Effect of Acetaldehyde on Growth in Succinate Media and Labeling RNA with 14C Succinate in Polytomella caeca

SYNOPSIS. Acetaldehyde had been shown to prevent growth of Polytomella caeca in acetate media when present at 4 mM and to depress labeling of RNA with acetate-2-¹⁴C. In order to avoid inhibition by acetaldehyde of possible malate synthase activity believed necessary for incorporation of acetate, succinate was substituted for acetate. Acetaldehyde had the same effect on growth in succinate media and labeling of RNA with succinate-2-¹⁴C as it had on utilization of acetate.