Studies on Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Variant : II. Characterization of a New PK Variant (PK Ube) Found by Electrophoretic Screening

Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) with an abnormal electrophoretic pattern was found by screening, using a thin layer polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The pI value of this pyruvate kinase was found to be 6.90 by means of isoelectric focusing, at 6℃. While the pI value of normal erythrocyte pyruvate kinase was found to be 7.36, at 6℃. This partially purified pyruvate kinase showed the same pattern as the fresh hemolysate of the propositus upon electrophoresis. The propositus' PK showed no other abnormality in activity, determinations of glycolytic intermediates, adenine nucleotides, optimal pH, heat and urea stability tests, nucleotide specificity test or neutralization test. Since there ware previously no PK variants found to have electrophoretically abnormal mobility and normal functions, this variant was designated ”PK Ube”.