Studies in the respiratory and carbohydrate metabolism of plant tissues II. Interrelationship between the rates of production of carbon dioxide, of lactic and of alcohol in potato tubers under anaerobic conditions

1952 ◽  
Vol 140 (900) ◽  
pp. 385-403 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Pyruvic Acid ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Glycolytic Intermediate ◽  
Pasteur Effect ◽  
High Sugar Content

Data, presented in part I of this communication, for the changes in air and in nitrogen in the rate of CO 2 production by potato tubers and in the contents of sugar, lactic acid, alcohol and other constituents, are analyzed and discussed. Certain features of the results indicate that in nitrogen a system producing lactic acid may be competing with systems in which either CO 2 or CO 2 and alcohol are formed, for a glycolytic intermediate, possibly pyruvic acid. Stoklasa (1904) observed the formation of lactic acid, together with a considerable amount of alcohol, in potatoes during anaerobiosis. In contrast, Kostytschew (1913) found no alcohol in low-sugar potatoes under anaerobic conditions, but a little alcohol in tubers of high sugar content. In our experiments, also with low-sugar potatoes, lactic acid but no alcohol was formed in the first phase of anaerobiosis; subsequently alcohol was produced in addition to lactic acid. Thus the results of previous workers are to a certain extent reconciled by the present study. When account is taken of the formation, under anaerobic conditions, of lactic acid and alcohol, as well as of CO 2 , a marked Pasteur effect is shown. The doubts expressed by Choudhury (1939) and Boswell & Whiting (1940), based solely on observations of CO 2 output, as to the existence of a Pasteur effect in potatoes are thus seen to be unjustified.

Studies in the respiratory and carbohydrate metabolism of plant tissues - Experimental studies of the formation of carbon dioxide and of the changes in lactic acid, sucrose and in certain fractions of keto-acids in potato tubers in air following anaerobic conditions

1953 ◽  
Vol 141 (904) ◽  
pp. 321-337 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Pyruvic Acid ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Krebs Cycle ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Co2 Output ◽  
Keto Acids

Barker A Saifl (1953 b ), suggested that the initial rapid increase and the subsequent slower decrease in the CO 2 output of potatoes in air after a peroid under anaerobic conditions might be partly related to a quick formation of pyruvic acid from the accumulated lactic acid and to the respiration of the Pyruvic acid via krebs cycle (krebs & johnson 1937; krebs 1952). Information bearing on the associated changes in pyruvic and α-ketoglutaric acid has now been obtained using a technique (Friedemann & Haugen 1943; Friedemann 1950) which while not fully specific gives values that are known to include true pyruvic acid and true α-ketoglutaric acid as well as non-pyruvic and non-α-ketoglutaric acid material respectively. Associated with the loss of Lactic acid in air after nitrogen and the accompanying increase followed by a decrease in the CO 2 output, Mentioned above, there was first a rapid increase in the content of 'pyruvic' and 'α-ketoglutaric acid' and then a prolonged decrease in these fractions. The analysis of the interrelation between the loss of lactic acid and the production of CO 2 and of the keto-acids, and between the changes in the rate of CO2 output and the changes in the concentration of the keto-acids and of sucrose, is taken up in the next paper in this series (Barker & Mapson 1953).

Studies in the respiratory and carbohydrate metabolism of plant tissues III. Experimental studies of the formation of carbon dioxide and of the changes in lactic acid and other products in potato tubers in air following anaerobic conditions

1953 ◽  
Vol 140 (901) ◽  
pp. 508-522 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Anaerobic Metabolism ◽  
Soluble Fraction ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
The Third ◽  
After Effect

This paper is the third in a series dealing with the anaerobic metabolism of potato tubers. In the two earlier papers (Barker & Saifi 1952 a, b ) we considered the changes which occurred during exclusion of oxygen, in the rate of CO 2 production and in the contents o sugar, lactic acid, alcohol and of an unidentified alcohol-soluble fraction. This paper is concerned with the influence of air following a period of anaerobiosis. The data given in the present paper showed that on transfer from the anaerobic to the aerobic state there was an increase in the rate of CO 2 production above the normal aerobic level, followed by a fall towards this level. Associated with this so-called after-effect there was a rapid disappearance of the lactic acid which had accumulated during the period in nitrogen and a quick increase in the sugar content, followed by a slower decrease. These experimental results are analyzed in the fourth paper in the series (page 522).

