Characterization of transmembrane chemical shift differences in the 31P NMR spectra of various phosphoryl compounds added to erythrocyte suspensions

Trimethyl phosphate, dimethyl methylphosphonate, diethyl methylphosphonate, trimethylphosphine oxide, and the hypophosphite, phenylphosphinate, and diphenylphosphinate ions all contain the phosphoryl functional group. When added to an intact erythrocyte suspension at 20 degrees C, each of the compounds gave rise to separate intra- and extracellular 31P NMR resonances, and the separation between the two resonances of each compound varied with the mean cell volume. The differences between the intra- and extracellular chemical shifts were shown to be primarily attributable to the effects of hemoglobin. The presence of hemoglobin inside the cell gave rise to a significant difference in the magnetic susceptibilities of the two compartments. In addition, it exerted a large susceptibility-independent chemical shift effect, the magnitude of which was dependent upon the chemical structure of the phosphoryl compound involved. A number of other intra- and extracellular components were also shown to cause chemical shift variations, smaller than those arising from hemoglobin but nonetheless significant. The cell volume dependence of the transmembrane chemical shift differences therefore reflected not only the cell volume dependence of the intracellular hemoglobin concentration but also the changing concentration of the other solutes in the two compartments. In addition to their cell volume dependence, the transmembrane chemical shift differences varied with temperature. In the case of the nonelectrolytes this reflected not only the temperature dependence of the mechanism(s) responsible for the susceptibility-independent shift effects but also the temperature dependence of the rates at which the compounds traversed the cell membrane.     

Physical basis of the effect of hemoglobin on the 31P NMR chemical shifts of various phosphoryl compounds

The marked difference between the intra- and extracellular 31P NMR chemical shifts of various phosphoryl compounds when added to a red cell suspension may be largely understood in terms of the effects of hemoglobin on the 31P NMR chemical shifts. The presence of [oxy- or (carbonmonoxy)-] hemoglobin inside the red cell causes the bulk magnetic susceptibility of the cell cytoplasm to be significantly less than that of the external solution. This difference is sufficient to account for the difference in the intra- and extracellular chemical shifts of the two phosphate esters trimethyl phosphate and triethyl phosphate. However, in the case of the compounds dimethyl methylphosphonate, diethyl methylphosphonate, and trimethyl-phosphine oxide as well as the hypophosphite, phenylphosphinate, and diphenylphosphinate ions, hemoglobin exerts an additional, much larger, effect, causing the 31P NMR resonances to shift to lower frequency in a manner that cannot be accounted for in terms of magnetic susceptibility. Lysozyme is a protein structurally unrelated to hemoglobin and was shown to cause similar shifts to lower frequency of the resonances of these six compounds; this suggests that the mechanism may involve a property of proteins in general and not a specific property of hemoglobin. The effect of different solvents on the chemical shifts of the eight phosphoryl compounds provided an insight into the possible physical basis of the effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hypophosphite ion as a 31P nuclear magnetic resonance probe of membrane potential in erythrocyte suspensions.

Hypophosphorus acid has a single pKa of 1.1 and at physiological pH values it is therefore present almost entirely as the univalent hypophosphite ion. When added to a red cell suspension the ion crosses the cell membrane rapidly, via the anion exchange protein, and the intra- and extracellular populations of the ion give rise to separate 31P NMR resonances. From a single 31P NMR spectrum it was possible to determine the relative amounts of hypophosphite in the intra- and extracellular compartments and thereby estimate the corresponding concentrations. The ratio of intracellular to extracellular hypophosphite concentration was independent of the total hypophosphite concentration for cells suspended in NaCl solutions and was independent of hematocrit. The hypophosphite distribution ratio increased as extracellular NaCl was replaced iso-osmotically with citrate or sucrose, through it remained very similar to the corresponding hydrogen ion distribution ratio. Incorporation of the hypophosphite distribution ratio into the Nernst equation yielded an estimate of the membrane potential. For cells suspended in NaCl solutions the estimated potential was consistently around -10 mV.     

