Correlation between the rate of protein and nucleic acid synthesis and the intensity of various glucose metabolic pathways in rat liver cells

A sharp and strong suppression of protein synthesis by cycloheximide in liver cells of starving rats is paralleled with activation of RNA synthesis and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase production. Subsequent reconstitution and stimulation of protein synthesis (6-12 hrs after cycloheximide injection) result in activation of hexokinase. Upon stimulation of DNA synthesis (48-60 hrs after cycloheximide injection) the activity of both enzymes is very low. Since glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase appears to be the limiting step of glucose decay via the pentose phosphate pathway, and hexokinase is the limiting step of glycolysis, it was assumed that RNA synthesis predominantly occurs via the pentose phosphate pathway, while that of proteins via glycolysis.     

Presence of nonoxidative enzymes of the pentose phosphate shunt in Tetrahymena.

Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain HSM, do not have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, but contain transaldolase, transketolase, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose-5-phosphate 3-epimerase, and ribokinase. The nonoxidative enzymes of the pentose phosphate shunt function in metabolism as indicated by the incorporation of label from [1-14C]ribose into CO2 and glycogen and by the increase in total glycogen content of cultures supplemented with ribose.     

Presence of Nonoxidative Enzymes of the Pentose Phosphate Shunt in Tetrahymena*

SYNOPSIS. Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain HSM, do not have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, but contain transaldolase, transketolase, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose-5-phosphate 3-epimerase, and ribokinase. The nonoxidative enzymes of the pentose phosphate shunt function in metabolism as indicated by the incorporation of label from [1-¹⁴C]ribose into CO₂ and glycogen and by the increase in total glycogen content of cultures supplemented with ribose.     

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthesis from glucose decreases during amino acid starvation of human lymphoblasts

When cultured human lymphoblasts are starved 3 h for an essential amino acid, rates of purine nucleotide synthesis decrease markedly because of a decrease in the intracellular phosphoribosylpyrophosphate concentration (Boss, G.R., and Erbe, R.W. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 4242-4247; Boss, G. R. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 2936-2941). In amino acid-starved cells, glucose transport was not changed, whereas total glucose consumption and lactate production decreased by approximately 25 and 10%, respectively. Carbon flow through the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, measured by 14CO2 release from [1-14C]glucose, decreased by 18% during amino acid starvation. However, kinetic studies of ribulose-5-phosphate 3-epimerase and phosphoriboisomerase suggested that the ribulose 5-phosphate produced by this pathway is converted mostly to xylulose 5-phosphate instead of to ribose 5-phosphate so that this pathway produces little phosphoribosylpyrophosphate. The activity of the nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway, measured by high performance liquid chromatography following the incorporation of [1-14C]glucose into phosphoribosylpyrophosphate, ATP, and GTP, decreased by approximately 55% during amino acid starvation. None of the enzymes of either pathway changed in specific activity during amino acid starvation. We conclude that the nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway is the major source of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate for purine nucleotide synthesis and that this pathway is regulated by a metabolite which changes in concentration during amino acid starvation.     

Malarial parasite hexokinase and hexokinase-dependent glutathione reduction in the Plasmodium falciparum-infected human erythrocyte

The metabolism of glucose in Plasmodium falciparum-infected human erythrocytes is increased 50- to 100-fold. This is accomplished in part by parasite-directed synthesis of a protozoan hexokinase with unique kinetic, electrophoretic, and heat stability properties. The total hexokinase activity is increased approximately 25-fold over that of control uninfected erythrocytes of the same age from the same donor. The parasite hexokinase has a lower affinity for glucose than the mammalian enzyme (Km = 431 microM +/- 21 S.D. for the parasite enzyme versus 98 microM +/- 10 for the erythrocyte enzyme), but the Km for ATP and the Vmax for both glucose and ATP are similar. The NADPH-dependent reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) requires the formation of glucose 6-phosphate which in turn is metabolized by the pentose shunt pathway in which NADPH is generated. Using glucose as the substrate, lysates of P. falciparum-infected normal erythrocytes demonstrated enhanced ability to reduce GSSG. The rate of GSSG reduction was proportional both to the parasitemia and the hexokinase activity of the lysates. However, infected glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient red cell lysates displayed a severely restricted ability to reduce GSSG under the same conditions. In conclusion, P. falciparum-infected red cells contain a parasite-encoded hexokinase with unique properties which initiates the large increase in glucose consumption. In normal infected red cells, reduction of GSSG is also dependent upon hexokinase activity, but in infected glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient red cells, the absence of this pentose shunt enzyme remains the rate-limiting step in GSSG reduction.     

