Abstract
Nitrosomonas europaea is capable of incorporating exogenously supplied amino acids. Studies in whole cells revealed that at least eight amino acids are actively accumulated, probably by the action of three different transport systems, each with high affinity (μ molar range) for several amino acids. Evidence for the action of secondary mechanisms of transport was obtained from efflux, counterflow and exchange experiments. More detailed information was obtained from studies in liposomes in which solubilized integral membrane proteins of N. europaea were incorporated. Uptake of l-alanine in these liposomes could be driven by artificially imposed pH gradients and electrical potentials, but not by chemical sodium-ion gradients. These observations indicate that l-alanine is transported by a H+/alanine symport system. The ecological significance of secondary amino acid transport systems in autotrophic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bhandari B, Nicholas DJD (1979) Ammonia, O2 uptake and proton extrusion by spheroplasts of Nitrosomonas europaea. FEMS Microbiol Lett 6: 297–300
Clark C, Schmidt EL (1966) Effect of mixed culture on Nitrosomonas europaea simulated by uptake and utilisation of pyruvate. J Bacteriol 91: 367–373
Clark C, Schmidt EL (1967a) Growth response of Nitrosomonas europaea to amino acids. J Bacteriol 93: 1302–1308
Clark C, Schmidt EL (1967b) Uptake and utilisation of amino acids by resting cells of Nitrosomonas europaea. J Bacteriol 93: 1309–1315
Frijlink MJ, Abee T, Laanbroek HJ, Boer W de, Konings WN (1992) The bioenergetics of ammonia and hydroxylamine oxidation in Nitrosomonas europaea at acid and alkaline pH. Arch Microbiol 157: 194–199
Kaback HR (1971) Bacterial membranes. In: (Jacoby W ed.) Methods in enzymology, Vol 22. Academic Press, New York, pp. 99–120
Kumar S, Nicholas DJD (1983) Proton electrochemical gradients in washed cells of Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter agilis. J Bacteriol 154: 65–71
Lowry OH, Rosenbrough NJ, Farr AL, Randal RJ (1951) Protein measurements with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193: 265–275
Smith PK, Krohn RI, Hermanson GT, Mallia AK, Gartner FH, Provenzano MD, Fujimoto EK, Olson BJ, Klenk DC (1985) Measurement of protein using bicinchoninic acid. Anal Biochem 150: 76–85
Varadhachary A, Maloney PC (1990) A rapid method for reconstitution of bacterial membrane proteins. Mol Microbiol 4: 1407–1411
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frijlink, M.J., Abee, T., Laanbroek, H.J. et al. Secondary transport of amino acids in Nitrosomonas europaea . Arch. Microbiol. 157, 389–393 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248686
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248686