title: The proton motive force generated in Leuconostoc oenos by L-malate fermentation.
abstract: In cells of Leuconostoc oenos, the fermentation of L-malic acid generates both a transmembrane pH gradient, inside alkaline, and an electrical potential gradient, inside negative. In resting cells, the proton motive force ranged from -170 mV to -88 mV between pH 3.1 and 5.6 in the presence Of L-malate. Membrane potentials were calculated by using a model for probe binding that accounted for the different binding constants at the different pH values at the two faces of the membrane. The delta psi generated by the transport of monovalent malate, H-malate-, controlled the rate of fermentation. The fermentation rate significantly increased under conditions of decreased delta psi, i.e., upon addition of the ionophore valinomycin in the presence of KCl, whereas in a buffer depleted of potassium, the addition of valinomycin resulted in a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and a reduction of the rate of fermentation. At the steady state, the chemical gradient for H-malate- was of the same magnitude as delta psi. Synthesis of ATP was observed in cells performing malolactic fermentation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universdade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salema
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lolkema
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: San Romão
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lourero Dias
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005285:Fermentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000378:metabolism*; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D018892:Proton-Motive Force
chemical_list: D008293:Malates; D009861:Onium Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C030298:malic acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C013289:tetraphenylphosphonium