Energy coupling in the uptake of hexose phosphates by Escherichia coli

Several methods were used to study the source of energy in the uptake of hexose phosphates by Escherichia coli K12. The uptake was sensitive to inhibition by agents that affect electron transport, such as lack of oxygen, cyanide, and heptylhydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, and by agents that affect ATP utilization, such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and arsenate. It was also sensitive to uncouplers in the presence of absence of oxygen. The strain of E. coli used extruded protons during respiration. Uncer anaerobic conditions, the uptake of approximately 1 eg to H+ per glucose 6-phosphate. These observations are consistent with a chemiosmotic mechanism of genergized glucose 6-phosphate uptake. The rate of glucose 6-phosphate uptake was maximal in KC1, but was also stimulated by MgC12 or CaC12. Inhibition by A217, a nigericin-like antibiotic, was prevented by K+ whereas valinomycin and gramicidin inhibited in the presence or absence of K+.