Metabolism of α-ketoglutaric acid in animal tissues

Abstract

The following reaction took place when a-ketoglutarate and NH4Cl were added to sliced kidney cortex or minced heart muscle: 2 [alpha]-ketoglutaric acid + NHa = glutamic acid + succinic acid + CO2. That this reaction is probably a step in the normal oxidative breakdown of [alpha]-ketoglutarate and of those substances which give rise to [alpha]-ketoglutarate is borne out by the fact that NH4 salts catalytically increase the rate of oxidation of [alpha]-ketoglutarate.