Studies on the nature of different molecular forms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase purified from human leukocytes.

Several molecular forms of human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) corresponding to different stages of post-synthetic modifications have been purified from human leukocytes. The various enzyme forms were different in their specific activity, their kinetic properties and their isoelectrofusing pattern. The molecular weight of the subunits of the different forms was not modified. The changes in the electrofocusing pattern were not due to modifications of the N-terminal ends, the oxidation of thiol groups or the non-covalent fixation of an acid molecule upon the enzyme. Carboxypeptidase B cleaved a C-terminal lysine from the different enzyme forms and shifted the isoelectric point of the different enzyme active bands towards the acid pH. The different enzyme forms studied here seemed to result from the action upon 'native glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase' of 'modifying factors' especially abundant in some leukemic granulocytes. The modifying factors did not seem to be consumed during the 'modification' of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Moreover, the storage for one year of unmodified enzyme resulted in changes in its electrofocusing pattern similar to those quickly induced by the 'modifying factors'. Consequently it appears that the modifying factors are catalysts of the modification of special residues of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The hypothesis that this modification involves the deamination of asparagine or glutamine residues is put forward.