Addition Of Malate Research Articles

Effect of Phloem-Translocated Malate on NO3− Uptake by Roots of Intact Soybean Plants

In soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv Kingsoy), NO(3) (-) assimilation in leaves resulted in production and transport of malate to roots (B Touraine, N Grignon, C Grignon [1988] Plant Physiol 88: 605-612). This paper examines the significance of this phenomenon for the control of NO(3) (-) uptake by roots. The net NO(3) (-) uptake rate by roots of soybean plants was stimulated by the addition of K-malate to the external solution. It was decreased when phloem translocation was interrupted by hypocotyl girdling, and partially restored by malate addition to the medium, whereas glucose was ineffective. Introduction of K-malate into the transpiration stream using a split root system resulted in an enrichment of the phloem sap translocated back to the roots. This treatment resulted in an increase in both NO(3) (-) uptake and C excretion rates by roots. These results suggest that NO(3) (-) uptake by roots is dependent on the availability of shoot-borne, phloem-translocated malate. Shoot-to-root transport of malate stimulated NO(3) (-) uptake, and excretion of HCO(3) (-) ions was probably released by malate decarboxylation. NO(3) (-) uptake rate increased when the supply of NO(3) (-) to the shoot was increased, and decreased when the activity of nitrate reductase in the shoot was inhibited by WO(4) (2-). We conclude that in situ, NO(3) (-) reduction rate in the shoot may control NO(3) (-) uptake rate in the roots via the translocation rate of malate in the phloem.

Oligomerization and Regulation of Higher Plant Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase

The specific activity of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) measured at a saturating level of substrate diminishes as the enzyme is diluted at about the same rate that specific light scattering by the diluted enzyme decreases. The presence of PEP in the assay causes an increase in activity with increasing dilution. This is accompanied by an increase in light scattering of the diluted enzyme. The reverse situation obtains with the addition of malate to assays: the activity decreases with increasing dilution but light scattering is not substantially changed, indicating that the enzyme is already brought to a smaller aggregate by the dilution itself. In this case, the inhibition by malate in the assay probably is the noncompetitive type not involved in regulatory control by malate. Glucose-6-phosphate in the range from 1 to 6 millimolar causes an increase in activity of the enzyme run at a substrate level less than K(m), and an associated increase in light scattering is found, indicating an increase in the mean size of the enzyme. When PEP is added to a 1/80 diluted enzyme, light scattering increases and is associated with a more rapid activity of the enzyme. When malate is added to the same cuvette, the activity decreases and the light scattering diminishes, thus showing that the ligand response is immediately reversible. When malate is added first, followed by PEP, the reverse sequence of activity and light scattering change is observed.

Ammonia Assimilation and Metabolite Transport in Isolated Chloroplasts. II. Malate Stimulates Ammonia Assimilation in Chloroplasts Isolated From Leaves of Dicotyledonous but Not Monocotyledonous Species

Malate stimulated NH3 assimilation, as determined by a (2-oxoglutarate, NH3)-dependent O2 evolution system, by up to 3-fold in chloroplasts isolated from leaves of dicot but not monocot species. This difference was apparently correlated with the endogenous metabolite pools present in these chloroplast preparations. During NH3 assimilation the glutamate and glutamine pools were large in spinach (dicot) but small in oat chloroplasts. The reverse was the case for the 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) pool. The addition of malate substantially increased the glutamate, glutamine and 2-OG pools in spinach chloroplasts but had little effect in oat chloroplasts. This suggests that the supply of 2-OG was apparently limiting NH3 assimilation in spinach chloroplasts. Malate increased this supply and, consequently, stimulated NH3 assimilation. On the other hand, NH3 assimilation in oat chloroplasts seemed to be limited by the supply of glutamate and glutamine which could not be overcome by the addition of malate. Chloroplasts were also isolated from oat seedlings watered with high nutrient solution. The rates of NH3 assimilation in these organelles exceeded those obtained in spinach chloroplasts. But the addition of malate had little effect on (2-OG, NH3)-dependent O2 evolution in these oat chloroplasts. Since malate did not inhibit this activity it is conceivable that it still might play a role, albeit a 'passive' role, in serving as a counter-ion for 2-OG uptake via the 2-OG translocator and glutamate export via the Dct translocator during NH3 assimilation.

