Effect of low altitude on glycolytic key enzymes in red blood cells.
METHODS
The ATP level and the activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) and pyruvate kinase (PK) in red blood cells (RBC) were measured in 50 school students 6-12 yr of age in the Jordan Valley (JV) which is the lowest region below sea level in the world (low altitude: 390 m below sea level, hyperoxic and with an average daily value of 796 mmHg barometric pressure) and in 50 school students of the same age group in Irbid region (normal altitude: 600 m above sea level and with an average daily value of 600 mmHg barometric pressure). The same parameters were measured also in 40 school students at sea level.


RESULTS
A significant decrease in HK and PFK-1 activities and an increase in ATP level in the low altitude region, while no significant change in PK activity in JV-group when compared to Irbid and to the sea level control groups. Possible explanations will be discussed to interpret these observations.
Bashir
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Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000531:Altitude; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006019:Glycolysis; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D006593:Hexokinase; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase