Non-glycolytic Sugar Metabolism in Human Erythrocytes*

Abstract
Xylitol was shown to be an efficient reductant of methemoglobin either in red cells or hemolysate. The reaction product of the sugar alcohol was separated and inentified as xylulose by paper chromato-graphy, color reactions and gas chromatography, and also enzymatically. The D/L ratio of xylulose was 19.8/6.8. The ratio was increased by the addition of NAD and decreased by the addition of NADP in hemolysate experiments. The effects of xylitol metabolism on the level of several glycolytic intermediates were studied. Increase in lactate and triose phosphate was observed in the presence of xylitol. This phenomenon was explained by the change of NADH2/NAD ratio in the cells.

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