Studies in the respiratory and carbohydrate metabolism of plant tissues VI. Analysis of the interrelationships between the rate carbon dioxide production and the changes in the conten of lactic acid, sucrose and of certain fractions of keto-acid in potato tubers in air following anaerobic conditions

1953 ◽  
Vol 141 (904) ◽  
pp. 338-362 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Citric Acid ◽  
Pyruvic Acid ◽  
Krebs Cycle ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Production ◽  
Temporary Increase ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions

In the previous paper (Barker & Mapson 1953) the loss of lactic acid which occurs in potato tubers in air after nitrogen and the accompanying increase followed by a decrease in the CO 2 output were shown to be associated with a rapid initial increase in the contents of ‘pyruvic’ and ‘ α -ketoglutaric acids’ followed by a prolonged decrease in these fractions, From an analysis of these data in the present paper the time relations and magnitudes of the changes appear to be such that the increased output of CO 2 and the increased content of ‘pyruvic’ and ‘ α -ketoglutaric acids’ during the initial phase in air after nitrogen can be ascribed to the oxidation of lactic acid to pyruvic acid and the respiration of the pyruvic acid, so produced, via the Krebs tricarboxylic cycle (Krebs & Johnson 1937 ; Krebs 1952). The analysis also indicates that the bulk of the initial outburst in CO 2 was produced by decarboxylation of ‘pyruvic acid’ with smaller contributions from ‘ α -ketoglutaric acid’ and possibly from oxalosuccinic acid. The data are in accord with, but do not prove, the operation of the Krebs cycle in potato I tubers. Reference is made to the earlier observations of Miller, Guthrie & Denny (1936) that potatoes treated with various volatile compounds showed an outburst of CO 2 accompanied by a loss of citric acid. The present authors suggest that this loss of citric acid may be associated with a temporary increase in the content and/or the rate of decarboxylation of ‘α-ketoglutaric acid’. If further work substantiates this hypothesis, there will be strong evidence for the occurrence of the Krebs cycle in potatoes.

Studies in the respiratory and carbohydrate metabolism of plant tissues. XII. Further studies of the formation of CO 2 and the changes in lactate, alcohol, sucrose, pyruvate and α -ketoglutarate in potato tubers in nitrogen and in air following anaerobic conditions

1963 ◽  
Vol 157 (968) ◽  
pp. 383-402 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Sweet Potatoes ◽  
Pyruvate Oxidase ◽  
Oxidase System

A specific chromatographic method was used to show that, in air following anaerobiosis, lactate was oxidized to pyruvate and that the latter might be metabolized in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Our earlier view (Barker & Mapson 1953 b )was thus confirmed. As was expected, both the form and mechanism of the outburst of CO 2 in air after nitrogen were simpler with fully sweet potatoes at 1 °C than with low-sugar potatoes at 10 °C. In the former the outburst of CO 2 appeared to be due only to consumption of lactate; in the latter the outburst of CO 2 was attributed in part to consumption of lactate and in part to change in sugar content. With certain stocks of fully sweet potatoes at 1 °C, the pyruvate oxidase system appeared to be saturated with substrate initially in air after nitrogen; moreover, after 22 days in nitrogen, the pyruvate oxidase system appeared to be almost, if not completely, inhibited. A general, but not a close, correlation was observed between the rates of aerobic respiration and of increase of lactate and output of CO 2 in nitrogen, the rates of these functions being affected by differences in sugar content (Barker 1933) and in metabolic state.

Studies in the respiratory and carbohydrate metabolism of plant tissues I. Experimental studies of the formation of carbon dioxide, lactic acid and other products in potato tubers under anaerobic conditions

1952 ◽  
Vol 140 (900) ◽  
pp. 362-385 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Soluble Fraction ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Complex Form ◽  
Zinc Salt ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Minimal Rate ◽  
Rate Of Accumulation

Using mature potatoes of low sugar content, held at 10°C both in air and in nitrogen, the following metabolic changes were determined. The CO 2 production in nitrogen showed a complex form, the initial phase consisting of a slight increase, followed by a marked fall to a minimal rate after from 6 to 9 days. The sucrose and hexose content changed little in air, but in nitrogen sucrose decreased markedly, and the hexoses were either stable or increased. While lactic acid accumulated progressively under anaerobic conditions, the content of alcohol did not begin to increase until after about 7 days. Subsequently the rate of accumulation of lactic acid decreased, and that of alcohol increased. During the period of rising lactic acid, an approximately equivalent increase occurred in a non-sugar, non-lactic, alcohol-soluble fraction. Lactic acid was isolated as the zinc salt; it was present mainly as the L-isomer. The experimental data are analyzed in part II of this communication (p. 385).

