Kinetic analysis of simultaneously occurring proton-sorbose symport and passive sorbose transport in Saccharomyces fragilis

Sorbose transport in Saccharomyces fragilis takes place both via an active sugar-H+ symport system and via facilitated diffusion. To establish whether the two modes of transport proceed via the same transporter or via two different carriers, the kinetic consequences of both models were investigated. The kinetic equations for initial transport were derived for three possible reaction sequences with respect to sugar and H+ binding to the symport carrier: random binding and obligatory ordered binding with either sugar or H+ binding first, yielding six sets of kinetic parameters. Analysis of experimental data of sorbose transport in S. fragilis showed the existence of separate carriers for active, sorbose-H+ symport and facilitated diffusion. Furthermore, it could be concluded that the symport carrier shows random binding of sugar and H+. In recent literature, a similar combination of active and passive sugar transport in Rhodotorula gracilis and Chlorella vulgaris was interpreted as two modes of action of the same carrier, viz., active symport via the protonated, and facilitated diffusion via the unprotonated carrier. Analysis of the experimental data according to the criteria presented in this paper showed, however, that this supposition is untenable and that two different carriers must also be involved in these micro-organisms.     

Elution of exocellular enzymes from Saccharomyces fragilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Weimberg, Ralph (Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Peoria, Ill.), and William L. Orton. Elution of exocellular enzymes from Saccharomyces fragilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Bacteriol. 91:1-13. 1966.-Invertase and acid phosphatase are repressible exocellular enzymes in Saccharomyces fragilis and S. cerevisiae. The conditions for eluting these enzymes from both organisms were compared. Either KCl or beta-mercaptoethanol eluted the enzymes from S. fragilis, and the amounts eluted varied quantitatively according to the physiological age of the organism. In addition to eluting enzymatic activity from the cells, these reagents also caused a large increase in the amount of activity that remained associated with the cells of S. fragilis. Invertase and acid phosphatase were not removed from cells of S. cerevisiae by KCl or beta-mercaptoethanol. These enzymes were separated from S. cerevisiae cells only when there was some degree of cell-wall digestion by snail gut fluid.     

Interactions of sodium pentobarbital with D-glucose and L-sorbose transport in human red cells.

Pentobarbital acts as a mixed inhibitor of net D-glucose exit, as monitored photometrically from human red cells. At 30 degrees C the Ki of pentobarbital for inhibition of Vmax of zero-trans net glucose exit is 2.16+/-0.14 mM; the affinity of the external site of the transporter for D-glucose is also reduced to 50% of control by 1. 66+/-0.06 mM pentobarbital. Pentobarbital reduces the temperature coefficient of D-glucose binding to the external site. Pentobarbital (4 mM) reduces the enthalpy of D-glucose interaction from 49.3+/-9.6 to 16.24+/-5.50 kJ/mol (P<0.05). Pentobarbital (8 mM) increases the activation energy of glucose exit from control 54.7+/-2.5 kJ/mol to 114+/-13 kJ/mol (P<0.01). Pentobarbital reduces the rate of L-sorbose exit from human red cells, in the temperature range 45 degrees C-30 degrees C (P<0.001). On cooling from 45 degrees C to 30 degrees C, in the presence of pentobarbital (4 mM), the Ki (sorbose, glucose) decreases from 30.6+/-7.8 mM to 14+/-1.9 mM; whereas in control cells, Ki (sorbose, glucose) increases from 6.8+/-1.3 mM at 45 degrees C to 23.4+/-4.5 mM at 30 degrees C (P<0.002). Thus, the glucose inhibition of sorbose exit is changed from an endothermic process (enthalpy change=+60.6+/-14.7 kJ/mol) to an exothermic process (enthalpy change=-43+/-6.2 7 kJ/mol) by pentobarbital (4 mM) (P<0.005). These findings indicate that pentobarbital acts by preventing glucose-induced conformational changes in glucose transporters by binding to 'non-catalytic' sites in the transporter.     

Determination of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose and mechanism of formation of chromogens.

A method for the colorimetric determination of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose was developed. The procedure is based on the high reactivity of the aldehyde group of this amidosugar with pentane-2,4-dione in anhydrous alkaline conditions. The product of reaction was crystallized and the structure 1-C-acetonyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactitol was deduced from chemical evidence. When the N-acetyl group of this compound is split off by hydrolysis, the formation of pyrrole groups ensues by condensation of the free amino group with the carbonyl group of the chain at C-1. 2-Methylpyrrole was isolated by steam distillation after mild alkaline hydrolysis and estimated by reaction with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. A more complex pyrrole is formed during acid hydrolysis under the conditions used in the direct Ehrlich reaction.     

