Identification of [I]endothelin binding sites in human coronary tissue

In vitro receptor autoradiography has been used to study the distribution of [¹²⁵I]endothelin binding sites in human coronary tissue from patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. Dense binding of [¹²⁵I]endothelin was associated with the smooth muscle of epicardial coronary arteries as well as to perivascular regions of these vessels. Binding was also associated with the ventricular myocardium. There was an increased binding of [¹²⁵I]endothelin to atheromatous tissue, both coronary arteries and vein graft.

The [¹²⁵I]endothelin binding sites identified using in vitro autoradiography are likely to be functionally relevant since endothelin causes a concentration-dependent contraction of segments of human epicardial coronary arteries in vitro and also has positive inotropic activity on isolated human cardiomyocytes.

The presence of specific binding sites for [¹²⁵I]endothelin on coronary tissue and the increased binding in atheromatous tissue suggest that endothelin is a peptide which may play a role in the maintenance of vascular tone and/or the pathogenesis of ischaemic heart disease.     

Peripheral oxytocin treatment modulates central dopamine transmission in the mouse limbic structures

The effects of subcutaneous (s.c.) oxytocin treatment have been investigated on various parameters of dopaminergic neurotransmission in basal forebrain structures (nucleus olfactorius posterior + nucleus accumbens + septum) of the mouse. Acute oxytocin treatment failed to influence dopamine utilization in the basal forebrain. Following chronic injections of oxytocin (0.2 mg/kg) for 8 8 days, the neuropeptide decreased dopamine utilization. Neither in vivo nor in vitro oxytocin treatment was capable of influencing the in vitro uptake of [³H]dopamine in basal forebrain slices. The spontaneous release of [³H]dopamine (in the presence of 4.2 mM K⁺) from basal forebrain tissue slices was not affected by in vitro or acute or chronic in vivo oxytocin treatment. The stimulated release of [³H]dopamine (in the presence of 30 mM K⁺) was significantly inhibited by chronic in vivo oxytocin administration. Chronic oxytocin treatment decreased the B_max value of [³H]spiroperidol binding in the basal forebrain. The dissociation constant (K_d) of [³H]spiroperidol binding was not influenced by oxytocin. The data indicate that peripheral oxytocin treatment is capable of modifying dopaminergic neurotransmission in mouse basal forebrain regions.     

Investigation of coenzyme Q biosynthesis in human fibroblast and HepG2 cells

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency occurs in genetic disorders, during aging and various diseases. Diagnosis requires skin fibroblasts in tissue culture. [³H]Mevalonate incorporation was appropriate to measure the rate of CoQ synthesis in fibroblasts and hepatoblastoma cells. [¹⁴C]p-Hydroxybenzoate had limited permeability, but it could be increased with Fugene and cyclodextrin. Inhibition of decaprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate transferase results in the accumulation of decaprenyl diphosphate, an indicator of enzyme deficiency. Also, analysis of the corresponding mRNAs in this case is useful. In vitro assays to measure trans-prenyltransferase and decaprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate transferase activities are not available. Neither measurement of methyltransferases is reliable in human cells. In vitro reconstruction of CoQ synthesis, in opposite to cholesterol synthesis, proved to be unsuccessful. Thus, the biochemical characterization of the CoQ biosynthetic system in human cells is restricted to a few reliable analytical procedures.     

Bacteriophage T4 ν mutants with a slow rate of thymine-dimer excision and a particular reactivation phenotype

Bacteriophage T4 uvs52 is a member of a class of UV-sensitive mutants with UV survival between T4 wild-type and v mutants. The mutation promotes recombination between extracellularly UV-irradiated phages. However, the location is adjacent to, or in, gene v. The question whether uvs52 is a v mutant with a particular type of v gene expression was investigated with acid solubilization of [¹⁴C]thymine dimers from DNA incubated with extracts from T4-infected cells. The dimer-removal activity of extracts from uvs52-infected cells was half that of wild-type T4, and similar to that of the v am5 and v op14 enzymes induced in the appropriate su⁺ hosts. The initial velocity of incision of UV-irradiated DNA by partially purified extracts from cells infected with uvs52 was 15% of that of the wild-type. Excision activity was not disturbed in such extracts. Further evidence of the location of uvs52 in gene v followed from the negative results from complementation assays with mixtures of extracts from cells infected with uvs52, uvs21 (another member of this class) or v1.

