an additional process that requires phosphate in a particular moment in the cell cycle: the synthesis of DNA.…”

Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification‐based proteomic analysis of Puccinellia tenuiflora inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reveal stress response mechanisms in alkali‐degraded soil

“…For plants, glycolysis lies at the center of metabolism. It consists of a core series of enzymes that can transform sugar to pyruvate and produce energy (ATP and NADH) and biosynthetic precursors (such as amino acids; Van Heerden, Bruggeman, & Teusink, ). The end‐products of glycolysis (such as pyruvate) in plants are incorporated into the TCA cycle.…”

Microbial bet-hedging: the power of being different

“…bon sources over others. Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) suppresses metabolic pathways of non-preferred carbon sources to minimize the investment in currently non-beneficial proteins [25,26]. When the preferred source of carbon becomes depleted CCR needs to be released swiftly in order to not lose the bulk of less preferred carbon sources to competitors (lag-phase).…”