ENZYMES OF PENTOSE BIOSYNTHESIS: I. SEPARATION OF PENTOSE CYCLE ENZYMES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

A study of the enzymes of the pentose cycle in Escherichia coli has been undertaken. Procedures are reported for separating the cell extract into fractions containing transketolase, D-xylulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase, and transaldolase and phosphoribose isomerase. Cross contamination was small enough and yields of enzymatic activity were adequate to make the fractions usable for further purification steps. Preliminary results of the further purification of the enzymes, some properties of the enzymes, and a number of problems in enzyme assay are discussed.