Swelling of rat hepatocytes activates acetyl-CoA carboxylase in parallel to glycogen synthase.

Incubation of hepatocytes in conditions known to increase their volume, i.e. with amino acids or in hypo-osmotic media, resulted in the parallel activation of glycogen synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The activation of both enzymes by glutamine was antagonized by the addition of raffinose to prevent cell swelling, or by glucagon and microcystin. The findings are consistent with the involvement of a common mechanism for the activation of the two enzymes.