Alterations in carbohydrate metabolism of γ-irradiated cavendish banana

γ-Irradiation of preclimacteric banana resulted in a gradual increase in fructose content, which reached a maximum in 6 days. Although the catabolism of glucose-U-¹⁴C was less in irradiated banana, incorporation of label into fructose was high. Initial fructose accumulation in irradiated banana may be due to a shift in glucose utilization from the glycolytic to the pentose phosphate pathway. The ratio of resporatory CO₂ from glucose-6-¹⁴C and glucose-1-¹⁴C was halved in irradiated bananas indicating predominance of the pentose phosphate pathway. The radioactivity of fructose derived from glucose-6-¹⁴C was almost twice that from glucose-1-¹⁴C in irradiated bananas, whilst in control both fruit the labelled precursors yielded equal amounts. Studies on individual enzymes in these two pathways showed an increase in phosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-6-phosphatase and a decrease in hexokinase in irradiated banana.     

Studies in the Respiratory and Carbohydrate Metabolism of Plant Tissues1: XVII. THE EFFECT OF IODOACETATE ON THE CO2 OUTPUT, PATHWAYS OF GLUCOSE RESPIRATION AND CONTENTS OF PHOSPHATE ESTERS IN STRAWBERRY LEAVES

When specifically labelled glucose was fed to strawberry leaves,the C₆/C₁, quotient (rate of release of ¹⁴CO₂ from glucose-6-¹⁴C/rateof release of ¹⁴CO₂ from glucose-1¹⁴C ranged from 0.27 to 0.35in leaves in water and from 0.46 to 0.96 in leaves fed withiodoacetate. These quotients indicate that both the glycolyticand the pentose phosphate pathways participate in the respirationof strawberry leaves, with a greater contribution from the formerin the iodoacetate increased CO₂ output. Concurrently with the increase of CO² output in iodoacetate,the contents of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), fructose-6 (F6P)and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) increased greatly; therewas a smaller increase of phosphoenol-pyruvate (PEP). The increasein the CO₂ output in iodoacetate may be explained solely onthe basis that the increases of G6P and FDP accelerate the ratesrespectively of the pentose phosphate pathway and of glycolysisand traffic into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The increasein content of G6P and FDP is attributed to an increase in theaccessibility of enzymes and substrates caused by iodoacetate.Alternatively the increased CO₂ output in iodoacetate may bepartly due to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.     

Pathways of carbohydrate oxidation in leaves of Pisum sativum and Triticum aestivum

The aim of this work was to establish the pathways of carbohydrate oxidation used in the dark by leaves of Pisum sativum and Triticum aestivum. Segments of young and mature leaves of pea released the carbons of glucose-[¹⁴C] as ¹⁴CO₂ in the order 3,4 > 1 > 2 > 6 whereas in segments of young and mature leaves of wheat the order was 3,4 > 1 > 6 > 2. The detailed labelling of the constituents of mature leaves of wheat by glucose-[1-¹⁴C], -[2-¹⁴C], -[3,4-¹⁴C], and -[6-¹⁴C] was determined and showed that the high yield of CO₂ from C-6 relative to that from C-2 was due to release of C-6 during pentan synthesis. Estimates were made of the maximum catalytic activities of phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in pea and wheat leaves of three ages. The results of all the above investigations strongly indicate that both pea and wheat leaves in the dark oxidize carbohydrate via glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway with the latter accounting for no more than a third of the total. No evidence was obtained of any major change in the relative activities of the two pathways during the development of either type of leaf.     

