Anaerobic transport of amino acids coupled to the glycerol-3-phosphate-fumarate oxidoreductase system in a cytochrome-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli.

The uptake of proline and glutamine by cytochrome-deficient cells of Escherichia coli SASX76 grown aerobically on glucose or anaerobically on pyruvate was stimulated by these two substrates. Pyruvate could not stimulate transport in the glucose-grown cells. Uptake of these amino acids energized by glucose was inhibited by inhibitors of the Ca2+, Mg2+-stimulated ATPase such as DCCD, pyrophosphate, and azide, and by the uncouplers CCCP and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Glycerol (or glycerol 3-phosphate) in the presence of fumarate stimulated the transport of proline and glutamine under anaerobic conditions in cytochrome-deficient cells but not in membrane vesicles prepared from these cells although glycerol 3-phosphate-fumarate oxidoreductase activity could be demonstrated in the vesicle preparation. In contrast, in vesicles prepared from cytochrome-containing cells of E. coli SASX76 amino acid transport was energized under anaerobic conditions by this system. Inhibitors of the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase and uncoupling agents inhibited the uptake of proline and glutamine in cytochrome-deficient cells dependent on the glycerol-fumarate oxidoreductase system. Ferricyanide could replace fumarate as an electron acceptor to permit transport of phenylalanine in cytochrome-deficient or cytochrome-containing cells under anaerobic conditions. It is concluded that in cytochrome-deficient cells using glucose, pyruvate, or glycerol in the presence of fumarate, transport of both proline and glutamine under under anaerobic conditions is energized by ATP through the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase. In cytochrome-containing cells under anaerobic conditions electron transfer between glycerol and fumarate can also drive transport of these amino acids.     

Metabolite transport in mutants of Escherichia coli K12 defective in electron transport and coupled phosphorylation.

1. The uptakes of Pi and serine by whole cells of mutant strains of Escherichia coli K12, grown under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, were studied. 2. Uptake by aerobic cells was low in a ubiquinone-less mutant but normal in two mutant strains unable to couple phosphorylation to electron transport. 3. One of these uncoupled strains, carrying the unc-405 allele, does not form a membrane-bound Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase aggregate, and it is concluded that the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase does not serve a structural role in the aerobic active transport of Pi or serine. 4. The other uncoupled strain, in which aerobic uptake is unaffected, carries a mutation in the uncB gene, thus distinguishing this gene from the etc gene, previously shown to be concerned with the coupling of electron transport to active transport. 5. The uptakes of Pi and serine by anaerobic cells were normal in the ubiquinone-less mutant, but defective in both the uncoupled strains. 6. The uptake of Pi and serine by anaerobic cells of the uncB mutant could be increased by the addition of fumarate to the uptake medium. The unc-405 mutant, however, required the addition of fumarate for growth and for uptake. 7. The uncB mutant, unlike the unc-405 mutant, is able to grow anaerobically in a minimal medium with glucose as sole source of carbon. Similarly a strain carrying a mutation in the frd gene, which is the structural gene for the enzyme fumarate reductase, is able to grow anaerobically in a glucose-minimal medium. However, a mutant strain carrying mutations in both the uncB and frd genes resembles the unc-405 mutant in not being able to grow under these conditions.     

Anaerobic transport of amino acids coupled to the glycerol-3-phosphate-fumarate oxidoreductase system in a cytochrome-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli

The uptake of proline and glutamine by cytochrome-deficient cells of Escherichia coli SASX76 grown aerobically on glucose or anaerobically on pyruvate was stimulated by these two substrates. Pyruvate could not stimulate transport in the glucose-grown cells. Uptake of these amino acids energized by glucose was inhibited by inhibitors of the Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-stimulated ATPase such as DCCD, pyrophosphate, and azide, and by the uncouplers CCCP and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Glycerol (or glycerol 3-phosphate) in the presence of fumarate stimulated the transport of proline and glutamine under anaerobic conditions in cytochrome-deficient cells but not in membrane vesicles prepared from these cells although glycerol 3-phosphate-fumarate oxidoreductase activity could be demonstrated in the vesicle preparation. In contrast, in vesicles prepared from cytochrome-containing cells of E. coli SASX76 amino acid transport was energized under anaerobic conditions by this system. Inhibitors of the Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-activated ATPase and uncoupling agents inhibited the uptake of proline and glutamine in cytochrome-deficient cells dependent on the glycerol-fumarate oxidoreductase system. Ferricyanide could replace fumarate as an electron acceptor to permit transport of phenylalanine in cytochrome-deficient or cytochrome- containing cells under anaerobic conditions. It is concluded that in cytochrome-deficient cells using glucose, pyruvate, or glycerol in the presence of fumarate, transport of both proline and glutamine under anaerobic conditions is energized by ATP through the Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-activated ATPase. In cytochrome-containing cells under anaerobic conditions electron transfer between glycerol and fumarate can also drive transport of these amino acids.     

