Cation-sugar cotransport in the melibiose transport system of Escherichia coli

X-ray crystallography reveals molecular recognition mechanism for sugar binding in a melibiose transporter MelB

Major facilitator superfamily_2 transporters are widely found from bacteria to mammals. The melibiose transporter MelB, which catalyzes melibiose symport with either Na⁺, Li⁺, or H⁺, is a prototype of the Na⁺-coupled MFS transporters, but its sugar recognition mechanism has been a long-unsolved puzzle. Two high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of a Salmonella typhimurium MelB mutant with a bound ligand, either nitrophenyl-α-d-galactoside or dodecyl-β-d-melibioside, were refined to a resolution of 3.05 or 3.15 Å, respectively. In the substrate-binding site, the interaction of both galactosyl moieties on the two ligands with MelB_St are virturally same, so the sugar specificity determinant pocket can be recognized, and hence the molecular recognition mechanism for sugar binding in MelB has been deciphered. The conserved cation-binding pocket is also proposed, which directly connects to the sugar specificity pocket. These key structural findings have laid a solid foundation for our understanding of the cooperative binding and symport mechanisms in Na⁺-coupled MFS transporters, including eukaryotic transporters such as MFSD2A.

Guan and Hariharan report two crystal structures of melibiose transporter MelB in complex with substrate analogs, nitrophenyl-galactoside, and dodecyl-melibioside. Both structures revealed similar specific site for sugar recognition and resolved the cation-binding pocket, advancing the understanding of MelB and related transporters.

Cooperative binding ensures the obligatory melibiose/Na+ cotransport in MelB

MelB catalyzes the obligatory cotransport of melibiose with Na⁺, Li⁺, or H⁺. Crystal structure determination of the Salmonella typhimurium MelB (MelB_St) has revealed a typical major facilitator superfamily (MFS) fold at a periplasmic open conformation. Cooperative binding of Na⁺ and melibiose has been previously established. To determine why cotranslocation of sugar solute and cation is obligatory, we analyzed each binding in the thermodynamic cycle using three independent methods, including the determination of melting temperature by circular dichroism spectroscopy, heat capacity change (ΔC_p), and regulatory phosphotransferase EIIA^Glc binding with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). We found that MelB_St thermostability is increased by either substrate (Na⁺ or melibiose) and observed a cooperative effect of both substrates. ITC measurements showed that either binary formation yields a positive sign in the ΔC_p, suggesting MelB_St hydration and a likely widening of the periplasmic cavity. Conversely, formation of a ternary complex yields negative values in ΔCp, suggesting MelB_St dehydration and cavity closure. Lastly, we observed that EIIA^Glc, which has been suggested to trap MelB_St at an outward-open state, readily binds to the MelB_St apo state at an affinity similar to MelB_St/Na⁺. However, it has a suboptimal binding to the ternary state, implying that MelB_St in the ternary complex may be conformationally distant from the EIIA^Glc-preferred outward-facing conformation. Our results consistently support the notion that binding of one substrate (Na⁺ or melibiose) favors MelB_St at open states, whereas the cooperative binding of both substrates triggers the alternating-access process, thus suggesting this conformational regulation could ensure the obligatory cotransport.

Structural and functional characterization of protein-lipid interactions of the Salmonella typhimurium melibiose transporter MelB

BACKGROUND

Membrane lipids play critical roles in the structure and function of membrane-embedded transporters. Salmonella typhimurium MelB (MelB_St) is a symporter coupling melibiose translocation with a cation (Na⁺, Li⁺, or H⁺). We present an extensive study on the effects of specific phospholipids on the structure of MelB_St and the melibiose transport catalyzed by this protein.

RESULTS

Lipidomic analysis and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) experiments reveal that at least one phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and one phosphatidylglycerol (PG) molecule associate with MelB_St at high affinities. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy experiments confirmed the presence of lipid tails and glycerol backbones that co-purified with MelB_St; headgroups of PG were also observed. Studies with lipid-engineered strains, including PE-deficient, cardiolipin (CL)- and PG-deficient, or CL-deficient strains, show that lack of PE or PG, however not CL, largely inhibits both H⁺- and Na⁺-coupled melibiose active transport to different extents. Interestingly, neither the co-substrate binding (melibiose or Na⁺) nor MelB_St folding and stability are affected by changing lipid compositions. Remarkably, the delipidated MelB_St with only 2-3 bound lipids, regardless of the headgroup species, also exhibits unchanged melting temperature values as shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Lipid tails and glycerol backbones of interacting PE and PG may contribute to the stability of the structure of MelB_St. (2) The headgroups of PE and PG, but not of CL, play important roles in melibiose transport; however, lipid headgroups do not modulate the folding and stability of MelB_St.

Thermodynamic cooperativity of cosubstrate binding and cation selectivity of Salmonella typhimurium MelB

The melibiose symporter MelB couples melibiose transport to that of cations such as Na⁺. Hariharan and Guan show that the binding of Na⁺ and melibiose is thermodynamically cooperative and that Na⁺ coupling is based on ion concentrations and competitive binding, but not ion selectivity.

The Na⁺-coupled melibiose symporter MelB, which can also be coupled to H⁺ or Li⁺ transport, is a prototype for the glycoside-pentoside-hexuronide:cation symporter family. Although the 3-D x-ray crystal structure of Salmonella typhimurium MelB (MelB_St) has been determined, the symport mechanisms for the obligatory coupled transport are not well understood. Here, we apply isothermal titration calorimetry to determine the energetics of Na⁺ and melibiose binding to MelB_St, as well as protonation of this transporter. Studies of the thermodynamic cycle for the formation of the Na⁺–MelB_St–melibiose ternary complex at pH 7.45 reveal that the binding of Na⁺ and melibiose is cooperative. The binding affinity for one substrate (Na⁺ or melibiose) is increased by the presence of the other by about eightfold. The coupling free energies (ΔΔG) of either substrate binding are ∼5 kJ/mol, and binding of both substrates releases a free energy of ∼35 kJ/mol. Measurements of the Na⁺-binding enthalpy at three different pH values, including the pK_a value of MelB, indicate that the binding of one Na⁺ displaces one H⁺ per MelB_St molecule. In addition, the absolute dissociation constants for Na⁺ and H⁺, determined by competitive binding, show that MelB_St is selective for H⁺ over Na⁺ by ∼1,000-fold at a pK_a of 6.25. Thus, the Na⁺ coupling in MelB_St is based not on ion selectivity but on ion concentrations and competitive binding because of a much higher Na⁺ concentration under physiological conditions. Such a selectivity feature seems to be common for membrane transport proteins that can bind both H⁺ and Na⁺ at a common site.

