Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in cultured mammalian cells: Energy provision in a glycolytic mutant

Abstract
The metabolism of radioactively labelled D-glucose, L-glutamine, and L-glutamate has been determined in a glycolytic mutant of Chinese-hamster ovary cells, R1.1.7, and in its parent, CHO-K1. The complete oxidation of glucose via the TCA-cycle is negligible in both cell types, but there is significant oxidation of carbon-1. CHO-K1 cells derive most of their energy from glycolysis and are independent of respiration in the short term. R1.1.7 cells are respiration-dependent and are rapidly killed by respiratory inhibitors. Both cell types oxidize L-glutamine and L-glutamate, but the oxidation of these substrates does not appear sufficient to satisfy completely the energy requirements of R1.1.7 cells.