Oxidative phosphorylation in Escherichia coli K12. An uncoupled mutant with altered membrane structure

1. A new mutant strain (AN228) of Escherichia coli K12, unable to couple phosphorylation to electron transport, has been isolated. The mutant allele (unc-405), in strain AN228, was found to map near the uncA and uncB genes at about minute 74 on the E. coli genome. 2. A transductant strain (AN285) carrying the unc-405 allele is similar to the uncA and uncB mutants described previously in that it is unable to grow on succinate, gives a low aerobic yield on limiting concentrations of glucose, has a normal rate of electron transport, is unable to couple phosphorylation to electron transport, and lacks ATP-dependent transhydrogenase activity. 3. Strain AN285 (unc-405) is similar to an uncA mutant, but different from an uncB mutant, in that it is unable to grow anaerobically in a glucose-mineral-salts medium, and membrane preparations do not have Mg(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity. 4. Strain AN285 (unc-405) does not form an aggregate analogous to the membrane-bound Mg(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase aggregate found in normal cells. In this respect it differs from strain AN249 (uncA(-)), which forms an inactive membrane-bound Mg(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase aggregate.     

Energetics of galactose,proline, and glutamine transport in a cytochrome-deficient mutant of salmonella typhimurium

The effect of inhibitors and uncouplers on the osmotic shock-sensitive transport systems for glutamine and galactose (by the β-methyl galactoside permease) was compared to their effect on the osmotic shock-resistant proline and galactose permease systems in cytochrome-deficient cells of Salmonella typhimurium SASY28. Both osmotic shock-sensitive and -resistant systems were sensitive to uncouplers and to inhibitors of the membrane-bound Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-activated adenosine triphosphatase. This suggests that uptake by both types of systems is energized in these cells by an electrochemical gradient of protons formed by ATP hydrolysis through the ATPase.     

Energy coupling in the active transport of proline and glutamate by the photosynthetic halophile Ectothiorhodospira halophila.

When illuminated, washed cell suspensions of Ectothiorhodospira halophila carry out a concentrative uptake of glutamate or proline. Dark-exposed cells accumulate glutamate but not proline. Proline transport was strongly inhibited by carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), a proton permeant that uncouples photophosphorylation, and by 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-n-oxide (HQNO), an inhibitor of photosynthetic electron transport. A stimulation of proline uptake was effected by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), an inhibitor of membrane adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) which catalyzes the phosphorylation. These findings suggest that the driving force for proline transport is the proton-motive force established during photosynthetic electron transport. Glutamate uptake in the light was inhibited by CCCP and HQNO, but to a lesser extent than was the proline system. DCCD caused a mild inhibition of glutamate uptake in the light, but strongly inhibited the uptake by dark-exposed cells. CCCP strongly inhibited glutamate uptake in the dark. The light-dependent transport of glutamate is apparently driven by the proton-motive force established during photosynthetic electron transport. Hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by membrane ATPase apparently establishes the proton-motive force to drive the light-independent transport. These conclusions were supported by demonstrating that light- or dark-exposed cells accumulate [3H]triphenylmethylphosphonium, a lipid-soluble cation. Several lines of indirect evidence indicated that the proline system required higher levels of energy than did the glutamate system(s). This could explain why ATP hydrolysis does not drive proline transport in the dark. Membrane vesicles were prepared by the sonic treatment of E. halophila spheroplasts. The vesicles contained active systems for the uptake of proline and glutamate.     

Energy coupling in the active transport of amino acids by bacteriohodopsin-containing cells of Halobacterium holobium.

Growth of Halobacterium halobium under illumination with limiting aeration induces bacteriorhodopsin formation and renders the cells capable of photophosphorylation. Cells depleted of endogenous reserves by a starvation treatment were used to investigate the means by which energy is coupled to the active transport of [14C]proline, -leucine, and -histidine. Proline was readily accumulated by irradiated cells under anaerobiosis even when the photophosphorylation was abolished by the adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodimiide (DCCD). The uptake of proline in the dark was limited except when the cells were allowed to accumulate adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) by prior light exposure or by the oxidation of glycerol. DCCD inhibited this dark uptake. These findings essentially support Mitchell's chemiosmotic theory of active transport. The driving force is apparently the proton-motive force developed when protons are extruded from irradiated bacteriorhodopsin or by the dydrolysis of ATP by membrane adenosine triphosphatase. Carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), a proton permeant known to abolish membrane potential, was a strong inhibitor of proline uptake. Leucine transport was also apparently driven by proton-motive force, although its kinetic properties differed from the proline system. Histidine transport is apparently not a chemiosmotic system. Dark- or light-exposed cells show comparable initial rats of histidine uptake, and these processes were only partially inhibited by DCCD or CCCP. The histidine system apparently does not utilize ATP per se since comparable rates of uptake were exhibited by cells of differing intracellular ATP levels. Irradiated cells did effect a greater total accumulation of histidine than dark-exposed cells. These findings suggest that ATP is needed for sustained transport.     

