EFFECT OF ANAEROBIOSIS AND ANHYDROBIOSIS ON THE EXTENT OF GLYCOLYTIC ENZYME BINDING IN ARTEMIA EMBRYOS

The effect of anaerobiosis and anhydrobiosis on the extent of binding of glycolytic enzymes to the particulate fraction of the cell was stud ied in Artemia salina embryos. During control aerobic development, tre halase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase showed an increase in the percentage associated with the particulate fraction which is consi stent with the carbohydrate-based metabolism of Artemia embryos. Howev er, anaerobiosis resulted in decreased enzyme binding for six glycolyt ic enzymes; hexokinase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrog enase were the exceptions. Decreased enzyme binding was also observed after exposure to dehydrating conditions. The results suggest that gly colytic rate could be regulated by changes in the distribution of glyc olytic enzymes between free and bound forms in Artemia embryos. This r eversible interaction of glycolytic enzymes with structural proteins m ay account for part of the metabolic arrest observed during anaerobic dormancy and anhydrobiosis.