pH-dependent changes in proton:substrate stoichiometries during active transport in Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.
Experiments are presented in which the proton electrochemical gradient (deltamuH+) IN Escherichia coli membrane vesicles (interior negative and alkaline) was measured under a variety of conditions and compared with steady-state levels of accumulation of lactose, proline, D-lactate, and glucose-6-P measured under identical conditions. Accumulation of lactose and proline is proportional to the magnitude of deltamuH+ at pH 5.5, where the pH gradient (deltapH) and the electrical potential (deltapsi) both contribute to deltamuH+, and at pH 7.5, where deltapsi represents the only component of deltamuH+. Moreover, the proportionality constants between deltamuH+ and lactose or proline accumulation indicate that the proton:substrate stoichiometries are 1:1 at pH 5.5 and 2:1 at pH 7.5. Evidence is also presented which indicates that the functional group responsible for the increase in proton:proline stoichiometry has a pK of approximately 6.8. Accumulation of D-lactate and glucose-6-P is directly related to the magnitude of deltapH at pH 5.5, and stoichiometry values of one and approximately 1.7 are obtained for D-lactate and glucose-6-P, respectively, at this pH. At pH 7.5, on the other hand, accumulation of each organic acid bears a linear relationship to deltapsi, and proton:substrate stoichiometries of unity are observed in both instances. The results are consistent with the models discussed by Rottenberg (Rottenberg, H. (1976), FEBS Lett. 66, 159).
D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D005958:Glucosephosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D008433:Mathematics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008954:Models, Biological; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism
D005958:Glucosephosphates; D011392:Proline; D007785:Lactose