Two hexokinases of Homarus americanus (lobster), one having great affinity for mannose and fructose and low affinity for glucose.

Two major hexokinases (ATP: D-hexose 6-phosphotransferases, EC 2.7.1.1) have been identified in tissues of Homarus americanus (lobster) and separated from each other by DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of each, determined by gel filtration, is about 50 000. Hexokinase II, named for its column elution order, resembles hexokinase isozymes I and II of vertebrates. Km values for glucose, mannose and fructose are 0.08, 0.13 and 6.7 mM, respectively. It is strongly inhibited by the reaction products, ADP and glucose-6-P (Ki = 0.8 mM). Hexokinase I appears to be different from any animal hexokinase previously described. It has a high affinity for mannose and fructose and low affinity for glucose. Km values are 6, 0.07 and 1.2 mM and relative maximum rates 100, 520 and 1070 for glucose, mannose and fructose, respectively. Hexokinase I is not inhibited by physiological concentrations of ATP nor by glucose-6-P , mannose-6-P or fructose-6-P even at high concentrations. Both enzymes occur in muscle at about 10% of the concentration found in the hepatopancreas. The use of Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49), with NAD as cofactor, is recommended for measuring hexokinases in crude tissue preparations to avoid the variable further reduction of nucleotide caused by the action of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase when NADP is used with yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.