Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Determination of Thermodynamic Properties of Alkaline Earth-liquid Metal Alloys Using the Electromotive Force Technique
Published on: November 3, 2017
The comparative uptake of Ba2+ and other alkaline earth metals by plant mitochondria
1The Department of Botany, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Abstract:
(1) The transport of Ba2+ by mung bean (Phaseolus aureus L) mitochondria is examined and its uptake properties compared with the accumulation of other alkaline earth metals by plant mitochondria. Uptake is supported by oxidizable substrates but not by ATP under the conditions examined. Ba2+ uptake shows an absolute requirement for Pi, whereas AsO4, acetate and oxalate do not replace Pi. ATP synthesis inhibits Ba2+ uptake 50% and both 2,4-dinitrophenol and valinomycin plus K+ inhibit uptake over 80%. (2) The relative capacity to transport a series of alkaline earth metals showed a preferred order of: Sr2+ > Ca2+ > Ba2+ >> Mg2+. Mitochondria isolated from three plant sources showed net levels of Mg2+ uptake 7% or less than the observed Sr2+ uptake values. The same relative order of alkaline earth metal supported uptake of Pi was observed with bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) mitochondria. It is suggested that salt transport in plant mitochondria involves a carrier complex which binds both divalent cations and Pi.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Overview of Metabolism
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
The Calvin Benson Cycle
ATP Driven Pumps I: An Overview
There are four main types of ATP-driven pumps - P-type, V-type, F-type, and ABC transporter. All these pumps are of varying complexities and are...
Short-distance Transport of Resources
The ADP/ATP Carrier Protein

