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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

An Optimized Protocol to Analyze Glycolysis and Mitochondrial Respiration in Lymphocytes
Published on: November 21, 2016
Evidence for sulfite as an essential metabolite for human peripheral lymphocytes
F H Pettit1, D Lyon, J R Brown
1Clayton Foundation Biochemical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
Abstract:
Sulfite has been identified as an essential metabolite by means of growth studies using a chemically-defined, protein-free medium for culture of human peripheral lymphocytes. Sulfite reduced the amount of cysteine required for optimum growth by at least four-fold. In some subjects, sulfite stimulated growth even in the presence of optimal amounts of cysteine indicating that lymphocytes of some individuals are unable to convert cysteine to sulfite in adequate amounts.

