Existence of electrogenic hydrogen ion/sodium ion antiport in Halobacterium halobium cell envelope vesicles

Illumination causes the extrusion of protons from Halobacterium halobium cell envelope vesicles, as a result of the action of light on bacteriorhodopsin. The protonmotive force developed is coupled to the active transport of Na+ out of the vesicles. The light-dependent ion fluxes in these vesicles were studied by following changes in the external pH, in the fluorescence of the dye, 3,3'-dipentyloxadicarbocyanine, in the 22Na content of the vesicles, and in [3H]dibenzyldimethylammonium (DDA+) accumulation. During Na+ efflux, and dependent on the presence of Na+ inside the vesicles, the initial light-induced H+ extrusion is followed by H+ influx, which results in net alkalinization of the medium at pH greater than 6.5. When the Na+ content of the vesicles is depleted, the original net of the medium is restored and large deltapH develops, accompanied by a decrease in the electrical potential. Data reported elsewhere suggest that the driving force for the transport of some amino acids consists mainly of the electrical potential, while for others it comprises the Na+ gradient as well. Glutamate transport appears to be energized only by the Na+ gradient. The development of the Na+ gradient during illumination thus plays an important role in energy coupling. The results obtained are consistent with the existence of an electrogenic H+/Na+ antiport mechanism (H+/Na+ greater than 1) in H halobium which facilitates the uphill Na+ efflux. The light-induced protonmotive force thereby becomes the driving force in forming a Na+ gradient. The presence of the proposed H+/Na+ antiporter explains many of the light-induced pH effects in intact H. halobium cells.