A Major Li+Extrusion System NhaB ofPseudomonas aeruginosa: Comparison with the Major Na+Extrusion System NhaP

A gene encoding a Li(+) extrusion system was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The gene enabled growth of E. coli KNabc cells, which were unable to grow in the presence of 10 mM LiCl or 0.1 M NaCl because of the lack of major Na(+) (Li(+))/H(+) antiporters. We detected Li(+)/H(+) and Na(+)/H(+) antiport activities in membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli KNabc cells that harbored a plasmid carrying the cloned gene. Activity of this antiporter was pH-dependent with an optimal pH activity between pH 7.5 and 8.5. These properties indicate that this antiporter is different from NhaP, an Na(+)/H(+) antiporter from P. aeruginosa that we reported previously, and that is rather specific to Na(+) but it cannot extrude Li(+) effectively. The gene was sequenced and an open reading frame (ORF) was identified. The amino acid sequence deduced from the ORF showed homology (about 60% identity and 90% similarity) with that of the NhaB Na(+)/H(+) antiporters of E. coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Thus, we designated the antiporter as NhaB of P. aeruginosa. E. coli KNabc carrying the nhaB gene from P. aeruginosa was able to grow in the presence of 10 to 50 mM LiCl, although KNabc carrying nhaP was unable to grow in these conditions. The antiport activity of NhaB from P. aeruginosa was produced in E. coli and showed apparent Km values for Li(+) and Na(+) of 2.0 mM and 1.3 mM, respectively. The antiport activity was inhibited by amiloride with a Ki value for Li(+) and Na(+) of 0.03 mM and 0.04 mM, respectively.

Functionally cloned pdrM from Streptococcus pneumoniae encodes a Na(+) coupled multidrug efflux pump

Multidrug efflux pumps play an important role as a self-defense system in bacteria. Bacterial multidrug efflux pumps are classified into five families based on structure and coupling energy: resistance−nodulation−cell division (RND), small multidrug resistance (SMR), major facilitator (MF), ATP binding cassette (ABC), and multidrug and toxic compounds extrusion (MATE). We cloned a gene encoding a MATE-type multidrug efflux pump from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6, and designated it pdrM. PdrM showed sequence similarity with NorM from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, YdhE from Escherichia coli, and other bacterial MATE-type multidrug efflux pumps. Heterologous expression of PdrM let to elevated resistance to several antibacterial agents, norfloxacin, acriflavine, and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) in E. coli KAM32 cells. PdrM effluxes acriflavine and DAPI in a Na⁺- or Li⁺-dependent manner. Moreover, Na⁺ efflux via PdrM was observed when acriflavine was added to Na⁺-loaded cells expressing pdrM. Therefore, we conclude that PdrM is a Na⁺/drug antiporter in S. pneumoniae. In addition to pdrM, we found another two genes, spr1756 and spr1877,that met the criteria of MATE-type by searching the S. pneumoniae genome database. However, cloned spr1756 and spr1877 did not elevate the MIC of any of the investigated drugs. mRNA expression of spr1756, spr1877, and pdrM was detected in S. pneumoniae R6 under laboratory growth conditions. Therefore, spr1756 and spr1877 are supposed to play physiological roles in this growth condition, but they may be unrelated to drug resistance.

Mechanism of melibiose/cation symport of the melibiose permease of Salmonella typhimurium

The MelB permease of Salmonella typhimurium (MelB-ST) catalyzes the coupled symport of melibiose and Na(+), Li(+), or H(+). In right-side-out membrane vesicles, melibiose efflux is inhibited by an inwardly directed gradient of Na(+) or Li(+) and stimulated by equimolar concentrations of internal and external Na(+) or Li(+). Melibiose exchange is faster than efflux in the presence of H(+) or Na(+) and stimulated by an inwardly directed Na(+) gradient. Thus, sugar is released from MelB-ST externally prior to the release of cation in agreement with current models proposed for MelB of Escherichia coli (MelB-EC) and LacY. Although Li(+) stimulates efflux, and an outwardly directed Li(+) gradient increases exchange, it is striking that internal and external Li(+) with no gradient inhibits exchange. Furthermore, Trp → dansyl FRET measurements with a fluorescent sugar (2'-(N-dansyl)aminoalkyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside) demonstrate that MelB-ST, in the presence of Na(+) or Li(+), exhibits (app)K(d) values of ∼1 mM for melibiose. Na(+) and Li(+) compete for a common binding pocket with activation constants for FRET of ∼1 mM, whereas Rb(+) or Cs(+) exhibits little or no effect. Taken together, the findings indicate that MelB-ST utilizes H(+) in addition to Na(+) and Li(+). FRET studies also show symmetrical emission maximum at ∼500 nm with MelB-ST in the presence of 2'-(N-dansyl)aminoalkyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranoside and Na(+), Li(+), or H(+), which implies a relatively homogeneous distribution of conformers of MelB-ST ternary complexes in the membrane.

Variation in Quantitative Requirements for Na for Transport of Metabolizable Compounds by the Marine Bacteria Alteromonas haloplanktis 214 and Vibrio fischeri

The rates of uptake by Alteromonas haloplanktis of 19 metabolizable compounds and by V. fischeri of 16 of 17 metabolizable compounds were negligible in the absence of added alkali-metal cations but rapid in the presence of Na. Only d-glucose uptake by V. fischeri occurred at a reasonable rate in the absence of alkali-metal cations, although the rate was further increased by added Na, K, or Li. Quantitative requirements for Na for the uptake of 11 metabolites by A. haloplanktis and of 6 metabolites by V. fischeri and the characteristics of the Na response at constant osmotic pressure varied with each metabolite and were different from the Na effects on the energy sources used. Li stimulated transport of some metabolites in the presence of suboptimal Na concentrations and for a few replaced Na for transport but functioned less effectively. K had a small capacity to stimulate lysine transport. The rate of transport of most of the compounds increased to a maximum at 50 to 300 mM Na, depending on the metabolite, and then decreased as the Na concentration was further increased. For a few metabolites, the rate of transport continued to increase in a biphasic manner as the Na concentration was increased to 500 mM. Concentrations of choline chloride equimolar to inhibitory concentrations of NaCl were either not inhibitory or appreciably less inhibitory than those of NaCl. All metabolites examined accumulated inside the cells against a gradient of unchanged metabolite in the presence of Na, even though some were very rapidly metabolized. The transport of l-alanine, succinate, and d-galactose into A. haloplanktis and of l-alanine and succinate into V. fischeri was inhibited essentially completely by the uncoupler 3,5,3',4'-tetrachlorosalicylanilide. Glucose uptake by V. fischeri was inhibited partially by 3,5,3',4'-tetrachlorosalicylanilide and also by arsenate and iodoacetate.