Further investigation of the use of dimethyl methylphosphonate as a 31P-NMR probe of red cell volume

We have refined a method for measuring erythrocyte volume using the 31P-NMR spectrum of a probe molecule, dimethyl methylphosphonate. This compound, when added to an erythrocyte suspension, gives rise to two 31P-NMR resonances, and the frequency separation between them is linearly dependent on the intracellular haemoglobin concentration. If, for a given cell sample (under standard conditions), the separation of the two dimethyl methylphosphonate peaks has been measured and an independent estimation of the mean cell haemoglobin content and concentration has been obtained, then changes in the mean cell volume due to altered experimental conditions may be estimated from the peak separation measured under the new conditions. Although the peak separation was independent of extracellular pH, it did vary with (i) a range of extracellular suspension media, (ii) temperature, (iii) dimethyl methylphosphonate concentration, (iv) haemoglobin ligand state and (v) different blood donors.     

Erythrocyte anion transport of phosphate analogs

The phosphate analogs are a series of chemically related small anions based upon tetrahedrally bonded phosphorus. Each compound is a mono- or disubstituted phosphorus oxyacid. These chemical substitutions lead to differences in the number and acidity of titratable protons, differences in molecular structures and charge distributions, and unique 31P, 19F, or 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra for each analog. These compounds include phosphate, phosphite, hypophosphite, fluorophosphate, thiophosphate, methylphosphonate, and dimethylphosphinate. NMR spectra were obtained from human erythrocytes suspended in buffers containing phosphate analogs. Intracellular and extracellular 31P and 19F chemical shifts of these anions were found to be nonequivalent, due to magnetic susceptibility differences between the two compartments, as well as to the transmembrane pH gradient. NMR spectroscopy was used to measure erythrocyte influx rates of the phosphate analogs, as well as the intracellular and extracellular pH changes that accompany influx, in red cell suspensions incubated for selected time intervals. Anion influx rates were found to vary over three orders of magnitude among the phosphate analogs. All analogs showed concentration-dependent influx rate saturation. The major determinant of influx rates was neither the molecular weight of the analog nor the net charge on the anion, but rather the structure of the anion. Phosphite (HPO2-3), the anion most closely resembling bicarbonate (a natural substrate for anion exchange) was found to have the highest influx rate.     

Intracellular pH in stored erythrocytes. Refinement and further characterisation of the 31P-NMR methylphosphonate procedure

Methylphosphonate in conjunction with 31P-NMR spectroscopy was used for the measurement of transmembrane delta pH in human erythrocytes stored at 4 degrees C for up to 5 weeks in a nutrient medium. Intra- and extracellular pH was determined using calibration curves based on the pH-dependent separation between the NMR resonances of methylphosphonate and orthophosphate (Pi). A comprehensive statistical procedure is presented for the determination of the variance of NMR-based pH estimates. The entry of methylphosphonate into erythrocytes was more rapid at low pH and uptake was fully inhibited by the band 3 reagent, disodium 4,4-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulphonic acid stilbene. The distribution ratio of methylphosphonate concentration inside and outside the cells was used to calculate the membrane potential; the analysis depends on a consideration of the Donnan equilibrium for an anion with one or two charges. Furthermore, the analysis does not depend on the pH estimates but relies solely on concentration estimates. The chemical shift of methylphosphonate was not subject to the variations associated with specific intracellular binding encountered with many other phosphorus compounds, including Pi. On the other hand, the ionic strength dependence of the chemical shift of methylphosphonate, contrary to earlier reports, is comparable in magnitude (but opposite in sign) to that of Pi.     

Uptake of cesium ions by human erythrocytes and perfused rat heart: a cesium-133 NMR study

Cesium-133 NMR studies have been carried out on suspended human erythrocytes and on perfused rat hearts in media containing CsCl. The resulting spectra exhibit two sharp resonances, arising from intra- and extracellular Cs+, separated in chemical shift by 1.0-1.4 ppm. Thus, intra- and extracellular resonances are easily resolved without the addition of paramagnetic shift reagents required to resolve resonances of the other alkali metal ions. Spin-lattice relaxation times in all cases are monoexponential and significantly shorter (3-4 times) for the intracellular component. When corrections are made for the pulse repetition rate, the total intensity of the intracellular and extracellular Cs+ resonances in erythrocytes is conserved, implying total observability of the intracellular pool. The uptake of Cs+ by erythrocytes occurs at approximately one-third the reported rate for K+ and was reduced by a factor of 2 upon addition of ouabain to the sample. These results indicate that 133Cs NMR is a promising tool for studying the distribution and transport of cesium ions in biological systems and, in some cases such as uptake by cellular Na,K-ATPase, for analysis of K+ ion metabolism.     

