Studies on the properties and tissue distribution of the isozymes of guanylate kinase in man.

The isozyme patterns of guanylate kinase were examined in fetal and adult tissues, in cultured cells and also in red cells separated by density gradient fractionation. Results from fetal and cultured cells inidcated that there are three primary isozymes a, c, and e among the seven isozymes of guanylate kinase in man. Serial secondary isozyme production in red cells in vivo showed that isozyme a produces b, c produces d, and e produces f and g. The three sets of isozymes were found to differ in the following properties: activation/inhibition by EDTA; thermostability, and molecular weights. Isoelectric points of several of the isozymes were estimated by isoelectric focusing. It was concluded that the isozymes of guanylate kinase are determined by three separate gene loci.