title: Transport of pefloxacin across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane in quinolone-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Binding to phospholipids, uptake by simple diffusion, and an energy-dependent, carrier-mediated efflux are thought to characterize interactions between fluoroquinolones and bacterial cytoplasmic membranes. Here, we have found that an endogenous active efflux is unlikely in quinolone-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. The protonophore, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), increased pefloxacin uptake in different membrane systems under conditions which excluded carrier-mediated transport, i.e., in bacterial cells at 4 degrees C and in protein-free phosphatidylglycerol liposomes. When plotted as a function of outer pH, the CCCP effect, both in S. aureus cells and in phosphatidylglycerol liposomes, correlated with pefloxacin labeling of everted S. aureus membrane vesicles, with all three profiles showing maximal effect at an acidic pH. So the CCCP effect may result not from inhibition of the proton motive force, as previously thought, but rather from acidification of the intramembrane space by the protonophore, leading to enhanced binding of the positive pefloxacin species to the inner leaflet of the bilayer. Moreover, antistaphylococcal potency and uptake profiles of pefloxacin in S. aureus and phosphatidylglycerol liposomes, assayed as a function of outer pH, peaked at a neutral pH. These observations suggest that zwitterionic and positive quinolone species are responsible for diffusion through and binding to the cytoplasmic membrane, respectively.
authors: Département de Génétique et Microbiologie, Université de Genève, Switzerland.
authors: Y X
authors: YX
authors: Furet
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Deshusses
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Pechère
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004140:Dinitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015366:Pefloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004140:Dinitrophenols; D008081:Liposomes; D010743:Phospholipids; D015366:Pefloxacin; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone