ATP production and consumption of rabbit reticulocytes increase in an amino-acid-enriched medium

The ATP production and the main processes of ATP consumption, globin synthesis, Na+, K+-ATPase, and proteolysis of rabbit reticulocytes in two different media (1. complete medium with amino acids and glucose and 2. glucose containing electrolyte medium) were measured. The ATP formation in the complete medium amounts to 157 mmol/l X h which is 28% higher than in the incomplete medium. The increased ATP formation rate is due to increased ATP consumption by the more than doubled protein synthesis in the complete medium, whereas proteolysis and Na+,K+-ATPase are nearly unchanged. The increase in the glucose consumption in the complete medium is not fully accounted for by the increased oxidative degradation of glucose in the citric acid cycle and by lactate accumulation.