Pathways of Carbohydrate Catabolism in Senescent and Non-senescent Tobacco Leaves

The pathway (s) of glucose degradation in detached senescent and non-senescent tobacco leaves from plants approximately 100 days old were studied utilizing‘Relabeled carbohydrates. Comparable samples of each tissue were allowed to metabolize glucose-1- and glucose-6-¹⁴C and C₆/C₁ ratios were computed from the radioactivity of ¹⁴CO₂ collected. Two methods of calculation were compared. Hexose monophosphate pathway activity was also compared in both ages of tissue by measuring ¹⁴CO₂ respired from substrate ribose-1-, xylose-1- and gluconic acid-6-¹⁴C. The results indicate that the hexose monophosphate pathway accounts for approximately 25 percent of the respired CO₂ in both senescent and non-senescent tissues. Both types of tissue were equally efficient in degrading HMP shunt intermediates to CO₂.     

Activity of the pentose phosphate pathway during lignification

Summary We did this work to see if there is a correlation between lignin synthesis and the activity of the pentose phosphate pathway. Excision of the third internode of the stem of Coleus blumei Benth. followed by incubation on sucrose and indoleacetic acid led to extensive formation of tracheids. During this lignification we determined the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase, and the extent to which [1-¹⁴C]-,[3,4-¹⁴C]-, and [6-¹⁴C]glucose labelled CO₂ and the major cellular components. The results indicate that the pentose phosphate pathway was active during lignification, and that the activity of this pathway relative to glycolysis increased at the onset of lignification. Explants of storage tissue of Helianthus tuberosus L. were cultured under conditions which caused extensive lignification. ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C]-, [3,4-¹⁴C]-, and [6-¹⁴C]glucose indicated activity of the pentose phosphate pathway during tracheid formation. We suggest that lignification is accompanied by appreciable activity of the pentose phosphate pathway and that this could provide the reducing power for lignin synthesis.Abbreviations NADP nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate - IAA indoleacetic acid     

Glucose metabolism during osmotic stress in isolated axons of Eriocheir sinensis

Isolated axons of $\text{Eriocheir sinensis}$ show high ratios of ¹⁴CO₂ production from glucose-1-¹⁴C to ¹⁴CO₂ production from glucose-6-¹⁴C (ratio C₁/C₆). During osmotic stresses, there is a modification in ¹⁴CO production from glucose-6-¹⁴C as well as in the ratio C₁/C₆ while ¹⁴CO₂ production from glucose-1-¹⁴C does not change significantly. These results are interpreted in terms of activity of oxidative and non-oxidative pathways of glucose metabolism.     

Glucose and glutamate metabolism ofLegionella pneumophila

Two serotype 1 strains ofLegionella pneumophila, Phildelphia 2 and Bellingham, were tested for their ability to metabolize five common substrates by measuring¹⁴CO₂ released and¹⁴C-carbon incorporated into macromolecules. No major differences were noted between the two strains or preparations grown in the yolk sac of chick embryos or agar-broth diphasic medium, following 2 or 14 pasaages on agar. Glutamate was the most actively metabolized substrate, followed by glutamine. Acetate, glucose, and succinate were utilized at much more moderate rates. Changes in cell density and substrate concentration altered the channeling of glutamate and glucose into CO₂ and macromolecules. Specific CO₂ felease from glutamate was greatest at low cell density and high substrate concentration, while carbon incorporation was increased at high substrate concentration. A reciprocal relationship was noted with glucose: the proportion of carbon incorporation was enhanced at low substrate concentration, but CO₂ release paralleled increases in substrate concentration. The pH optimum for glutamate carbon incorporation and CO₂ release was 5.5 and 6.1, respectively, but 25% of both activities were retained at pH 3.1. CO₂ release from glucose was maximal at pH 7.5 with negligible activity at pH 3.1. Pathways of glucose metabolism were explored by employing glucose, glucose-1-phosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate labeled in various carbon positions. The glycolytic pathway appeared to play a lesser role than the pentose phosphate and/or Entner-Doudoroff pathways. Glucose-1-phosphate was metabolized at a much higher rate than glucose or glucose-6-phosphate. We conclude that glutamate is utilized primarily as an energy source while glucose may serve as an important metabolite for the nutrition ofL. pneumophila.     

