Amino acid uptake and energy coupling dependent on photosynthesis in Anacystis nidulans

The photoautotrophic cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans was used to investigate the membrane transport of branched-chain, neutral amino acids and its dependence on photosynthetic reactions. The uptake of alpha-amino [1-14C]isobutyric acid and L-[1-14C]leucine followed Michaelis, Menten kinetics and resulted in an energy-dependent accumulation. As in bacteria, different uptake systems for neutral amino acids were present: two DAG (D-alanine, aminoisobutyric acid, and glycine) systems responsible for uptake of alpha-amino [1-14C]isobutyric acid, and one LIV (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) system, responsible for uptake of leucine. The low-affinity DAG system seemed to be dependent on the presence of Na+ ions. Uptake was enhanced by white light and by monochromatic light of 630 nm. In far red light (717 nm) with and without nitrogen flushing, considerable uptake dependent on light intensity and inhibition by dibromothymoquinone and by high concentrations of KCN were observed. Therefore, the energy generated by photosystem I reactions only could perform this membrane transport. The proton translocator carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as an ATPase inhibitor reduced amino acid uptake to a high degree. A pH dependence of aminoisobutyric acid and leucine uptake was obvious, with a maximum at pH 6 to 7 and some at a pH as high as 9.5. At higher pH, increasing concentrations of Na+ K+ and also of triphenylmethylphosphonium ions inhibited the transport of aminoisobutyric acid. These findings are consistent with the assumption that ATP from photosynthetic reactions drives a membrane-bound proton-translocating ATPase producing a proton motive force, consisting at higher pH chiefly in a delta psi amount, which promotes a secondary active H+ or Na+/amino acid symport carrier.