A plasmalemma-bound NADH-dependent redox system has been identified in protoplasts isolated from cell suspensions of sugacane. This system oxidized NADH as well as NADPH, increased 02 consumpti 3-fold, and increased the pH of the external medium while the cytoplasmkc pH was decreased. In the presence of NADH, ferricyanide was rapidly reduced and the external medium was acidified. The uptake rates of K+, 3-Omethylglucose, leucine, and arginine were all decreased in the presence of NADH.A redox system localized within the plasmalemma of higher plants is an appealing concept for which there is at present still little direct evidence. Nevertheless, convincing data have been obtained from corn root (4) and oat root preparations (8).Additional indirect evidence supporting the functioning of a redox chain in the plasmalemma of plants has been reported (1, 2). The possible significance of oxidation-reduction in the plasmalemma was considered in a review by L6w and Crane (6) who suggested that redox reactions may control glycolytic functions, peroxidation of unsaturated lipids, and other cell functions via sulfhydryl sites. A trans-membrane electron transfer has also been proposed for iron reduction in bean roots (12). Ofparticular interest woud be a redox chain able to function as an adjunct or alternative to ATPase in energization of the plasmalemma for nutrient transport. Evidence for such a redox system is gaining wider credence (5).The addition of NADH to intact corn roots or protoplasts greatly increases 02 consumption (4) and NADH oxidation can be coupled to the reduction of added ferricyanide (2). Moreover, Lin (5) has demonstrated that K+ influx, particularly at low concentrations, is stimulated by the addition of NADH to corn root protoplasts, is accompanied by proton efflux, and causes an increase in the membrane potential.Our interest in a possible relationship between a redox function and sugar transport across the plasmalemma originated with an observation that membrane preparations from sugarcane cells showed NADH bound to the plasmalemma and a promotion of its oxidation to NAD in the presence ofglucose (9). In the present investigation we wanted to determine whether the observations made by Lin (4, 5) in corn root protoplasts could be extended to another species, such as sugarcane. Our results revealed some similarities in the behavior of these two species, but also some important differences that cast doubt on the significance of an NADH-linked redox chain to nutrient transport across the plasmalemma in sugarcane.