Electrophoretic, immunologic and kinetic characterization of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase in the Basenji dog with pyruvate kinase deficiency.

The electrophoretic mobility and the immunologic specificity of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) of the homozygous Basenji dog with PK deficiency were identical to those of normal M2-type PK isozyme seen in the white cell but not to those of the erythrocyte PK isozyme. Kinetic properties and stability were also consistent with the M2-type PK isozyme. Defective PK in the homozygous red cell was due to the absence of the erythrocyte PK isozyme and the compensatory presence of M2-type PK isozyme, as seen in the severe classical type PK deficiency in man.