A kinetic analysis of D-xylose transport in Rhodotorula glutinis

The kinetics of D-xylose transport were studied in Rhodotorula glutinis. Analysis of the saturation isotherm revealed the presence of at least two carriers for D-xylose in the Rhodotorula plasma membrane. These two carriers exhibited Km values differing by more than an order of magnitude. The low-Km carrier was repressed in rapidly growing cells and derepressed by starvation of the cells. Several hexoses were observed to inhibit D-xylose transport. In the studies reported here, the inhibitions produced by D-galactose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose were examined in some detail in order to define the interactions of these sugars with the D-xylose carriers. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose competitively inhibited both of the D-xylose carriers. In contrast, only the low-Km carrier was competitively inhibited by D-galactose.