| Abstract: | Inverted membrane vesicles prepared from Vibrio alginolyticus generated a membrane potential (positive inside) and accumulated Na+ by the oxidation of NADH. Generation of the membrane potential required Na+ and was inhibited by 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, a specific inhibitor of the Na+-dependent NADH oxidase. Collapse of the membrane potential by valinomycin stimulated the uptake of Na+. In contrast, accumulation of H+ was not detected under all the conditions tested. These results suggest that only Na+ is translocated by the Na+-dependent NADH oxidase of V. alginolyticus. |