Influence of pH and malate-glucose ratio on the growth kinetics of Leuconostoc oenos

Growth, substrate utilization and product formation were studied in batch cultures of a Leuconostoc oenos strain. The effect of various culture conditions, i.e. pH-control at different values and various initial concentrations of malate and glucose, on growth and metabolism were investigated. Addition of malate resulted in a marked stimulation of growth, with only a slight increase in final biomass but a high conversion yield of glucose. Under pH control this stimulation was much greater than could be accounted for from changes in pH profile resulting from malate utilization. The specific rate of malate utilization was maximal at pH 4.0 whereas the specific rate of glucose consumption was highest at pH 5.5. During co-metabolism of malic acid and glucose, substrate utilization and product formation agreed with the stoichiometric relationships of the malo-lactic reaction and the heterolactic fermentation of glucose.

Direct demonstration of enol-oxaloacetate as an immediate product of malate oxidation by the mammalian succinate dehydrogenase

Rapid malonate-sensitive transitory formation of enol-oxaloacetate followed by slow ketonization of the product was observed after addition of malate to the mammalian succinate-ubiquinone reductase in the presence of electron acceptor. The initial rate of enol-oxaloacetate production was equal to that of malate oxidation. Oxaloacetate keto—enol tautomerase had no effect on the initial rate of enol-oxaloacetate production nor on the kinetics of malate oxidation; the enzyme drastically accelerated the ketonization of the product. The solubilized and partially purified membrane-bound flavine adenine dinucleotide-dependent malate dehydrogenase from Acetobacter xylinum catalyzed oxidation of L- and D-malate without formation of enol-oxaloacetate as an intermediate of the reaction.

Compartmentation Studies on Spinach Leaf Peroxisomes

In concurrence with earlier results, the following enzymes showed latency in intact spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaf peroxisomes: malate dehydrogenase (89%), hydroxypyruvate reductase (85%), serine glyoxylate aminotransferase (75%), glutamate glyoxylate aminotransferase (41%), and catalase (70%). In contrast, glycolate oxidase was not latent. Aging of peroxisomes for several hours resulted in a reduction in latency accompanied by a partial solubilization of the above mentioned enzymes. The extent of enzyme solubilization was different, being highest with glutamate glyoxylate aminotransferase and lowest with malate dehydrogenase. Osmotic shock resulted in only a partial reduction of enzyme latency. Electron microscopy revealed that the osmotically shocked peroxisomes remained compact, with smaller particle size and pleomorphic morphology but without a continuous boundary membrane. Neither in intact nor in osmotically shocked peroxisomes was a lag phase observed in the formation of glycerate upon the addition of glycolate, serine, malate, and NAD. Apparently, the intermediates, glyoxylate, hydroxypyruvate, and NADH, were confined within the peroxisomal matrix in such a way that they did not readily leak out into the surrounding medium. We conclude that the observed compartmentation of peroxisomal metabolism is not due to the peroxisomal boundary membrane as a permeability barrier, but is a function of the structural arrangement of enzymes in the peroxisomal matrix allowing metabolite channeling.

Respiration of Malate and Glutamate in SymbioticFrankiaPrepared fromAlnus incana

Frankia vesicle clusters were prepared from root nodules of Alnus incana (L.) Moench inoculated either with a local source of Frankia or with Frankia Cpll. The capacity of vesicle clusters to respire was investigated by respirometric and enzymological studies. Simultaneous addition of malate, glutamate, and NAD+ supported respiration in both types of Frankia, though at a smaller rate compared to the substrates NADH or 6-phosphogluconate. The saturating concentrations of malate and glutamate were also much higher than with the other substrates. No respiration was supported by succinate. Activity of the enzymes malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1) was demonstrated in crude extracts from both types of symbiotic Frankia. Their maximum rates were high enough to account for the respiration of malate and glutamate. This respiration was inhibited by mersalylic acid, an inhibitor of the dicarboxylate shuttle in mitochondria, but it was shown that inhibition of respiration could be due to a direct effect on the enzymes. We conclude that respiration of malate and glutamate is most likely mediated by malate dehydrogenase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, but no explicit evidence for or against the presence of a dicarboxylate carrier was found. The utilization of respiratory substrates was largely similar in the two types of Frankia, except for some differences in maximum rates and cofactor dependency.

