Cloning and characterization of feline islet glucokinase.

Background: Glucokinase (GK) is a metabolic enzyme encoded by the GCK gene and expressed in glucose-sensitive tissues, principally pancreatic islets cell and hepatocytes. The GK protein acts in pancreatic islets as a "glucose sensor" that couples fluctuations in the blood glucose concentration to changes in cellular function and insulin secretion. GCK and GK have proposed importance in the development and progression of diabetes mellitus and are potential therapeutic targets for diabetes treatment.

Cloning and comparative bioinformatic analysis of feline glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit cDNA.

Glucose-6-phosphatase is a multicomponent enzyme composed of a transporter subunit and a catalytic subunit that is involved in hepatic glucose production. The objective of the present study was to determine the complete nucleotide sequence of feline hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit (G6Pc) cDNA and to perform comparative analysis of the molecular features of the feline G6Pc cDNA and protein. Feline G6Pc cDNA contains 2261 bases and encodes a 357 aa protein.