Two types of phosphofructokinase-1 differentially regulate the glycolytic pathway in insulin-stimulated chicken skeletal muscle

To elucidate the precise regulation of glucose homeostasis in chicken skeletal muscle, expression of muscle- and liver-type phosphofructokinase-1 (EC:2.7.1.11, PFK-M, PFK-L) was characterized in the insulin-stimulated state by Real-Time PCR. Firstly, chicken PFK-M and PFK-L full-length cDNA sequences were identified. The deduced amino acid sequences were 81.6% and 86.5% identical with human PFK-M and PFK-L, respectively. In pectoralis superficialis (PS) muscle and extensor digitorum longus (EDL), PFK-M mRNA levels were unchanged following insulin stimulation. Surprisingly, although mammalian PFK-L has been reported to be expressed in liver, kidney and brain, chicken PFK-L was not detected in liver and kidney, however, strong expression was detected in skeletal muscle and brain by Northern blot analysis. However, using PCR, PFK-L mRNA was detected in liver. Taken together, chicken PFK-L mRNA expression was at a very low level, below the detection limit of Northern blot analysis. Chicken PFK-L mRNA levels were increased 200% in PS muscle but decreased by 40% in EDL following insulin stimulation. These results suggest that two types of PFK regulate the glycolytic pathway in the insulin-stimulated state and, therefore, that glucose metabolism in chicken skeletal muscle may be regulated in a very different manner compared to mammals.