The inhibitory action of naphthoquinones on respiratory process: The inhibition of cleavage and respiration in the eggs of Arbacia punctulata

✍ Scribed by Anfinsen, Christian B.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1947
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 622 KB
• Volume: 29
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0095-9898
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1030290307

✦ Synopsis

THREE FIGURES

I n a previous study, it has been shown that 2-hydroxy-3 (2-methyl octy1)-naphthoquinone-1, 4 (SN-5949) exerts a powerful inhibitory action on the rate of oxygen consimption of P. knowZesi, yeast cells, and heart muscle succinoxidase (Ball, Anfinsen and Cooper, '47). The present paper deals with the extension of these studies to the eggs of the sea urchin, Arbacia p.uizctuZlmtn. This material is well suited for experiments dealing with the mechanism of respiratory inhibition since chemical findings may be correlated ~i t h changes in the course of cellular division. I n addition, a great body of information exists in the literature on the respiratory characteristics of Arbmein which can be correlated with any new findings.

Kumerous investigators have demonstrated that the respiration of fertilized Arbcrcia eggs may he divided into 2 distinct fractions (Krahl and Clowes, '40 ; Robbie, '46). One fraction, sensitive to such inhibitors as cyanide, carbon monoxide, and low 0x2-gen tensions, comprises about 70% of the total respiration and appears to be related to and required for cell division. The remaining 30% is of unknown nature and function. A second type of inhibitory action, that brought about by the haloand nitro-substituted phenols (Cloves and