Effect of Exogenous Potassium on the Reduction in Tar, Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide Deliveries in the Mainstream Smoke of Cigarettes

Abstract Deliveries of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in mainstream smoke decreased as the exogenous-potassium content of tobacco increased. The puff count was almost unchanged with added potassium malate, but slightly decreased with added nitrate. Potassium malate was more effective than the nitrate for the reduction of carbon monoxide, whereas the opposite was observed in the case of nicotine. Both the exogenous and the endogenous potassium contents influenced the reduction of carbon-monoxide delivery through a decrease in the peak temperature of the burning cone. The pungency and off-taste peculiar to the tobacco were eliminated to some extent by the addition of potassium malate at levels less than 2 % expressed as potassium.

Sulphate uptake by leaf mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of maize plants

Uptake of35S-sulphate by bundle sheath strands (BSC) from leaves of maize plants (Zea mays L. ev. Dekalb L 72 A) was higher than that by isolated mesophyll protoplasts (MC) of maize. Ion uptake followed the Michaelis-Menten kinetic satuiation curves. SO2 4-uptake increased after addition of malate, NADPH, malate + NADP+ to BSC suspensions, but not to MC susp: nsions.

Mitochondrial reduction of the carcinogen chromate: formation of chromium(V).

Incubation of chromate with isolated rat liver mitochondria in vitro resulted in the uptake and reduction of chromium(VI), as well as the formation of chromium(V) species. Chromate was rapidly taken up and reduced by intact mitochondria. The rate of reduction of chromate by intact mitochondria was increased upon addition of succinate or malate plus glutamate, substrates for the electron-transport chain, but was decreased upon addition of cyanide, an inhibitor of the electron-transport chain. Incubation of chromate with mitochondria in the presence or absence of malate, glutamate, and succinate resulted in a steady increase in the level of chromium(V) over time. The extent of chromium(V) formation was increased upon addition of malate, glutamate, and succinate but was inhibited upon addition of the electron-transport chain inhibitors, antimycin, cyanide, or rotenone, to whole mitochondria. High levels of glutamate plus malate inhibited chromium(V) formation; however, high concentrations of succinate or sulfate had no effect. These studies suggest that the chromate-reductase activity in mitochondria is due to the electron-transport chain as well as other mitochondrial reducing systems which are insensitive to inhibitors of the electron-transport chain. Since chromium(VI) is effectively metabolized by mitochondria in vitro and chromium(V) "reactive intermediates" are formed in the process, mitochondria may play a role in chromium(VI) carcinogenesis.

On the role of flavin in malate oxidation by Azotobacter vinelandii respiratory membranes

Flavin oxidation state of the Azotobacter vinelandii electron transport fraction containing respiratory membranes was observed with fluorescence spectroscopy. Addition of malate to an anaerobic preparation did not result in flavin reduction. Malate addition to an aerobic preparation slowly reduced flavin, and this reduction was inhibited with addition of 1 mM potassium cyanide or 0.05 mM NAD. Absorption difference spectroscopy was used to observe the oxidation state of both flavin and cytochromes. Addition of malate to an anaerobic preparation reduced the particle cytochromes. Flavin was not reduced unless oxygen was added to the preparation. Pyruvate slowly reduced flavin in the preparation. No evidence could be obtained for pyruvate formation from malate and oxalacetic acid as an explanation for the oxygen-dependent reduction of flavin by malate.

Evidence for succinate production by reduction of fumarate during hypoxia in isolated adult rat heart cells

It has been demonstrated that perfusion of myocardium with glutamic acid or tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates during hypoxia or ischemia, improves cardiac function, increases ATP levels, and stimulates succinate production. In this study isolated adult rat heart cells were used to investigate the mechanism of anaerobic succinate formation and examine beneficial effects attributed to ATP generated by this pathway. Myocytes incubated for 60 min under hypoxic conditions showed a slight loss of ATP from an initial value of 21 ± 1 nmol/mg protein, a decline of CP from 42 to 17 nmol/mg protein and a fourfold increase in lactic acid production to 1.8 ± 0.2 μmol/mg protein/h. These metabolite contents were not altered by the addition of malate and 2-oxoglutarate to the incubation medium nor were differences in cell viability observed; however, succinate release was substantially accelerated to 241 ± 53 nmol/mg protein. Incubation of cells with [U- 14C]malate or [2-U- 14C]oxoglutarate indicates that succinate is formed directly from malate but not from 2-oxoglutarate. Moreover, anaerobic succinate formation was rotenone sensitive. We conclude that malate reduction to succinate occurs via the reverse action of succinate dehydrogenase in a coupled reaction where NADH is oxidized (and FAD reduced) and ADP is phosphorylated. Furthermore, by transaminating with aspartate to produce oxaloacetate, 2-oxoglutarate stimulates cytosolic malic dehydrogenase activity, whereby malate is formed and NADH is oxidized. In the form of malate, reducing equivalents and substrate are transported into the mitochondria where they are utilized for succinate synthesis.

