Glycolysis compared in intact, permeabilized and sonicated L-929 cells

The effects of incubation time and cell density on glycolytic rate were examined in suspensions of intact, permeabilized and sonicated L-929 cells. Sonicates exhibited strong dependence on cell density and a distinct lag in glycolytic rate, while intact cells showed no cell density dependence and linear glycolytic rates. Permeabilized cells exhibited linear glycolytic rates, but sometimes showed dependence on cell density. Rates of lactate production (nmol at 30 min/10(6) cells) were highest in sonicates and lowest in intact cells. These results are interpreted as support for the previously proposed hypothesis that enzymes of the glycolytic pathway are highly organized in intact L-929 cells.