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The Metabolism of Serine-3-C¹⁴ by the Lactating Sheep Mammary Gland^1,2,

Department of Dairy Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

ABSTRACT

The contribution of serine to the metabolism of the mammary gland in capacities other than protein synthesis is unknown. Recent reports of Wood et al. (6, 7) qualitatively show that serine can be formed in the mammary gland from glucose and glycerol. The conversion most likely occurs by way of phosphoglycerate and phosphohydroxypyruvate (3). A reversal of this reaction sequence could lead to the formation of phosphoglyceraldehyde from serine. Since triose phosphate isomerase is active in the gland (7), it would be possible for serine to contribute to the formation of glycerol.

To study the metabolism of serine by the mammary gland, 90 µc. of serine-3-C¹⁴ was placed, immediately after milking, into the gland cisterns of the udder of each of two lactating ewes. After 8 hr., the ewes were milked, sacrificed, and the glands removed for analysis. Various substances (Table 1) were isolated from the milk and mammary gland tissue by conventional means and assayed for radioactivity in a thin-window gas-flow G.M. counter.

¹ Authorized for publication on June 5, 1959, as Paper No. 2368 in the Journal Series of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Supported by the U. S. Public Health Service (H3632).