Mutant of Escherichia coli defective in response to colicin K and in active transport.

A mutant of Escherichia coli has been isolated that grows poorly on succinate and exhibits a markedly reduced sensitivity to colicin K. This mutant is also deficient in the respiration-linked transport of proline and thiomethyl-beta-D-galactoside but appears normal for the adenosine triphosphate-dependent transport of glutamine and arginine. A temperature-conditional revertant of the mutant grows on succinate and is sensitive to colicin K at 27 C, but fails to grow on succinate and is insensitive to colicin K at 42 C. Proline transport in the temperature-conditional revertant is reduced at 42 C when either glucose or succinate is used as energy source. Glutamine transport, on the other hand, is normal at 42 C with glucose as energy source, but is reduced with succinate, although not to the same extent as is proline transport. The lack of growth on succinate and the deficiencies in transport at 42 C are not due to a temperature-dependent lesion in either the electron transport chain or in Ca2+, Mg2+-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity. Membrane vesicles prepared from the temperature-conditional revertant are impaired in proline transport at both 27 and 42 C. These findings suggest the existence in the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli cells of a component, presumably protein, that is required for colicin K action and that functions in respiration-linked and, to a lesser degree, in adenosine triphosphate-dependent active transport systems. This protein may serve as the primary target of colicin K action.     

Role of lithium ions in proline transport in Escherichia coli.

Mechanisms of Li+ stimulation of proline transport were studied in cells of Escherichia coli 7 and NR70, a mutant of strain 7 lacking adenosine triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3). An electrochemical potential difference of Li+ induced in an inward direction of energy-depleted cells caused a transient uptake of proline depending on the driving force provided. When proline was added to unbuffered cell suspensions under anaerobic conditions, the medium was found to be acidified only in the presence of Li+ but not in the presence of Na+ or K+. This acidification was abolished by the addition of a permeant anion, SCN-, to the medium containing Li+, but this was not demonstrated with cells of a mutant strain deficient in a carrier protein specific for proline. These results support the assumption that proline is taken up by a mechanism of Li+-proline cotransport in E. coli.     

Genetic complementation between two mutant unc alleles (unc A401 and unc D409) affecting the Fl portion of the magnesium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli K12.

A new mutant strain of Escherichia coli in which phosphorylation is uncoupled from electron transport was isolated. A genetic-complementation analysis, using partial diploid strains, showed that the new mutant allele, uncD409, is in a gene distinct from the other previously identified genes uncA, uncB and uncC. A strain carrying the uncd409 allele has no Mg2+ ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity and is therefore phenotypically similar to strains carrying the uncA401 mutant allele. Complementation between the uncA401 and the uncD409 alleles occurred, as indicated by growth of partial diploid strains on succinate and their growth yields on limiting concentrations of glucose. Complementation was confirmed by using membranes prepared from the above partial diploids. Such membranes were found to have Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity, ATP-dependent transhydrogenase activity ADP-induced atebrin-fluorescence quenching and low but significant amounts of oxidative phosphorylation.     

Transport of vitamin B12 in Escherichia coli: energy dependence.

This paper presents some evidence that the osmotic shock-sensitive, energy-dependent transfer of vitamin B12 from outer membrane receptor sites into the interior of cells of Escherichia coli requires an energized inner membrane, without obligatory intermediation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). The experiments measured the effects of glucose, D-lactate, anaerobiosis, arsenate, cyanide, and 2,4-dinitrophenol upon the rates of B12 transport by starved cells of E. coli KBT001, which possesses a functional Ca2+, Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Ca,MgATPase), and of E. coli AN120, which lacks this enzyme. Both strains were able to utilize glucose and D-lactate aerobically to potentiate B12 transport, indicating that the Ca,MgATPase was not essential for this process. When respiratory electron transport was blocked, either by cyanide or by anaerobic conditions, and the primary source of energy for the cells was presumably ATP from glucose fermentation, the rate of B12 transport was much reduced in E. coli AN120 but not in E.coli KBT001. These results support the view that the CaMgATPase can play a role in B12 transport but only when the energy for this process must be derived from ATP. The results of experiments with arsenate also supported the conclusion that the generation of phosphate bond energy was not absolutely required for B12 transport.     

