The effect of diamide and glutathione on the uptake of glucose by human erythrocytes.

Diamide, directly added to human erythrocytes, inhibits glucose utilisation. The trend of this process is in good correlation with the intracellular concentration of GSH. Since diamide does not affect the glycolytic and hexose monophosphate-shunt-pathway enzymes, it is likely that the effect of diamide involves the sugar transport across erythrocyte membrane. Kinetic studies carried out on ghosts have shown that diamide decreases Vmax without affecting Km. GSH on the contrary stimulates glucose transport by increasing Vmax. The significance of GSH in the process of transport of sugar is discussed.