Analysis of the protein products encoded by variant glucokinase transcripts via expression in bacteria

Five variant transcripts of the single rat glucokinase gene have been described that are naturally expressed in islets of Langerhans, liver and anterior pituitary. Four of these were prepared as cDNA and expressed in bacteria in order to begin to address their physiological roles. Expression of constructs pGKB1 (normal islet/pituitary glucokinase) and pGKL1 (normal liver glucokinase) resulted in glucose-dependent, glucokinase-like activity, 7-fold and 45-fold, respectively, above background. Expression of pGKB3 (variant islet/pituitary glucokinase) and pGKL2 (variant liver glucokinase) in contrast, did not result in any glucokinase-like activity.