A 3D structure model of the melibiose permease of Escherichia coli represents a distinctive fold for Na+ symporters

The melibiose permease of Escherichia coli (MelB) catalyzes the coupled stoichiometric symport of a galactoside with a cation (either Na(+), Li(+), or H(+)), using free energy from the downhill translocation of one cosubstrate to catalyze the accumulation of the other. Here, we present a 3D structure model of MelB threaded through a crystal structure of the lactose permease of E. coli (LacY), manually adjusted, and energetically minimized. The model contains 442 consecutive residues ( approximately 94% of the polypeptide), including all 12 transmembrane helices and connecting loops, with no steric clashes and superimposes well with the template structure. The electrostatic surface potential calculated from the model is typical for a membrane protein and exhibits a characteristic ring of positive charges around the periphery of the cytoplasmic side. The 3D model indicates that MelB consists of two pseudosymmetrical 6-helix bundles lining an internal hydrophilic cavity, which faces the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Both sugar and cation binding sites are proposed to lie within the internal cavity. The model is consistent with numerous previous mutational, biochemical/biophysical characterizations as well as low-resolution structural data. Thus, an alternating access mechanism with sequential binding is discussed. The proposed overall fold of MelB is different from the available crystal structures of other Na(+)-coupled transporters, suggesting a distinctive fold for Na(+) symporters.

H+-coupled nutrient, micronutrient and drug transporters in the mammalian small intestine

The H(+)-electrochemical gradient was originally considered as a driving force for solute transport only across cellular membranes of bacteria, plants and yeast. However, in the mammalian small intestine, a H(+)-electrochemical gradient is present at the epithelial brush-border membrane in the form of an acid microclimate. Over recent years, a large number of H(+)-coupled cotransport mechanisms have been identified at the luminal membrane of the mammalian small intestine. These transporters are responsible for the initial stage in absorption of a remarkable variety of essential and non-essential nutrients and micronutrients, including protein digestion products (di/tripeptides and amino acids), vitamins, short-chain fatty acids and divalent metal ions. Proton-coupled cotransporters expressed at the mammalian small intestinal brush-border membrane include: the di/tripeptide transporter PepT1 (SLC15A1); the proton-coupled amino-acid transporter PAT1 (SLC36A1); the divalent metal transporter DMT1 (SLC11A2); the organic anion transporting polypeptide OATP2B1 (SLC02B1); the monocarboxylate transporter MCT1 (SLC16A1); the proton-coupled folate transporter PCFT (SLC46A1); the sodium-glucose linked cotransporter SGLT1 (SLC5A1); and the excitatory amino acid carrier EAAC1 (SLC1A1). Emerging research demonstrates that the optimal intestinal absorptive capacity of certain H(+)-coupled cotransporters (PepT1 and PAT1) is dependent upon function of the brush-border Na(+)-H(+) exchanger NHE3 (SLC9A3). The high oral bioavailability of a large number of pharmaceutical compounds results, in part, from absorptive transport via the same H(+)-coupled cotransporters. Drugs undergoing H(+)-coupled cotransport across the intestinal brush-border membrane include those used to treat bacterial infections, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, viral infections, allergies, epilepsy, schizophrenia, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

Replacing the general energy-coupling proteins of the phospho-enol-pyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system ofSalmonella typhimuriumwith fructose-inducible counterparts results in the inability to utilize nonphosphotransferase system sugars

A Salmonella typhimurium mutant lacking Enzyme I and HPr, general proteins of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS), but producing homologues EIFructoseand FPr constitutively, did not grow in minimal medium supplemented with non-PTS sugars (melibiose, glycerol, and maltose) in the absence of any trace of Luria–Bertani broth; adding cyclic AMP allowed growth. On melibiose, rapid growth began only when melibiose permease activity had reached a threshold level. Wild-type cultures reached this level within about 2 h, but the mutant only after a 12–14 h lag period, and then only when cyclic AMP had been added to the medium. On a mixture of melibiose and a PTS sugar, permease was undetectable in either the wild type or mutant until the PTS sugar had been exhausted. Permease then appeared, increasing with time, but in the mutant it never reached the threshold allowing rapid growth on melibiose unless cyclic AMP had been added. On rich medium supplemented with melibiose or glycerol, the mutant produced lower (30%) levels of melibiose permease or glycerol kinase compared with the wild type. We propose that poor phosphorylation of the regulatory protein Enzyme IIAGlucose, leading to constitutive inducer exclusion and catabolite repression in this strain, accounts for these results.

Three-dimensional structure of the sugar symporter melibiose permease from cryo-electron microscopy

Melibiose permease (MelB) of Escherichia coli is a secondary transporter that couples the uptake of melibiose and various other galactosides to symport of cations that can be Na+, Li+ or H+. MelB belongs to the glycoside-pentoside-hexuronide: cation symporter family of porters and is suggested to have 12 transmembrane helices. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of MelB at 10A resolution in the membrane plane with cryo-electron microscopy from two-dimensional crystals. The three-dimensional map shows a heart-shaped molecule composed of two domains with a large central cavity between them. The structure is constricted at one side of the membrane while it is open to the other. The overall molecular shape resembles those of lactose permease and glycerol-3-phosphate transporter. However, organization of helices in MelB seems less symmetrical than in these two members of the major facilitator superfamily.