Initial Step in Catabolism of Glucose by the Meningopneumonitis Agent

The relative rates of catabolism of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate by intact-cell suspensions of the meningopneumonitis agent, a member of the psittacosis group (Chlamydia), and the properties of the hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of these suspensions were investigated. It is proposed that the hexokinase is a host enzyme bound to the surface of the meningopneumonitis cell and that glucose-6-phosphate is the first substrate in the conversion of hexose to pentose to be attacked by enzymes synthesized by the meningopneumonitis agent.     

Metabolism of glucose by unicellular blue-green algae

Summary A facultative photo- and chemoheterotroph, the unicellular bluegreen alga Aphanocapsa 6714, dissimilates glucose with formation of CO₂ as the only major product. A substantial fraction of the glucose consumed is assimilated and stored as polyglucose (probably glycogen). The oxidation of glucose proceeds through the pentose phosphate pathway. The first enzyme of this pathway, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, is partly inducible. In addition, the rate of glucose oxidation is controlled, at the level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase function, by the intracellular level of an intermediate of the Calvin cycle, ribulose-1,5-diphosphate, which is a specific allosteric inhibitor of this enzyme. As a consequence, the rate of glucose oxidation is greatly reduced by illumination, an effect reversed by the presence of DCMU, an inhibitor of photosystem II.Two obligate photoautotrophs, Synechococcus 6301 and Aphanocapsa 6308, produce CO₂ from glucose at extremely low rates, although their levels of pentose pathway enzymes and of hexokinase are similar to those in Aphanocapsa 6714. Failure to grow with glucose appears to reflect the absence of an effective glucose permease. A general hypothesis concerning the primary pathways of carbon metabolism in blue-green algae is presented.Abbreviations A (U)DPG ADP-glucose or UDP-glucose - G-1-P glucose-1-phosphate - G-6-P glucose-6-phosphate - G_(int.) intracellular glucose - F-6-P fructose-6-phosphate - 6-PG 6-phosphogluconate - Ru-5-P ribulose-5-phosphate - RUDP ribulose-1,5-diphosphate - PGA 3-phosphoglycerate - GAP glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate     

The pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism. Hormonal and dietary control of the oxidative and non-oxidative reactions of the cycle in liver

1. Measurements were made of the non-oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate cycle in liver (transketolase, transaldolase, ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase and ribose 5-phosphate isomerase activities) in a variety of hormonal and nutritional conditions. In addition, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities were measured for comparison with the oxidative reactions of the cycle; hexokinase, glucokinase and phosphoglucose isomerase activities were also included. Starvation for 2 days caused significant lowering of activity of all the enzymes of the pentose phosphate cycle based on activity in the whole liver. Re-feeding with a high-carbohydrate diet restored all the enzyme activities to the range of the control values with the exception of that of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which showed the well-known ;overshoot' effect. Re-feeding with a high-fat diet also restored the activities of all the enzymes of the pentose phosphate cycle and of hexokinase; glucokinase activity alone remained unchanged. Expressed as units/g. of liver or units/mg. of protein hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, transketolase and pentose phosphate isomerase activities were unchanged by starvation; both 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase activities decreased faster than the liver weight or protein content. 2. Alloxan-diabetes resulted in a decrease of approx. 30-40% in the activities of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase and transketolase; in contrast with this glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, transaldolase and phosphoglucose isomerase activities were unchanged. Treatment of alloxan-diabetic rats with protamine-zinc-insulin for 3 days caused a very marked increase to above normal levels of activity in all the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway except ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase, which was restored to the control value. Hexokinase activity was also raised by this treatment. After 7 days treatment of alloxan-diabetic rats with protamine-zinc-insulin the enzyme activities returned towards the control values. 3. In adrenalectomized rats the two most important changes were the rise in hexokinase activity and the fall in transketolase activity; in addition, ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase activity was also decreased. These effects were reversed by cortisone treatment. In addition, in cortisone-treated adrenalectomized rats glucokinase activity was significantly lower than the control value. 4. In thyroidectomized rats both ribose 5-phosphate isomerase and transketolase activities were decreased; in contrast with this transaldolase activity did not change significantly. Hypophysectomy caused a 50% fall in transketolase activity that was partially reversed by treatment with thyroxine and almost fully reversed by treatment with growth hormone for 8 days. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the hormonal control of the non-oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate cycle, the marked changes in transketolase activity being particularly outstanding.     

