The influence of uncouplers on proton-sugar symport in Saccharomyces fragilis

Regulation of Sugar Transport Systems in Fusarium oxysporum var. lini

Fusarium oxysporum var. lini (ATCC 10960) formed a facilitated diffusion system for glucose ( K s , about 10 mM) when grown under repressed conditions. Under conditions of derepression, the same system was present together with a high-affinity ( K s , about 40 μM) active system. The maximum velocity of the latter was about 5% of that of the facilitated diffusion system. The high-affinity system was under the control of glucose repression and glucose inactivation. When lactose was the only carbon source in the medium, a facilitated diffusion system for lactose was found ( K s , about 30 mM).

Control of leucine transport in yeast by periplasmic binding proteins

The concentrative inward transport of leucine in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis involves two transport systems (S1 and S2); S1 is a system of high affinity and low translocation velocity, and S2 is a system of low affinity and high translocation velocity. The inward transport process of the amino acid is discriminated into two kinetically defined steps: first, binding to periplasmic proteins and second, translocation across the plasmalemma. When cells were incubated with glucose to increase the metabolic energy charge, we observed that JTmax (maximum flux that each system can exhibit for the translocation step) increased for both systems. This increase in JTmax is due to variations in the parameters defining the initial step (Ks (apparent dissociation constant) and N (concentration of binding sites)): for S1, N1 increases and for S2, KS2 diminishes. Dissipation of the electrochemical proton gradient produced an increase of KS1 and a decrease of N2, resulting in a decrease of JTmax in both systems. Instead, osmotic shock decreases N1 and N2, which suggests that periplasmic components were removed, resulting also in a decrease of JTmax in both systems. These results are consistent with the proposition that the total unidirectional flux of the amino acid proceeds by means of a system of multiple components, with the simultaneous operation of two independent transport processes. We propose that the initial interaction of leucine with components of the cellular envelope might be the essential step for the subsequent translocation of the amino acid across the permeability barrier.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship of carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazones as uncouplers of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation

The dependence of the uncoupling activity in the series of 16 carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazones on their physico-chemical properties (partition coefficient, dissociation constant and rate constant for reaction with thiols) is investigated using two physiologically based models, one for protonophoric mechanism of uncoupling and the other assuming the covalent modification of a membrane constituent to be the key step in this process. As indicated by uptake experiments, at the given conditions a lipophilic-hydrophilic equilibrium is attained without any loss of the compounds via chemical reactions. Using this fact to reduce the number of adjustable parameters, a better fit to the data on stimulation of respiration is obtained with the former (protonophoric) model.

Energetics of sodium-dependent alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport in the moderate halophile Vibrio costicola

The energetics of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport were examined in Vibrio costicola grown in a medium containing the NaCl content (1 M) optimal for growth. Respiration rate, the membrane potential (delta psi) and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport had similar pH profiles, with optima at 8.5-9.0. Cells specifically required Na+ ions to transport alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and to maintain the highest delta psi (150-160 mV). Sodium was not required to sustain high rates of O2-uptake. Delta psi (and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport) recovered fully upon addition of Na+ to Na+-deficient cells, showing that Na+ is required in formation or maintenance of the transmembrane gradients of ions. Inhibitions by protonophores, monensin, nigericin and respiratory inhibitors revealed a close correlation between the magnitudes of delta psi and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport. Also, dissipation of delta psi with triphenylmethylphosphonium cation abolished alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport without affecting respiration greatly. On the other hand, alcohols which stimulated respiration showed corresponding increases in alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport, without affecting delta psi. Similarly, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (10 microM) stimulated respiration and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport and did ot affect delta psi, but caused a dramatic decline in intracellular ATP content. From these, and results obtained with artificially established energy sources (delta psi and Na+ chemical potential), we conclude that delta psi is obligatory for alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport, and that for maximum rates of transport an Na+ gradient is also required.

Passive fluxes of K+ and H+ in wild strain and nystatin-resistant mutant of Rhodotorula gracilis (ATCC 26194)

The passive fluxes of protons and potassium ions have been studied in the obligatory aerobic yeast Rhodotorula gracilis. The cellular energy metabolism was suspended by introducing anaerobic conditions. The H+-permeability of the plasma membrane was modified by adding an uncoupler under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Unfortunately, the plasma membrane of R. gracilis was insensitive to K+-ionophores. The passive flows of H+ and K+ under anaerobic and/or uncoupled conditions were electrically coupled and exhibited a constant stoicheiometry of 1:1. The H+ permeability of the plasmalemma was shown to determine the velocity of the passive K+-H+ exchange. The nystatin-resistant mutant M 67 displayed distinctly lower permeability for both H+ and K+, which can explain the observed differences in some transport characteristics of the two strains. In order to account for the properties of passive K+ flows, a membrane-potential-gated channel for K+ has been proposed. Evidence is presented that the inhibitor of the plasmalemma-bound H+-ATPase, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), reduced at first the permeability for both K+ and H+ and only upon prolonged incubation the ATPase itself. Since DCCD effected an immediate hyperpolarization of the membrane potential, it has been concluded that the H+ does not slip through the H+-ATPase under deenergized conditions.