Open AccessDual mode of energy coupling by the oxyanion-translocating ArsB protein
Author(s) -
Saikat Dey,
Barry P. Rosen
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.177.2.385-389.1995
Subject(s) - biology , operon , arsenite , plasmid , gene , atpase , structural gene , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , chemistry , arsenic , organic chemistry , enzyme
The arsA and arsB genes of the ars operon of R-factor R773 confer arsenite resistance in Escherichia coli by coding for an anion-translocating ATPase. Arsenite resistance and the in vivo energetics of arsenite transport were compared in cells expressing the arsA and arsB genes and those expressing just the arsB gene. Cells expressing the arsB gene exhibited intermediate arsenite resistance compared with cells expressing both the arsA and arsB genes. Both types of cells exhibited energy-dependent arsenite exclusion. Exclusion of 73AsO2- from cells expressing only the arsB gene was coupled to electrochemical energy, while in cells expressing both genes, transport was coupled to chemical energy, most likely ATP. These results suggest that the Ars anion transport system can be either an obligatory ATP-coupled primary pump or a secondary carrier coupled to the proton motive force, depending on the subunit composition of the transport complex.