Some Experiments on the Microscopical Demonstration of Zymohexase in Animal Tissues

Abstract

A technique is described for the microscopical demonstration of zymohexase (an important enzyme in the breakdown of carbohydrate in living tissues). The technique involves incubating sections of tissue in a substrate mixture containing hexosediphosphate in the presence of magnesia mixture and iodoacetate, followed by treatment of the magnesium ammonium phosphate so formed with cobaltous chloride and ammonium sulphide. The enzyme was found by this method to be present in skeletal, heart and smooth muscle. In cellular organs it was found to be diffused more or less uniformly throughout the cell.