Glucose, Mannose, and Fructose Metabolism by Ascites Tumor Cells

Summary 1. Ascites tumor cells derived from Ehrlich carcinoma or sarcoma 180 consume glucose, mannose, or fructose, but not galactose, xylose, or arabinose. Under anaerobic conditions the hexose consumed is approximately accounted for by lactate produced. 2. The consumption of glucose and the production of lactate therefrom under anaerobic conditions are markedly stimulated by dinitrocresol. In contrast, the anaerobic consumption of fructose and of lactate production therefrom and the anaerobic production of lactate from mannose are not stimulated by DNC. 3. The aerobic consumption of glucose and production of lactate therefrom are raised by DNC to nearly the anaerobic levels; there is thus strong poisoning of the Pasteur effect. The aerobic consumptions of mannose and fructose are less influenced by DNC, but the production of lactate therefrom is raised at higher concentrations of DNC to the anaerobic level. 4. The oxygen consumption of both carcinoma and sarcoma cells, with and without addition of DNC, is virtually unaffected by the presence or absence of assimilable hexoses.