Oxidative metabolism in Ascaris lumbricoides from the pig

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Abstract
A succinoxidase system was found in a particulate frac-tion isolated from the muscle of A. lumbricoides. Rates of O2 uptake averaged 240 [mu]l/mg of N/hour at 38[degree] in an atmosphere of O2. The rate in pure O2 was about 3 times that in air. In this atmosphere addition of methylene blue (MB) to the succinoxidase system caused a marked increase in the rate of O2 uptake. In the presence of MB the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and DPN brought about increases in the rate. [alpha]-Oxoglutarate, fumarate and L-malate, like succinate, sup-ported an uptake of O2 when added to fortified particulate suspensions; the rates were appreciably greater in the presence of MB. Citrate, cisaconitate, oxaloacetate, and pyruvate with or without oxaloacetate, failed to cause uptake of O2. In preliminary experiments no evidence of a typical cytochrome oxidase was obtained. A small amount of oxidative phosphorylation was found to occur in suitably fortified participate suspensions in the presence of perienteric fluid from A. lumbricoides.