[Energy-dependent transport of tetraphenylphosphonium ions in Staphylococcus aureus]

Transmembrane potential differences on the membrane of staphylococci were measured using tetraphenylphosphonium selective electrodes. When rising pH from 6.0 to 8.0 the transmembrane potential difference values vary from -118 to -155 mV. At 37 degrees C glucose exerts at first a hyperpolarizable and then a depolarizable effect. At the temperature below 27 degrees C its evokes only membrane hyperpolarization. The depolarizable effect of gramicidin is observed at all the studied temperatures.