Carbohydrate metabolism in Acanthamoeba castellanii. 1. The activity of key enzymes and [14C]-glucose metabolism
The specific activities of a number of the key enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism in Acanthamoeba castellanii (Neff clone I–12) have been determined. The following Embden–Meyerhof and pentose phosphate pathway enzymes were present: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, hexose diphosphatase, aldolase, glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and pyruvate-phosphate dikinase. The following tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes were also found: citrate synthase, aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate hydratase, and malate dehydrogenase. The degradation of glucose-U-14C to 14CO2 was examined. Aerobic 14CO2 production from glucose-U-14C was 3.4-fold greater than anaerobic production. The data provide further evidence that the Embden–Meyerhof, pentose phosphate, and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways are probably functional in A. castellanii.