Allantoin transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Allantoin uptake in both growing and resting cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae occurs by a low-Km (ca. 15 micrometer) transport system that uses energy that is likely generated in the cytoplasm. This conclusion was based on the observation that transport did not occur in the absence of glucose or the presence of dinitrophenol, carbonyl cyanide-m-chloro-phenyl hydrazine, fluoride, or arsenate ions. Normal uptake was observed, however, in the presence of cyanide. The rate of accumulation was maximal at pH 5.2. In contrast to the urea transport system, allantoin uptake appeared to be unidirectional. Preloaded, radioactive allantoin was not lost from cells suspended in allantoin-free buffer and did not exchange with exogenously added, nonradioactive allantoin. Treatment of preloaded cells with nystatin, however, released the accumulated radioactivity. Allantoin accumulated within cells was isolated and shown to be chemically unaltered.     

Proline transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is capable of utilizing proline as the sole source of nitrogen. Mutants of S. cerevisiae with defective proline transport were isolated by selecting for resistance to either of the toxic proline analogs L-azetidine-2-carboxylate or 3,4-dehydro-DL-proline. Strains carrying the put4 mutation are defective in the high-affinity proline transport system. These mutants could still grow when given high concentrations of proline, due to the operation of low-affinity systems whose existence as confirmed by kinetic studies. Both systems were repressed by ammonium ions, and either was induce by proline. Low-affinity transport was inhibited by histidine, so put4 mutants were unable to grow on a medium containing high concentrations of proline to which histidine has been added.     

Allantoate transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Allantoate uptake appears to be mediated by an energy-dependent active transport system with an apparent Michaelis constant of about 50 microM. Cells were able to accumulate allantoate to greater than 3,000 times the extracellular concentration. The rate of accumulation was maximum at pH 5.7 to 5.8. The energy source for allantoate uptake is probably different from that for uptake of the other allantoin pathway intermediates. The latter systems are inhibited by arsenate, fluoride, dinitrophenol, and carboxyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone, whereas allantoate accumulation was sensitive to only dinitrophenol and carboxyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone. Efflux of preloaded allanotate did not occur at detectable levels. However, exchange of intra- and extracellular allantoate was found to occur very slowly. The latter two characteristics are shared with the allantoin uptake system and may result from the sequestering of intracellular allantoate within the cell vacuole. During the course of these studies, we found that, contrary to earlier reports, the reaction catalyzed by allantoinase is freely reversible.     

Myo-inositol transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

myo-Inositol uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was dependent on temperature, time, and substrate concentration. The transport obeyed saturation kinetics with an apparent Km for myo-inositol of 0.1 mM, myo-Inositol analogs, such as scyllo-inositol, 2-inosose, mannitol, and 1,2-cyclohexanediol, had no effect on myo-inositol uptake, myo-Inositol uptake required metabolic energy. Removal of D-glucose resulted in a loss of activity, and azide and cyanide ions were inhibitory. In the presence of D-glucose, myo-inositol was accumulated in the cells against a concentration gradient. A myo-inositol transport mutant was isolated from UV-mutagenized S. cerevisiae cells using the replica-printing technique. The defect in myo-inositol uptake was due to a single nuclear gene mutation. The activities of L-serine and D-glucose transport were not affected by the mutation. Thus it was shown that S. cerevisiae grown under the present culture conditions possessed a single and specific myo-inositol transport system. myo-Inositol transport activity was reduced by the addition of myo-inositol to the culture medium. The activity was reversibly restored by the removal of myo-inositol from the medium. This restoration of activity was completely abolished by cycloheximide.     

Choline transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Choline transport of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was measured by the filtration method with the use of glass microfiber paper. The uptake was time and temperature dependent. The kinetics of choline transport showed Michaelis behavior; an appearent Km for choline was 0.56 microM. N-Methylethanolamine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine, and beta-methylcholine were competitive inhibitors of choline transport, with Ki values of 40.1, 3.1, and 6.9 microM, respectively. Ethanolamine, phosphorylcholine, and various amino acids examined had no effect. Choline transport required metabolic energy; removal of glucose resulted in a great loss of transport activity, and the remaining activity was abolished by 2,4-dinitrophenol, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone, arsenate, and cyanide. External Na+ was not required, and the transport was not effected by ionophores, valinomycin, and gramicidin D. These results indicate that S. cerevisiae possess an active choline transport system mediated by a specific carrier. This view is further supported by the isolation and characterization of a choline transport mutant. The choline transport activity in this mutant was very low, whereas the transport of L-leucine, L-methionine, D-glucose, and myo-inositol was normal. Together with the choline transport mutant, mutants defective in choline kinase were also isolated.