ENERGY-DEPENDENT PROCESSES AND ADENYLATE METABOLISM IN HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES

Amphotericin B (1-3 mg/liter) decreases ATP content in erythrocytes by 11-26% and stimulates Kf efflux without any effect on the adenylate p ool. Adenosine added to the erythrocyte suspension increases the adeny late pool, maintains a high level of intracellular ATP during 6-8 h of incubation, and attenuates the amphotericin B-induced K+ efflux. Incu bation of erythrocytes without glucose for 4-5 h decreases the ATP con centration to 20-50% of the initial value and is accompanied by a sign ificant reduction in the adenylate pool. Subsequent glucose addition p artially restores the ATP level. In the presence of adenosine, the ATP concentration nearly reaches its initial value due to the increase in the adenylate pool.