NMR separation of intra- and extracellular compounds based on intermolecular coherences

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for detection and characterization of chemical compounds in biological systems. Its application in pharmaceutical studies in cell cultures, however, has been hampered by the enormous technical challenges in separating intra- from extracellular amounts of one substance. We introduce a novel approach to separate intra- from extracellular NMR signal based on the detection of intermolecular zero-quantum coherences in presence of a chemical shift agent. In a sample of large cells in culture, the investigation of cellular uptake of pharmacological substances becomes feasible. The addition of 10 mM Tm-DOTP to a suspension of 100 Xenopus laevis oocytes resulted in sufficient separation of resonance frequencies between intra- and extracellular water. Upon selective excitation of either intra- or extracellular water signal, only intra- or extracellular components were observed, respectively. The presented localization technique provides intrinsic averaging over a large number of cells, resulting in a significant signal gain. The method works on standard NMR spectrometers, which are available at most scientific research institutions today. On a high-resolution NMR system with a cryoprobe, a 20-fold sensitivity gain was observed as compared to conventionally localized NMR spectroscopy of a single X. laevis oocyte on dedicated NMR microscopes.     

Multinuclear NMR studies of the Langendorff perfused rat heart

The quantitation of intracellular sodium ion concentration [Na+]in perfused organs using NMR spectroscopy requires a knowledge of the extent of visibility of the 23Na resonance and of the intracellular volume of the organ. We have used a multinuclear NMR approach, in combination with the extracellular shift reagent dysprosium (III) tripolyphosphate, to determine the NMR visibility of intra- and extracellular 23Na and 35Cl ions, intracellular volume, and [Na+]in in the isolated Langendorff perfused rat heart. Based on a comparison of the extracellular volumes calculated using 2H and 23Na, 35Cl, or 59Co NMR of the perfused heart we conclude that resonances of extracellular sodium and chloride ions (including ions in interstitial spaces) are fully visible, contrary to assumptions in the literature. Furthermore, prolonged hypoxia or ischemia caused a dramatic increase in intracellular Na+ and [Na+] in rose to approach that in the external medium indicating full visibility of the intracellular 23Na resonance. Resonance intensities of intra- and extracellular 23Na ions, along with a knowledge of the extracellular space as a fraction of the total organ water space, yielded an average [Na+] in of about 10 mM (10 +/- 1.5 mM) for the rat heart at 37 degrees C. Double-quantum filtered 23Na NMR of the perfused rat heart in the absence and presence of paramagnetic reagents revealed, contrary to assumptions in the literature, that both intra- and extracellular sodium ions contribute to the detected signal.     

Estimation of intracellular sugar phosphate concentrations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A systematic procedure has been formulated for estimating the relative intracellular concentrations of sugar phosphates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae based upon (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. The sugar phosphate region of the (31)P NMR spectrum is first decomposed by computer analysis, and the decomposition consistency and identification of individual sugar phosphate resonances are established based on in vitro chemical shift calibrations determined in separate experiments. Numerous evaluations of intracellular S. cerevisiae compositions for different strains and different cell environments provide the basis for in vivocorrelations of inorganic phosphate chemical shift with the chemical shifts of 3-phosphoglycerate, beta;-fructose 1,6-diphosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, and glucose 6 phosphate. Relative intracellular sugar phosphate concentrations are obtained by correcting peak areas for partial saturation during transient in vivo experiments. In vivo concentrations estimated by this method agree well with estimates for similar systems based on other techniques. This approach does not require costly la belled compounds, and has the advantage that other important metabolic state variables such-as internal and external pH and intracellular levels of phosphate, ATP, ADP, NAD(H), and polyphosphate may be determined from the same (31)P spectrum. Extension of this strategy to other cellular systems should be straightforward.     

