ABSTRACT
Researches have been directed towards elucidation of the relations between metabolism and function in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). During the course of these studies, they have observed that cytosolic carbohydrate metabolism is functionally compartmented. The authors review the data which implicated this type of cytosolic compartmentation in VSM. They summarize the evidence which suggest that this type of cellular organization with respect to carbohydrate metabolism is not limited to VSM, but in fact may reflect a more general type of cellular organization. The authors attempt to formulate an approach to understanding the advantages of this type of organization to the cell. Arguments, such as cell type heterogeneity or nonuniform glycogen utilization, were shown to be unlikely as possible alternative explanations. Another finding which is becoming more commonplace is the apparent association of glycolytic enzymes with the plasma membrane of cells.
