210
RACHMIEL LEVINE
It is conceivable that in all cells the boundary layer is an orderly mosaic
of specific receiving stations which serves to translate the great variety of
specific chemical signals.
It is certainly true that the outer cell surface as well the surfaces of
"organelles," such as the nuclear or mitochondrial membranes, serve to
regulate exit and entry of substances in a rather specific manner. Not
only do cells of various tissues differ in their "absorptive" and "excretory"
specificity, but certain organs like the brain have an additional selective
barrier which determines the accessibility of chemical substances to the
neurones. The control of foodstuff metabolism may to a large extent be
exerted by a regulation of the traffic of substrates and products between
cell and cell and between stations within the same cell. The general
implication that endocrine control of metabolic processes may reside
in this type of regulation is at least worthy of consideration in trying
to explore mechanisms of hormonal action. In a recent thoughtful and
comprehensive review Hechter (1955) comes to a similar viewpoint, on
the basis of the recent literature and of his own work on the site and
manner of action of ACTH.
The view here propounded is, in a sense, old-fashioned. Like any
working model it tends to become restrictive in time. It is hoped, however, that it may serve for a time to direct attention and work towards
the dynamic biochemistry of surface boundaries around or within the
cell, and the interplay of hormonal materials in that area.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The work of the author's laboratory in this field has received support from the
Sugar Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, United States
Public Health Service.
REFERENCES
Barker, S. B. 1951. Physiol. Revs. 31: 205.
Best, C. H., Hoet, J. P., and Marks, H. P. 1926a. Proc. Roy. Soc. B100 : 32.
Best, C. H., Dale, Η. H., Hoet, J. P., and Marks, H. P. 1926b. Proc. Roy. Soc.
B100: 55.
Bloch, Κ., and Kramer, W. 1948. /. Biol. Chem. 173: 811.
Bridge, Ε. M. 1938. Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 62: 408.
Brody, Τ. M. 1955. Pharmacol. Revs. 7: 335.
Broh-Kahn, R. H., and Mirsky, I. A. 1947. Science 106: 148.
Brown, R. 1952. Intern. Rev. Cytol. 1: 107.
Bouckaert, J. P., and de Duve, C. 1947. Physiol. Revs. 27: 1.
Christensen, W. R., Plimpton, C. H., and Ball, E. G. 1949. /. Biol. Chem. 180: 791.
Clark, A. J. 1933. "The Mode of Action of Drugs on Cells." Arnold, London.
Colowick, S. P., Cori, G. T., and Slein, M. W. 1947. /. Biol. Chem. 168: 583.
Cori, C. F., and Cori, G. T. 1929. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 26: 432.
Corner, G. W., and Csapo, A. 1953. Brit. Med. J. 1: 687.
Csapo, Α., and Corner, G. W. 1952. Endocrinology 51: 378.
RACHMIEL LEVINE
It is conceivable that in all cells the boundary layer is an orderly mosaic
of specific receiving stations which serves to translate the great variety of
specific chemical signals.
It is certainly true that the outer cell surface as well the surfaces of
"organelles," such as the nuclear or mitochondrial membranes, serve to
regulate exit and entry of substances in a rather specific manner. Not
only do cells of various tissues differ in their "absorptive" and "excretory"
specificity, but certain organs like the brain have an additional selective
barrier which determines the accessibility of chemical substances to the
neurones. The control of foodstuff metabolism may to a large extent be
exerted by a regulation of the traffic of substrates and products between
cell and cell and between stations within the same cell. The general
implication that endocrine control of metabolic processes may reside
in this type of regulation is at least worthy of consideration in trying
to explore mechanisms of hormonal action. In a recent thoughtful and
comprehensive review Hechter (1955) comes to a similar viewpoint, on
the basis of the recent literature and of his own work on the site and
manner of action of ACTH.
The view here propounded is, in a sense, old-fashioned. Like any
working model it tends to become restrictive in time. It is hoped, however, that it may serve for a time to direct attention and work towards
the dynamic biochemistry of surface boundaries around or within the
cell, and the interplay of hormonal materials in that area.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The work of the author's laboratory in this field has received support from the
Sugar Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, United States
Public Health Service.
REFERENCES
Barker, S. B. 1951. Physiol. Revs. 31: 205.
Best, C. H., Hoet, J. P., and Marks, H. P. 1926a. Proc. Roy. Soc. B100 : 32.
Best, C. H., Dale, Η. H., Hoet, J. P., and Marks, H. P. 1926b. Proc. Roy. Soc.
B100: 55.
Bloch, Κ., and Kramer, W. 1948. /. Biol. Chem. 173: 811.
Bridge, Ε. M. 1938. Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 62: 408.
Brody, Τ. M. 1955. Pharmacol. Revs. 7: 335.
Broh-Kahn, R. H., and Mirsky, I. A. 1947. Science 106: 148.
Brown, R. 1952. Intern. Rev. Cytol. 1: 107.
Bouckaert, J. P., and de Duve, C. 1947. Physiol. Revs. 27: 1.
Christensen, W. R., Plimpton, C. H., and Ball, E. G. 1949. /. Biol. Chem. 180: 791.
Clark, A. J. 1933. "The Mode of Action of Drugs on Cells." Arnold, London.
Colowick, S. P., Cori, G. T., and Slein, M. W. 1947. /. Biol. Chem. 168: 583.
Cori, C. F., and Cori, G. T. 1929. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 26: 432.
Corner, G. W., and Csapo, A. 1953. Brit. Med. J. 1: 687.
Csapo, Α., and Corner, G. W. 1952. Endocrinology 51: 378.