Studies of the Growth in Culture of Plant Cells

Mitochondria have been isolated from sycamore cells (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) grown in suspension culture, and resemble those of other plant tissues. Malate, succinate, and NADH are oxidized with respiratory control. The respiration is partially inhibited by antimycin A and KCN, but not by amytal and rotenone. Octylguanidine, oligomycin, and uncouplers all affect the coupled respiration. The proportion of the respiration resistant to KCN was found to change during the life of the culture, being greatest during the lag phase and least during the linear phase. The relationship of these changes in the electron transport pathways to the changing demand of the culture for phosphorylated and other intermediates is discussed.