Studies on the incorporation of ( 14 C)amino acids into protein by isolated rat brain nuclei

—Various parameters of the in vitro incorporation of [¹⁴C]amino acids into protein by cell nuclei isolated and purified from rat brain and liver were investigated. Nuclei purified through 2.2 m sucrose solution were capable of amino acid incorporation in vitro; and washing procedure to eliminate hypertonic sucrose before incubation was essential since sucrose in high concentration was inhibitory. Microbial contamination was found to be a serious source of error and the use of sterile conditions for incubation were necessary to obtain reproducible and valid results. Using completely sterile conditions, Na ⁺, K⁺, RNase, DNase, puromycin, cycloheximide and chloramphenicol were without any effect on the ability of brain and liver nuclei to incorporate labelled amino acids into protein. Results of time-course and preincubation experiments revealed that some factors essential for amino acid incorporation pass out of the nucleus into the medium. In addition, approximately 15 per cent of the labelled nuclear proteins with higher specific radioactivity was recovered in the incubation medium. Incorporation of [¹⁴C]leucine was proportional to the concentration of labelled amino acid and to the number of nuclei, and it is suggested that carefully controlled conditions of incubation are essential to obtain valid comparisons between different types of nuclei in terms of their relative abilities to incorporate amino acids in vitro. No evidence was obtained indicating isotope dilution phenomenon in these experiments. Whether or not in vitro incorporation of amino acid by nuclei represents protein synthesis is discussed.     

Sulphydryl groups of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from rectal glands of Squalus acanthias: Detection of ligand-induced conformational changes

1. Modification of the Class II sulphydryl groups on the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase from rectal glands of Squalus acanthias with N-ethylmaleimide has been used to detect conformational changes in the protein. The rates of inactivation of the enzyme and the incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide depend on the ligands present in the incubation medium. With 150 mM K⁺ the rate of inactivation is largest (k₁ = 1.73 mM^?1 · min^?1) and four SH groups per α-subunit are modified. The rate of inactivation in the presence of 150 mM Na⁺ is smaller (k₁ = 1.08 mM^?1 · min^-1) but the incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide is the same as with K⁺. 2. ATP in micromolar concentrations protects the Class II groups in the presence of Na⁺ (k₁ = 0.08 mM^?1 · min^?1 at saturating ATP) and the incorporation id drastically reduced. ATP in millimolar concentrations protects the Class II groups partially in the presence of K⁺ (k₁ = 1.08 mM^?1 · min^?1) and three SH groups are labelled per α subunit. 3. The K⁺ -dependent phosphatase is inhibited in parallel to the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase under all conditions, and the ligand-dependent incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide was on the α-subunit only. 4. It is shown that the difference between the Na⁺ and K⁺ conformations sensed with N-ethylmaleimide depends on the pH of the incubation medium. At pH 6 there is a very small difference between the rates of inactivation in the presence of Na⁺ and K⁺, but at higher pH the difference increases. It is also shown that the rate of inactivation has a minimum at pH 6.9, which suggests that the conformation of the enzyme changes with pH. 5. Modification of the Class III groups with N-ethylmaleimide-whereby the enzyme activity is reduced from about 16% to zero-shows that these groups are also sensitive to conformational changes. As with the Class II groups, ATP in micromolar concentrations protects in the presence of Na⁺ relative to Na⁺ or K⁺ alone. ATP in millimolar concentrations with K⁺ present increases the rate of inactivation relative to K⁺ alone, in contrast to the effect on the Class II groups. 6. Modification of the Class II groups with a maleimide spin label shows a difference between Class II groups labelled in the presence of Na⁺ (or K⁺) and Class II groups labelled in the presence of K + ATP, in agreement with the difference in incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide. The spectra suggest that the SH group protected by ATP in the presence of K⁺ is buried in the protein. 7. The results suggest that at least four different conformations of the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase can be sensed with N-ethylmaleimide: (i) a Na⁺ form of the enzyme with ATP bound to a high-affinity site (E₁-Na-ATP); (ii) a Na⁺ form without ATP bound (E₁-Na); (iii) a K⁺ form without ATP bound (E₂-K); and (iv) an enzyme form with ATP bound to a low-affinity site in the presence of K⁺, probably and E₁-K-ATP form.     

