A sodium ion concentration gradient formed during the absorption of glycine by mouse ascites-tumour cells.
1. To deplete them of ATP the tumour cells were starved at 37 degrees in a Ringer solution containing 33m-equiv. of Na(+)/l., 131m-equiv. of Li(+)/l., 2mM-sodium cyanide and 0.1mm-ouabain. The cellular content of K(+) was largely replaced by Li(+), but cellular [Na(+)] remained near 33m-equiv./l. 2. The addition of 12mm-glycine to the system caused cellular [Na(+)] to increase, during the next 4min., by about 4m-equiv./l., so that it slightly exceeded extracellular [Na(+)]. This occurred in parallel with the absorption of glycine. 3. The cellular K(+) content fell by an amount representing about 10% of the amount of Na(+) absorbed. 4. The results provide a clear demonstration that the flow of glycine into the cells is linked to a parallel movement of Na(+); K(+) appears to play a facultative role in the carrier system, whereas Li(+) is almost inert. 5. The effects produced by glycine were not reproduced by l-arabinose.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000818:Animals; D001089:Arabinose / Q000378:metabolism; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003486:Cyanides; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008094:Lithium; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D010042:Ouabain; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D003486:Cyanides; D010042:Ouabain; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium; D001089:Arabinose; D011188:Potassium; D005998:Glycine