METABOLITES AND ENZYMES OF THE PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY IN ISOLATED NERVE ENDINGS1

Abstract— The activities of each enzyme associated with the pentose phosphate pathway as well as the non-enzymatic intermediates in this pathway were measured in synaptosomes isolated from rat cerebral cortex. The specific activities of transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) and transaldolase (EC 2.2.1.2) were significantly lower in synaptosomes than cerebral cortex; however, the specific activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44), ribosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.6) and ribulosephosphate epimerase (EC 5.1.3.1.) were comparable in homogenates of synaptosomal fractions and cerebral cortex. Concentrations of most intermediates of the pentose pathway were also similar in extracts of synaptosomes and brain homogenates. Six hours after treatment of rats with the nicotinamide analog, 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), 6-phosphogluconate levels in synaptosomes were increased 5-fold; however, glucose-6-phosphate levels remained unchanged. During a 30 min in uitro incubation 6-phosphogluconate levels increased approx 2-fold in synaptosomes obtained from 6-AN treated rats but did not change in synaptosomes from untreated rats. During the same period glucose-6-phosphate levels decreased in synaptosomes from both control and 6-AN treated rats. The conversion of both [1-¹⁴C]glucose and [6-¹⁴C]glucose to ¹⁴CO₂ was depressed in synaptosomes from 6-AN treated rats; however, the ratio of the two isotopes converted to ¹⁴CO₂ was essentially the same. It is concluded that the pentose phosphate pathway is active in nerve endings both in vivo and in vitro.     

Glucose catabolism during aging and differentiation in hypocotyls ofPhaseolus mungo seedlings

Changes in activities of the glycolytic and pentose phosphate (PP) pathways in glucose catabolism in various parts of the hypocotyls obtained from 4-day-old etiolatedPhaseolus mungo seedlings were investigated by measuring the inhibition rates of respiration by iodoacetate and malonate, and the release of¹⁴CO₂ from [1-¹⁴C]- and [6-¹⁴C]glucose. The relative activity of the PP pathway in glucose catabolism was higher in the immature part (Part I) and the aged part (Part V) of the hypocotyls than in the intermediary one (Part III), while the activity of the glycolytic pathway decreased with aging. On a fresh weight basis, the enzyme activities of the glycolytic and PP pathways were higher in Part I than in Parts III and V. On a protein content basis, however, activities of the enzymes of the PP pathway increased with aging and differentiation of the hypocotyls whereas those of the glycolytic pathway decreased. Levels of nicotinamide adenine nucleotides were found to be in the following order: Part I>Part III> Part V for NAD⁺+NADH; Part I>Part V>Part III for NADP⁺+NADPH. The stimulative effect of methylene blue on decreasing the C₆/C₁ ratio was greater in Part III than in Part I, and No effect was observed in Part V. These data suggest that a decrease in the activity of the glycolytic pathway with aging and differentiation may be due to the decreasing glycolytic enzyme activities and NAD(H) content. The higher activity of the PP pathway in the immature part is attributable to larger amounts of NADP(H) and enzymes of the PP pathway. The greater contribution of the PP pathway to glucose catabolism in the aged part than in the intermediary part seems to results from a more active turnover of NADP and the relatively higher activity of the enzymes of the PP pathway than those of the glycolytic pathway.     

Randomization of carbon atoms in the glucose molecule and changes of specific radioactivity of14CO2 liberated by the callus tissue ofDaucus carota L. from glucose-6- and -1-14C

On incubation of the callus tissue ofDaucus carota L. in solutions of glucose-6-¹⁴C and -1-¹⁴C the distribution of radioactivity in the molecule of endogenous glucose will change and the ratio of activities of liberated¹⁴CO₂ (C₆/C₁) will rise The limits of possible changes of specific activity of¹⁴CO₂ and of the C₆/C₁ ratio were calculated with respect to the observed randomization and it was shown that the mutual exchange of carbon atoms in the molecules is not the decisive cause of the rise of the ratio. The specific radioactivity of¹⁴C in CO₂ is as much as 12 times higher than that of endogenous glucose and fructose and about twice as high as the theoretical maximum. This might indicate that in addition to the cytoplasmic fraction of glucose the callus cells contain a fraction of low metabolic activity, most likely in the vacuoles, that could account for some of the increase of the C₆/C₁ value. The main reason for the changes in the C₆/C₁ ratio is envisaged in the establishment of isotopic equilibrium between the pentose cycle and glycolysis and other metabolic systems, in particular via triose phosphates, the radioactivity of which can greatly affect the C₆/C₁ ratio, as was shown in a model experiment.     

