Perturbation of Anion Balance during Inhibition of Growth of Escherichia coli by Weak Acids
Open accessAbstract
During inhibition of cell growth by weak acids, there is substantial accumulation of the weak acid anions in the cytoplasm. This study was undertaken to determine the impact of anion accumulation on cellular pools. At pH 6, growth in the presence of 8 mM acetate led to an internal pool of greater than 240 mM acetate anion and resulted in reduced levels of glutamate in the cell, but there were no significant changes in K + and Na + levels. At low osmolarity, the change in the glutamate pool compensated for only a small fraction of the accumulated acetate anion. However, at high osmolarity, glutamate compensated for over half of the accumulated acetate. Recovery of the normal cytoplasmic pH after the removal of acetate was dependent on the synthesis of glutamate.
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In E. coli approximately half (∼230 mM) of cytosolic K+ was found to be bound and the other half (∼250 mM) present in the released pool.
“In E. coli approximately half (∼230 mM) of cytosolic K+ was found to be bound and the other half (∼250 mM) present in the released pool.50”
From Metals in Motion: Understanding Labile Metal Pools in Bacteria (2025) · cites this paper as [50]
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- Authors
- Roe, A. J., McLaggan, D., Davidson, I., O’Byrne, C., & Booth, I. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- <!--label omitted: 1-->Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Science, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD,1 and
- <!--label omitted: 2-->Microbiology Department, Unilever Research, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedford, MK44 1LQ,2 United Kingdom
- ORCID
- Roe, Andrew J.
- Venue
- Journal of Bacteriology
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Published
- 1998-02-15
- Volume
- 180
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 767-772
- ISSN
- 0021-9193 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-5530
- PMC
- PMC106953
- OpenAlex
- W2148382830
- Cited by
- 331
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 3.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Bacteriology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Keywords
- Escherichia coli, weak acids, acetate, glutamate, cytoplasmic pH, osmolarity, cell growth inhibition, glutamate synthesis
- MeSH terms
- Acetates, Acids, Amino Acids, Anions, Biological Transport, Cations, Monovalent, Cell Division, Escherichia coli, Growth Inhibitors, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Osmotic Pressure, Potassium, Sodium, Glutamic Acid
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