Electrophysiological characterization of a recombinant human Na+-coupled nucleoside transporter (hCNT1) produced in Xenopus oocytes

Human concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hCNT1) mediates active transport of nucleosides and anticancer and antiviral nucleoside drugs across cell membranes by coupling influx to the movement of Na(+) down its electrochemical gradient. The two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique was used to measure steady-state and presteady-state currents of recombinant hCNT1 produced in Xenopus oocytes. Transport was electrogenic, phloridzin sensitive and specific for pyrimidine nucleosides and adenosine. Nucleoside analogues that induced inwardly directed Na(+) currents included the anticancer drugs 5-fluorouridine, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine, cladribine and cytarabine, the antiviral drugs zidovudine and zalcitabine, and the novel thymidine mimics 1-(2-deoxy-beta-d-ribofuranosyl)-2,4-difluoro-5-methylbenzene and 1-(2-deoxy-beta-d-ribofuranosyl)-2,4-difluoro-5-iodobenzene. Apparent K(m) values for 5-fluorouridine, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine and zidovudine were 18, 15 and 450 microm, respectively. hCNT1 was Na(+) specific, and the kinetics of steady-state uridine-evoked Na(+) currents were consistent with an ordered simultaneous transport model in which Na(+) binds first followed by uridine. Membrane potential influenced both ion binding and carrier translocation. The Na(+)-nucleoside coupling stoichiometry, determined directly by comparing the uridine-induced inward charge movement to [(14)C]uridine uptake was 1: 1. hCNT1 presteady-state currents were used to determine the fraction of the membrane field sensed by Na(+) (61%), the valency of the movable charge (-0.81) and the average number of transporters present in the oocyte plasma membrane (6.8 x 10(10) per cell). The hCNT1 turnover rate at -50 mV was 9.6 molecules of uridine transported per second.

Gene cloning and characterization of VcrM, a Na+-coupled multidrug efflux pump, from Vibrio cholerae non-O1

We cloned a DNA fragment responsible for drug resistance from chromosome of Vibrio cholerae non-O1. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment revealed the presence of a single open reading frame encoding a protein consisting of 445 amino acid residues. We designated the gene as vcrM. Hydropathy analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of VcrM suggests the presence of 12 trans-membrane segments. A dendrogram showed that VcrM is a member of the DinF-subfamily within the MATE family of multidrug efflux pumps. Expression of the cloned vcrM gene in drug-hypersensitive Escherichia coli KAM32 cells made them resistant to acriflavine, 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, Hoechst 33342, rhodamine 6G, tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (TPPCl) and ethidium bromide. Efflux of acriflavine due to VcrM was dependent on Na+ or Li+. Moreover, Na+ efflux was observed with VcrM when TPPCl was added to Na+-loaded cells. Therefore, we conclude that VcrM is a Na+/drug antiporter-type multidrug efflux pump.

Phenotype microarray analysis of Escherichia coli K-12 mutants with deletions of all two-component systems

Two-component systems are the most common mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction in bacteria. A typical system consists of a histidine kinase and a partner response regulator. The histidine kinase senses an environmental signal, which it transmits to its partner response regulator via a series of autophosphorylation, phosphotransfer, and dephosphorylation reactions. Much work has been done on particular systems, including several systems with regulatory roles in cellular physiology, communication, development, and, in the case of bacterial pathogens, the expression of genes important for virulence. We used two methods to investigate two-component regulatory systems in Escherichia coli K-12. First, we systematically constructed mutants with deletions of all two-component systems by using a now-standard technique of gene disruption (K. A. Datsenko and B. L. Wanner, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:6640-6645, 2000). We then analyzed these deletion mutants with a new technology called Phenotype MicroArrays, which permits assays of nearly 2,000 growth phenotypes simultaneously. In this study we tested 100 mutants, including mutants with individual deletions of all two-component systems and several related genes, including creBC-regulated genes (cbrA and cbrBC), phoBR-regulated genes (phoA, phoH, phnCDEFGHIJKLMNOP, psiE, and ugpBAECQ), csgD, luxS, and rpoS. The results of this battery of nearly 200,000 tests provided a wealth of new information concerning many of these systems. Of 37 different two-component mutants, 22 showed altered phenotypes. Many phenotypes were expected, and several new phenotypes were also revealed. The results are discussed in terms of the biological roles and other information concerning these systems, including DNA microarray data for a large number of the same mutants. Other mutational effects are also discussed.

Interaction between polyamines and bacterial outer membranes as investigated with ion-selective electrodes

We analyzed the interaction between polyamines and the outer membrane of Escherichia coli cells using potentiometric measurements with Ca(2+), tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP(+)), and K(+) electrodes. The Ca(2+) electrode was used to examine the ability of the polyamines to release Ca(2+) from the outer membrane. The TPP(+) electrode was used to examine the ability to permeabilize the outer membrane, since the uptake of TPP(+) was enhanced when the permeability barrier of the outer membrane was disrupted. The K(+) electrode was used to examine permeabilization in the cytoplasmic membrane by monitoring the efflux of K(+) in cytosol. Although Ca(2+) release was remarkably enhanced by increasing the number of amino groups in polyamines, no TPP(+) uptake was observed with polyamines of a simple structure, such as ethylenediamine, spermidine, and spermine. TPP(+) uptake was observed when appropriate lipophilic moieties were further attached to the polyamines with three or four amino groups, indicating that the existence of bulky moieties as well as the number of amino groups is important to induce outer membrane permeabilization. Thus, 1-naphthylacetylspermine and N,N'-bis[6-[[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]amino]hexyl]-1,8-octanediamine (methoctramine) were especially effective in increasing the permeability of the outer membrane of E. coli cells, being comparable to polymyxin B nonapeptide, a well-known cationic peptide showing such action.

VmrA, a member of a novel class of Na(+)-coupled multidrug efflux pumps from Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Gene vmrA, cloned from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, made Escherichia coli resistant to 4',6-diamino-2-phenylindol, tetraphenylphosphonium chloride, acriflavine, and ethidium bromide. VmrA belongs to the DinF branch of MATE family efflux transporters. VmrA catalyzed acriflavine efflux and showed Na(+)/drug transporter activity because the addition of tetraphenylphosphonium to Na(+)-loaded cells caused Na(+) efflux.

