Fumaric acid oxidation by ground preparations of pigeon brain

Abstract

Dialyzed ground pigeon brain suspension showed an increased O2 uptake when respiring aerobically in vitro in the presence of fumarate or l-malate, an effect which was not observed with respiring minced brain tissue. In the presence of arsenite, pyruvic acid is formed in amts. which could be detd. quanti-tatively. Pyruvic acid formation is catalyzed by inorganic phosphate, strongly inhibited by malonate, and unaffected by adenine nucleotide. Under anaerobic conditions, with methylene blue as H-acceptor, essentially similar results were obtained, although very low concs. of malonate were catalytic.