The relation between initial incision activity and substrate concentration (UV-irradiated ¹⁴C-DNA) suggested that the uvs52 endonuclease V is mutant with a high affinity and a slow rate of thymine-dimer incision. The reactivation phenotype was explained by assuming a slow rate of dimer excision in vivo as well, continuing throughout the reproductive cycle of the phage and leading to intermediate UV sensitivity and photoreactivability. The increased recombination frequencies were explained by assuming that the single-stranded regions of the DNA produced by incisions made at the end of the reproductive cycle are readily recombined into the growing DNA pool.     

Purine enzyme inhibition fails to alter benzodiazepine receptor binding in brain

Binding of [³H]flunitrazepam to benzodiazepine receptors in brain from several species, including human, was measured in vitro in the presence and absence of purine-metabolizing enzyme inhibitors. Incubation with potent inhibitors of either adenosine deaminase (2′-deoxycoformycin and erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine) or guanine deaminase (5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide) failed to alter [³H]flunitrazepam binding in homogenates of several different regions of human, rabbit, rat or guinea pig brain. These findings are in contrast to those of Norstrand et al. [Enzyme 29, 61–65 (1983)] who reported substantial alterations in [³H]flunitrazepam binding to human brain membranes in the presence of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine (increase) and 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide (decrease). In our studies, [³H]flunitrazepam binding was also unaltered in more anatomically intact brain sections following treatment with purine enzyme inhibitors. Furthermore, in vivo administration of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine to mice at a dose (200 mg/kg, i.p.) known to almost totally inhibit central adenosine deaminase activity also failed to alter brain [³H]flunitrazepam binding measured ex vivo, 30–120 min post injection.

While previous studies have shown that purines such as inosine interact with benzodiazepine receptors, our results raise some questions about the role of endogenous purines in regulating benzodiazepine receptors, at least in vitro and also acutely _vivo following purine enzyme inhibitor administration.     

Purification of pea nodule symbiosomes using an aqueous polymer two-phase system

Symbiosomes were obtained from mature pea (Pisum sativum cv. Argona) root nodules infected with a Rhizobium leguminosarum strain (biov. viciae 3841) and purified using an aqueous polymer two-phase system (APS). The APS consists of a mixture of polymers, usually dextran T500 and poly(ethylene glycol) 3350, prepared as aqueous solutions on a weight per weight basis, where each fraction distributes according to their surface characteristics. Results of ATPase activity, cytochrome c oxidase activity, glucan synthase II activity, NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase activity, NO₃⁻-sensitive ATPase activity, transport of [¹⁴C]malate vs. [¹⁴C]glutamate and MAC 57 antigen analysis showed that the APS method provided intact symbiosomes with low bacteroid, plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum and/or mitochondria contamination. No complicated equipment is needed and the method was simple and fast, compared with other purification techniques.     

UK-73,093: A non-peptide neurotensin receptor antagonist

UK-73,093 was identified in a screening program as a compound able to displace [³H]-neurotensin from its bovine brain receptor. We describe the discovery of this compound, species differences in receptor affinity and its characterization as a functional neurotensin antogonist in vitro and in vivo.     

In vitro steroid metabolic studies in human testes II: Metabolism of cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone by testes of an estrogen-treated man

The effect of long-term in vivo estrogen treatment on in vitro steroidogenesis by the testes of a young man was investigated. In vitro incubation of testicular tissue of this man with ³H-pregnenolone, ³H-progesterone, ³H-androstenedione and ³H-testosterone demonstrated suppression of 17-hydroxylase activity, with little or no effect of the treatment on Δ⁵-3β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase, 5a-reductase and aromatase. Increased 20-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity was observed. Determination of intratesticular steroid concentrations led to similar conclusions.     

