Anaerobic glucose metabolism in the digestive gland of Littorina saxatilis rudis (Maton) and in the daughter sporocysts of Microphallus similis (Jäg.) (Digenea: Microphallidae)

Abstract

1.1. Anaerobic glucose metabolism in the digestive gland of the host, Littorina saxatilis rudis, and in the parasite, the sporocysts of Microphallus similis, results in the production of alanine, succinate and lactate in a 2 : 1 : 1 ratio.2.2. A pathway, balancing the oxidative and reductive steps, is devised to account for this ratio in the presence of pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and malic enzyme.3.3. The pathway is compared with those in other intertidal molluscs and parasitic helminths.