Initiation of selective proteolysis by metabolic interconversion.

After the addition of glucose to acetate- or ethanol-grown yeast cells a small group of selected enzymes is rapidly inactivated. This phenomenon has been called "catabolite inactivation". Among other enzymes participating in gluconeogenesis, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is inactivated during this catabolite inactivation process. It was shown by FUNAYAMA et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 109, 61-66 (1980)) that the mechanism of inactivation is proteolysis. In the present paper evidence is presented that after addition of glucose a covalent conversion of the enzyme protein by phosphorylation of a serine-residue initiates its subsequent proteolysis. It is suggested that the covalent modification triggered by glucose and/or products of its catabolism renders the enzyme susceptible to proteinases and thereby initiates proteolysis of a selected enzyme without the necessity of a specific proteinase present.