BALANCING OF ENERGY-CONSUMING PROCESSES OF K-562 CELLS

A balance of ATP-consuming processes in human erythroleukemia (K 562) cells by use of the decreased (CO2)-C-14 formation from [1-C-14]-glutamate following inhibition of energy-requiring processes is presented. This method was tested on Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells and was used in suspensions of K 562 cells with a low cell content. More than 90 per cent of the ATP produced by oxidative phosphorylation could be accounted for in K 562 cells. Protein synthesis consumed about 35 per cent, Na+/K+-ATPase about 20 per cent and transcription processes 5-10 per cent of the total ATP. The share of the Ca2+-dependent reactions was notably high at 25 per cent in comparison with Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells, reticulocytes or hepatocytes. ATP consumption by DNA synthesis was assessed at 5-10 per cent. Only less than 10 per cent of the consumption of ATP produced oxidatively remained for other cellular reactions. The degree of coupling of K 562 cells was high in comparison with that of other eukaryotic cell types.