Anomeric specificity of D-glucose metabolism in human erythrocytes.

The metabolism of D-[5-3H]glucose and D-[U-14C]glucose displays anomeric specificity in human erythrocytes. At close-to-physiological hexose concentrations, pure beta-D-[5-3H]glucose is metabolized at a higher rate than the corresponding pure alpha-anomer in most, but not all, subjects. This situation represents a mirror image of that found in rat erythrocytes. The anomeric preference is modulated by the extracellular concentration of D-glucose and may differ for distinct metabolic variables. The anomeric specificity of D-glucose metabolism remains operative, whether at low or normal temperature, even in erythrocytes exposed to equilibrated D-glucose.