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Inhibition and Reversal of Oxygen Poisoning in Paramecium *
Author(s) -
Wittner Murray
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1957.tb02480.x
Subject(s) - paramecium caudatum , oxygen , paramecium , reagent , chemistry , oxygen atom , toxicology , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , molecule
SUMMARY.Paramecium caudatum exposed to 120 lbs./in. 2 (gsi) gauge pressure (g.p.) at 27°C. died in 2 hours 32 ± 15 minutes. Under similar conditions with the addition of 0.04 m pyruvate and 8 × 10‐ 3 m Mg ++ they lived at least twice as long. Substitution of Co ++ or Mn ++ for Mg ++ provided slightly less protection. Addition of sulfhydryl (SH) reagents to paramecia exposed for 2 hours to 120 psi (g.p.) oxygen resulted in reversal of oxygen poisoning. By means of these reagents oxygen poisoning could be reversed indefinitely. It now appears that direct evidence has been obtained to show that oxygen poisoning is a result of SH inactivation. The extent of the poisoning depends upon the rate of oxidation of SH groups by the oxygen as opposed to the rate at which the organism can reduce oxidized and/or furnish new SH groups.