The regulatory role of spermine and fatty acid in the interaction of AMP deaminase with phosphofructokinase.

The role of fatty acid and polyamine in the interaction of AMP deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6)-ammonium system with glycolysis was investigated using permeabilized yeast cells. (1) The addition of fatty acid inhibited the activity of AMP deaminase in situ, resulting in a decrease in the total adenylate pool depletion, and in the recovery of the adenylate energy charge. (2) The addition of fatty acid resulted in an indirect decrease in the activity of phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) through a reduced level of ammonium ion; fatty acid itself did not inhibit phosphofructokinase activity in the presence of excess ammonium ion. (3) Spermine protected AMP deaminase from inhibition by fatty acid: the increased ammonium level enhanced phosphofructokinase activity, glycolytic flux and the recovery of the energy charge. In contrast, alkali metals, which are also activators of AMP deaminase had little effect on the inhibition of the enzyme. The inhibition of glycolysis by fatty acid and its reversal by polyamine can be accounted for by the changes in ammonium ion through the action of AMP deaminase-ammonium system, and the physiological relevance is discussed.