Oxidation of Glucose,Ribose, Alanine,and Glutamate by Leishmania braziliensis panamensis1

The metabolism of [1-¹⁴C]- and [6-¹⁴C]glucose, [1-¹⁴]ribose, [1-¹⁴C]- and [U-¹⁴C]alanine, and [1-¹⁴C]- and [5-¹⁴C]glutamate by the promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis was investigated in cells resuspended in Hanks' balanced salt solution supplemented with ribose, alanine, or glutamate. The ratio of ¹⁴CO₂ produced from [1-¹⁴C]glucose to that from [6-¹⁴C]glucose ranged from about two to six, indicating appreciable carbon flow through the pentose phosphate pathway. A functional pentose phosphate pathway was further demonstrated by the production of ¹⁴CO₂ from [1-¹⁴C]ribose although the rate of ribose oxidation was much lower than the rate of glucose oxidation. The rate of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C]glucose was almost linear with time of incubation, whereas that of [6-¹⁴C]glucose accelerated, consistent with an increasing rate of flux through the Embden-Meyerhof pathway during incubation. Increasing the assay temperature from 26°C to 34°C had no appreciable effect on the rates or time courses of oxidation of either [1-¹⁴C]- or [6-¹⁴C]glucose or of [1-¹⁴C]ribose. Both alanine and glutamate were oxidized by L. b. panamensis, and at rates comparable to or appreciably greater than the rate of oxidation of glucose. The ratios of ¹⁴CO₂ produced from [1-¹⁴C]- to [U-¹⁴C]alanine and from [1-¹⁴C]- to [5^-14C]glutamate indicated that these compounds were metabolized via a functioning tricarboxylic acid cycle and that most of the label that entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle was oxidized to carbon dioxide. Heating the cultures for 6 or 12 h at 34°C, which converts the promastigotes into an ellipsoidally shaped intermediate form, decreased the rates of oxidation of glucose, alanine, and glutamate. The oxidation of glutamate decreased by about 50% and 70% after a 6-h or 12-h heat treatment, respectively. Returning the heated cultures to 26°C initiated a reversion to the promastigote form and recovery of the rate of glucose oxidation, but glutamate oxidation did not return to control levels by 19 h at 26°C.     

Isotopic studies of carbohydrate metabolism during basidiospore germination in Schizophyllum commune

Summary The metabolism and fate of specifically labeled glucose-¹⁴C were compared to mannitol-l-¹⁴C and arabitol-l-¹⁴C during basidiospore germination of Schizophyllum commune on glucose-asparagine minimal broth. Glucose-l-¹⁴C metabolism led to more ¹⁴CO₂ evolution than glucose-6-¹⁴C in spores and the former activity increased upon germination. Liberation of ¹⁴CO₂ from glucose-3,4-¹⁴C increased at 8 h to 12 h of germination and exceeded the amount of radioactive ¹⁴CO₂ released from glucose-1-¹⁴C. The ¹⁴CO₂ released from glucose-2-¹⁴C increased continually during germination while only minor changes in ¹⁴CO₂ evolution occurred with glucose-6-¹⁴C. Unlabeled ethanol (0.25 M) inhibited ¹⁴CO₂ evolution with glucose-3,4-¹⁴C and ungerminated spores and this inhibition disappeared upon germination.More ¹⁴CO₂ was evolved from labeled glucose during germination and less radioactivity became associated with cellular material. Of the latter, alcohol-soluble extracts of spores or germlings contained mainly radioactive trehalose, less mannitol and little or no labeled arabitol, and this decreased upon germination. Germlings also converted more radioactive glucose-¹⁴C into KOH-insoluble material and KOH-soluble components. Spores or germlings converted arabitol-1-¹⁴C primarily into trehalose and this was not the case for mannitol-1-¹⁴C.     

