Hexokinase specificity of some tumor tissue extracts.

The substrate specificity of hexokinase preparations from Ehrlich ascites cells, a spontaneous adenocarcinoma, Jensen sarcoma, and Walker carcinoma was studied with a number of sugars which differed in structure from glucose at one or more carbon atoms used as substrates. A marked variat ion in specificity was found. The preparations from Jensen sarcoma and Ehrlich ascites cells were relatively specific for glucose and some C-~ analogs. The preparations from the adenocarcinoma and Walker carcinoma were nonspecific and brought about phosphorylat ion of a number of sugars differing from glucose in many positions. Inhibit ion of the hexokinase preparat ion from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by altrose and talose was observed.