15N-Ammonia Assimilation, 2-Oxoglutarate Transport, and Glutamate Export in Spinach Chloroplasts in the Presence of Dicarboxylates in the Light

The direct incorporation of (15)NH(4)Cl into amino acids in illuminated spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts in the presence of 2-oxoglutarate plus malate was determined. The amido-N of glutamine was the most highly labeled N-atom during (15)NH(4) assimilation in the presence of malate. In 4 minutes the (15)N-label of the amido-N of glutamine was 37% enriched. In contrast, values obtained for both the N-atom of glutamate and the amino-N of glutamine were only about 20% while that of the N-atom of aspartate was only 3%. The addition of malate during the assimilation of (15)NH(4)Cl and Na(15)NO(2) greatly increased the (15)N-label into glutamine but did not qualitatively change the order of the incorporation of (15)N-label into all the amino acids examined. This evidence indicates the direct involvement of the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway for ammonia and nitrite assimilation in isolated chloroplasts. The addition of malate or succinate during ammonia assimilation also led to more than 3-fold increase in [(14)C]2-oxoglutarate transport into the chloroplast as well as an increase in the export of [(14)C]glutamate out of the chloroplast. Little [(14)C]glutamine was detected in the medium of the chloroplast preparations. The stimulation of (15)N-incorporation and [(14)C]glutamate export by malate could be directly attributed to the increase in 2-oxoglutarate transport activity (via the 2-oxoglutarate translocator) observed in the presence of exogenous malate.

Anaerobic metabolism in Ascaris suum: acyl CoA intermediates in isolated mitochondria synthesizing 2-methyl branched-chain fatty acids

Freshly isolated Ascaris suum mitochondria contained CoASH, acetyl CoA, propionyl CoA, 2-methylcrotonyl CoA, 2-methylbutyryl CoA, 2-methyl-2-pentenoyl CoA, and 2-methylvaleryl CoA, as determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Incubation of these mitochondria aerobically in the absence of substrate resulted in the conversion of the branched-chain enoyl CoA's to acetyl CoA and propionyl CoA. With the addition of malate to the incubation medium, succinyl CoA and methylmalonyl CoA accumulated and the levels of propionyl CoA decreased dramatically. However, the branched-chain fatty acids characteristic of A. suum's fermentative metabolism were not formed and it appears that the formation of propionyl CoA may be limiting in these mitochondria. Indeed, the addition of propionate to incubations with malate increased intramitochondrial levels of propionyl CoA and 2-methyl-2-pentenoyl CoA and stimulated significant 2-methylvalerate synthesis. The exclusion of air from these incubations further increased levels of 2-methyl-2-pentenoyl CoA and stimulated 2-methylvalerate synthesis. These studies suggest that in addition to elevated NADH/NAD ratios, elevated enoyl CoA/acyl CoA ratios also are important in the regulation of branched-chain fatty acid synthesis in A. suum mitochondria.

Effect of free malonate on the utilization of glutamate by rat brain mitochondria.

