Distribution of non-electrolytes in halobacterium cells I. Halobacterium marismortui

Halobacterium marismortui is an obligatorily halophilic species isolated from the Dead Sea. When inulin, fructose or glycerol are added to suspensions of bacteria, the amounts of these substances recovered from centrifuged pellets are more than could have been present in the extracellular space. Thu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBiochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 584; no. 3; pp. 398 - 406
Main Authors Ginzburg, Margaret, Ginzburg, Ben-Zion
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 16.05.1979
Subjects
Cell water structure
Extracellular space
Halobacterium
Membrane permeability
Non-electrolyte distribution
Cell water structure
Halobacterium
Non-electrolyte distribution
Extracellular space
Membrane permeability
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Summary:Halobacterium marismortui is an obligatorily halophilic species isolated from the Dead Sea. When inulin, fructose or glycerol are added to suspensions of bacteria, the amounts of these substances recovered from centrifuged pellets are more than could have been present in the extracellular space. Thus a certain amount becomes associated with the bacteria, though not enough to equilibrate with all the cell water. The inulin or fructose concentration found after uptake of these substances was correlated with the cell sodium concentration. It is argued that inulin, fructose or glycerol is unlikely to be adsorbed on the outside of the bacteria and more probably crosses the plasma membrane. A possible scheme for explaining the data is presented.
ISSN:0304-4165
1872-8006
DOI:10.1016/0304-4165(79)90116-8