Reductant for glutamate synthase in generated by the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in non-photosynthetic root plastids

Purified pea root plastids were supplied with glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate and phosphorylated sugars. Formation of glutamate was linear for 75 min and dependent upon the intactness of the organelle. Glucose-6-phosphate and ribose-5-phosphate were the most effective substrates in supporting glutamate synthesis. Flux through the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway during glutamate synthesis in purified plastids was followed by monitoring the release of ¹⁴CO₂ from [1-¹⁴C]glucose-6-phosphate. ¹⁴CO₂ evolution from C-1 was dependent upon the presence of both glutamine and 2-oxoglutarate and could be inhibited by the application of azaserine. The data are discussed in view of the role of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in non-photosynthetic plastids.     

The role of the pentose phosphate shunt in glucose-induced insulin release: In vitro studies with 6-aminonicotinamide, methylene blue, NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH and nicotinamide on isolated pancreatic rat islets

The possible role of the pentose phosphate shunt in insulin release was investigated in vitro with collagenase isolated pancreatic islets of rats. Parameters measured were insulin released into the medium and measured by an immunoassay and formation of ¹⁴CO₂ from glucose labeled either in the C-1 or C-6 position. The in vitro effect of the following substances was studied:

1. 1. 6-Aminonicotinamide, an antimetabolite in the synthesis of pyridine nucleotides. In islets of animals pretreated with 6-amino nicotinamide 6 h previously and in the presence of 3 mg/ml glucose in the incubation medium, 6-aminonicotinamide markedly reduced oxidation of [1-¹⁴C]glucose but did not affect that of glucose labeled in C-6. Concomitantly there was a marked decrease in insulin release. This action of 6-aminonicotinamide did not take place when it was added only to the incubation medium. Pretreatment with 6-aminonicotinamide did not change the insulin concentration of the islets, making it unlikely that it interfered with insulin synthesis. The effect of 6-aminonicotinamide is consistent with partial inhibition of the pentose shunt.

2. 2. Methylene blue: this agent was selected because it is known from studies with red blood cells that it will oxidize NADPH and thus stimulate activity of the pentose shunt. In concentrations of 0.5 and 2 μg/ml, methylene blue markedly stimulated oxidation of [1-¹⁴C]glucose but not that of C-6. Simultaneously there was a dose related decrease of insulin released.

3. 3. Pyridine nucleotides: in the absence of glucose only NADPH exhibited a significant effect of insulin release. If glucose (3 mg/ml) was present 1 or 10 mM of NAD⁺ or NADH exhibited a significant effect, NADP⁺ or NADPH were less effective. If the pentose shunt was blocked by pretreatment with 6-aminonicotinamide, all 4 pyridine nucleotides stimulated insulin release. Similarly there was an increase in oxidation of [1-¹⁴C]glucose, consitent with restimulation of the pentose shunt.

4. 4. Nicotinamide by itself exhibited a small effect; however, it was much less than the one produced by equimolar concentrations of the pyridine nucleotides.

Conclusion: Restricted availability of NADPH either less production or by fast removal leads to a decrease in glucose-induced insulin release. Pyridine nucleotides will restimulate 6-aminonicotinamide blockade insulin release and glucose oxidation by the pentose shunt. Recently it has been proposed by others that the polyol pathway may play a key role in insulin release, our data are consistent with such a hypothesis. Furthermore they do support a major role of the pentose shunt in insulin release.     

