The role of the pentose phosphate pathway in the reduction of methaemoglobin in human erythrocytes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The role of the pentose phosphate shunt in the reduction of methemoglobin in human erythrocytes has been studied by measuring, under comparable conditions: (a) the activity of the pentose phosphate shunt, (b) the amount of methemoglobin reduced, (c) the intracellular glutathione concentration. The pentose phosphate shunt accounts for only a small part of the total methemoglobin reduction. The participitation of the pentose phosphate shunt is fully explained by a direct non-enzymic reduction of methemoglobin by reduced glutathione. The oxidized glutathione thus formed is in turn reduced by nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate and glutathione reductase.