On the Repression of Rat Liver HMP Shunt Dehydrogenases by Wheat Gluten

The liver levels of HMP shunt dehydrogenases were determined in adult male rats fed for 6 days, after a 6-day protein deprivation, diets containing as their nitrogenous components wheat gluten, or casein or amino acid mixtures simulating the amino acid pattern of these proteins. The gluten diet, in comparison to the casein diet, caused lower activities of HMP shunt dehydrogenases. Amino acid diets failed to display the differential effect observed with the protein diets. The gluten diet, compared to the casein diet and to the amino acid diets, demonstrated the lowest ability to affect HMP shunt dehydrogenases. On the basis of these and previous findings, the presence in the gluten of one or more unknown factors, which repress liver HMP shunt dehydrogenases, was postulated.