Evidence that transcription of the hexokinase gene is increased in a rapidly growing rat hepatoma.

The level of hexokinase-specific mRNA in rat liver and in rat ascites hepatoma (Zajdela) was assessed by translating free polysomes from both cell types in a reticulocyte lysate. Translation of hexokinase occurred with approximately a 10 fold higher frequency in tumor cells than in liver, suggesting that transcriptional activation is in part responsible for increased levels of hexokinase in tumor.