Metabolic changes during phosphate deprivation in Englena in air and in oxygen

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Abstract
1. Euglena cells were grown in culture media containing either 20mm-phosphate or 20μm-phosphate, with ethanol or glucose as the sole source of carbon, and gassed with either air+carbon dioxide (95:5) or oxygen+carbon dioxide (95:5) at atmospheric pressure. 2. After growth in low-phosphate medium with ethanol as substrate, the cells developed signs of oxygen toxicity, as indicated by a decreased rate of respiration, a decreased net synthesis of paramylum and a failure to resume growth on replenishment of phosphate. 3. After growth in low-phosphate medium with glucose as substrate, the signs of oxygen toxicity were less apparent. 4. During phosphate deprivation the carotenoid content of Euglena increased more than threefold. This increase was largely prevented by exposure of the cells to oxygen+carbon dioxide (95:5) during growth. Oxygenation appears to interfere with ring closure of the common carotenoid precursor. 5. Mitochondria obtained from Euglena exposed to oxygen during phosphate deprivation, i.e. when signs of oxygen toxicity were evident, had greatly decreased activities of succinate dehydrogenase, succinate–cytochrome c oxidoreductase and NADH–cytochrome c oxidoreductase, compared with mitochondria obtained from Euglena exposed to oxygen in medium containing 20mm-phosphate.

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