The proximity between helix I and helix XI in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli as determined by cross-linking

The melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli is a transmembrane protein that comprises 12 transmembrane helices connected by periplasmic and cytoplasmic loops, with both the N- and C-termini located on the cytoplasmic side. Our previous studies of second-site revertants suggested proximity between several helices, including helices XI and I. In this study, we constructed six double cysteine mutants, each having one cysteine in helix I and the other in helix XI: three mutants, K18C/S380C, D19C/S380C, and F20C/S380C, have their cysteine pairs near the cytoplasmic side of the carrier, and the other three, T34C/G395C, D35C/G395C, and V36C/G395C, have their cysteine pairs near the periplasmic side. In the absence of substrate, disulfide formations catalyzed by iodine and copper-(1,10-phenanthroline)(3) indicate that helix I and helix XI are in immediate proximity to each other on the periplasmic side but not on the cytoplasmic side, as shown by protease cleavage analyses. We infer that the two helices are tilted with respect to each other, with the periplasmic sides in close proximity.

The effect of modifications of the charged residues in the transmembrane helices on the transport activity of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The melibiose transport carrier of Escherichia coli (coded by melB gene) is a cotransport system which couples the transport of a-galactosides to protons, sodium, or lithium ions. The charged amino acid residues in membrane-spanning helices are of considerable interest because many of them have important function in substrate recognition. In most cases changing these charged residue to an uncharged residue (cysteine) results in total loss of activity. In this communication we describe experiments in which the cysteine substitution for a charged residue was chemically changed by sulfhydryl reagents (MTSEA and MTSET to restore a positive charge and MTSES a negative charge) or by iodoacetic acid or through oxidation by hydrogen peroxide so as to regain the original negative charge. In two cases (D55C and D124C) the reconstructed negative charges via the oxidation of the thiol to the sulfinic and/or sulfonic acid resulted in partial recovery of transport: D55C up to 27% of the normal and D124C up to 4% of the normal in melibiose accumulation; D55C up to 36% of the normal and D124 up to 4.5% of the normal in downhill transport. Sulfhydryl reagents and iodoacetic acid failed to recover transport in all cases. We infer that the configurations of the charges as well as the structure of the side chains that carry them are critical in the maintenance of the transport.

Sodium-substrate cotransport in bacteria

A variety of sodium-substrate cotransport systems are known in bacteria. Sodium enters the cell down an electrochemical concentration gradient. There is obligatory coupling between the entry of the ion and the entry of substrate with a stoichiometry (in the cases studied) of 1:1. Thus, the downhill movement of sodium ion into the cell leads to the accumulation of substrate within the cell. The melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli is perhaps the most carefully studied of the sodium cotransport systems in bacteria. This carrier is of special interest because it can also use protons or lithium ions for cotransport. Other sodium cotransport carriers that have been studied recently are for proline, glutamate, serine-threonine, citrate and branched chain amino acids.

Physiological evidence for an interaction between helices II and XI in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The melibiose carrier from Escherichia coli is a cation-substrate cotransporter that catalyzes the accumulation of galactosides at the expense of H(+), Na(+), or Li(+) electrochemical gradients. Charged residues on transmembrane domains in the amino-terminal portion of this carrier play an important role in the recognition of cations, while the carboxyl portion of the protein seems to be important for sugar recognition. In the present study, we substituted Lys-377 on helix XI with Val. This mutant carrier, K377V, had reduced melibiose transport activity. We subsequently used this mutant for the isolation of functional second-site revertants. Revertant strains showed the additional substitutions of Val or Asn for Asp-59 (helix II), or Leu for Phe-20 (helix I). Isolation of revertant strains where both Lys-377 and Asp-59 are substituted with neutral residues suggested the possibility that a salt bridge exists between helix II and helix XI. To further test this idea, we constructed three additional site-directed mutants: Asp-59-->Lys (D59K), Lys-377-->Asp (K377D), and a double mutant, Asp-59-->Lys/Lys-377-->Asp (D59K/K377D), in which the position of these charges was exchanged. K377D accumulated melibiose only marginally while D59K could not accumulate. However, the D59K/K377D double mutant accumulated melibiose to a modest level although this activity was no longer stimulated by Na(+). We suggest that Asp-59 and Lys-377 interact via a salt bridge that brings helix II and helix XI close to one another in the three-dimensional structure of the carrier.

Sugar recognition mutants of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli: possible structural information concerning the arrangement of membrane-bound helices and sugar/cation recognition site

Melibiose carrier mutants, isolated by growing cells on melibiose plus the non-metabolizable competitive inhibitor thiomethyl-beta-galactoside (TMG), were studied to determine sugar and cation recognition abnormalities. Most of the mutants show good transport of melibiose but have lost the recognition of TMG. In addition, most mutants show little or no transport of lactose. Cation recognition is also affected as all of these mutants have lost the ability to transport protons with melibiose. The amino acids causing these mutations were determined by sequencing the melB gene on the plasmid. The mutations were located on helices I, IV, VII, X and XI. We propose that these five helices are in proximity with each other and that they line the sugar/cation transport channel.

Characterization of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus Na+/Glucose cotransporter. A bacterial member of the sodium/glucose transporter (SGLT) family

The Vibrio parahaemolyticus sodium/glucose transporter (vSGLT) is a bacterial member of the SGLT gene family. Wild-type and mutant vSGLT proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, and transport activity was measured in intact cells and plasma membrane vesicles. Two cysteine-less vSGLT proteins exhibited sugar transport rates comparable with that of the wild-type protein. Six residues in two regions of vSGLT known to be of functional importance in SGLT1 were replaced individually with cysteine in the cysteine-less protein. Characterization of these single cysteine-substituted vSGLTs showed that two residues (Gly-151 and Gln-428) are essential for transport function, whereas the other four residues (Leu-147, Leu-149, Ala-423, and Gln-425) are not. 2-Aminoethylmethanethiosulfonate (MTSEA) blocked Na(+)/glucose transport by only the transporter bearing a cysteine at position 425 (Q425C). MTSEA inhibition was reversed by dithiothreitol and blocked by the presence of both Na(+) and d-glucose, indicating that conformational changes of the vSGLT protein are involved in Na(+)/glucose transport. A split version of vSGLT was generated by co-expression of the N-terminal (N(7)) and C-terminal (C(7)) halves of the transporter. The split vSGLT maintained Na(+)-dependent glucose transport activity. Chemical cross-linking of split vSGLT, with a cysteine in each N(7) and C(7) fragment, suggested that hydrophilic loops between helices 4 and 5 and between helices 10 and 11 are within 8 A of each other. We conclude that the mechanism of Na(+)/glucose transport by vSGLT is similar to mammalian SGLTs and that further studies on vSGLT will provide novel insight to the structure and function of this class of cotransporters.

