The Effect of Cyanide on the Respiration and the Oxidative Assimilation of Glucose by Chlorella vulgaris

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Abstract
It is shown that low concentrations of cyanide stimulate the endogenous respiration of Chlorella vulgaris. When glucose is added the respiration rate is much increased but is now reversibly inhibited by cyanide. Some 30–60 per cent. of the total respiration remains uninhibited. One-eighth to one-ninth of the glucose added is completely oxidized. Most of the remainder is assimilated to di- or polysaccharide. Low concentrations of cyanide which inhibit the rate of glucose oxidation also inhibit the assimilation of glucose. Two possible interpretations of this fact are discussed. It is suggested that the assimilation of glucose is coupled with the oxidation of glucose by a cyanide-sensitive respiratory system. The mathematical consequences of this theory are considered and shown to agree with the experimental results. The effect of cyanide on the respiratory quotient is also discussed.