Characterization of the mutant-unc D-gene product in a strain of Escherichia coli K12. An altered beta-subunit of the magnesium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase.

Membranes from a mutant strain of Escherichia coli K12 carrying the uncD409 allele were washed in low-ionic-strength buffers in the presence or absence of the proteinase inhibitor p-aminobenzamidine. Unlike membranes from a normal strain, those from strain AN463 (uncD409) did not become proton-permeable, as judged by NADH-induced atebrinfluorescence quenching, when the membranes were washed in the absence of p-aminobenzamide. Furthermore, ATP-dependent atebrin-fluorscence quenching in such washed membranes could not be reconstituted by the addition of solubilized Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase preparations. The examination by two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the polypeptide composition of the washed membranes from strain AN463 (uncD409) indicated the presence of a polypeptide of similar molecular weight to the normal beta-subunit of the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase, but with an altered isoelectric point. Both the normal and abnormal beta-subunits were identified in membranes prepared from a partial diploid strain carrying both the unc+ and uncD409 alleles. It is concluded that the uncD gene codes for the beta-subunit of the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase.     

Oxidative phosphorylation in Escherichia coli K 12. Mutations affecting magnesium ion- or calcium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase

1. Two mutants of Escherichia coli K 12 were isolated which, although able to grow on glucose, are unable to grow with succinate or d-lactate as the sole source of carbon. 2. Genetic mapping of these mutants showed that they both contain a mutation in a gene (designated uncA) mapping at about minute 73.5 on the E. coli chromosome. 3. The uncA(-) alleles were transferred by bacteriophage-mediated transduction into another strain of E. coli and the transductants compared with the parent strain to determine the nature of the biochemical lesion in the mutants. 4. The mutants gave low aerobic growth yields when grown on limiting concentrations of glucose, but oxidase activities in membranes from both the mutants and the normal strain were similar. 5. Measurement of P/O ratios with d-lactate as substrate indicated that a mutation in the uncA gene causes uncoupling of phosphorylation associated with electron transport. 6. Determination of the Mg(2+),Ca(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activities in the mutant and normal strains indicated that the uncA gene is probably the structural gene for Mg(2+),Ca(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase. 7. Mg(2+),Ca(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase therefore appears to be essential for oxidative phosphorylation in E. coli.     

Exclusion of Induced Bacteriophage from Cells of a Lysogenic Bacillus megaterium Committed to Sporulation

In Escherichia coli ML 308-225, d-ribose is transported into the cell by a constitutive active transport system of high activity. The activity of this transport system is severely reduced in cells subjected to osmotic shock, and the system is not present in membrane vesicles. The mechanism by which metabolic energy is coupled to transport of ribose was investigated. Substrates which generate adenosine 5'-triphosphate primarily through oxidative phosphorylation are poor energy sources for ribose uptake in DL-54, a mutant of ML 308-225 which lacks activity for the membrane-bound Ca(2+), Mg(2+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase required for oxidative phosphorylation. Arsenate severely inhibits ribose uptake, whereas, under the same conditions, uptake of l-proline is relatively insensitive to arsenate. Anaerobiosis does not significantly inhibit ribose uptake in ML 308-225 or DL-54 when glucose is the energy source. A significant amount of ribose uptake is resistant to uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation such as 2,4-dinitrophenol. These results indicate that the phosphate bond energy of adenosine 5'-triphosphate, rather than an energized membrane state, couples energy to ribose transport in ML 308-225.     

K+-independent active transport of Na+ by the (Na+ and K+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase

The (Na+ and K+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+)-ATPase) from canine kidney reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles showed an ATP-dependent, ouabain-inhibited uptake of 22Na+ in the absence of added K+. This transport occurred against a Na+ concentration gradient, was not affected by increasing the K+ concentration to 10 microM (four times the endogenous level), and could not be explained in terms of Na+in in equilibrium Na+out exchange. K+-independent transport occurred with a stoichiometry of 0.5 mol of Na+ per mol of ATP hydrolyzed as compared with 2.9 mol of Na+ per mol of ATP for K+-dependent transport.     

