The effect of metabolic inhibitors on transport and exchange of amino acids in Ehrlich ascites cells

Abstract

1. 1. Cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose inhibit transport fluxes but do not inhibit exchange fluxes of amino acids in Ehrlich ascites cells. This is true whether the exchange flux is of the same order of magnitude as the transport flux or whether it is much greater.2. 2. These findings are compatible with the assumption that the linkage between the carrier system and energy metabolism is such as to either (i) increase the rate of outward movement of free carrier across the cell membrane, or (ii) increase the rate of dissociation of carrier-amino acid complex at the inner surface of the cell membrane. These findings are not compatible with the assumptions that the linkage is such as (iii) to increase the rate of movement of carrier-amino acid complex across the cell membrane, or (iv) to increase the rate of formation of the carrier-amino acid complex at the outer surface of the cell membrane.