In vitro enzyme evolution: the screening challenge of isolating the one in a million

The generation of large mutant libraries for in vitro enzyme evolution presents the challenge of effectively screening libraries of 10⁴–10⁷ mutants on the basis of simultaneously assaying their biocatalytic activity. In this review, we highlight the main steps involved in this process, describe the alternative approaches to address this challenge, survey the state-of-the-art technology and assess achievements already made. It is anticipated that, as a result of the expected accomplishment of further improvements in high-throughput screening that will allow routine screening of whole libraries, the number of useful new and improved enzymes derived through in vitro enzyme evolution will expand rapidly in the near future.     

Bioactive metabolites from the endophytic fungus Ampelomyces sp. isolated from the medicinal plant Urospermum picroides

Extracts of cultures grown in liquid or on solid rice media of the fungal endophyte Ampelomyces sp. isolated from the medicinal plant Urospermum picroides exhibited considerable cytotoxic activity when tested in vitro against L5178Y cells. Chromatographic separation yielded 14 natural products that were unequivocally identified based on their ¹H and ¹³C NMR as well as mass spectra and comparison with previously published data. Six compounds (2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11) were natural products. Both fungal extracts differed considerably in their secondary metabolites. The extract obtained from liquid cultures afforded a pyrone (2) and sulfated anthraquinones (7 and 9) along with the known compounds 1, 3, 6 and 8. When grown on solid rice medium the fungus yielded three compounds 4, 5 and 11 in addition to several known metabolites including 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14. Compounds 4, 8 and 10 showed the strongest cytotoxic activity against L5178Y cells with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.2–7.3 μg/ml. Furthermore, 8 and 10 displayed antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis at minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 12.5 μg/ml and 12.5–25 μg/ml, respectively. Interestingly, 6 and 8 were also identified as constituents of an extract derived from a healthy plant sample of the host plant U. picroides thereby indicating that the production of bioactive natural products by the endophyte proceeds also under in situ conditions within the host plant.     

Temperature dependent binding of mebendazole to tubulin in benzimidazole-susceptible and -resistant strains of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Caenorhabditis elegans.

The binding of [³H]mebendazole ([³H]MBZ) to tubulin in benzimidazole-susceptible (BZ-S) and benzimidazole-resistant (BZ-R) strains of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Caenorhabditis elegans was examined in order to investigate the biochemical changes to tubulin that result in BZ resistance in parasitic and free-living nematodes. In both species the extent of [³H]MBZ binding to tubulin was significantly reduced in the BZ-R strain compared with the BZ-S strain. The decrease in [³H]MBZ binding in the BZ-R strain of each species was the result of a significant reduction in the amount of charcoal stable [³H]MBZ-tubulin complexes and was not related to a change in the association constant of the [³H]MBZ-tubulin interaction. [³H]MBZ binding to tubulin was temperature dependent, reaching maximum levels at 37°C in BZ-S T. colubriformis and 10°C in BZ-R T. colubriformis. Both the BZ-S and BZ-R strains of C. elegans displayed maximum [³H]MBZ binding at 4°C. Resistance ratios derived from the amount of [³H]MBZ binding in the BZ-S and BZ-R strains and in vitro development assays demonstrated that the temperature dependence and extent of drug binding was indicative of BZ resistance status and was species specific in the BZ-S isolates. These results indicate that biochemical differences exist in the binding of benzimidazole carbamates to tubulin in nematode species, and suggest that the susceptibility of the parasitic nematodes to the benzimidazole anthelmintics is the result of a unique high affinity and/or high capacity interaction ofbenzimidazole carbamates with tubulin.     

Mechanism of chain initiation by dextransucrase: Absence of terminal ‘sucrose’ linkage in newly synthesized dextran chains

Dextran was synthesized using dextransucrase from Streptococus sanguis 10558 and (F)-[¹⁴C]sucrose as substrate to test the possibility that sucrose may be the initial acceptor for glucose. If sucrose is the initial acceptor, then dextran chains should have [¹⁴C] fructose in a terminal ‘sucrose’ linkage which can be cleaved under mild conditions. Although incorporation of [¹⁴C]fructose into dextran was observed, the label was not released by mild hydrolysis, indicating that sucrose is not the initiator for dextran synthesis. Incorporation of [¹⁴C]fructose into dextran might represent its ability to act as an acceptor, as suggested by the isolation of leucrose as a by-product in the reaction.     