AMINO ACID DISTRIBUTION AND INCORPORATION INTO PROTEINS IN ISOLATED, ELECTRICALLY-STIMULATED CEREBRAL TISSUES

—The uptake of radioactive amino acid by incubated cerebral cortex slices is found to be a first order process. Incorporation of the radioactive amino acid into tissue protein is from a precursor pool that has first equilibrated with the intracellular endogenous free amino acids. Ways of calculating the amino acid incorporation in molar quantities from the observed incorporation of radioactivity are discussed, and it is concluded that the specific radioactivity of the intracellular acid-soluble fraction is the best basis for such estimates. The in vitro incorporation of leucine into tissue protein is estimated to be approximately 1±2 mμnol/mg protein/h, and of valine 0±4 mμmol/mg protein/h. Addition of free amino acids to the media had little or no effect on the calculated rates of incorporation. On incubation for 1 h the total free valine in tissue and medium increased by 0±43 μmol/g and leucine increased by 0±55 μmol/g. Estimates of amino acid incorporation based on the specific radioactivity of the media amino acids can give misleading results if this considerable release of amino acids into the medium is not taken into account. Electrical stimulation of neocortical slices with a variety of types of pulses was either without effect or decreased incorporation into portein. The decrease could not be directly correlated with changes in tissue K⁺ nor with the utilization of ATP. Mild, local stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract of piriform cortex slices was without effect on tissue phosphocreatine, K⁺ or amino acid incorporation.     

Studies on axonal transport in dopaminergic neurons: effect of neuropharmacologic lesions

Axonal transport of [³H]protein to the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, septal region, caudate nucleus, and hypothalamic region was investigated in rats after unilateral injection of [³H]lysine into the substantia nigra. Co-injection of 2 μg of colchicine with the [³H]lysine depressed the recovery of [³H]protein from forebrain structures by over 70 percent without altering incorporation into midbrain protein, whereas 1 or 2 μg of cycloheximide decreased the incorporation of labelled lysine into both midbrain and forebrain protein by 69 to 76 percent. Partial 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions of the substantia nigra decreased striatal dopamine levels by 78 percent and reduced axonal protein transport by 47 to 82 percent. Injecting the [³H]lysine 2 mm dorsal to the substantia nigra decreased transport by 95 percent. Unilateral kainic acid-induced lesions of the caudate, which decreased striatal glutamic acid decarboxylase activity by 44 percent and spared striatal dopamine content, did not alter the transport of [³H]protein. Thus, axonal transport of protein in dopamine-containing systems is dependent upon the site of injection of labelled precursor and upon the integrity of a 6-OHDA sensitive pathway. Further, transport is sensitive to inhibitors of both microtubule assembly and protein synthesis, and insensitive to intrastriatal kainic acid lesions.     

RAPIDLY LABELLING AND EXPORTED NEURONAL PROTEIN; [3H]FUCOSE AS A PRECURSOR, AND EFFECTS OF CYCLOHEXIMIDE AND COLCHICINE

Abstract— The characteristics of a rapidly labelled and rapidly transported neuronal perikaryal protein fraction (Rose & Sinha . 1974a) were investigated in three experiments. (1) The kinetics of labelling of neuronal cell body and neuropil fractions from [³H]fucose were followed and shown to be similar to those from [³H]lysine, the label first appearing in the neuronal fraction and then being exported. The neuronal/neuropil incorporation ratio fell from 1.37 at 1 h to 0.77 at 4 h. (2) When cycloheximide (5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 15 min after [³H]lysine, incorporation into neuronal protein was inhibited to a greater extent (85%) than into neuropil (60%). (3) Colchicine was injected at a dose (40 μg/kg) sufficient to prevent accumulation of radioactively labelled protein into synaptosomes but insufficient to affect total incorporation of precursor into protein. [³H]Lysine was injected 1 h after colchicine and neurons and neuropil fractions made 1 h and 4 h later; colchicine inhibited the export of labelled protein from the neuronal perikaryon and its accumulation in the neuropil. We conclude that the rapidly labelled neuronal protein is partially glycoprotein in character and may be normally transported from the cell body by way of the axonal/(dendritic?) flow mechanism.     

