TRAVELING NADH AND PROTON WAVES DURING OSCILLATORY GLYCOLYSIS IN-VITRO

Propagation and mutual annihilation of circular and spiral NADH and pr oton waves were detected by spatially resolved spectrophotometry and f luorescent proton indicators in a biological in vitro system: an organ elle-free yeast extract. Spontaneous wave generation during glycolytic sugar degradation is established after an induction period of about 1 h. Controlled wave initiation could be performed by local injection o f the strong activator of phosphofructokinase, fructose 2,6-bisphospha te. A crucial role for wave initiation and control of pattern dynamics is attributed to the key enzyme of glycolysis, the allosterically reg ulated phosphofructokinase. An overall increase in the concentration o f its positive effector AMP leads to the formation of rotating spirals . The dynamics of the observed wave patterns resemble that of self-org anized calcium waves as recently found in frog eggs and heart cells.