Hexokinase activity and isozyme pattern in human placenta: A population study

Abstract

Two population samples of human placenta with a different degree of black admixture were studied for hexokinase activity and electrophoretic isozyme pattern. Out of a total of 204 placentas there was no case of either full enzyme deficiency or variation on the electrophoretic pattern. All human placenta exhibited hexokinase type I as compared to a control of hexokinase types I and II from rat heart. The hexokinase activity levels on human placenta showed no effect of the newborn sex or black admixture.