Electrophoretic and kinetic studies of human erythrocytes deficient in pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase.

A new variant of hereditary hemolytic anemia due to erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency was found in Japan. Biochemical parameters such as the Michaelis constant, thermostability, electrophoresis and pH curve were studied. The variant showed a high Michaelis constant for cytidine 5'-monophosphate, no thermolability, slower electrophoretic mobility and abnormal optimum pH. The results strongly suggest that the mechanism of this enzyme deficiency is due to a structural gene mutation.