Relationship of the Cell Surface to Metabolism

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Abstract
The uptake of glucose by rat diaphragm is rapidly and completely blocked by low concentrations of mercuric chloride. The inhibition is rapidly reversed by cysteine or BAL. On the other hand the O2 consumption of the muscle is inhibited only after a long delay period and by considerably higher concentrations. The inhibition in this case is not reversible. With copper chloride, a similar situation exists. The inhibition of sugar uptake develops rapidly, but that of O2 consumption, only after a long delay. It is suggested that certain reactions in sugar uptake are located in the periphery of the cell, immediately susceptible to Hg and Cu, whereas the reactions in O2 consumption are located within the interior of the cell. Data on binding of mercury by the cell, and on the effects of mercury on the O2 consumption of homogenates are compatible with this hypothesis.