Gd(minus)Matam, an African glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant with enzyme deficiency. Biochemical and immunological properties in various hemopoietic tissues.

Two unrelated Senegalese patients, both native of the Matam province, were found to have the same deficient G6PD variant. One has no hematological history, the other had several induced acute hemolytic episodes. The deficiency was almost complete in red blood cells and 20-30 percent of the normal level in leukocytes and platelets; in leukocytes the deficiency was due to a decrease in the molecular specific activity of the enzyme to which a molecular instability was added, explaining the greater deficiency in red blood cells. The electrophoretic mobility was slightly fast in leukocytes and platelets but normal in red blood cells. This pattern was confirmed by electrofocusing in ampholine-acrylamide gel. From a kinetic point of view, these enzymes were characterized by a lowered Km (G6P) (13 to 20 muM) a normal Km (NADP+), a Ki (NADPH) increased about twice, a thermal instability, a biphasic pH curve and an increased activation energy (15 kcal/mole). The polymorphonuclear cells were functionally strictly normal: engulfment, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test, induced iodination, and oxygen consumption were normal. The authors discuss the importance of post-synthetic modifications of the muted enzymes and their repercussions on the enzyme characteristics.