Pentose phosphate pathway in the scyphistomae of Chrysaora quinquecirrha

1. 1. Data obtained by two independent methods of analysis provide evidence for a functional pentose-phosphate pathway in the polyps of Chrysaora quinquecirrha. 2. 2. The first two enzymes of the pentose-phosphate pathway, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.43), have single bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with relative mobilities of 0·20 and 0·47, respectively. 3. 3. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is a particularly labile enzyme which must be stabilized by the addition of NADP during the extraction and electrophoresis procedures. 4. 4. The molar ratio of ¹⁴CO₂ produced by the in vivo oxidation of [1-¹⁴C]-glucose and [6-¹⁴C]-glucose is greater than one, an observation consistent with a functional pentose-phosphate pathway.