Physiological evidence for an interaction between helix XI and helices I, II, and V in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

In a previous study 23 residues in helix XI of the cysteine-less melibiose carrier were changed individually to cysteine. Several of these cysteine mutants (K377C, A383C, F385C, L391C, G395C) had low transport activity and they were white on melibiose MacConkey fermentation plates. After several days of incubation of these white clones on melibiose MacConkey plates a rare red mutant appeared. The plasmid DNA was then isolated and sequenced. The two second site revertants from K377C were I22S and D59A. This change of aspartic acid to a neutral residue suggests that physiologically there is an interaction between K377 and D59 (possibly a salt bridge). The revertants from A383C were in positions 20 (F20L) and 22 (I22S and I22N). Revertants of F385C were intrahelical changes (I387M and A388G) and a change in C-terminal loop (R441C). Revertants of L391C were in helix I (I22N, I22T and D19E) and helix V (A152S). Revertants of G395C were in helix I (D19E and I22N). We suggest that there is an interaction between helix XI and helices I, II, and V and proximity between these helices.

Arg-52 in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli is important for cation-coupled sugar transport and participates in an intrahelical salt bridge

Arg-52 of the Escherichia coli melibiose carrier was replaced by Ser (R52S), Gln (R52Q), or Val (R52V). While the level of carrier in the membrane for each mutant remained similar to that for the wild type, analysis of melibiose transport showed an uncoupling of proton cotransport and a drastic reduction in Na(+)-coupled transport. Second-site revertants were selected on MacConkey plates containing melibiose, and substitutions were found at nine distinct locations in the carrier. Eight revertant substitutions were isolated from the R52S strain: Asp-19-->Gly, Asp-55-->Asn, Pro-60-->Gln, Trp-116-->Arg, Asn-244-->Ser, Ser-247-->Arg, Asn-248-->Lys, and Ile-352-->Val. Two revertants were also isolated from the R52V strain: Trp-116-->Arg and Thr-338-->Arg revertants. The R52Q strain yielded an Asp-55-->Asn substitution and a first-site revertant, Lys-52 (R52K). The R52K strain had transport properties similar to those of the wild type. Analysis of melibiose accumulation showed that proton-driven accumulation was still defective in the second-site revertant strains, and only the Trp-116-->Arg, Ser-247-->Arg, and Asn-248-->Lys revertants regained significant Na(+)-coupled accumulation. In general, downhill melibiose transport in the presence of Na(+) was better in the revertant strains than in the parental mutants. Three revertant strains, Asp-19-->Gly, Asp-55-->Asn, and Thr-338-->Arg strains, required a high Na(+) concentration (100 mM) for maximal activity. Kinetic measurements showed that the N248K and W116R revertants lowered the K(m) for melibiose, while other revertants restored transport velocity. We suggest that the insertion of positive charges on membrane helices is compensating for the loss of Arg-52 and that helix II is close to helix IV and VII. We also suggest that Arg-52 is salt bridged to Asp-55 (helix II) and Asp-19 (helix I).

A putative multisubunit Na+/H+ antiporter from Staphylococcus aureus

We cloned several genes encoding an Na+/H+ antiporter of Staphylococcus aureus from chromosomal DNA by using an Escherichia coli mutant, lacking all of the major Na+/H+ antiporters, as the host. E. coli cells harboring plasmids for the cloned genes were able to grow in medium containing 0.2 M NaCl (or 10 mM LiCl). Host cells without the plasmids were unable to grow under the same conditions. Na+/H+ antiport activity was detected in membrane vesicles prepared from transformants. We determined the nucleotide sequence of the cloned 7-kbp region. We found that seven open reading frames (ORFs) were necessary for antiporter function. A promoter-like sequence was found in the upstream region from the first ORF. One inverted repeat followed by a T-cluster, which may function as a terminator, was found in the downstream region from the seventh ORF. Neither terminator-like nor promoter-like sequences were found between the ORFs. Thus, it seems that the seven ORFs comprise an operon and that the Na+/H+ antiporter consists of seven kinds of subunits, suggesting that this is a novel type of multisubunit Na+/H+ antiporter. Hydropathy analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the seven ORFs suggested that all of the proteins are hydrophobic. As a result of a homology search, we found that components of the respiratory chain showed sequence similarity with putative subunits of the Na+/H+ antiporter. We observed a large Na+ extrusion activity, driven by respiration in E. coli cells harboring the plasmid carrying the genes. The Na+ extrusion was sensitive to an H+ conductor, supporting the idea that the system is not a respiratory Na+ pump but an Na+/H+ antiporter. Introduction of the plasmid into E. coli mutant cells, which were unable to grow under alkaline conditions, enabled the cells to grow under such conditions.

Evidence for a close association between helix IV and helix XI in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli is a cation-sugar cotransport protein. Asp124 in membrane-spanning helix IV of the carrier protein was replaced with Ser, Ile or Phe by site-directed mutagenesis of a plasmid containing the melB gene. Each of these mutants failed to show membrane transport of melibiose and melibiose-positive revertants could be isolated on melibiose MacConkey indicator plates. D124F showed only one type of revertant (D124C) and D124I showed only revertants to the normal (D124). Second site revertants were not found with either of these mutants. S124, however, showed two types of second site revertants: D124S/V375A and D124S/V375G. The revertant D124S/V375A had lost melibiose/proton cotransport but showed 25% of normal melibiose (20 mM) uptake in the presence of 10 mM sodium ion at 37 degrees C. The value for the parental strain D124S was 2%. The second revertant D124S/V375G showed greater activity than S124 in the presence of 100 mM NaCl at both 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. It was concluded that in the normal carrier protein Asp124 in helix IV is probably close to Val375 in helix XI. Since Lys377 is close to Val375, it is possible that Asp124 may interact with Lys377 to form a salt bridge.

Mutants of Citrobacter freundii that transport and utilize melibiose

We have isolated mutants of Citrobacter freundii that can grow on melibiose. Inducible alpha-galactosidase activity and melibiose transport activity were detected in the mutant cells but not in the wild-type cells. We detected a DNA region which hybridized with melB (the gene for the melibiose transporter) DNA of Escherichia coli in the chromosomal DNA of wild-type C. freundii. Protons, but not sodium ions, were found to be the coupling cations for melibiose (and methyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside) transport in the mutant cells.

