Abstract
Lactobacillus helveticus ATCC 15009 (wild-type) membrane preparations hydrolyzed Mg2+-ATP as a function of K+ concentration (2–200 mM). Mg2+-ATP hydrolysis by L. helveticus membranes was strongly inhibited in the absence of exogenous K+, while it amounted to 6 nmol ATP hydrolyzed min–1 (mg membrane protein)–1 at 50 mM KCl (saturating conditions) and pH 7.2. The K+-dependent ATPase of L. helveticus displayed a relatively high affinity for potassium ions (K m = 800 μM) and was not affected by pretreatment of membranes with N,N’-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Membrane preparations were subjected to hypotonic shock to obtain a maximum yield of open profiles. The formation of a maximum level of enzyme-phosphate complex with a molecular mass of approximately 82 kDa was induced upon treatment of L. helveticus membrane preparations with low concentrations of [γ-32P]ATP in the presence of K+ and La3+ ions and was visualized by acidic SDS-PAGE. It was concluded that L. helveticus membranes contain an inwardly directed K+ pump whose presence is discussed in terms of its putative role in cytoplasmic pH regulation.
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Received: 16 December 1996 / Accepted: 14 May 1997
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Solari, C., Panfoli, I., Morelli, A. et al. Characterization of a K+-ATPase from Lactobacillus helveticus ATCC 15009. Arch Microbiol 168, 205–209 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030050489
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030050489