Evaluation of active versus passive uptake of metabolites by Rhizobium japonicum bacteroids

Rhizobium japonicum bacteroids were isolated anaerobically from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] nodules. The bacteroids, which were capable of acetylene reduction and respiration, were used to study the uptake of metabolites by a method which permits correction for nonspecific adsorption of metabolites and estimation of total cell volume. These determinations permit active uptake to be assessed from metabolite accumulation against a concentration gradient. Succinate, malate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and glutamate were absorbed via an active mechanism. Plots of 1/V versus 1/[S] for succinate and malate indicated the presence of two uptake components: a saturable and presumably active or carrier-mediated component and a nonsaturable and presumably passive component. The uptake of glucose, malonate, D-pinitol, myo-inositol, and glucose 6-phosphate was slow and not active.