Identification of novel small-molecule inhibitors for human transketolase by high-throughput screening with fluorescent intensity (FLINT) assay

The metabolic enzyme transketolase (TK) plays a crucial role in tumor cell nucleic acid synthesis, using glucose through the elevated nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Identification of inhibitors specifically targeting TK and preventing the nonoxidative PPP from generating the RNA ribose precursor, ribose-5-phosphate, provides a novel approach for developing effective anticancer therapeutic agents. The full-length human transketolase gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant human transketolase protein purified to homogeneity. A fluorescent intensity (FLINT) assay was developed and optimized. Library compounds were screened in a high-throughput screening (HTS) campaign using the FLINT assay. Fifty-four initial hits were identified. Among them, 2 scaffolds with high selectivity, ideal physiochemical properties, and low molecular weight were selected for lead optimization studies. These compounds specifically inhibited in vitro TK enzyme activity and suppressed tumor cell proliferation in at least 3 cancer cell lines: SW620, LS174T, and MIA PaCa-2. Identification of these active scaffolds represents a good starting point for development of drugs specifically targeting TK and the nonoxidative PPP for cancer therapy.     

The pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism. Enzyme profiles and transient and steady-state content of intermediates of alternative pathways of glucose metabolism in Krebs ascites cells

1. The pentose phosphate pathway in Krebs ascites cells was investigated for regulatory reactions. For comparison, the glycolytic pathway was studied simultaneously. 2. Activities of the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes were low in contrast with those of the enzymes of glycolysis. The K(m) values of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase for both substrate and cofactor were about four times the reported upper limit for the enzyme from normal tissues. Fructose 1,6-diphosphate and NADPH competitively inhibited 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. 3. About 28% of the hexokinase activity was in the particulate fraction of the cells. The soluble enzyme was inhibited by fructose 1,6-diphosphate and ribose 5-phosphate, but not by 3-phosphoglycerate. The behaviour of the partially purified soluble enzyme in vitro in a system simulating the concentrations of ATP, glucose 6-phosphate and P(i) found in vivo is reported. 4. Kinetics of metabolite accumulation during the transient state after the addition of glucose to the cells indicated two phases of glucose phosphorylation, an initial rapid phase followed abruptly by a slow phase extending into the steady state. 5. Of the pentose phosphate pathway intermediates, accumulation of 6-phosphogluconate, sedoheptulose 7-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate paralleled the accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate. Erythrose 4-phosphate reached the steady-state concentration by 2min., whereas the pentose phosphates accumulated linearly. 6. The mass-action ratios of the pentose phosphate pathway reactions were calculated. The transketolase reaction was at equilibrium by 30sec. and then progressively shifted away from equilibrium towards the steady-state ratio. The glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was far from equilibrium at all times. 7. Investigation of the flux of [(14)C]glucose carbon confirmed the existence of an operative pentose phosphate pathway in ascites cells, contributing 1% of the total flux in control cells and 10% in cells treated with phenazine methosulphate. 8. The pentose phosphate formed by way of the direct oxidative route and estimated from the (14)CO(2) yields represented 20% of the total accumulated pentose phosphate, the other 80% being formed by the non-oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway. 9. The pentose phosphate pathway appears to function as two separate pathways, both operating towards pentose phosphate formation. Control of the two pathways is discussed.     

