Insulin-like Effect of Sulfhydryl Inhibitor on Hexokinase Isoenzyme of Rat Granuloma Tissue in vitro and the Opposite Effect of Sulfhydryl Compound

Abstract

Decrease in Type II and concomitant increase in Type III in the hexokinase isoenzymogram of rat carrageenin granuloma were induced in vitro by the addition of insulin to the incubation medium. The changes in the isoenzymogram observed in vitro were quite similar to those induced by insulin in vivo in the same tissue. Addition of pchloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid, a sulfhydryl inhibitor, to the medium also caused decrease in Type II. On the other hand, Type II was markedly increased by the addition of mercaptoethanol, a sulfhydryl compound, to the isoenzyme solution. The findings were discussed with respect to the mechanism of the effect of insulin, especially on the relation between insulin action and state of sulfhydryl groups in the experimental system.