Abstract
Properties of the complementary components, component A and component B, necessary for the conversion of D-tetrose to the corresponding polyol and acid were studied.
The results of the present experiments indicate that component A consists of two separable factors, NAD and an enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of D-erythrose in the presence of NADH, and that component B has an enzyme activity which catalyzes the oxidation of D-erythrose in the presence of NAD.
On the basis of these results, it can be postulated that two enzymes, namely an enzyme catalyzing the reduction of D-erythrose and an enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of D-erythrose, are involved in D-tetrose metabolism, and that the combined action of these enzymes contributes to the ability of the beef liver preparation to catalyze the transformation of D-tetrose.
