Subject thiamin pyrophosphate

A more specific type of chemical assay is based on enzymatic measurement of vitamin co-enzyme activity. This approach is designed to detect a vitamin deficiency in tissues, and is only feasible for those vitamins that serve as co-enzymes. For instance, thiamin depletion in a subject can be diagnosed by measuring the transketolase activity in red blood cells with and without the addition of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) in vitro. If TPP increases the activity by more than a given amount, thiamin deficiency is indicated. Similarly, a subnormal level of riboflavin is indicated in tissues if the activity of erythrocyte glutathione reductase is increased after the addition of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Erythrocyte transaminase activation by pyridoxal-5 -phosphate (PLP) can be measured to establish a deficiency of vitamin B . 

McNelis, 1959). This subject has been reviewed recently by Metzler (1960) and will not be discussed in detail here. In brief, Breslow postulated that thiamine pyropho.sphate ionizes at the 2-position of the thiazole ring, and that the thiazolium dipolar ion (IV) reacts with pyruvate to form an intermediate (2-laetylthiamine pyrophosphate) (V) which undergoes decarboxylation to produce 2-hydroxyethylthiamine pyrophosphate (VI, VII) (Fig. 2). Species (VI) is regarded as active acetaldehyde, and can... 

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