By functional complementation of Escherichia coli mutants defective in potassium (K+) uptake, two genes that are required for K+ uptake in halo-alkaliphilic Alkalimonas amylolytica strain N10 were cloned. These two ge...By functional complementation of Escherichia coli mutants defective in potassium (K+) uptake, two genes that are required for K+ uptake in halo-alkaliphilic Alkalimonas amylolytica strain N10 were cloned. These two genes, Aa-trkA (1337 bp) and Aa-trkH (1452 bp), were adjacent on the A. amylolytica N10 chromosome and transcribed in opposite directions. Complementation experiments revealed that Aa-TrkA and Aa-TrkH from A. amylolytica strain N10 restored the ability to grow at low K+ concentration in E. coli △trkA and △trkG △trkH strains, respectively. In addition, Aa-TrkAH supported the growth of an E. coli △sapD strain, indicating that the ATP-binding protein TrkE was dispensable for the Trk system of A. amylolytica strain N10. The net K+ uptake was detected at different pH levels and the critical NaCl concentration indicated that Aa-TrkAH is an alkaline-adaptable and partially halo-adaptable K+ transporter. Kinetics determined by heterogeneous K+ transport experiments with an E. coli △trkA strain revealed that Aa-TrkAH has an alkaline pH optimum close to 8.5 or higher. Site-directed mutagenesis of Aa-TrkH showed that Phe103 and Ser229 play certain key roles in K+ selection and transportation. The molecular chaperones groES-groEL and tig promoted Aa-TrkH and Aa-TrkA overexpression in vitro.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2007CB714301 and 2007CB707801)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2007AA021306)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30621005)
文摘By functional complementation of Escherichia coli mutants defective in potassium (K+) uptake, two genes that are required for K+ uptake in halo-alkaliphilic Alkalimonas amylolytica strain N10 were cloned. These two genes, Aa-trkA (1337 bp) and Aa-trkH (1452 bp), were adjacent on the A. amylolytica N10 chromosome and transcribed in opposite directions. Complementation experiments revealed that Aa-TrkA and Aa-TrkH from A. amylolytica strain N10 restored the ability to grow at low K+ concentration in E. coli △trkA and △trkG △trkH strains, respectively. In addition, Aa-TrkAH supported the growth of an E. coli △sapD strain, indicating that the ATP-binding protein TrkE was dispensable for the Trk system of A. amylolytica strain N10. The net K+ uptake was detected at different pH levels and the critical NaCl concentration indicated that Aa-TrkAH is an alkaline-adaptable and partially halo-adaptable K+ transporter. Kinetics determined by heterogeneous K+ transport experiments with an E. coli △trkA strain revealed that Aa-TrkAH has an alkaline pH optimum close to 8.5 or higher. Site-directed mutagenesis of Aa-TrkH showed that Phe103 and Ser229 play certain key roles in K+ selection and transportation. The molecular chaperones groES-groEL and tig promoted Aa-TrkH and Aa-TrkA overexpression in vitro.