BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF AN UNNATURAL AND ANTITUMOR AMINO ACID: 1-AMINOCYCLOPENTANECARBOXYLIC ACID: II. EFFECTS ON CELLULAR RESPIRATION AND AMINO ACID METABOLISM

Abstract

1-Aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC) was studied for its effect on cellular respiration of rat tissues and for its reactivity towards decarboxylases, transaminases, and amino acid oxidases. In the tissues studied, cellular respiration was normal. The amino acid was not decarboxylated, transaminated, or oxidized. The transamination and oxidation of other amino acids remained normal even in the presence of ACPC.Using the radioactive substance, it was found that the molecule remains intact within the cells since no metabolic products could be detected.