THE METABOLISM OF MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES. I. ADRENAL STEROIDS AND THE SYNTHESIS OF GLUCOSAMINE-6-PHOSPHATE.

The transamidase which synthesizes glucosamine-6-phosphate was studied in liver and connective tissue of rats. Adrenalectomy was found to result in a significant reduction in enzyme activity in liver. Adrenal steroid therapy with individual corticoids did not restore the level of activity, and cortisone caused a further significant decrease.Neither adrenalectomy nor therapy with the adrenal steroids corticosterone or cortisone effected any significant change in the level of activity in connective tissue. However, in the case of three other steroids, deoxycorticosterone, hydrocortisone, or progesterone, which were tested individually, the level was significantly decreased. Treatment with Reichstein's substance S resulted in a significantly increased enzyme activity.