title: Effects of the ionophore gramicidin D on energy metabolism in human erythrocytes.
abstract: Washed human erythrocytes were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 degrees C with different concentrations (2-80 mg l-1) of the monovalent cationophore gramicidin D. The ionophore induced a decrease of ATP content and energy charge (EC) and a concomitant increase in ADP and AMP contents. At a concentration of 10 mg l-1 of the ionophore the reduction of EC and ATP concentration was about 50%. Increasing the concentration of the ionophore resulted in a substantial haemolysis with no further effect on the nucleotide levels. Lowering the concentration of the ionophore to 5 mg l-1 (to avoid haemolysis) lead to a similar effect on the energy status. Ouabain at 0.5 mmol l-1 in incubation medium distinctly blunted the ionophoric effect on EC and adenine nucleotides. Addition of glucose on the contrary reversed these effects by about 80%. Hence, the glucose-induced increase in glycolytic flux as evidenced by an increase in lactate production was not sufficient to restore energy state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Engström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldenström
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronquist
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000097:blood; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D006096:Gramicidin; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005947:Glucose