Effect of elevated potassium on phospholipid and inositol metabolism of isolated nerve endings

Synaptosomes were isolated from rat cerebra, and incubated in the presence of labelled phosphate and inositol. When the potassium concentration of the medium was increased by replacing NaCl with KCl, there was a marked increase in phosphate labeling of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). This was evident with [K⁺] above 12 mM and peaked at about 40 mM KCl. In normal calcium buffers, phosphate labeling of PI but not PA declined sharply with [KCl] above 40 mM. In low calcium buffers, the phosphate labeling response was greatly attenuated for both lipids, but PI labeling did not decline at higher [K⁺].The phosphate labeling response was confined to PA and PI, and was specific for the increase in [K⁺]₀. The same response was seen in constant (105 mM) sodium buffers, and atropine had no effect. The specific radioactivity of ATP was increased by elevated potassium, but not enough to account for the increased labeling of PA. Further, this appeared to be a result of the loss of stored ATP rather than an increase in turnover.Increasing [K⁺]₀ produced a decline in [³H]inositol incorporation into PI in parallel with the increase in its labeling by ³³PO₄. This was the same in constant sodium and in low calcium buffers. It could be attributed to an inhibition of synaptosomal uptake of labelled inositol from the medium. Synaptosomal inositol content was unaffected.Elevated potassium had a greater effect on PA labeling than on PI, and it was more effective in increasing phosphate labeling of PA than was acetylcholine (ACh). When ACh and elevated potassium were combined at their maximally effective concentration, they acted synergistically to stimulate phosphate incorporation into PA but elevated potassium blocked the increase in [³H]inositol incorporation into PI normally produced by ACh. These results indicate that elevated potassium and ACh act upon the same population of synaptosomes, but affect different biochemical steps. Elevated potassium probably effects phospholipid labeling by a calcium dependent increase in diglyceride production from lipids other than PA or PI.     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF AMINO ACIDS, Na+ AND K+ FROM SURFACE TO CENTRE IN INCUBATED SLICES OF MOUSE BRAIN

—The effect of tissue damage on the uptake of amino acids by brain slices was investigated by measuring uptake in slices of different thickness and measuring the distribution of [¹⁴C]-labelled amino acid on the surface and in the centre of incubated slices. The uptake of glutamate, aspartate, and GABA was greater in 0.1 mm-thick slices than in 0.42 mm-thick slices in short and in long (up to 120 min) incubations; the uptake of other amino acids was equal or greater in the 0.42 mm-thick slices. The water content of incubated slices did not change greatly from surface to centre; inulin space was greater at the surface, and in slices from cortex, especially higher at the cut surface. Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were also higher at the surface. In the rest of the slice space, inulin, Na⁺ and K⁺ distribution was quite uniform. The distribution of ATP was inhomogeneous: in thinner slices the centre concentration was higher; in thicker slices the centre concentration was lower. Amino acid uptake initially (at 5 min) was higher at the surface, especially in the thicker slices; after longer time (30 min) incubation, the distribution of lysine and leucine was uniform, and glutamate uptake was greater at the surface. The inhomogeneity of distribution increased with increasing thickness of the slices. We concluded that the uptake of some amino acids (perhaps those for which, beside a low affinity transport, also a higher affinity transport system exists) is greater in thinner slices and greater on the surface of slices, and there is an initially inhomogeneous distribution during amino acid uptake. The uptake on the surface constitutes only a small portion of the total uptake, and tissue damage does not explain the greater uptake of amino acids by slices in comparison to the brain in vivo. This shows the higher transport capacity of cells in the brain and emphasizes the importance of mechanisms controlling the metabolite composition of the extracellular fluid in finally influencing the metabolite composition of the brain itself.     

THE INCORPORATION OF RADIOACTIVE AMINO ACIDS INTO BRAIN SUBCELLULAR PROTEINS DURING TRAINING

—Total proteins, free amino acids, tritiated water and subcellular proteins of mouse brain were examined for changes in radioactivity during operant conditioning after subcutaneous administration of labelled amino acids. The conditioning was based on appetitive learning, using sweetened milk as a reward. During training and incorporation for 20-30 min, both [³H]leucine and [1-¹⁴C]leucine underwent a significant increase in catabolism, resulting in a decreased radioactivity in the free amino acids. [2-²H]Methionine underwent a rapid loss of isotope, so that 90% of the radioactivity was in the form of tritiated water at the end of training, and this phenomenon masked any possible effect of training. The brain uptake of [³⁵S]methionine increased during the training, resulting in an increased radioactivity in the proteins. Uptake of [³H]lysine increased slightly during training only after 1 h incorporation and not after 20 or 30 min, as judged from a time course of radioactivity in the free amino acids. Incorporation into nuclear proteins increased selectively during 20 min, and into nuclear and cytosol proteins after 60 min incorporations. It is concluded that changes in the observed rate of incorporation of a precursor into brain subcellular proteins under the influence of behaviour might be the result of changes in precursor catabolism or uptake, or both, and that each amino acid behaves in a different way. Even the same amino acid gives different results depending on the isotope and its position in the amino acid.     

