Galactose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Purification and partial characterization.

A new enzyme, galactose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase has been purified about 50-fold from goat liver. The enzyme can be distinguished from the nonspecific hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by its high substrate specificity and absolute pyridine nucleotide requirement. In contrast to the hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, this enzyme is located exclusively in the cytoplasmic fraction of the cell. The enzyme is a metalloprotein and is highly sensitive to mercurials. The product of the reaction is possibly a ketoaldose, phosphorylated at the primary alcoholic group.