Glucose Oxidation and High Energy Phosphate Production in Heart Homogenates

Abstract

Experimental conditions have been established for the study of glucose oxidation and high energy phosphate formation in cell-free rat heart homogenates. On addition of AMP to an otherwise complete system, an immediate formation of ADP and ATP occurs. Glucose oxidation is rapid, and high levels of ADP and ATP are maintained for long periods of time. In the absence of added AMP, rapid glucose oxidation also occurs despite low levels of ATP. It can be concluded that the high concentration of ATP, which the heart tissue is capable of accumulating, is far in excess of that necessary for efficient glucose oxidation.