Inhibition by sodium bromide of acetylcholine release and synaptic transmission in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat

In the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of rats, the interaction of sodium bromide (NaBr) with various drugs which interfere with the GABA system, such as 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-aminobutyrate [( + )baclofen, Bac], ( + )bicuculline (Bic), picrotoxin (Pic) and chlorpromazine (CPZ), and the effects of NaBr on the K⁺-induced release of [³H]acetylcholine ([³H]ACh) were studied in vitro. The effects on the evoked potentials induced by preganglionic stimulation were analysed in situ. The in vitro experiments revealed that 1 mM NaBr inhibits both the basal and the K⁺-induced release of [³H]ACh in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. This NaBr effect was additive with the similar effect of the GABA agonist Bac, but it could not be blocked with any of the drugs applied. In vivo, 1 mM NaBr depressed the amplitude of the evoked potentials in the SCG. It is concluded that, in the SCG of rats, NaBr interacts with the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes. The inhibitory effects of NaBr on both the [³H]ACh release and the potentials evoked by preganglionic stimulation cannot be attributed to a direct interference with GABA receptor complexes; some other binding site/s on the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes might be responsible for the bromide-induced reduction of the synaptic transmission in the SCG of rats.     

Malnutrition increases insoluble-to-soluble tubulin ratio and in vitro incorporation of 32ATP in rat cerebral cortex.

Wistar rats were fed a normal protein (25% casein) or an isoenergetic low protein (8% casein) diet from the day of birth to weaning on day 21. Litters were killed at weaning and cerebral cortex was removed. Tubulin was prepared by centrifugation at 100,000 g, 4°C, as described by Shelansky et al. [Proc. Natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70, 765–768 (1973)]. Cold-insoluble tubulin was recovered in the pellet (Pl) fraction and cold-soluble tubulin in the supernatant (Sl) fraction. Alpha and beta tubulin were quantified by electrophoretic and immunological methods in both fractions. Our results indicated that malnutrition enhanced the ratio of cold-insoluble-tubulin-to-cold-soluble-tubulin. Furthermore malnutrition induced an increased in vitro incorporation of ³²P into both soluble and insoluble tubulins. Although tubulin phosphorylation has been related to tubulin stability properties, we cannot unequivocally ascribe the increased insoluble/soluble tubulin ratio with malnutrition to increased in vitro incorporation of ³²P.     

A review of the use of isotopic and nuclear techniques in animal production

Isotopic and nuclear techniques play an important role in food and agriculture, health and industry. This paper discusses the use of these techniques and highlights potential for their use in the area of Animal Production. These techniques are discussed in two parts: (1) Isotopic methods and (2) non-isotopic nuclear methods. The isotopic techniques discussed are: stable- (¹⁵N) and radio-isotope (³⁵S or ³²P) incorporation methods for measuring microbial mass in vitro and in vivo; ¹²⁵I-labelled bovine serum albumin and ¹⁴C-labelled polyethylene glycol assays for measuring tannin in feeds; a method based on the feeding of isotope-labelled protein (¹⁵N or ¹²⁵I) complexed with tannin for ranking different tannins for their abilities to release protein for digestion in vivo; ¹⁴C-uric acid and ¹⁴C-allantoin infusion methods for development of models describing excretion of purine derivatives in urine and microbial protein supply to ruminants, which permit assessment of nutritional status of animals and determination of nutritional quality of feed resources; a ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique using ¹⁵N-leucine to distinguish feed and endogenous secretions at the ileum, for determination of true digestibility of protein-rich tree leaves and aquatic plants in pigs; progesterone radioimmunoassay (RIA) for enhancing reproductive efficiency of ruminants, and RIA based leptin and insulin like growth factor assays for assessing the nutritional status of animals; feeding of ¹⁵N enriched plant material to generate ¹⁵N-labelled excreta for research on the fate of excreta N in the environment; ¹⁵N, ¹³C and ³⁴S isotopic methods for nutrient budgeting and for following the nutrient pathways in the soil–plant–animal continuum; ³²P- or ³³P-labelled fertilizers for estimating the efficiency of P utilization in legume leaf production used for livestock feeding; double labelled water (¹⁸O and ²H labelled) method for estimating energy expenditures of grazing animals, body composition, basal metabolic rate, and milk output in cows with calves; NaH¹³CO₃/NaH¹⁴CO₃ infusion for estimation of the carbon dioxide production, which in turn is used to estimate energy expenditure in free-ranging animals; ³H- or ¹⁴C-labelled methane and ¹⁴C-labelled volatile fatty acids dilution technique for direct and indirect (using stoichiometry of carbohydrate fermentation) for determination of methane emission from livestock; ¹⁵N dilution technique requiring labeling the soil with ¹⁵N fertilizer (¹⁵N-ammonium sulphate or ¹⁵N-urea) for estimation of nitrogen fixation by leguminous trees and pastures.

