INCREASED RESISTANCE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS IN NORMAL AND GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE-DEFICIENT HEMOLYSATES IN THE PRESENCE OF ENZYME SUBSTRATES

Erythrocytes and hemolysates from 10 normal and 10 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient individuals were incubated with cumene hydrop eroxide, and free radical-induced lipid peroxidation was monitored by chemiluminescence. Chemiluminescence intensities in erythrocytes of no rmal and deficient subjects were similar in the presence or absence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase substrates. Hemolysates of normal a nd deficient subjects also showed similar chemiluminescence in the abs ence of substrates. However, with the addition of substrates to the in cubation medium, deficient hemolysates reached maximum chemiluminescen ce intensity within a shorter period, and maximum values were higher t han in normal hemolysates. We believe this offers a new means of detec tion of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient patients.