1H NMR of compounds with low water solubility in the presence of erythrocytes: effects of emulsion phase separation

When lipophilic compounds like diethyl phthalate (DEP) were added to water, two sets of resonances appeared in the 1H NMR spectrum, whereas when added in concentrations above approximately 3.5 mM to erythrocytes in a high haematocrit suspension, only one set of resonances was observed at the low-frequency position. The appearance of one set of resonances at lower frequency was found to be common to a series of lipophilic compounds in erythrocytes. The appearance of the NMR spectra is ascribed to the existence of an emulsion, meaning two different phases of a compound: a "droplet" (resonances to lower frequency) and aqueous dissolved phase (resonances to higher frequency). The absence of the resonances from the dissolved phase in erythrocyte solution is ascribed to exchange broadening. The absolute chemical shift of the compound in its "droplet" phase was also measured using a cylindrical/spherical microcell. This arrangement mimicked the geometry of the dissolved versus the phase-separated species and thus obviated the effect of a difference in magnetic susceptibility between the "droplet" solute and its aqueous solution. Factors influencing the formation of emulsion phases such as erythrocytes, haemoglobin and smaller proteins were investigated; they are found to be effective in the order given.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance monitoring of sodium in biological tissues

In recent year, the 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique has been applied to the study of biological tissues. The advantages of this method are noninvasiveness and good sensitivity. The resonances of the intra- and extra-cellular sodium can be separated by the addition of shift reagents to the extracellular compartment. The method has been mostly applied to cell suspensions, kidney tubules, glands, and small organs. Owing to line-broadening effects, the NMR visibility of the intracellular sodium is reduced to 40% in most cases but can be lower or higher. Time-dependent measurements are possible with adequate life-supporting equipment, allowing the determination of transport parameters. 23Na relaxation times are short in tissues (below 50 ms) and highly dependent on the medium composition. The application of the 23Na NMR technique to intact organs can be hampered by the difficulty of getting a good distribution of the shift reagent in the extracellular milieu. A summary of the studies performed is presented with specific examples to illustrate typical applications.     

23Na NMR study of intracellular sodium ions in Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba

The intracellular sodium concentration in the amoebae from the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum has been studied using 23Na NMR. The 23Na resonances from intracellular and extracellular compartments could be observed separately in the presence of the anionic shift reagent Dy(PPPi)7-2 which does not enter into the amoebae and thus selectively affects Na+ in the extracellular space. 31P NMR was used to control the absence of cellular toxicity of the shift reagent. The intracellular Na+ content was calculated by comparison of the intensities of the two distinct peaks arising from the intra- and extracellular spaces. It remained low (0.6 to 3 mM) in the presence of external Na+ (20 to 70 mM), and a large Na+ gradient (20- to 40-fold) was maintained. A rapid reloading of cells previously depleted of Na+ was readily measured by 23Na NMR. Nystatin, an antibiotic known to perturb the ion permeability of membranes, increased the intracellular Na+ concentration. The time dependence of the 23Na and 31P NMR spectra showed a rapid degradation of Dy(PPPi)7-2 which may be catalyzed by an acid phosphatase.     

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of internal pH during photosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectra were obtained from actively photosynthesizing and darkened suspensions of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus. These spectra show intracellular resonances belonging to inorganic phosphate (Pi), a sugar phosphate (sugar-P), nucleotide di- and triphosphates, and poly-phosphates. The pH-dependent chemical shifts of Pi and sugar-P allowed the estimation of intracellular pH. When irradiated with high-intensity tungsten-halogen light (100 x 10(4) ergs . cm-2 . s-1, measured in the visible range), concentrated cell suspensions in the NMR spectrometer incorporated NaH14CO3 at approximately two-thirds the rate shown by a dilute suspension of cells at saturating light intensity. On the basis of NaH14CO3 incorporation, the effective light intensity obtained under NMR conditions would support growth at approximately one-fourth the maximum rate in dilute suspensions of cells. Irradiated cells maintained a cytoplasmic pH of 7.1--7.3 when exposed to an external pH from 6.4 to 8.3. At an external pH of 6.7, a darkness to light shift caused a 0.4 pH unit alkalinization of the cytoplasm. Treatment of cell suspensions with the uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), in light or darkness, collapsed the internal pH to the level of the external pH. The results suggest a strong light- or energy-dependent buffering of the cytoplasm over a range of external pH. The study demonstrates that 31P NMR can be used to investigate intracellular events in an actively photosynthesizing microorganism.     

31P and 35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of anion transport in human erythrocytes

The exchange of anions across the erythrocyte membrane has been studied using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to monitor inorganic phosphate influx and 35Cl NMR to monitor chloride ion efflux. The 31P NMR resonances for intracellular Pi and extracellular Pi could be observed separately by adjusting the initial extracellular pH to 6.4, while the intracellular pH was 7.3. The 35Cl NMR resonance for intracellular Cl- was so broad as to be virtually undetectable (line width greater than 200 Hz), while that of extracellular Cl-is relatively narrow (line width of about 30 Hz). The transports of Pi and Cl-were both totally inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, a potent inhibitor of the band 3 protein. Since the 31P resonance of Pi varies with pH, intra- and extracellular pH changes could also be determined during anion transport. The extracellular pH rose and intracellular pH fell during anion transport, consistent with the protonated monoanionic H2PO4-form of Pi being transported into the erythrocyte rather than the deprotonated dianionic HPO24-form. The rates of Cl-efflux and Pi influx were determined quantitatively and were found to be in close agreement with values determined by isotope measurements. The Cl-efflux was found to coincide with the influx of the monoanionic H2PO4-form of Pi.     

In vivo 31P NMR study of early cellular responses to hyperosmotic shock in cultured glioma cells.

Cell volume regulation in the face of osmotic stress is a fundamental homeostatic activity, and is most critical in brain, which is spatially constrained. Despite the importance of this phenomenon, little is known about volume regulation in the brain, primarily because of the cellular heterogeneity in the tissue. We describe here simultaneous in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of cell volume, intracellular pH and phosphate metabolites during early responses to hyperosmotic stress in C6 glioma cells perfused in NMR-compatible bioreactors. Cell volume was measured using dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) as a probe which has an intracellular NMR resonance shifted upfield from the extracellular resonance. The sensitivity of these measurements allowed 31P NMR spectra to be collected every 30 s. Following an increase in osmolarity from 320 to 480 mOsm by addition of NaCl to the perfusate, C6 glioma cells shrank to 67% of their original volume. We also observed a simultaneous increase of intracellular pH coincident with the decrease in cell volume. The signals from ATP decreased by 10%, but those from phosphocreatine (PCr) increased by 31% after hyperosmotic shock. However, correcting the ATP signals for the decrease in cell volume indicated that its intracellular concentrations increased after treatment. Signals from glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) and glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPE) were not changed significantly. This is the first in vivo report of early cellular responses monitored by NMR spectroscopy following hyperosmotic shock in cultured cells.     

Difluorophosphate as a 19F NMR probe of erythrocyte membrane potential

Erythrocyte membrane potential can be estimated by measuring the transmembrane concentration (activity) distribution of a membrane-permeable ion. We present here the study of difluorophosphate (DFP) as a ¹⁹F NMR probe of membrane potential. This bicarbonate and phosphate analogue has a pK_a of 3.7±0.2 (SD, n = 4) and therefore exists almost entirely as a monovalent anion at physiological pH. When it is incorporated into red cell suspensions, it gives two well resolved resonances that arise from the intra- and extracellular populations; the intracellular resonance is shifted 130 Hz to higher frequency from that of the extracellular resonance. Hence the transmembrane distribution of DFP is readily assessed from a single ¹⁹F NMR spectrum and the membrane potential can be calculated using the Nernst equation. The membrane potential was independent of, DFP concentration in the range 4 to 59 mM, and haematocrit of the cell suspensions of 31.0 to 61.4%. The membrane potential determined by using DFP was 0.94±0.26 of that estimated from the transmembrane pH difference. The distribution ratios of intracellular/extracellular DFP were similar to those of the membrane potential probes, hypophosphite and trifluoroacetate. DFP was found to be transported across the membranes predominantly via the electrically-silent pathway mediated by capnophorin. Using magnetization transfer techniques, the membrane influx permeability-coefficient of cells suspended in physiological medium was determined to be 7.2±2.5 × 10^–6 cm s^–1 (SD, n=4). Offprint requests to: P. W Kuchel     