A new Na+/H+ antiporter, NhaD, of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

A gene encoding an Na+/H+ antiporter was cloned from chromosomal DNA of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a slightly halophilic bacterium, and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The gene enabled mutant E. coli cells, which were unable to grow in the presence of 10 mM LiCl (or 0.2 M NaCl) because of the lack of major Na+(Li+)/H+ antiporters, to grow under such conditions. We detected Na+/H+ antiport activity due to the gene in membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli cells that harbored the plasmid carrying the gene. Li+ was also a substrate for this antiporter. Activity of this antiporter was pH-dependent with highest activity at pH 8.5 to 9 and no activity at 7.0 to 7.5. Restriction mapping and a Southern blot analysis revealed that the cloned gene was different from the nhaA and the nhaB of V. parahaemolyticus. We designated the gene nhaD. The gene was sequenced, and the amino acid sequence of the NhaD protein was deduced. The NhaD is a unique Na+/H+ antiporter with respect to the primary structure compared with known Na+/H+ antiporters.

Mutational analysis of amiloride sensitivity of the NhaA Na+/H+ antiporter from Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The activity of the NhaA Na+/H+ antiporter of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is inhibited by amiloride. We found an amino acid sequence in the NhaA that was identical to a putative amiloride binding domain of the Na+/H+ exchanger in mammalian cells. We constructed mutant NhaAs that had amino acid substitutions in the putative amiloride binding domain by site-directed mutagenesis. These include V62L (Val62 replaced by Leu), F63Y, F64Y, and L65F. Most mutant NhaAs showed decreased sensitivity for amiloride. Among these, the F64Y mutant NhaA showed the least amiloride sensitivity, with a Ki value 7 to 10 times greater than that in the wild type. Thus, the sequence between residues V62 and L65 in NhaA, especially F64, is very important for the inhibitory effect of amiloride on the antiporter.

Sequence of a melibiose transporter gene of Enterobacter cloacae

We cloned a fragment of the chromosomal DNA of Enterobacter cloacae, which enabled a melibiose-negative Escherichia coli mutant lacking melB to grow on melibiose as the sole source of carbon. Transformed cells harboring the hybrid plasmid carrying the cloned DNA showed melibiose transport activity. The nucleotide sequence of the DNA region was determined. One complete open reading frame (ORF) and a part of another ORF were found in the region, and the amino acid sequences were deduced. The complete ORF was found to encode a melibiose transporter which consisted of 425 amino acid residues. Hydropathy analysis revealed that there are about 12 hydrophobic domains in this transporter. The incomplete ORF which exists in the upstream region of the transporter gene seemed to encode an alpha-galactosidase.

A melibiose transporter and an operon containing its gene in Enterobacter cloacae

We detected inducible melibiose transport activity in cells of Enterobacter cloacae IID977. H+, but not Na+, was found to be the coupling cation for this transporter. We cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the melibiose transporter. A homology search of a protein sequence database revealed that this melibiose transporter has high sequence similarity with the lactose transporter (LacY) and the raffinose transporter (RafB) and has some similarity with the melibiose transporter (MelB) of Escherichia coli.

Characteristics of the melibiose transporter and its primary structure in Enterobacter aerogenes

Cells of Enterobacter aerogenes can grow on melibiose as a sole source of carbon. This suggests the presence of melibiose operon in this organism. We found that E. aerogenes cells possess both alpha-galactosidase activity and melibiose transport activity, which were induced by melibiose. Neither Na+ nor Li+ stimulated the melibiose transport. However, transport of methyl-beta-thiogalactoside (TMG) was stimulated by Li+ but not by Na+. These findings suggest that the major coupling cation for the melibiose transporter in E. aerogenes is H+. In fact, we observed H+ entry into cells caused by an influx of melibiose and some of its analogs. We cloned the melB gene which encodes the melibiose transporter, and sequenced it. Deduced amino acid sequence of the transporter revealed that the melibiose transporter consists of 471 amino acid residues and the molecular weight was calculated to be 52214 Da. The sequence showed high homology with the sequences of the melibiose transporters of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Higher homology was found with the melibiose transporter of K. pneumoniae than with that of E. coli and S. typhimurium.

Inhibition of melibiose transporter by amiloride in Escherichia coli

Amiloride inhibited the active transport of melibiose via the melibiose transporter in Escherichia coli. Since amiloride is known to inhibit the Na+/H+ antiporter which is essential for the establishment of an electrochemical potential of Na+ that is the driving force for melibiose transport, we tested the effect of amiloride on the activity of the melibiose transporter itself. Amiloride inhibited the melibiose counterflow. Also, inhibition of Na+ uptake induced by melibiose influx and some inhibition of H+ uptake induced by melibiose influx were observed. These results indicate that amiloride directly inhibits the melibiose transporter, perhaps by competing with Na+. It seems that the Na+ binding site and the H+ binding site in the melibiose transporter are somehow different from each other judging from the difference in the inhibition pattern of amiloride.

Primary structure and properties of the Na+/glucose symporter (Sg1S) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Previously, we cloned and sequenced a DNA fragment from Vibrio parahaemolyticus and found four open reading frames (ORFs). Here, we clearly demonstrate that one of the ORFs, ORF1, is the gene (sglS) encoding a Na+/glucose symporter (SglS). We characterize the Na+/glucose symporter produced in Escherichia coli mutant (JM1100) cells which lack original glucose transport activity and galactose transport activity. We also show that phlorizin, a potent inhibitor of the SGLT1 Na+/glucose symporter of animal cells, inhibited glucose transport, but not galactose transport, via the SglS system.

