title: Enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in glutathione-regulated membrane protection in beta-thalassaemia.
abstract: The mass concentrations of whole blood reduced glutathione and catalytic activity concentrations of the enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.9) were analysed in 25 cases of homozygous beta-thalassaemia, 20 cases of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia and 10 controls. The results showed a significant elevation of reduced glutathione and enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in homozygous beta-thalassaemia, indicating the existence of an enzyme-regulated glutathione turnover system in the overt state to combat the augmented red cell membrane damage due to auto-oxidant threat. However, in heterozygous beta-thalassaemia, reduced glutathione was increased, but there was no similar elevation of enzymes except for glutathione peroxidase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Madras, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponnazhagan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D010427:Pentose Phosphate Pathway; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione