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Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Efficient Purification and LC-MS/MS-based Assay Development for Ten-Eleven Translocation-2 5-Methylcytosine Dioxygenase
Published on: October 15, 2018
Transketolase in metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer
Zhangbing Chen1, Yi Wang1, Xuemei Tong1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, State Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Abstract:
The metabolic enzyme transketolase catalyzes two reversible reactions in the non-oxidative phase of pentose phosphate pathway (non-oxidative PPP), bridging PPP and glycolytic metabolites from bacteria to humans. The physiological and pathological significance of transketolase in humans remains to be elucidated. We found that hyperinsulinemia promoted transketolase expression and transketolase was critical for the pentose moiety of nucleosides to enter glycolysis. By studying the function of transketolase in hepatocytes, adipocytes, regulatory T cells, and cancer cells, we revealed intriguing roles of transketolase-mediated pentose metabolism in regulating nucleoside levels, genome instability, mitochondrial function, and DNA methylation, providing new therapeutic opportunities for prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In this chapter, assays for analyzing transketolase activity and quantification of metabolites in the non-oxidative PPP in mammalian tissues are described.
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