Cation effects on protein conformation and transport in the Na+/glucose cotransporter

Cation-driven cotransporters are essential membrane proteins in procaryotes and eucaryotes, which use the energy of the transmembrane electrochemical gradient to drive transport of a substrate against its concentration gradient. Do they share a common mechanism? Cation selectivity of the rabbit isoform of the Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) was examined using the twoelectrode voltage clamp and the Xenopus oocyte expression system. The effect of H+, Li+, and Na+ on kinetics of SGLT1 was compared to the effects of these cations on the bacterial melibiose. In SGLT1, substitution of H+ or Li+ for Na+ caused a kinetic penalty in that the apparent affinity for sugar (K0.5sugar) decreased by an order of magnitude or more (from 0.2 to 30 mM) depending on the membrane potential and cation. The effect of the cation on the K0.5sugar/V profiles was independent of the sugar for glucose and alpha-methyl-beta-D-glucose; this profile was maintained for galactose in Li+ and Na+, but was 2 orders of magnitude higher in H+, but the Imax for glucose, galactose, and alpha-methyl-beta-D-glucose in a given cation were identical. Li+ supported a lower maximal rate of transport (Imax) than Na+ (approximately 80% of ImaxNa), while the Imax in H+ was higher than Na+ (>/=180% of ImaxNa). Our interpretation of these results and simulations using a six-state mathematical model, are as follows. 1) Binding of the cation causes a conformational change in the sugar binding pocket, the exact conformation being determined by the specific cation. 2) Once the sugar is bound, it is transported at a characteristic rate determined by the cation. 3) Mathematical simulations suggest that the largest contribution to the kinetic variability of both cation and sugar transport is associated with cation binding. Similarity to the effects of cation substitution in MelB suggests that the mechanism of energy coupling has been evolutionarily conserved.

Alteration of Na(+)-coupled transport in site-directed mutants of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

Asn-58 of the Escherichia coli melibiose carrier was replaced by Ala, Leu, Ser, and Gln. Trp-54 was replaced by Leu and a double mutant Leu-54/Ala-58 was constructed using site-directed mutagenesis. Cation/sugar cotransport and sugar-induced cation uptake were studied for each mutant. The change of Asn-58 to Ala results in a nearly complete loss of Na(+)-stimulated galactoside transport as well as sugar-stimulated Na+ uptake. Substitutions of Leu, Gln, and Ser for Asn-58 were also defective in Na(+)-stimulated sugar transport. The Trp-54 to Leu mutant shows moderate sugar accumulation with cation selectivity similar to wild-type. The double mutant Leu-54/Ala-58 shows elevated H(+)-melibiose cotransport as well as reduced Na(+)-stimulated melibiose cotransport. These results suggest that Asn-58 is important for Na+ recognition.

Properties of a Na+/galactose (glucose) symport system in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

We have investigated galactose transport in a mutant strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that lacks a glucose-PTS (phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system) and a trehalose-PTS. Cells of the V. parahaemolyticus actively transported D-galactose and Na+ greatly stimulated the transport. Maximum stimulation of D-galactose transport activity was observed at 10mM NaCl, and Na+ could be replaced with Li+. Addition of galactose to the cell suspension under anaerobic conditions elicited Na+ uptake. Therefore, we conclude that this organism accomplishes galactose transport by a Na+/solute symport mechanism. Judging from inhibition results, D-galactose, D-glucose and to a lesser extent alpha-D-fucose are substrates of this transport system. The Na+/galactose symport system exhibited a high affinity for D-galactose (Km: 40 microM) and showed a relatively lower affinity for D-glucose (Km: 420 microM), but the maximum velocities for galactose and glucose transport were almost same (about 52 nmol/min per mg protein). The Na+/D-galactose symport system was induced by either D-galactose or alpha-D-fucose, and repressed by D-glucose.

Repressible cation-phosphate symporters in Neurospora crassa

The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa possesses two nonhomologous high-affinity phosphate permeases, PHO-4 and PHO-5. We have isolated separate null mutants of these permeases, allowing us to study the remaining active transporter in vivo in terms of phosphate uptake and sensitivity to inhibitors. The specificity for the cotransported cation differs for PHO-4 and PHO-5, suggesting that these permeases employ different mechanisms for phosphate translocation. Phosphate uptake by PHO-4 is stimulated 85-fold by the addition of Na+, which supports the idea that PHO-4 is a Na(+)-phosphate symporter. PHO-5 is unaffected by Na+ concentration but is much more sensitive to elevated pH than is PHO-4. Presumably, PHO-5 is a H(+)-phosphate symporter. Na(+)-coupled symport is usually associated with animal cells. The finding of such a system in a filamentous fungus is in harmony with the idea that the fungal and animal kingdoms are more closely related to each other than either is to the plant kingdom.

Characterization of a glucose transport system in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Cells of a glucose-PTS (phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system)-negative mutant of Vibrio parahaemolyticus transport D-glucose in the presence of Na+. Maximum stimulation of D-glucose transport was observed at 40 mM NaCl, and Na+ could be replaced partially with Li+. Addition of D-glucose to the cell suspension under anaerobic conditions elicited Na+ uptake. Thus, we conclude that glucose is transported by a Na+/glucose symport mechanism. Calculated Vmax and Km values for the Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transport were 15 nmol/min/mg of protein and 0.57 mM, respectively, when NaCl was added at 40 mM. Na+ lowered the Km value without affecting the Vmax value. D-Glucose was the best substrate for this transport system, followed by galactose, alpha-D-fucose, and methyl-alpha-glucoside, judging from the inhibition pattern of the glucose transport. D-Glucose itself partly repressed the transport system when cells were grown in its presence.

Escherichia coli is able to grow with negligible sodium ion extrusion activity at alkaline pH

The Escherichia coli mutant NM81, which is deficient in the nhaA gene for the sodium/proton antiporter, still has a sodium ion extrusion activity because of a second antiporter encoded by nhaB (E. Padan, N. Maisler, D. Taglicht, R. Karpel, and S. Schuldiner, J. Biol. Chem. 264:20297-20302, 1989). By chance, we have found that E. coli pop6810 already contains a mutation affecting the sodium ion circulation, probably in or near nhaB, and that its delta nhaA mutant, designated RS1, has no sodium ion extrusion activity at alkaline pH. The growth of RS1 was inhibited completely by 0.1 M sodium, whereas growth inhibition of NM81 was observed only at sodium concentrations greater than 0.2 M. RS1 grew at a normal rate in an alkaline medium containing a low sodium concentration. Furthermore, RS1 grew with a negligible proton motive force in the alkaline medium containing carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. The transport activities for proline and serine were not impaired in RS1, suggesting that these transport systems could be driven by the proton motive force at alkaline pH. These findings led us to conclude that the operation of the sodium/proton antiporter is not essential for growth at alkaline pH but that the antiporter is required for maintaining a low internal sodium concentration when the growth medium contains a high concentration of these ions.