Biochemistry of fluoroacetate poisoning. Isolation of an active tricarboxylic acid fraction from poisoned kidney homogenates

Abstract

The experiments described in this paper* were done in order to advance knowledge ofthe biochemistry of fluoroacetate poisoning. The proved failure of this compound to inhibit isolated enzymes made it difficult to relate the toxic action to an enzymic effect, until Bartlett & Barron (1947) made the important step of showing that in tissue slices fluoroacetate led to accumulations of acetate. Another significant point was made by Saunders (1947) and colleagues who found an alternation in the toxicity with increasing length of carbon chain in the w-fluoroesters; compounds with an even number of carbon atoms were toxic. Then Li6becq & Peters (1948, 1949) found an instance with centri- fuged kidney homogenates where fluoroacetate caused depression of oxygen uptake without an increase of acetate but with accumulation of citiate;