Some molecular structural features of glycogen in the kidneys of diabetic rats

Ziyi Wang; Qinghua Liu; Liang Wang; Xinle Tan; Bin Deng; Enpeng Li; Robert G Gilbert; Mitchell A Sullivan

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115526

Some molecular structural features of glycogen in the kidneys of diabetic rats

Carbohydr Polym. 2020 Feb 1:229:115526. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115526. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Authors

Ziyi Wang¹, Qinghua Liu², Liang Wang³, Xinle Tan¹, Bin Deng⁴, Enpeng Li⁵, Robert G Gilbert⁶, Mitchell A Sullivan⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
² Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China.
³ Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Bioinformatics, School of Medical Informatics and Engineering, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
⁵ Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China.
⁶ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Glycation and Diabetes, Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 31826402
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115526

Abstract

Glycogen, a highly-branched glucose polymer, functions as a sugar reservoir in many organs and tissues. Liver glycogen comprises small β particles which can bind to form into large agglomerates (α particles) which readily degrade to β particles in diabetic livers. Muscle glycogen has only β particles, optimal for quick energy release. Healthy kidney contains negligible glycogen, but there is an abnormally high accumulation in diabetic kidneys. We here compare the molecular structure of glycogen in diabetic kidneys with that in liver and muscle, using a diabetic rat model. This involved exploring extraction techniques to minimize glycogen degradation. Using size exclusion chromatography and transmission electron microscopy, it was found that there were only β particles in diabetic kidneys. These are postulated to form during periods of abnormally high blood sugar, the driving force being the need to reduce blood sugar under such circumstances.

Keywords: Chain length distributions; Glycogen accumulation; Glycogen structure; Kidney; Size exclusion chromatography.

MeSH terms

Animals
Blood Glucose / analysis
Chromatography, Gel
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / chemically induced
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
Diet, High-Fat
Glycogen / chemistry*
Kidney / metabolism*
Liver Glycogen / chemistry
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
Rats

Substances

Blood Glucose
Liver Glycogen
Glycogen