Age-related changes in subunit composition and regulation of hepatic 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase

6-Phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK) isoenzyme pools from livers of fetal, neonatal, young adult (3 months) and aged (24 months) rats were studied. Near-term liver PFK isoenzyme pools were composed of nearly equal quantities of all three subunits. During the 30 days after birth, the total activity increased by 25%; the amount of the L-type, M-type or C-type subunit was increased 3-fold, was unchanged, or was decreased by 80% respectively. In aged rats, compared with young adults, total PFK activity was unchanged, but the L-type, M-type or C-type subunit decreased by 24%, increased by 39%, or increased by 338% respectively. During neonatal maturation, the changing subunit composition of the hepatic isoenzyme pools led to a decreased susceptibility to ATP inhibition, to a greater apparent affinity for fructose 6-phosphate, and to increased sensitivity to fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Also, these alterations correlated with the measured increases in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and the reported optimal rate of hepatic glycolysis/gluconeogenesis.