Carbohydrate substrates for skin cells

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Abstract
Slices of skin weighing a few milligrams were maintained on a buffer solution with the addition of various carbohydrates. Respiration was measured and the phosphate esters formed were examined by paper chromatography. The polysaccharides and disaccharides tested, with the exception of maltose, were unable to maintain the respiration of skin cells. Glucose was formed from maltose during the incubation. Of the monosaccharides tested, glucose, mannose, fructose, galactose, and to some extent D- and L-arabinose, supported respiration; allose, altrose, L-sorbose and a number of pentoses, tetroses and trioses did not. Sorbitol was effective but not mannitol or dulcitol. Respiration of cells maintained on glucose, mannose or fructose was inhibited by equi-molar 2-deoxyglucose, but cells on galactose or pyruvate were unaffected. Respiration of cells maintained on galactose was inhibited by 2- and 4-deoxygalactose, the latter being apparently the more powerful inhibitor of galactose metabolism. Glucose utilization was unaffected by 2-deoxygalactose. Galactose 1-phosphate was formed in cells maintained on galactose. None of the carbohydrates tested reduced the endogenous respiration of the skin slices.