Premium
HAEM SYNTHESIS IN VITRO
Author(s) -
Clark Peggy,
Walsh RJ
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1960.15
Subject(s) - potassium cyanide , in vitro , chemistry , intracellular , biochemistry , incubation , cyanide , oxidative phosphorylation , heme , protoporphyrin , cell , chloride , enzyme , inorganic chemistry , porphyrin , organic chemistry
SUMMARY The uptake of radioiron by mammalian reticulocytes is a rapid process and haem is synthesised from the iron almost immediately. The process is slower with avian erythrocytes and this is possibly related to a slower but more prolonged synthesis of protoporphyrin by the nucleated cells. This synthesis must account for all the Fe 59 haemoglobin formed in vitro under the experimental conditions. Incubation of both reticulocytes and nucleated cells, before addition of iron, reduces both uptake of iron and synthesis of haem. It is postulated that there are two stages in the process of intracellular haem synthesis. The first is the entry of iron into the cell and this is inhibited by mercuric chloride but not by other enzyme inhibitors. The second phase, haem synthesis, is inhibited by potassium cyanide, and is therefore apparently dependent on oxidative respiration.