Hypoxia up-regulates triosephosphate isomerase expression via a HIF-dependent pathway

The glycolytic enzyme triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) catalyses the reversible conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. We report here that the expression of TPI at both the mRNA and protein levels is increased by hypoxia in vivo and in vitro. The temporal pattern of hypoxic TPI induction is very similar to that of genes triggered by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) and is mimicked characteristically by cobalt and by deferoxamine, but is absent in cells with a defective aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT, here HIF-1β) and in cells lacking HIF-1α protein. We conclude from these findings that the expression of TPI is regulated via the HIF pathway and thus belongs to the family of classic oxygen-regulated genes. The physiological meaning of an increased expression of TPI in hypoxygenated tissues is probably to increase the flow of triosephosphates through the glycolytic cascade thus leading to an increase of anaerobic energy generation.