MODIFICATIONS OF ERYTHROCYTE PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA - ACUTE STAGE AND REMISSION

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (3) , 339-344
Abstract
Erythrocyte phosphofructokinase from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was purified and characterized. In the acute stage of the disease the enzyme showed decreased affinity for substrate, reduced stability to heating and PCMB [p-chloromercuribenzoate] treatment, altered pH curve and increased effect of ATP as allosteric inhibitor. Only in 1 patient in remission, reversal of all enzyme abnormalities was found. In other cases, the general pattern of enzyme modifications was retained despite complete regression of clinical and hematologic symptoms. The only feature showing tendency to normalization in nearly all patients was the thermostability of phosphofructokinase. The results are discussed with regard to the mechanism of the enzyme''s modification.