| Abstract: | Untransformed diploid skin fibroblasts from eight normal adults, aged 24 to 74 years, catabolized several 14C-labeled substrates less effectively than cells from ten normal male infants. 14C-labeled substrate metabolism was quantitated either by measuring the evolution of 14CO2 from the 14C-labeled compounds or the incorporation of 14C into cellular protein via transamination of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates derived from the 14C-labeled substrates. With these methods, adult cells catabolized 1-14C]butyrate, 1-14C]octanoate, and 1-2-14C]leucine at rates 44 to 64% of those found in infant cells. The oxidation of 1,4-14C]succinate and U-14C]malate was identical in both infant and adult cells, while 2,3-14C]succinate catabolism was mildly decreased in adult cells (65-80% of control). These observations parallel those made in rat tissues and confirm that the same phenomenon occurs in cultured human fibroblasts. |
