A 13C NMR study on fluxes into the TCA cycle of neuronal and glial tumor cell lines and primary cells.

Two tumor cell lines (C6 glioma and N1E-115 neuroblastoma), primary glia and primary neurons (from rat) were incubated with 2-13C-pyruvate and 3-13C-pyruvate in culture dishes. 13C NMR spectra of the cell extracts were used to determine the ratio of pyruvate carboxylase to pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Pyruvate carboxylase activity was found higher in primary glia cells than in neurons. Glial cells synthesized more amino acids, ie, their TCA cycle was used to a larger extent for biosynthesis than is the case of neurons, where it is preferentially used for the energy metabolism.