Translocation of Photosynthate in Curly Top Virus-infected Tomatoes

Photosynthate translocation in single leaflets of healthy and curly top virus-infected tomatoes was investigated using ¹⁴C as a marker. The amount of radioactivity found in plant parts not exposed to ¹⁴CO₂ was substantially lower in diseased than in healthy plants. The time lag for the appearance of ¹⁴C in the petiole was considerably longer in the infected plants than in the healthy. The kinetics of disappearance of ¹⁴C from the lamina during the 24-hour period following labeling showed a strong retention of recent assimilates within the diseased leaf, not accompanied by increased immobilization into insoluble forms. Sucrose was the predominant compound participating in photosynthate transport in both healthy and diseased leaves. The amount of ¹⁴CO₂ fixed was approximately 40% lower in curly top virus-infected leaves than in healthy leaves.     

Importance of the pentose phosphate pathway for d-glucose catabolism in the obligatory aerobic yeast Rhodotorula gracilis

d-Glucose catabolism of a phosphofructokinase-deficient yeast Rhodotorula gracilis has been studied. By using d-glucose specifically ¹⁴C-labelled at different positions and measuring the distribution of the label in various fractions of cell metabolism, the following results were found. 1. The pentose phosphate pathway, being the main pathway of d-glucose catabolism, simultaneously converts glucose molecules into pentose phosphates oxidatively by using two NADP-linked dehydrogenases and via the non-oxidative transketolase–transaldolase pathway. 2. From the correlation of the ¹⁴CO₂ liberation and the d-glucose consumption and from the fact that the pentose phosphate moiety in nucleic acids is almost equally labelled from d-[1-¹⁴C]- and d-[6-¹⁴C]-glucose, it is concluded that of the glucose utilized about 80% undergoes transformation via the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Only about 20% of glucose is directly decarboxylated to pentose phosphate. 3. For further degradation it is postulated that the pentose phosphates are split into C₂ fragments and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphates. 4. All three loci of oxidative decarboxylation appear to be effective in Rh. gracilis, the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway, the decarboxylation of pyruvate in the later part of the glycolytic pathway as well as the oxidation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. 5. d-Glucose molecules taken up are only partially oxidized to CO₂: about four-fifths of each glucose molecule metabolized is incorporated into cell constituents. 6. The quantitative interrelations of the fluxes of d-glucose subunits along the catabolic pathways have been estimated and are discussed.     

Female dimorphism in honey-bee larvae with respect to glucose metabolism

The rate of conversion of glucose-1-¹⁴C and glucose-6-¹⁴C to ¹⁴CO₂ and lipid was monitored in queen and worker larvae between 48 and 96 hr of age. A definite dimorphism in glucose metabolism between castes was established. Worker larvae 72 hr of age have a much greater $\text{C}{}_6\text{C}{}_1$ ratio than do queen larvae of the same age. The ratios were of the same order of magnitude for both castes of larvae younger or older than 72 hr. Queen larvae were shown to have a greater rate of lipid synthesis than worker larvae.     

Dynamic aspects of radiorespirometry during the cell cycle of Candida utilis: Some observations in phased culture under carbon-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-limited growth

Many changes that occur in a cell during the cell cycle can be demonstrated in synchronous cultures and can reveal dimensions of cell metabolism not attainable by the study of balanced growth of asynchronous populations in batch cultures or the steady state in chemostat cultures. The release of ¹⁴CO₂ from specifically labeled glucose by phased (continuously synchronized) cultures follows a characteristic pattern (profile) that depends upon the stage in the cell cycle and the period of labeling used. Successive profiles throughout a cycle showed differences that were altered under different nutrient-limiting growth conditions. Profiles obtained with glucose-1-¹⁴C, glucose-2-¹⁴C, glucose-3,4-¹⁴C, and glucose-6-¹⁴C and phased cells of Candida utilis under N-, P-, and C-limited growth demonstrated the variable character of the metabolic activity that occurred in the cells while contour changes within the profiles across the cycle indicated possible correlations with activities of the hexose monophosphate, Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas, and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways during the cell cycle. The basis of these changes and their use as elementary parameters for study of problems of physiological changes in vivo are considered.     

