6-Phosphogluconate (6-PGA) is an intermediate of both Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) and Entner-Doudoroff Pathway. It is produced by the hydrolysis of 6-Phosphogluconolactone, catalyzed by 6-Phosphogluconolactonase. In the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, 6-PGA is utilized by 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase to generate ribulose-5-Phosphate and NADPH. These products are important for nucleic acid synthesis and various anabolic processes. In Prokaryotes, 6-Phosphogluconate is the main metabolite of Entner-Doudoroff pathway, and is converted into Pyruvate using both 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydratase and 2-Keto-3-Deoxyphosphogluconate aldolase. Recent studies show that long-term exposure to glucose perturbs the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, causes significant accumulation of 6-Phosphogluconate and impairs beta cell function. Measurement of 6-Phosphogluconate levels therefore is important for evaluating Pentose Phosphate Pathway, developing therapeutic approaches for diabetes research, and analyzing the Entner-Doudoroff Pathway in bacteria. Assay Genie's 6-Phosphogluconate assay kit can be used with a variety of sample types. In this assay, 6-Phosphogluconate is converted to Ribulose-5-Phosphate by 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase in the presence of NAD, to form NADH, which reduces a probe and generates strong absorbance at 450 nm. This 6-Phosphogluconate Assay Kit is simple, sensitive & easy to use and can detect 6-Phosphogluconate levels lower than 20 µM.

Figure: (a).6-Phosphogluconate standard curve, n=3 (b). Measurement of 6-Phosphogluconate in the lysates from Rat Liver (160 µg), Rat Kidney (120 µg), and Rat Heart (60 µg). Assays were performed following kit protocol.