The Relations Between Yolk and White in the Hen'S Egg

1931 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-329
Author(s):  
JOSEPH NEEDHAM ◽  
MARJORY STEPHENSON ◽  
DOROTHY MOYLE NEEDHAM
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Catalytic Activity ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Production ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Vitelline Membrane ◽  
Aerobic Respiration ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Hen’S Egg

1. The vitelline membrane of the infertile hen's egg exhibits no dehydrase activity. 2. The vitelline membrane has no measurable aerobic respiration in vitro, nor has the yolk of the infertile egg. This confirms the view that the carbon dioxide production of the intact egg is not the result of any true respiration. 3. When incubated anaerobically in vitro, bacteriologically sterile yolk produces consistently small amounts of lactic acid. 4. This glycolysis is not the result of any catalytic activity of the vitelline membrane, but takes place throughout the substance of the yolk. 5. Under similar conditions, bacteriologically sterile yolk produces small amounts of a substance or substances estimatable as ethyl alcohol. 6. If the yolk suspension is bacterially contaminated, however, lactic acid and alcohol are produced in amounts closely similar to those found by earlier workers on this subject. 7. The heat of glycolysis, under anaerobic conditions, calculated from the amounts of lactic acid experimentally found to be formed, is of the same order as (a) the calculated requirement of the vitelline membrane (Straub), and (b) the observed heat production (Langworthy and Barott). Thus even if the vitelline membrane is capable of using energy to do osmotic work, the yolk is only capable of supplying it by means of its glycolytic mechanism if the whole energy output of the whole yolk can be made available for doing work at the membrane.

The Respiratory Metabolism of Dendrostomum cymodoceae Edmonds (Sipunculoidea)

1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Edmonds
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Blood Volume ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Respiratory Metabolism ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Paraffin Oil ◽  
End Products ◽  
Wet Weight

The consumption of oxygen of Dendrostomum cymodoceae at 22'C in aerated sea-water varied from 4-5-5.5 μl/g (wet weight)/hr for adults to 20-31 μ/g/hr for juveniles. The production of carbon dioxide was 13-17 μ/g/hr (juveniles) and the R.Q. varied from 0.55 to 0.67 (juveniles). The rate of consunlption of oxygen decreased as the tension of the dissolved oxygen decreased. The oxygen combined with the pigment of the blood was 2.1 vols. of oxygen per 100 vols. of blood and the ratio of blood volume (ml) to total weight (g) of the animal was 0.47. D. cymodoceae was able to live under anaerobic conditions in sea-water for as long as 5 days and in paraffin oil for 4 days. The haemerythrin in the blood of animals kept under oil was found to be reduced after about 6 hr. Lactic acid was identified as one of the end-products of anaerobiosis. The concentration of lactic acid in the blood of animals living under anaerobic conditions increased after 60 hr from 7-12 to 46-61 μg/ml of blood. The ability to revert to anaerobiosis may have survival value for the species.

Lactic and Pyruvic Acid Relations in Contracting Mammalian Muscle

1956 ◽  
Vol 186 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Sacks ◽  
Jo H. Morton
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Pyruvic Acid ◽  
Acid Content ◽  
Marked Decrease ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Tetanic Contraction ◽  
Mammalian Muscle ◽  
Lactic Acid Content

Tetanic contraction of mammalian muscle under essentially anaerobic conditions was found to result in marked increase in the pyruvic acid content as well as in the lactic acid content. The increase in lactic acid content was proportionately greater than in the pyruvic acid content. Repeated single twitches at a rate of 1/sec., continued long enough to produce a steady state, resulted in only a slight increase in pyruvic acid content, with a marked decrease in the ratio of pyruvic to lactic acid. The pyruvic acid formed during the steady state of activity appears not to pass into the blood stream.

scholarly journals Biochemistry of waterlogged soils. Part III: Decomposition of carbohydrates with special reference to formation of organic acids

1929 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Subrahmanyan
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Pyruvic Acid ◽  
Soluble Nitrogen ◽  
Direct Oxidation ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Organic Matter Addition

(1) In absence of decomposing organic matter addition of nitrate led to no loss of nitrogen.(2) On addition of small quantities of fermentable matter such as glucose there was (a) rapid depletion of nitrates and oxygen, but no denitrification, and (b) increase in acidity, carbon dioxide and bacteria. The greater part of the soluble nitrogen was assimilated by microorganisms or otherwise converted and the greater part of the added carbohydrate was transformed into lactic, acetic and butyric acids.(3) The organic acids were formed from a variety of carbohydrates. Lactic acid was the first to be observed and appeared to be formed mainly by direct splitting of the sugar. It decomposed readily, forming acetic and butyric acids. Some acetic acid was formed by direct oxidation of lactic acid, with pyruvic acid as the intermediate product. All the acids were, on standing, converted into other forms by micro-organisms.

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