Stretch-induced growth of skeletal myotubes correlates with activation of the sodium pump

Skeletal myotubes responded to passive stretch by increased amino acid uptake (as measured with [³H]α-aminoisobutyric acid), increased incorporation of amino acids into total cellular protein and myosin heavy chains, and increased accumulation of total cellular protein and myosin heavy chains. These alterations were preceded by an increase in the uptake of ouabain-sensitive rubidium-86 (⁸⁶Rb⁺), a potassium tracer used to measure membrane sodium pump activity (Na⁺K⁺ATPase). This stretch-induced stimulation of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake resulted from a 60-70% increase in the V_max of the Na pump with little change in the K_m. [³H] ouabain binding studies showed no stretch-induced change in the number of membrane Na pumps, indicating that stretch activates the Na pumps that are already present on the cell surface. Since the stretch-induced increases in amino acid transport and amino acid incorporation into proteins were inhibited by ouabain, Na pump activation may be involved in stretch-induced cell growth of skeletal muscle cells by hypertrophy.     

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Aizawai δ-endotoxin inhibits the k+/amino acid cotransporters of lepidopteran larval midgut

1. The δ-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai inhibits in a dose-dependent manner the K⁺-driven accumulation of histidine and lysine as well as their equilibrative uptake into brush border membrane vesicles from the midgut of Bombyx mori larvae.2. The decrease of uptake in the absence of a K⁺-gradient is neither due to a leakage of the labelled substrate from the vesicles nor to a reduction of the osmotically active space available, as a result of a detergent-like effect of the toxin.3. The toxin acts as a non competitive inhibitor of the K⁺/amino acid cotransporters of the larval midgut of Lepidoptera, with no preference for a specific transport system.     

Stimulatory effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid upon animo acid incorporation into protein by a ribosomal system from immature rat brain

Abstract—

• 1 GABAstimulated the incorporation of L-[U-¹⁴C]leucine, primarily into the particulate protein of a ribosomal system from immature rat brain, but not from immature rat liver.
• 2 The GABA effect required the presence of Na⁺ and occurred at GABA concentrations which are thought to be physiological (1–5 mM).
• 3 Of all other amino acids tested at tissue extract concentrations in the system, only glycine had a similar effect. No analogues of GABA tested had a significant stimulatory effect upon leucine incorporation into protein, with the exception of homocarnosine which was mildly stimulatory.
• 4 The effect of GABA upon the incorporation of L-[U-¹⁴C]leucine was examined in the presence of added amino acid substrates, both individually and as mixtures. Also, the incorporation of L-[U-¹⁴C]leucine was compared with incorporation of L-[U-¹⁴C]Iysine and L-[U-¹⁴C]phenylalanine. The results are discussed in terms of GABA interaction with activating, transfer and transport mechanisms of other amino acids, inhibition of proteinase activity, and the possibility that GABA is stimulating the synthesis or turnover of specific proteins in the brain ribosomal system.
• 5 The results illustrate the fact that studies of ‘protein synthesis’ in immature rat brain ribosomes, as measured by amino acid incorporation, will yield answers which depend heavily upon substrate conditions and upon the labelled amino acid used as the marker for protein synthesis or turnover.

     

Atypical incorporation of single amino acids into myelin proteins.

—Purified myelin incorporated l -[¹⁴C]leucine and l -[¹⁴C]lysine into myelin proteins in an enzymatic process similar to that of renal brush border membranes. The system was not inhibited by cycloheximide or puromycin or by pretreatment with ribonuclease; the reaction was inhibited by cetophenicol. ATP was an effector, shifting the optimal pH from 7.2 to 8.3. In the presence of ATP, myelin was less dense in a sucrose gradient. Ammonia was released from the membrane during the incorporation of amino acids. Myelin preloaded with cold leucine did not incorporate [¹⁴C]leucine but did incorporate [¹⁴C]lysine; there was no cross inhibition between the two amino acids. The incorporation was into or onto proteins of the Wolfgram proteolipid fraction of myelin. The incorporation was of the high affinity type with a K_m of 10^?7m and was restricted to the natural amino acids.     