A new mathematical approach to the metabolism of [14C]glucose, with applications to sensory ganglia of chicken embryos

Abstract— The available models of carbohydrate metabolism are not suitable for analysis of experiments on dorsal root ganglia of chicken embryos because they assume that certain products of the pentose cycle mix freely with those of glycolysis, which appears not to be true in this tissue, and because full isotopic equilibration, needed before the start of measurements, is not achieved while the excised ganglia are reasonably fresh. Therefore, new equations were developed which assume only a steady state of relevant metabolic intermediates and make use of the process of isotopic equilibration as a source of information. It is also assumed that an initially unknown but calculable fraction of the products of each pentose cycle re-enters the next cycle, the remainder leaking either to glycolysis or to the incubation medium. From measurements of the time course of output of labelled CO₂ in the presence of [1-¹⁴C]- and [6-¹⁴C]glucose and the incorporation and release in lactate of labelled C from [l-¹⁴C]glucose, the equations permit the estimation of many features of carbohydrate metabolism, such as the partitioning of material between the pentose cycle and glycolysis, the partitioning of CO₂ output between the pentose and citric acid cycles, the partitioning of the products of glycolysis between CO₂ and other destinations, such as lactate, and the degree of recycling from one pentose cycle into the next. In addition, the time course of labelled CO₂ output from [2-¹⁴C]glucose can be predicted; this, by comparison with the observed output, serves to support some variants of the basic model, while invalidating others. In dorsal root ganglia from 15-day chicken embryos, the assumption of a metabolic steady state was supported by a constant output of labelled CO² from [l-¹⁴C]glucose for 15 or more hours, except for the initial period of isotopic equilibration. By use of the new equations, it is concluded that in these ganglia (a) recycling in the pentose cycle can be 100% efficient in some incubation conditions, but not in others, (b) more CO₂ is released from the pentose cycle than from the citric acid cycle, (c) large, quantifiable differences exist between the utilization of the various carbon atoms of glucose, and (d) a pool of intermediates within the pentose cycle, with a time constant of about 1 h, explains a large delay observed in the output of C-6 of glucose into CO², which occurs with a time constant as long as 5 h under some conditions. Under conditions where recycling is complete in the pentose cycle, this cycle must operate in isolation from glycolysis, which would otherwise convert much of the output of the pentose cycle to lactate. This may explain the role of fructose-1,6-diphospha-tase in the tissue, without recourse to the oft-proposed, puzzling, and ATP-degrading‘futile cycle’between fructose-6-P and fructose-1,6-diP. It is proposed that the new equations may be suitable for similar analyses on some, but not all, other tissues.     

Alteration by dinitrocresol of pathways for glucose oxidation in eggs of arbacia punctulata

1. The C¹⁴O₂ production by Arbacia eggs and embryos from glucose-1-C¹⁴, glucose-2-C¹⁴, and glucose-6-C¹⁴ has been measured without and with dinitrocresol in the incubation medium. In the absence of the dinitrocresol, the C¹⁴O₂ production from glucose-1-C¹⁴ is more rapid than from glucose-2-C¹⁴ and much more rapid than from glucose-6-C¹⁴; this, together with previous findings, indicates that glucose is utilized in Arbacia eggs predominantly via the TPN shunt rather than via the aldolase step of the glycolytic pathway. In the presence of the dinitrocresol, C¹⁴O₂ from glucose-6-C¹⁴ approaches that from glucose-1-C¹⁴, indicating that, in the presence of this reagent, glucose utilization is diverted from the shunt to the glycolytic pathway. 2. Incorporation of C¹⁴ from glucose labelled in the 1-, 2-, or 6- positions into other metabolic products of the eggs and embryos is also inhibited by dinitrocresol, particularly incorporation into the acid-insoluble fraction containing nucleoproteins.