Uptake of glutamate in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Abstract

The inducible glutamate uptake system in Corynebacterium glutamicum (Krämer, R., Lambert, C., Hoischen, C. & Ebbighausen, H., preceding paper in this journal) was characterized with respect to its mechanism and energy coupling. All possible secondary active uptake mechanisms can be excluded. Glutamate transport is not coupled to the translocation of H + , Na + or K + ions. Although changes in membrane potential and uptake activity cannot completely be separated, no correlation between these two parameters is observed. The uptake of glutamate resembles a primary active, ATP‐dependent transport mechanism in several respects. (a) The substrate affinity is very high (1.3 μM). (b) Accumulation of glutamate reaches values of greater than 2 · 10 5 , at least as high as those reported for binding‐protein‐dependent systems in Gram‐negative bacteria. (c) The uptake is unidirectional. Even after complete deenergization, the accumulation ratio was not significantly reduced. (d) The rate of glutamate uptake is directly correlated to the cytosolic ATP content and also to the ATP/ADP ratio. This is shown by varying internal ATP by different procedures applying inhibitors (NaCN, dicyclohexyl carbodiimide), uncouplers (carbonyl m ‐chlorophenylhydrazone), ionophores (valinomycin), and even by shifting the cells to anaerobiosis. Uptake is not promoted by cytosolic ATP levels below 1.5 mM, the maximum uptake rate is reached at 4–5 mM ATP.