The non-isotopic nuclear techniques that have been used or have the potential for use are: dual energy X-ray absorptionmetry and computer tomography for body composition determination; nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, and mass ionisation spectroscopy for identification and structure determination of bioactive moieties of plant origin having potential for rumen manipulation or controlling internal parasites; gamma irradiation for inactivating antinutrients such as protease inhibitors, lectin, phytic acid, non-starch polysaccharides and oligosaccharides in feeds; induced mutations with gamma radiation, electron beam and fast neutrons for producing useful mutants of forage plants with improved yield, nutrient profiles and uptake.     

Acylation of myelin proteolipid protein in subcellular fractions of rat brainstem

The acylation of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) and intermediate protein (IP) was investigated in an in vitro system of tissue slices prepared from actively myelinating rat brainstem. The incorporation of [³H]palmitate into the proteins in nine subcellular fractions including myelin and other cellular membranes which are actively involved in the synthesis and intracellular transport of the proteins was measured. More than 80% of [³H]palmitate-labeled proteins were recovered in myelin. The incorporation was highest in the heavy myelin and lowest in the light myelin subfraction. Appreciable acylation was also detected in the myelin-like fraction. On the other hand, the remaining fractions comprising a variety of endo- and ectomembranes, which harbored over 90% of newly synthesized PLP and IP as seen from [³H]leucine labeling showed practically no [³H]palmitate incorporation. The results indicate that the acylation of PLP and IP is a late event in their posttranslational processing and occurs only at their entry into the myelin sheath.     

Mechanism of action and fate of the fungicide chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile) in biological systems: 2. In vitro reactions

The reaction characteristics of chlorothalonil with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), from yeast, (EC 1.2.1.12) were studied in vitro. Enzyme inhibition was related to the amount of [¹⁴C]chlorothalonil bound to the protein. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition was non-competitive for the substrate glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAP) (K_i = 0.42 μM). Reversal of enzyme inhibition could not be demonstrated with the low molecular thiol dithiothreitol (DTT), although the thiol did protect the protein against the toxic action of the fungicide. Because 5,5' dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB) reduced the binding of ¹⁴C-labeled fungicide by approximately 90% it is postulated that chlorothalonil affects catalytic activity by reacting with the 4 sulfhydryl sites (cysteine-149) responsible for the binding of GAP. Certain reaction characteristics of the trichloromethyl sulfenyl fungicides with GPDH were found to be similar to those of chlorothalonil. However, chlorothalonil differed from those fungicides in that it did not react with non-thiol groups of either GPDH or -chymotrypsin (CT) and had a slower reaction rate with the GPDH. It is suggested that the differences in reaction rates of the fungicides are due to the molecular size and the chemical nature of the reactive toxiphores.     

