Abstract: | A pressure of oxygen of 5 atmospheres has been shown to inhibitmarkedly the carbon-dioxide output of green shelled peas. Accompanyingthis decrease, an accumulation of pyruvic and citricacid has been noted, whilst a depletion in the concentrationof -ketoglutaric acid and, in some experiments, of malic acidoccurred. The results have been interpreted as indicating thathigh pressures of oxygen interfere with the metabolism of citricacid causing a jamming of the tricarboxylic acidcycle; thus, under the conditions prevailing during the oxygentreatment, the tricarboxylic acid cycle is considered to bea major respiratory pathway in peas. |