Metabolic development in erythropoietin-dependent maturation of erythroid cells

1. Metabolic development was investigated in splenic erythroblasts isolated from Friend virus infected mice and maintained in culture with erythropoietin. 2. We found that immature erythroid cells not only possess a highly oxidative metabolism, but also glycolytic activity, both of which decrease drastically in the course of maturation. 3. Most purine and pyrimidine compounds which are found in immature erythroid cells are still present in mature erythrocytes. 4. While total adenine nucleotide levels fall, the 2,3-DPG pool increases during erythroid development.