Measurement of the rate ATP synthesis in bovine anterior pituitary slices

A method is described which uses firely luciferase for the measurement of the specific activity of [^{3 2}P] orthophosphate in the γ-position in ATP. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) which uncouples respiration and oxidative phosphorylation and at 0.1 μ/ml reduced pituitary ATP concentration by 35%, decreased the rate of incorporation of [^{3 2}P] orthophosphate into ATP by 40%. Ouabain caused a 50% reduction in the specific activity of ATP after 30 min incubation. Four stimuli of growth hormone secretion, p-chloromercuribenzoate, prostaglandin E₂, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and Ba²⁺ did not alter the rate of incorporation of [^{3 2}P] orthophosphate into ATP; a fith stimulato, high K⁺, decreased the rate of incorporatio. These results suggest that overall. ATP utilisation is not greatly increased under conditions of stimulated secretion.     

Effects of excitatory neurotransmitter amino acids on swelling of rat brain cortical slices.

Abstract— With the single rat brain cortical slice serving as an in vitro bio-assay system, the effects of neurotransmitter amino acids (1 mm ) on brain swelling, water, sodium and potassium content, inulin space, and lactate production were studied. The putative dicarboxylic amino acid neurotransmitters, l -glutamic acid and l -aspartic acids, greatly increased intracellular brain swelling with increased intracellular Na⁺, water content and lactate production, and decreased inulin space and intracellular K⁺. Equimolar GABA, taurine, glycine, the putative inhibitory neurotransmitter amino acids, and equimolar α-amino-isobutyric acid had no effect. Brain swelling and intracellular Na⁺/K⁺ ratios were greatly increased by l -glutamate and l -aspartate at a concentration of 10 mm . However, l -aspartate at these concentrations greatly depleted the K⁺ content and lactate production as compared to l -glutamate. Further studies indicated that only the structural analogs and isomers of the dicarboxylic amino acids possessing two acidic groups and an α-amino group had a similar effect on the induction of brain swelling. Among the analogs of glutamic acid, dl -homocysteic acid and kainic acid had a greater effect on brain swelling, as observed from the total adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) levels and the time-course and dose-response. A biphasic response in lactate production was induced by dl -homocysteic acid and kainic acid, suggesting that these analogs had a neurotoxic effect on cellular metabolism at higher concentrations.     

Role of ATP on the initial rate of amino acid uptake in ehrlich ascites cells

Incubation with graded doses of rotenone can bring about a graded lowering of the cellular ATP level. Using cells with varying ATP levels, it can be shown that the initial uptake of [¹⁴C]glycine, before the cellular concentration exceeds that of the medium, is decreased as ATP decreases. Alterations in cellular cations cannot account for the difference in glycine influx. Prolonged exposure of cells to a lowered ATP content increases the exodus of cellular glycine. Valinomycin reduces the steady-state level of glycine uptake, but its effects can to a major extent be overcome by the addition of glucose. At high extracellular K⁺ (70 mM) neither the sum of the Na⁺+K⁺ gradients, nor the electrochemical potential of Na⁺ provides sufficient energy to account for glycine and 2-aminoisobutyrate accumulation if a 1:1 coupling between Na⁺ and the amino acid occurs.     

A STUDY OF THE METABOLISM AND RELEASE OF DOPAMINE AND AMINO ACIDS FROM NERVE ENDINGS ISOLATED FROM SHEEP CORPUS STRIATUM

Abstract— Synaptosomes prepared from sheep corpus striatum showed a linear rate of respiration over a 90 min period of incubation in Krebs-bicarbonate medium containing glucose (10 mm ) and the rate of respiration was stimulated by electrical pulses. Dopamine was released from synaptosome beds to the medium by either electrical pulses or 56mm -K⁺ (10min), increasing 108% and 76% respectively above control levels of release. The presence of d- or 1-amphetamine (0.12mm ) in the incubation medium (40 min) increased the accumulation of dopamine in the medium by 310 and 275% respectively and 56mm -K⁺ also caused a significant increase in the release of glutamate, GABA and aspartate. Radioactively labelled dopamine was synthesized by the synaptosomes from l -[¹⁴C]tyrosine, l -DOPA or dl -DOPA, and electrical pulses caused a 35% increase in the rate of dopamine production from [U-¹⁴C] tyrosine. No increased release of [¹⁴C]dopamine in response to depolarizing stimuli was found to occur when synaptosome beds were transferred from medium containing radioactive precursors to fresh medium for further incubation (20 min). In the presence of 1- and d-amphetamine, accumulation of ¹⁴C-labelled doparnine in the incubation media was increased 129% and 380% respectively, the latter was partially depressed by absence of calcium from the medium. Three radioactively labelled metabolites formed by synaptosomes during incubation in dl -[2-¹⁴C]DOPA were detected; the major ones were dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid and the third was unidentified. When the synaptosome beds were transferred to medium containing no radioactive precursors, it was found that labelled dihydroxyphenylacetic acid was 7 times more abundant than labelled dopamine in the incubation medium (20 min) and one-third as abundant in the synaptosomes. The dihydroxyphenylacetic acid n Ci/dopamine n Ci ratio was greatly affected by K⁺ stimulation, decreasing 52% and 34% in the incubation medium and synaptosomes respectively. A pathway of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid degradation was shown to occur through decarboxylation. These results are discussed in terms of the compartmentation of dopamine and its metabolism. It is proposed that one pool of dopamine is released by depolarizing agents and during the period of incubation it is replaced by synthesis from the endogenous tyrosine (19.5 nmol/100 mg protein) and not by the labelled dopamine in the synaptosome. The synaptosomal pool of dopamine which is radioactively labelled after pulse labelling with dl -[2-¹⁴C]DOPA appears to be prone to oxidation to DOPAC and homovanillic acid which are preferentially released from the synaptosomes.     

