Citrate synthase activity in human skeletal muscle

Abstract

Citrate synthase activity in soluble human muscle extracts (KCl-containing triethanolamine buffer) amounts to 17.5+/-6.97 U/g wet weight at 37 degrees C (n=36 healthy male subjects). Double determinations, both using two procedures and with muscle samples divided into two pieces and analyzed separately, gave very good reproducibilities. The possible causes of the comparatively high values are discussed. Significant correlations of citrate synthase activity with NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (r=+0.826) and hexose phosphate isomerase (r=-0.582) were found. The distribution of citrate synthase activity in the samples studied is not of the normal type but appears to be binomial.