Interrelationship between energy metabolism from various substrates and the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate bypass in human erythrocytes.

Metabolism of the substrates D-ribose, xylitol, D-Xylulose, D-fructose, D-glucose and mixtures of these compounds were studied in human erythrocytes. The metabolic rates obtained with the various substrates affected the intracellular levels of ATP and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Small amounts of substrate utilization resulted in a decrease of the ATP and more pronounced of the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentration while carbon utilization rates beyound 14 microgram atom C/ml packed cells/120 min yielded constant levels of ATP and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. From these results it can be concluded that a carbon utilization rate of 14 microgram atom C/ml cells/120 min is able to cover the ATP requirement of the red cells under steady state conditions. Based on the carbon utilization rates obtained with the various substrates and the rates of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate decomposition an attempt is made to calculate the contribution of the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate bypass to substrate metabolism. In case of xylitol as substrate the decrease in the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate content provides the regeneration of NAD thus facilitating uptake and metabolism of xylitol.