Studies of pyruvate-water isotope exchange catalysed by erythrocytes and proteins Available to Purchase

Erythrocyte suspensions in buffer made with 2H2O catalyse the exchange of pyruvate protons. This process can be easly observed by spin-echo proton magnetic resonance. The dominant exchange process is shown to be due to the formation of Schiff-base links between pyruvate and amino groups of haemoglobin. Other proteins with free alpha-amino groups also catalyse the exchange. The pH*-dependence of the exchange rate due to hen-egg-white-lysozyme reflects the dissociation of the alpha-amino group.