1. The existence of specific glucose-6-phosphatase activity in human intestinal mucosa has been somewhat controversial.

2. We have demonstrated the presence of low levels of specific glucose-6-phosphatase activity in normal human adult intestinal mucosa. Activity was found in oesophagus, stomach, duodenum and colon.

3. Immunoblot analysis using antibodies monospecific for the 36.5 kDa liver glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit demonstrated that intestinal mucosa contains low levels of the glucose-6-phosphatase enzyme protein.

4. The low levels of activity together with problems of proteolysis make human intestinal biopsies unsuitable for use in the diagnosis of type 1 glycogen-storage disease.

Keywords:
glucose-6-phosphatase, intestinal mucosa
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© 1992 The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society
1992
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