The enhancement of glucose uptake caused by the collapse of gap junction communication is due to an increase in astrocyte proliferation

We have previously shown that several gap junction uncouplers increase the uptake of glucose in astrocytes. The aim of the present work was to study whether the increase in glucose uptake was a consequence of the inhibition of gap junction communication and the purpose of this effect. Our results show that alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid and endothelin-1 increase the uptake of glucose in highly, but not in poorly, coupled astrocytes. This effect depended on connexin 43 levels and was abolished when the inhibition of gap junction communication was prevented by tolbutamide or ouabain. The inhibition of gap junctions increased the rate of glucose incorporation into DNA and RNA, which was inhibited by treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone, an inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the regulatory enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. The inhibition of gap junctions significantly increased astrocyte proliferation, which was counteracted by tolbutamide. These effects were not observed in poorly coupled astrocytes expressing low levels of connexin 43. The increase in astrocyte proliferation caused by gap junction inhibition was prevented when either glucose uptake or the pentose phosphate pathway were inhibited. We conclude that the inhibition of gap junction communication induces astrocyte proliferation, resulting in an enhancement of glucose uptake and its utilization through the pentose phosphate pathway to provide ribose-5-phosphate for the synthesis of nucleic acids.     

In vivo measurements of control coefficients for hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were increased in Xenopus laevis oocytes by microinjection of commercial pure enzymes. The effect of increased fractional activities on glycogen synthesis or on the production of 14CO(2) (the oxidative portion of the pentose phosphate pathway) was investigated by microinjection of [1-(14)C]glucose and measurements of the radioactivity in glycogen and CO(2). Control coefficients calculated from the data show that hexokinase plays an important role in the control of glycogen synthesis (control coefficient=0.7) but its influence on the control of the pentose phosphate pathway is almost nil (control coefficient=-0.01). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase injections did not affect the production of 14CO(2) by the pentose phosphate pathway, indicating that other factors control the operation of this pathway. In addition, an almost null control of this enzyme on glycogen synthesis flux was observed.     

Regulation of alternative pathways of glucose metabolism in rat heart in alloxan diabetes: changes in the pentose phosphate pathway

The flux of glucose through the pentose phosphate pathway, important in relation to the provision of ribose 5-phosphate for nucleotide and RNA synthesis, was decreased by 70% in the diabetic rat heart in parallel with a similar decreased flux through the glycolytic route. A common factor linking the decreased flux through these alternative routes is the known fall in cardiac hexokinase; in these experiments there is a 50% decrease in Type II hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1.) in both soluble and particulate fractions. The level of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, a regulator of phosphofructokinase activity, is decreased by 20% in the alloxan diabetic rat heart, this may be a significant additional factor in the marked decrease in the flux of glucose through the glycolytic route in the myocardium in diabetes.     

The pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism. Influence of a growth-hormone-secreting pituitary tumour on the oxidative and non-oxidative reactions of the cycle in liver

1. Measurements were made of the activities of enzymes of the pentose phosphate cycle, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase, transketolase and transaldolase, as well as of the related or competing enzymes glucokinase, hexokinase, phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphoglucomutase, in control rats and in rats bearing the growth-hormone- and prolactin-secreting pituitary tumour MtTW5, to study the effect of high endogenous concentrations of growth hormone on this pathway in liver. 2. There was a twofold increase in liver weight. Glucokinase activity/g. of liver decreased to half the control value in the experimental group, although on a total liver basis it remained unchanged. Hexokinase activity increased in parallel with the liver weight, so that the total activity was doubled in rats with a high endogenous concentration of growth hormone. No differences in response were found between heat-stable and heat-labile forms of hexokinase. 3. The activity/g. of liver of the two oxidative enzymes of the pathway decreased slightly in the experimental group, but this was offset by the increase in liver weight, and the resultant effect was a 50% increase in the total activity. 4. Of the non-oxidative enzymes of the cycle the most marked increase on a total liver basis was in ribose 5-phosphate isomerase activity, to 2.5 times the control value. Ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase activity showed the smallest increase. Transketolase and transaldolase activities were also increased. The latter is the rate-limiting enzyme of the non-oxidative reactions of the cycle in these animals. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the glycolytic pathway and synthesis of glycogen, and more particularly to the increased requirement for ribose 5-phosphate for RNA synthesis.     

