Evaluation on the responses of succinate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase to acid shock generated acid tolerance in Escherichia coli.
BACKGROUND
Escherichia coli have an optimum pH range of 6-7 for growth and survival that's why, called neutrophiles. The ΔpH across the cytoplasmic membrane is linked to cellular bioenergetics and metabolism of the body which is the major supplier of the proton motive force, so homeostasis of cellular pH is essential. When challenged by low pH, protons enter the cytoplasm; as a result, mechanisms are required to alleviate the effects of lowered cytoplasmic pH.


METHODS
The activities of Succinate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in acid shocked cells of E. coli DH5 α and E. coli W3110 subjected to pH 3, 4, and 5 by two types of acidification, like external (using 0.1 N HCl), external along with the monensin (1 μM) and cytoplasmic acidification using the sodium benzoate as an acid permeant (20 mM) which is coupled to the electron transport chain by the reducing power, as yet another system possessed by E. coli as an armor against harsh acidic environments.


RESULTS
Results showed that an exposure to acidic environment (pH 3, 4 and 5) for a short period of time increased the activities of these dehydrogenases in all types of acidification except cytoplasmic acidification, which shows that higher recycling of reducing power results in pumping out of protons from the cytoplasm through the electron transport chain complexes, thereby restoring the cytoplasmic pH of the bacteria in the range of 7.4-7.8.


CONCLUSIONS
Study indicates that acid shocked E. coli for a period of 2 h can survive for a sustained period.
Department of Chemistry, Allen Career Institute, Kota, India.
Pradeep Kumar
PK
Jain
Vivek
V
Jain
Ashish Kumar
AK
Singh
Ankur
A
Chauhan
Sarika
S
Sinha
Acid tolerance; dehydrogenases; electron transport chain; external acidification; internal acidification and intracellular pH