Studies on the effect of certain enzymic poisons on the metabolism of storage organs IV. Respiration and nitrogen assimilation by radish root slices in relation to feeding with KCN

At low and high concentrations, respectively, KCN stimulatedand inhibited the CO₂ output of radish root slices. Analysisof tissue slices showed that CO₂ production is nearly accountedfor by the loss in carbohydrates. After 48 hr, the content ofprotein-N was slightly changed in all the cyanide-treated tissues;whereas, that of soluble-N decreased markedly at high cyanideconcentrations and hardly changed at low concentrations. Leakageof soluble-N occurred at high concentrations of cyanide. The nitrogen compounds taken up were incorporated into the nitrogenpool of radish slices. KCN retarded uptake of nitrogen compounds,inhibited their utilization and led to excessive leakage ofsoluble-N from the tissues into the media. Increased CO₂ outputof slices in nitrogen media was largely accounted for by theloss in carbohydrates from the tissues. High concentrations of cyanide are thought to inhibit CO₂ outputthrough inhibition of the oxidase system and accompanying phosphorylations.The present results with low concentrations further substantiatethe uncoupling theory as a main factor involved in respiration. ¹Permanent address: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science,University of A'in Shams, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt, U.A.R. (Received October 3, 1969; )