Application of high-performance liquid chromatography to the study of thiamine metabolism and in particular thiamine triphosphatase.

Thiamine triphosphate can be found in most tissues at very low levels, but its role is unknown. Organs and muscles that generate electrical impulses are particularly rich in this compound. This paper describes a thiamine triphosphatase from the electrical organ of Electrophorus electricus. The activity of this enzyme, as measured by a high-performance liquid chromatographic method, is closely anion-regulated. Furthermore, thiamine triphosphate increases chloride uptake in membrane vesicles prepared from rat brain. Our results suggest that this compound could play an important role in the regulation of chloride permeability.     

Radiolysis of aqueous solutions of thiamine

The results of the radiolysis of aqueous solutions of thiamine (vitamin B₁) are presented. The yields for decomposition of thiamine and the product of radiolytic products were determined. The G values decrease as the dose increases. Some radiolytic products were identified. Decomposition of thiamine was slightly dependent on the presence of oxygen and on the pH of the solution. At pH 4.4 with a concentration of 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ of thiamine in an oxygen free aqueous solution, the G⁰ value for decomposition is 5.0.