Steroid metabolism in the hormone dependent MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cell line and its two hormone resistant subpopulations MCF-7/LCC1 and MCF-7/LCC2

Androgen and estrogen metabolism was investigated in the hormone-dependent human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and its two hormone-resistant sublines MCF-7/LCC1 and MCF-7/LCC2. Using the product isolation method, the activity of aromatase, 5-reductase, 3/β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase and 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase were investigated isolating the following steroids: estriol (E₃), estradiol (E₂), estrone (E₁), 3/β-androstanediol (A-diol), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androsterone (AND), androstenedion (4-AD) and androstanedione (A-dion). For all experiments, cells were preincubated with cortisol and subsequently incubated with [¹⁴C]T or [¹⁴C]4-AD as the substrate in medium without phenol red and with serum charcoal stripped of steroids. The results showed no aromatase activity in any of the cell lines under the experimental conditions used, and preincubation with cortisol had no effect on the enzyme activity. With [¹⁴C]T as the substrate, the metabolized level of DHT was very similar in the three cell lines, though MCF-7/LCC1 and MCF-7/LCC2 utilized the substrate to a much lesser extent. The amount of DHT and 4-AD produced were comparable in the two hormone-resistant cell lines, while the amount of 4-AD was significantly higher in MCF-7 cells. No differences in enzyme activity were found in the three cell lines when [¹⁴C]4-AD was used as the substrate. This study showed an altered androgen metabolism in the MCF-7/LCC1 and MCF-7/LCC2 sublines compared to the parent MCF-7. However, since treatment with DHT and T inhibited cell growth equally well in all three tumor cell lines, it is unlikely that the found differences in steroid metabolism was involved in the acquisition of the endocrine resistance of the two MCF-7 sublines.     

Transport in C4 mesophyll chloroplasts. Characterization of the pyruvate carrier

1. Evidence is presented for high rates of carrier-mediated uptake of pyruvate into the stroma of intact mesophyll chloroplasts of the C₄ plant Digitaria sanguinalis, but not the chloroplasts of the C₃ plant Spinacea oleracea. Uptake of pyruvate in the dark with the C₄ mesophyll chloroplasts was followed using two techniques: uptake of [¹⁴C]pyruvate as determined by silicon oil centrifugal filtration and uptake as indicated by absorbance changes at 535 nm (shrinkage/swelling) after addition of 0.1 M pyruvate salts.

2. Uptake of the pyruvate anion by an electrogenic carrier is suggested to be the major mode of transport. Chloroplast swelling was observed in potassium pyruvate plus valinomycin and uptake of [¹⁴C]pyruvate was inhibited by membrane-permeant anions. Valinomycin reduced uptake in the absence of external potassium and the inhibition could be reversed by addition of external potassium.

3. Uptake of pyruvic acid (or a pyruvate ⁻/OH⁻ antiport) is ruled unlikely since [¹⁴C]pyruvate uptake was relatively independent of the pH gradient across the envelope and addition of pyruvate to chloroplasts did not result in an alkalization of the medium. The low rate of swelling observed in ammonium pyruvate may be due to non-mediated permeation of pyruvic acid, which is possible only at high pyruvate concentrations.

4. The concentration of pyruvate in the stroma increased with external concentration over the range tested (up to 40 mM) but the concentration ratio (internal/external) was always less than one. The steady-state concentration of [¹⁴C]pyruvate in the stroma was dependent on the ionic strength of the medium, with saturation at roughly I = 0.04 M, while accumulation of the membrane-permeant cation tetraphenylmethylphosphonium decreased with increasing ionic strength. This suggests that ionic strength modifies a membrane potential (inside negative) across the envelope and that pyruvate uptake responds to the magnitude and direction of that potential (−80 mV at low ionic strength).

5. Chloride and inorganic phosphate were potent inhibitors of [¹⁴C]pyruvate uptake. Of the sulfhydryl reagents tested, N-ethylmaleimide was not inhibitory while mersalyl completely blocked [¹⁴C]pyruvate uptake and swelling in potassium pyruvate plus valinomycin. Pyruvate uptake, as measured by valinomycin induced swelling in potassium pyruvate, was highly temperature sensitive, with an energy of activation of 39 kcal/mol above 9 °C.

6. Phenylpyruvate, -ketoisovalerate, -ketoisocaproate, -cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and -cyanocinnamic acid inhibited [¹⁴C]pyruvate but not [¹⁴C]-acetate uptake in the dark and also reduced pyruvate metabolism by the chloroplasts in the light.