Hexokinase isozymes of normal human subcutaneous adipose tissue.

The isozymes of hexokinase in surgical specimens of human subcutaneous adipose tissue were separated by elution from DEAE-cellulose with linear KCl gradients at ph 7.4. Two peaks of activity were found: Peak 1 eluted at 0.05M KCl, and Peak 2 at 0.19M KCl. Michaelis constants (Km) for glucose were: Peak 1, 6.5 x 10-5M; Peak 2, 1.5 x 10-4M. Peak 2 was more susceptible than Peak 1 to inactivation by trypsin, 0.1 mg/ml, and was protected by 0.1M glucose. Both peaks were protected from heat inactivation (45 degrees) by 0.1M glucose. Peak 2 comprised 66 +/- 5 percent of the total hexokinase activity. No activity with the characteristics of hexokinase III was detected in human fat. In all these characteristics, the isozymes of human adipose tissue closely resemble hexokinases I and II from rats.