Caloric catastrophe
Minkoff, L.; Damadian, R.
Biopolymers 13(2): 167-178
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3525 PMID: 4576096 Document Number: 67004
Six solutes known to be actively transported by bacteria were studied with the cell in a "minimum energy" state to determine if sufficient energy were available from cellular stores of ATP to supply the energy necessary to run postulated membrane-situated "pumps." Steady-state cellular concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium, leucine, glycine, and alpha-methyl glucoside were determined together with tracer fluxes, oxygen consumption, ATP turnover, and the P:O ratio. From these measurements, it was calculated that the energy supply, 4.20 cal/340 min-g dry wt, fell far short of the energy necessary (28.28 cal/340 min-g dry wt), by classical membrane theory, to operate "pumps."