Influence of Glucose & Light on Pyruvate Metabolism by Starved Cells of Chlorella elipsoida

Metabolism of Pyruvate by Starved Cells of Chlorella elipsoida

“…Unlike glucose (14) pyruvate is never completely utilized and it does not support the assimilation of NH3 (16,23) (27). Although light increases the incorporation into fats (21,27) and glucose that into proteins (27) (25), that in the dark glucose is a suitable substrate (24), and that the acids of the TCA cycle support only a meager growth (7).…”

“…Although light increases the incorporation into fats (21,27) and glucose that into proteins (27) (25), that in the dark glucose is a suitable substrate (24), and that the acids of the TCA cycle support only a meager growth (7). Each of these systems provides energy, reducing power and carbon skeletons in different proportions.…”

“…Of these products the amino acids, glutamic, aspartic, and alanine (27) and the sugars (28) are actively synthesized during pyruvate feeding. By analogy to Mothes' work with yeast (23) and from the effect of pyruvate on the assimilation of NH3 in Chlorella (16), it may be assumed that only a small part of the activity incorporated into the proteins of the acid hydrolysate and residue represents a net synthesis.…”

“…Thus the amino acids, principally glutamic, and sucrose may be considered as competing for the pyruvate initially assimilated. In the early stages of pyruvate feeding (30 or (table V) and onlv a fraction of the growth (7) that glucose does; it does not support the assimilation of NH3 (16); and unlike glucose it induces the accumulation of glutamate, aspartate, and alanine (27). The disappearance of glucose from the medium is complete at all concentrations (14) …”