Monitoring of intracellular ammonium in perfused rat salivary gland by nitrogen-14 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

We have observed the changes in the intracellular ammonium (NH4+) content and the intracellular pH during administration of 20 mM NH4Cl (the ammonium pulse experiment) using nitrogen-14 and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (14N and 31P NMR) at 8.45 T. In the isolated perfused rat mandibular salivary gland, resonances of trimethylamines (-328 p.p.m.) and betaine (-329 p.p.m. from the resonance of NO3-) were detected. A chemical shift reagent, 10 mM of dysprosium triethylenetetramine-N,N,N',N",N"',N"'-hexaacetic acid (Dy(TTHA], was used to discriminate between the resonances from the extracellular NH4+ (-352 p.p.m.) and the intracellular NH4+ (-355 p.p.m.). During the NH4Cl application, the intracellular NH4+ content [( NH4+]i) increased quickly to ca. 50 mmol per litre intracellular fluid (ICF), then increased gradually to ca. 70 mmol per litre ICF. The intracellular pH (pHi), calculated from the 31P chemical shift of inorganic phosphate, increased transiently by 0.5 pH units and then decreased gradually in spite of the high level of [NH4+]i. The initial increase of [NH4+]i, which was observed by 14N NMR, was larger than that calculated from the intracellular pH on an assumption of a non-ionic diffusion process for ammonia. These results suggest a possibility of influx of NH4+, and also suggest an activation of cellular buffering mechanism that extrudes the excess bases from the cells.     

Determination of membrane potential and cell volume by 19F NMR using trifluoroacetate and trifluoroacetamide probes

The distribution of ionic species between intra- and extracellular compartments forms one basis for the determination of cell membrane potential. It is shown that fluorine-19 NMR studies of erythrocytes in the presence of trifluoroacetate, a stable, relatively nontoxic anion with pK = -0.3, provide a sensitive probe of membrane potential. Since such measurements are based on ion concentrations, the parallel use of the neutral analogue trifluoroacetamide to provide information on intra/extracellular volume ratios was also explored. In both cases, separate 19F resonances corresponding to intra- and extracellular ions were observed, with the intracellular resonance shifted downfield by approximately 0.2 ppm and the intracellular peak typically somewhat broader than the extracellular resonance. Studies with the band 3 anion-exchange inhibitor 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) indicate that both transmembrane diffusion and flux involving the band 3 anion exchanger contribute to the observed transport of the trifluoroacetate anion. Intra/extracellular volume ratios determined on the basis of trifluoroacetamide intensity ratios were in good agreement with determinations based on measured hematocrits. On the basis of the high sensitivity of 19F NMR and the capability of monitoring volume changes simultaneously, the time resolution for these measurements can approach the lifetime of intracellular trifluoroacetate ions and hence be limited by the trifluoroacetate flux rate.     

Elucidation of the cytoplasmic and vacuolar components in the inorganic phosphate region in the 31P NMR spectrum of yeast

Subcellular compartments, such as the vacuole in yeast, play important roles in cell metabolism and in cell response to external conditions. Concentrations of inorganic phosphate and pH values of the vacuole and cytoplasm were determined for anaerobic Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells based upon (31)P NMR spectroscopy. A new approach allows the determination of these values for the vacuole in cases when the resonance for inorganic phosphate in the cytoplasm overlaps with the resonance for inorganic phosphate in the vacuole. The intracellular inorganic phosphate resonance was first decomposed into two components by computer analysis. The assignments of the components were determined from in vivo correlations of P(i) chemical shift and the chemical shifts of the cytoplasmic sugar phosphates, and the pH dependency of the resonance of pyrophosphate and the terminal phosphate of poly-phosphate (PP(1)) which reside in the vacuole. An in vivo correlation relating PP(1) and P(i) (vac) chemical shifts was established from numerous evaluations of intracellular compositions for several strains of S. cerevisiae. This correlation will aid future analysis of (31)P NMR spectra of yeast and will extend NMR studies of compartmentation to cellular suspensions in phosphate-containing medium. Application of this method shows that both vacuolar and extracellular P(i) were phosphate reserves during glycolysis in anaerobic S. cerevisiae. Net transport of inorganic phosphate across the vacuolar membrane was not correlated with the pH gradient across the membrane.