Malonate is an effective inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase in preparations from brain and other organs. This property was reexamined in isolated rat brain mitochondria during incubation with L-glutamate. The biosynthesis of aspartate was determined by a standard spectrofluorometric method and a radiometric technique. The latter was suitable for aspartate assay after very brief incubations of mitochondria with glutamate. At a concentration of 1 mM or higher, malonate totally inhibited aspartate biosynthesis. At 0.2 mM, the inhibitory effect was still present. It is thus possible that the natural concentration of free malonate in adult rat brain of 192 nmol/g wet weight exerts an effect on citric acid cycle reactions in vivo. The inhibition of glutamate utilization by malonate was readily overcome by the addition of malate which provided oxaloacetate for the transamination of glutamate. The reaction was accompanied by the accumulation of 2-oxoglutarate. The metabolism of glutamate was also blocked by inclusion of arsenite and gamma-vinyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid but again added malate allowed transamination to resume. When arsenite and gamma-vinyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid were present, the role of malonate as an inhibitor of malate entry into the mitochondrial interior could be determined without considering the inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase. The apparent Km and Vmax values for uninhibited malate entry were 0.01 mM and 100 nmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Malonate was a competitive inhibitor of malate transport (Ki = 0.75 mM).

Nitrification and simultaneous denitrification byAzospirillum brasilense 12S

Azospirillum brasilense, an associative diazotrophs from sorghum roots grows autotrophically on NH 4 + and CaCO3. NH 4 + a is also oxidized to NO 2 - and then denitrified. Addition of malate to the autotrophic medium enhances both NH 4 + oxidation as well as NONH 2 - dissimilation. The incomplete nitrification linked denitrification results in a rapid loss of nitrogen from the growth medium. The bacterium also shows assimilatory NO 3 - and NO 2 - reductases and fixes nitrogen at 50 μg N/ml of NH 4 + NO 3 - or NO 2 -

Palmitic acid oxidation and incorporation into triglyceride by needle liver biopsy specimens from control subjects and patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease.

A micro-technique was developed to measure fatty acid oxidation in vitro and to investigate its possible derangement in alcoholic fatty liver disease. Percutaneous liver biopsy specimens were obtained from nine control subjects and 28 alcoholic patients with mild to severe fatty liver. Fresh tissue (10-15 mg) was incubated at 37 degrees C for 90 min in a sealed reaction flask containing 1.92 mmol/l [1-14C]palmitic acid (1-2 microCi) and 1% essentially fatty acid free albumin in Krebs-Henseleit buffer, pH 7.4. Radiolabelled CO2 and perchloric acid-soluble ketone bodies were isolated and counted. CO2 production was markedly reduced in alcoholic patients with mild and severe fatty liver compared with controls. This depression was reversed by the addition of malate to the reaction flask but not by carnitine or coenzyme A. Ketone body production was similar in controls and patients with mild and severe fatty liver. After the incubation in vitro, the tissue was extracted with chloroform/methanol and the triglyceride fraction isolated by thin layer chromatography and counted for radioactivity. The rate of palmitic acid incorporation into triglyceride was higher in alcoholic patients, particularly those with severe fatty infiltration, compared with controls. It is suggested that alcoholic fatty liver is accompanied by a progressive reduction in palmitic acid oxidation with the major defect occurring in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In contrast, the rate of palmitic acid esterification into triglyceride is enhanced.

Conversion of serine to glycerate in intact spinach leaf peroxisomes: Role of malate dehydrogenase

In photorespiration, leaf peroxisomes convert serine to glycerate via serine-glyoxylate aminotransferase and NADH-hydroxypyruvate reductase. We isolated intact spinach leaf peroxisomes in 0.25 m sucrose, and characterized their enzymatic conversion of serine to glycerate using physiological concentrations of substrates and coenzymes. In the presence of glycolate (glyoxylate), and NADH and NAD alone or together in physiological proportions, the rate of serine-to-glycerate conversion was enhanced and sustained by the addition of malate. The rate was similar at 1 and 5 m m serine, but was two to three times higher in 50 m m than 5 m m malate. In the presence of NAD and malate, there was 1:1 stoichiometric formation of glycerate and oxaloacetate. Addition of 1 or 5 m m glutamate resulted in a negligible enhancement of the conversion of hydroxypyruvate to glycerate. Intact peroxisomes produced glycerate from either serine or hydroxypyruvate at a rate two times higher than osmotically lysed peroxisomes. These results suggest that under physiological conditions, the peroxisomal malate dehydrogenase operates independent of aspartate-α-ketoglutarate aminotransferase in supplying NADH for hydroxypyruvate reduction. This supply of NADH is the rate-limitng step in the conversion of serine to glycerate. The compartmentation of hydroxypyruvate reductase and malate dehydrogenase in the peroxisomes confers a higher efficiency in the supply of NADH for hydroxypyruvate reduction under a normal, high NAD NADH ratio in the Cytosol.

