Characterization of glutamate transport system in hydrophobic protein (H protein) of Bacillus subtilis

Hydrophobic protein (H protein) was isolated from membrane fractions of Bacillus subtilis and constituted into artificial membrane vesicles with lipid of B. substilis. Glutamate was accumulated into the vesicle when a Na+ gradient across the membrane was imposed. The maximum effect of Na+ on the transport was achieved at a concentration of about 40 mM, while the apparent Km for Na+ was approximately 8 mM. On the other hand, Km for glutamate in the presence of 50 mM Na+ was about 8 micro M. Increasing the concentration of Na+ resulted in a decrease in Km for glutamate, maximum velocity was not affected. The transport was sensitive to monensin (Na+ ionophore). Glutamate was also accumulated when pH gradient (interior alkaline) across the membrane was imposed or a membrane potential was induced with K+-diffusion potential. The pH gradient-driven glutamate transport was sensitive to carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and the apparent Km for glutamate was approximately 25 microM. These results indicate that two kinds of glutamate transport system were present in H protein: one is Na+ dependent and the other is H+ dependent.