Enzymatic assays for 2-deoxyglucose and 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate

Methods for 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate (DG6P) are described which are based on the fact that DG6P is oxidized by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), but at a rate 1000-fold slower than for glucose 6-phosphate, whereas hexokinase phosphorylates 2DG and glucose at comparable rates. Therefore, by adding the two enzymes in a suitable order, and in appropriate concentrations, 2DG, glucose, DG6P, and glucose 6-P can all be separately measured. To avoid a side reaction from the use of a high level of G6PDH, when measuring DG6P, glucose is first removed with glucose oxidase plus aldose reductase.