The incorporation of glycerol and lysine into the lipid fraction of Staphylococcus aureus

1. Incubation of washed cells of Staphylococcus aureus with [1-¹⁴C]glycerol results in the incorporation of glycerol into the lipid fraction of the cells. The rate of incorporation is increased by the presence of glucose and amino acids. The presence of amino acids increases incorporation into the fraction containing O-amino acid esters of phosphatidylglycerol. 2. Glycerol, incorporated into washed cells by incubation with glycerol, glucose and amino acids, is rapidly released from the lipid fraction when cells are incubated at low suspension densities in buffer. 3. Of nine amino acids tested, only lysine is significantly incorporated into the lipid fraction. The incorporation is increased by the presence of glycerol, glucose and other amino acids, especially aspartate and glutamate. 4. The incorporation of lysine is increased by the addition of puromycin at concentrations that inhibit protein synthesis. Chloramphenicol does not increase the incorporation of lysine but abolishes the enhancing effect of puromycin. 5. The enhancing effect of puromycin is accompanied by a similar increase in the incorporation of lysine into the fraction soluble in hot trichloroacetic acid. 6. Lysine is incorporated into the lipid fraction that contains O-amino acid esters of phosphatidylglycerol and corresponds in properties to phosphatidylglyceryl-lysine. 7. Lysine is rapidly released from the lipid of cells incubated in buffer only at low suspension densities. 8. Incubation of cells with the phosphatidylglyceryl-lysine fraction does not lead to the appearance of free lysine or to incorporation into the fraction insoluble in hot trichloroacetic acid.     

EFFECTS OF OUABAIN ON ACID-SOLUBLE PHOSPHATES AND ELECTROLYTES OF ISOLATED CEREBRAL TISSUES IN PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF CALCIUM

—(1) Cerebral slices were incubated in Ca²⁺-free media or in media which contained 2.8 mm -Ca²⁺. Omission of Ca²⁺ brought about a drop in creatine phosphate content of 28 per cent, as well as a drop of 3–10 per cent in non-inulin K⁺ content. There was little change in content of 10-min phosphate or of non-inulin Na⁺. (2) Ouabain in concentrations of to M increased the loss of K⁺ from the slice and caused a rise in Na⁺ content. The changes were most marked in Ca²⁺-free media. Creatine phosphate levels were depressed by ouabain both in the presence or absence of Ca²⁺. In the absence of Ca²⁺, the lowering of phosphocreatine did not occur until significant shifts in K⁺ had taken place. In contrast, slices incubated in Ca²⁺-containing media lost creatine phosphate and K⁺ at about the same rate. (3) When ouabain and labelled phosphate were added simultaneously, there was little difference in the rate of incorporation of label into creatine phosphate in media which differed in Ca²⁺ concentration. However, incorporation of ^azP-labelled phosphate into creatine phosphate was decreased by 30–40 per cent in media which lacked Ca²⁺ when ouabain was added 15 min prior to the labelled phosphate. This change was not observed when the media contained Ca²⁺. (4) Ouabain did not affect oxidative phosphorylation or respiratory control when added directly to bovine brain mitochondrial preparations. (5) The results suggest that the previously observed depression of respiration brought about by ouabain in Ca²⁺-deficient media is not a good indicator of the proportion of the cell's metabolism used for active cation transport. Under these conditions, the inhibition of cation transport is accompanied by a drop in slice content of high-energy phosphate which may represent a secondary effect of ouabain, or of cytoplasmic alterations brought about by ouabain, on energy-producing processes.