DIETHYL PYROCARBONATE IS AN INHIBITOR OF CARDIAC, INTESTINAL AND RENAL ECTO-ATPASE

The inhibitory effect of diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) on ecto-ATPase a ctivity was evaluated in the rat cardiac muscle, small intestine and k idney using correlated biochemical and histocytochemical methodologies . The activity of the enzyme decreased in nonlinear proportion in corr elation with increase of concentrations of DEPC. Essentially all ecto- ATPase activity was abolished in response to 1.0mM DEPC in biochemical assays. No reaction product was detected using both confocal and elec tron microscopy when the tissues were pre-incubated with 1.0 mM DEPC. The present results show that DEPC can be reliably applied to substant iate the specificity of the demonstration of ecto-ATPase activity both biochemically and histocytochemically.