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Abstract
Hepatocytes were isolated from rats by perfusion with a solution of 0.25% collagenase. These hepatocytes were shown to be viable by several criteria, and were so over a one half hour incubation period.
When H-valine was added to the Incubation media and the distribution of the radioactivity was monitored in the extracellular, intracellular, and valyl-ti compartments over a 30 minute incubation period, it was discovered that the -valine specific radioactivity was highest in the extracellular compartment, lowest in the intracellular compartment and intermediate in the valyl-tRNA compartment. These results were used to further substantiate a model in which the tRNA molecule is charged from both the extracellular and intracellular compartments.
Measurements of protein synthesis and degradation were estimated from radioactive protein labelling and cold valine release, respectively. The rates which were obtained indicate that the protein degradative rate is saven tires the protein synthetic rate in these cells and as much, the cells are not in a steady state. The possible causes of this Imbalance and the probable consequences are addressed at Length in the discussion.
