The metabolism of beta-alanine by lobster nervous tissue in vitro

1.1. Lobster abdominal ganglionic preparations formed [β-3H]alanine efficiently in vitro from [6-3H]uracil but not aspartic [2,3-3H]acid.2.2. This labeled product was retained unaltered as a consequence of its relatively slow catabolism.3.3. These preparations also achieved a 14:1 cellular concentration of exogenous [β-14C]alanine (5 × 10−4 M) within 45 hr of culture by a process which was independent of GABA accumulation.4.4. The biochemical stability of these ganglionic preparations was implied by their prolonged retention of the capacity for in vitro uptake and incorporation of leucine into protein and of uridine into RNA.