Mitochondrial function and intracellular calcium in anoxic cardiac myocytes

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated as the cause of irreversible injury in the ischemic heart. To circumvent artifacts associated with organelle isolation, mitochondrial function was studied in intact isolated, Ca2+-tolerant rat ventricular myocytes. After 30 min of anaerobic incubation, myocyte viability decreased from 76 +/- 1 to 33 +/- 4%. Basal O2 consumption rates (nanoatoms . mg cell protein-1 . min-1) were 17.1 +/- 1.3 in aerobic cells and 51.0 +/- 9.8 in anoxic cells. Carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP)-stimulated rates were 65.5 +/- 9.2 and 84.5 +/- 15.3 in aerobic and anoxic cells, respectively. Respiratory control ratio was lower in anoxic cells: 2.3 +/- 0.3 versus 4.2 +/- 0.4 in aerobic cells. These data suggest that early anoxic mitochondrial injury is due to increased permeability of the inner membrane. Addition of pyruvate, malate, and FCCP to cells made permeable by digitonin resulted in similar maximal O2 consumption rates: 276.5 +/- 31.8 in aerobic and 299.3 +/- 31.9 in anoxic cells, suggesting the electron transport chain is intact in anoxic cells. For purposes of investigating whether anoxic mitochondrial dysfunction is secondary to cellular or mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, total cell Ca2+, cytosolic free Ca2+ levels (measured by null-point titration), and mitochondrial Ca2+ contents (measured as FCCP-releasable Ca2+) were measured. There were no differences in these three parameters between aerobic and anoxic cells, suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction and irreversible hypercontraction of isolated cardiac myocytes exposed to 30 min of anoxia are not related to Ca2+ overload.

Glutamine and glucose metabolism during thymocyte proliferation. Pathways of glutamine and glutamate metabolism.

Energy metabolism in proliferating cultured rat thymocytes was compared with that of freshly prepared non-proliferating resting cells. Cultured rat thymocytes enter a proliferative cycle after stimulation by concanavalin A and Lymphocult T (interleukin-2), with maximal rates of DNA synthesis at 60 h. Compared with incubated resting thymocytes, glucose metabolism by incubated proliferating thymocytes was 53-fold increased; 90% of the amount of glucose utilized was converted into lactate, whereas resting cells metabolized only 56% to lactate. However, the latter oxidized 27% of glucose to CO2, as opposed to 1.1% by the proliferating cells. Activities of hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and aldolase in proliferating thymocytes were increased 12-, 17-, 30- and 24-fold respectively, whereas the rate of pyruvate oxidation was enhanced only 3-fold. The relatively low capacity of pyruvate degradation in proliferating thymocytes might be the reason for almost complete conversion of glucose into lactate by these cells. Glutamine utilization by rat thymocytes was 8-fold increased during proliferation. The major end products of glutamine metabolism are glutamate, aspartate, CO2 and ammonia. A complete recovery of glutamine carbon and nitrogen in the products was obtained. The amount of glutamate formed by phosphate-dependent glutaminase which entered the citric acid cycle was enhanced 5-fold in the proliferating cells: 76% was converted into 2-oxoglutarate by aspartate aminotransferase, present in high activity, and the remaining 24% by glutamate dehydrogenase. With resting cells the same percentages were obtained (75 and 25). Maximal activities of glutaminase, glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased 3-, 12- and 6-fold respectively in proliferating cells; 32% of the glutamate metabolized in the citric acid cycle was recovered in CO2 and 61% in aspartate. In resting cells this proportion was 41% and 59% and in mitogen-stimulated cells 39% and 65% respectively. Addition of glucose (4 mM) or malate (2 mM) strongly decreased the rates of glutamine utilization and glutamate conversion into 2-oxoglutarate by proliferating thymocytes and also affected the pathways of further glutamate metabolism. Addition of 2 mM-pyruvate did not alter the rate of glutamine utilization by proliferating thymocytes, but decreased the rate of metabolism beyond the stage of glutamate significantly. Formation of acetyl-CoA in the presence of pyruvate might explain the relatively enhanced oxidation of glutamate to CO2 (56%) by proliferating thymocytes.