The Journal of General Physiology
VISIT JCB ONLINE!
  Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF, 703K)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Services
Right arrow Email this article
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new content in the JGP
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Scott, G. T.
Right arrow Articles by Hayward, H. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Scott, G. T.
Right arrow Articles by Hayward, H. R.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Hazardous Substances DB
*POTASSIUM
*SODIUM
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
The Journal of General Physiology, Vol 36, 659-671, Copyright © 1953 by The Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLE

METABOLIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM DISTRIBUTION IN ULVA LACTUCA

George T. Scott 1 and Hugh R. Hayward 1

1 From the Department of Zoology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole

1. Methods for the use of the marine green alga, Ulva lactuca, in studies on electrolyte metabolism are described.

2. The effect of illumination and iodoacetate on the potassium and sodium content, as well as the influence of light and running sea water on the iodoacetate effect was investigated. The rate of exchange of cellular potassium ion for K42 under conditions of light and dark at 20 and 30°C. was studied.

3. Ulva maintained in the dark for long periods loses some potassium and gains sodium, both effects being reversed upon illumination. The presence of 0.001 M iodoacetate in the dark causes a marked progressive loss of potassium and gain of sodium, phenomena which do not occur when the alga is illuminated. Evidence for the penetration of the inhibitor into the cell in the presence of light is presented. The iodoacetate effect on potassium and sodium content, once established, can be "washed out" of the alga when the plant is placed in light and running sea water without the inhibitor. Illumination and increased temperature each favor a more rapid exchange of tissue for environmental potassium ion.

4. In the interpretation of these findings it is emphasized that metabolic work, perhaps in the form of ion transports, must be done by the cell to compensate for the continual flow of potassium ion and sodium ion with their respective concentration gradients and thus maintain homeostasis within the cell. Evidence is presented which indicates separate mechanisms for the distribution of sodium and potassium in this organism. It is further suggested that the degradation of phosphoglyceric acid, an important glycolytic and photosynthetic intermediate, or one of the products of its metabolism supplied the energy for these ion transports(s). The role of permeability per se is considered.

Submitted on January 12, 1953


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ScienceHome page
G. T. Scott and H. R. Hayward
The Influence of Iodoacetate on the Sodium and Potassium Content of Ulva lactuca and the Prevention of Its Influence by Light
Science, June 26, 1953; 117(3052): 719 - 721.
[PDF]


  Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents