Predominant periportal expression of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and tyrosine aminotransferase genes in rat liver. Dynamics during the daily feeding rhythm and starvation-refeeding cycle demonstrated by in situ hybridization.

The zonal distribution of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) mRNA in liver was studied by in situ hybridization with radiolabelled cRNA probes and the abundance of PCK and TAT mRNA was quantified by Northern blot analysis of total RNA with biotinylated cRNA probes. Livers were taken from rats during a normal 12 h day/night rhythm, when they had access to food only during the dark period from 7 pm to 7 am, or during refeeding, when they had access to food after having been starved for 60 h. 1. Daily feeding rhythm: High levels of PCK mRNA were distributed mainly in the periportal and intermediate zone during the fasting period at noon and 6 pm. Feeding caused a rapid decrease in PCK mRNA level and a restriction of PCK mRNA localization to the periportal area within the first 2 h. No further alterations were observed during the following hours of the feeding period. TAT mRNA was distributed also in the periportal and intermediate zone during the fasting period. Feeding first reduced the mRNA level without changing the distribution pattern. Then towards the end of the feeding period TAT mRNA increased again to half-maximal levels and became restricted mainly to the periportal area. 2. Starvation-refeeding cycle: High amounts of PCK mRNA as well as of TAT mRNA were localized predominantly in the periportal and intermediate zone after 60 h of starvation. PCK and TAT mRNA both decreased markedly during the first 2 h of refeeding and then remained almost constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)