ISSN:
1432-1203
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) from 5 patients with congenital non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia and erythrocyte PK deficiency have been studied by immunological methods and electrofocusing. L type immunologically related PK was titrated in crude hemolysate with anti human liver L type PK rabbit serum and M2 type immunologically related PK with anti human leukocyte M2 type PK serum. After partial purification, molecular specific activity of erythrocyte PK was measured by immunoinactivation and electroimmunodiffusion with anti L type PK serum. Partially purified erythrocyte PK was focused on continuous sucrose gradient with 2% ampholines covering the pH range 5–8. PK enzymatic deficiency was due two times to a lowered molecular specific activity of the PK variants, the concentration of PK antigen being in the normal range. In the 3 other cases enzyme activity and immunological reactivity were likewise lowered. In the 2 patients with the most marked erythrocyte PK deficiency about 50% of the residual activity in crude hemolysate were non inhibited by anti L type PK serum, but were inhibited by anti M2 type PK serum. In 3 patients, the electrofocusing pattern of partially purified PK was significantly different from that of normal controls. In conclusion, the heterogeneity of the molecular mechanisms of the deficiency on the one hand, and the abnormalities of electrofocusing patterns on the other hand, seem to indicate that erythrocyte PK deficiency is due to the synthesis by muted structural genes of various abnormal PK molecules. The high ratio of M2 type PK in the most deficient hemolysates may be due to a compensatory process.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00394188
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