Energetics of glycylglycine transport in Escherichia coli

The transport system for glycylglycine in Escherichia coli behaves like a shock-sensitive transport system. The initial rate of transport is reduced 85% by subjecting whole cells to osmotic shock, and glycylglycine is not transported by membrane vesicles. The energetics of transport was studied with strain ML 308-225 and its mutant DL-54, which is deficient in Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-stimulated adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3) activity. It is concluded that active transport of glycylglycine, like other shock-sensitive transport systems, has an obligatory requirement for phosphate bond energy, but not for respiration or the energized state of the membrane. The major evidence for this conclusion is as follows. (i) Uptake of glycylglycine is severely inhibited by arsenate. (ii) Oxidizable energy sources such as d-lactate, succinate, and ascorbate, which is mediated by N-methylphenazinium methylsulfate, cannot serve as energy sources for the transport of glycylglycine in DL-54, which lacks oxidative phosphorylation. (iii) When energy is supplied only from adenosine-5'-triphosphate produced by glycolysis (anaerobic transport assays with glucose as the energy source in DL-54), substantial uptake of glycylglycine is observed. (iv) When the Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase activity is absent but substrate-level phosphorylations and electron transport are operating (glucose as the energy source in DL-54), transport of glycylglycine shows significant resistance to the uncouplers, dinitrophenol and carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone.     

Stimulation of proline transport by cupric ion in membrane vesicles from Mycobacterium phlei.

Membrane vesicles of M. phlei actively take up proline in the absence of exogenously provided electron donors. Evidence is provided that endogenous transport is coupled to the oxidation-reduction of low-potential electron carriers, but does not involve the cytochromes. The endogenous transport was found to be enhanced under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions by the addition of certain artificial electron acceptors such as Cu²⁺.     

Proton translocation in cytochrome-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli.

Cytochrome-deficient cells of a strain of Escherichia coli lacking 5-amino-levulinate synthetase have been used to study proton translocation associated with the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase region of the electron transport chain. Menadione was used as electron acceptor, and mannitol was used as the substrate for the generation of intracellular NADH. The effects of iron deficiency on NADH- and D-lactate-menadione reductase activities were studied in iron-deficient cells of a mutant strain unable to synthesize the iron chelator enterochelin; both activities were reduced. The NADH- menadione reductase activity in cytochrome-deficient cells was associated with proton translocation and could be coupled to the uptake of proline. However proton translocation associated with the NADH-menadione reductase activity was prevented by a mutation in an unc gene. It was concluded that there is no proton translocation associated with the NADH-dehydrogenase region of the electron transport chain in E. coli and that the proton translocation obtained with mannitol as substrate is due to the activity of membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatase.     

Energy-dependence of calcium accumulation during sporulation of Bacillus megaterium KM.

Ca2+ accumulation and endogenous respiration of sporulating Bacillus megaterium are inhibited to the same extent by electron-transport of inhibitors and the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, suggesting that Ca2+ is accumulated by an active transport process. Forespores isolated in stage V of sporulation demonstrated Ca2+-specific carrier-mediated Ca2+ uptake, consistent with downhill transfer [Hogarth & Ellar (1978) Biochem. J. 176, 197-203]. In the present studies forespore Ca2+ uptake was unaffected by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and by concentrations of respiratory inhibitor that inhibited forespore endogenous respiration by 85%. These data suggest that Ca2+ enters the isolated forespore by facilitated diffusion. Ca2+ uptake into sporulating protoplasts was completely inhibited by concentrations of respiratory inhibitors that had no effect on either Ca2+ uptake or respiration of stage-V forespores, but which resulted in inhibition of mother-cell membrane NADH oxidase. These results indicate that the mother-cell membrane is a site for active transport of Ca2+ into the sporulating cell. The effects of the adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide on mother-cell membrane adenosine triphosphatase, NADH oxidase and protoplast Ca2+ uptake were examined.     

Anisakis simplex: uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in the muscle mitochondria of infected fish

Adenosine triphosphatase activity stimulated by Mg2+ was greater in muscle mitochondria of fish infected with larval Anisakis simplex nematodes than in uninfected fish. When muscle mitochondria were isolated in a sucrose ethylene-glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid medium from fresh uninfected fish, they were loosely coupled, and their adenosine triphosphatase activity was comparable to that of mitochondria from rat tissue. Activity in infected fish was dose dependent, increasing with the number of worms per fish. Excretory secretory products or a cytoplasmic fraction of anisakines, when incubated with coupled rat mitochondria, also caused adenosine triphosphatase activity to increase. Storage of fish flesh caused an increase in adenosine triphosphatase activity, but such aging was not significant until 5 and 10 days after death in refrigerated and frozen samples, respectively. The Mg2+ stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity of muscle mitochondria can be used to estimate the number of nematodes per market fish. The type of medium used to isolate the mitochondria is crucial in such studies; an ionic medium with Nagarse proteinase was optimal for fish muscle mitochondria.