Imatinib mesylate (STI571) abrogates the resistance to doxorubicin in human K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells by inhibition of BCR/ABL kinase-mediated DNA repair

Imatinib mesylate (STI571), a specific inhibitor of BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase, exhibits potent antileukemic effects in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, the precise mechanism by which inhibition of BCR/ABL activity results in pharmacological responses remains unknown. BCR/ABL-positive human K562 CML cells resistant to doxorubicin (K562DoxR) and their sensitive counterparts (K562DoxS) were used to determine the mechanism by which the STI571 inhibitor may overcome drug resistance. K562 wild type cells and CCRF-CEM lymphoblastic leukemia cells without BCR/ABL were used as controls. The STI571 specificity was examined by use of murine pro-B lymphoid Baf3 cells with or without BCR/ABL kinase expression. We examined kinetics of DNA repair after cell treatment with doxorubicin in the presence or absence of STI571 by the alkaline comet assay. The MTT assay was used to estimate resistance against doxorubicin and Western blot analysis with Crk-L antibody was performed to evaluate BCR/ABL kinase inhibition by STI571. We provide evidence that treatment of CML-derived BCR/ABL-expressing leukemia K562 cells with STI571 results in the inhibition of DNA repair and abrogation of the resistance of these cells to doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin-resistant K562DoxR cells exhibited accelerated kinetics of DNA repair compared with doxorubicin-sensitive K562DoxS cells. Inhibition of BCR/ABL kinase in K562DoxR cells with 1 microM STI571 decreased the kinetics of DNA repair and abrogated drug resistance. The results suggest that STI571-mediated inhibition of BCR/ABL kinase activity can affect the effectiveness of the DNA-repair pathways, which in turn may enhance drug sensitivity of leukemia cells.     

Imatinib (STI571) inhibits DNA repair in human leukemia oncogenic tyrosine kinase-expressing cells

BCR/ABL oncogene, as a result of chromosome aberration t(9;22), is the pathogenic principle of almost 95% of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib (STI571) is a highly selective inhibitor of BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase used in leukemia treatment. It has been suggested that BCR/ABL may contribute to the resistance of leukemic cells to drug and radiation through stimulation of DNA repair in these cells. To evaluate further the influence of STI571 on DNA repair we studied the efficacy of this process in BCR/ABL-positive and -negative cells using single cell electrophoresis (comet assay). In our experiments, K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cells expressing BCR/ABL and CCRF-CEM human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells without BCR/ABL expression were employed. The cells were exposed for 1 h at 37 degrees C to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) at 5 microM, mitomycin C (MMC) at 50 microM or to gamma-radiation at 15 Gy with or without a 24 h preincubation at 1 microM of STI571. The MTT cells survival after 4 days of culture showed that STI571 enhanced the cytotoxity of the examined compounds in the K562 line. Further it was found, that the inhibitor decreased the efficacy of DNA repair challenged by each agent, but only in the K562 expressing BCR/ABL. Due to the variety of DNA damage induced by the employed agents in this study we can speculate, that BCR/ABL may stimulate multiple pathways of DNA repair. These results extend our previous studies performed on BCR/ABL-transformed mouse cells onto human cells. It is shown that BCR/ABL stimulated DNA repair in human leukemia cells. In conclusion we report that STI571 was found to inhibit DNA repair and abrogate BCR/ABL-positive human leukemia cells therapeutic resistance.     

Nonoxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Veillonella alcalescens

Crude cell-free extracts of Veillonella alcalescens C1, an anaerobe unable to ferment glucose, were assayed for individual enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities were not detectable. Constituent enzymes of the nonoxidative limb of the pentose phosphate pathway were demonstrable. The presence of transaldolase, transketolase, phosphoribose isomerase, and phosphoribulose epimerase in this organism suggests a primarily biosynthetic role for these enzymes. It is postulated that ribose is synthesized from lactate in V. alcalescens C1 via a modified reversal of glycolysis and the nonoxidative limb of the pentose phosphate pathway.     

Glucose metabolism and template synthesis in the mitotic cycle of human diploid fibroblasts

The correlation between the rates of protein and nucleic acid synthesis and the activity of the key enzymes of glycolysis (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase) and pentose phosphate cycle (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in the mitotic cycle of human diploid fibroblasts synchronized by double thymidine block was studied. It was found that the removal of the thymidine block is followed by short-term (presumably, non-specific) simultaneous stimulation of matrix syntheses, as well as by glycolytic and pentose phosphate cycle enzyme syntheses. By the beginning of the S-phase, all the processes appear to be inhibited, followed by gradual activation of glycolysis and pentose phosphate cycle reactions. The implementation of the cell cycle is concomitant with stepwise transitions of protein and hexokinase synthesis rates and ATP content to one of the following levels--basal, intermediate or maximal. Changes in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the course of the cell cycle appear as oscillations, those in phosphofructokinase as alternative states. At stage M, the oscillatory processes are temporarily quenched, whereas the ATP content occupies an intermediate level. In contrast with diploid fibroblasts, in transformed T9 cells the enzyme activity is much higher, and the fluctuations in activity throughout the cell cycle are less noticeable. Presumably, in transformed cells the enzyme activity is at the maximum level and is not prone to effector regulation.     

The pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism. Hormonal and dietary control of the oxidative and non-oxidative reactions and related enzymes of the cycle in adipose tissue

1. Measurements were made of the activities of the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway concerned in both the oxidative (glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) and the non-oxidative (ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase, transketolase and transaldolase) reactions of this pathway, together with hexokinase and phosphoglucose isomerase, in adipose tissue in a variety of nutritional and hormonal conditions. 2. Starvation for 2 days caused a significant decrease in the activities of all the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway, with the exception of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, when expressed as activity/2 fat-pads; only the activities of ribose 5-phosphate isomerase and ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase were significantly decreased on the basis of activity/mg. of protein. Re-feeding with a high-carbohydrate or high-fat diet for 3 days restored the activity of all the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway to the range of the control values, with the exception of transketolase, which showed a marked ;overshoot' in rats re-fed with carbohydrate. Starvation for 3 days caused a marked decrease in the activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and transketolase. 3. On the basis of activity/two fat-pads, alloxan-diabetes caused a marked decrease, to about half the control value, in the activities of all the enzymes concerned in the pentose phosphate pathway, transketolase showing the smallest decrease; hexokinase and phosphoglucose isomerase activities were also decreased. Treatment with insulin for 3 and 7 days raised the activities to normal or supranormal values, transketolase showing the most marked ;overshoot' effect. On the basis of activity/mg. of protein the activity of none of the enzymes was significantly decreased in alloxan-diabetes; transketolase and transaldolase activities were raised above the control values. With insulin treatment for 3 or 7 days the activities of all the enzymes were significantly increased, except that of ribulose 5-phosphate epimerase at the shorter time-interval. Glucagon treatment did not alter any of the enzyme activities expressed on either basis. 4. Thyroidectomy caused a decrease of 30-40% in the activities of enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway, except for transketolase activity, which fell to 50% of the control value. Little change occurred in adipose-tissue weight or protein content. 5. Adrenalectomy caused a decrease of 40% in the activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and of 20-30% in the activities of the remaining enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway; hexokinase activity was also decreased. Treatment with cortisone for 3 days did not significantly raise the activity from that found in adrenalectomized rats. Treatment of normal rats with high doses of cortisone had no significant effect on the activities of the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in adipose tissue. 6. The changes in enzyme activities are discussed in relation to: (a) the concept of constant-proportion groups of enzymes; (b) the known changes in the flux of glucose through alternative metabolic pathways; (c) the pattern of change found in liver with similar hormonal and dietary conditions.