A Role for the <italic>acrA</italic> Gene in the Protection of <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> Cells against Excess Sodium

Abstract

To analyze the role of the arcA gene in the sensitivity to excess sodium ions, which was the purpose of the present study, we attempted to combine some mutations that were associated with a requirement for proline with a mutation in the arcA gene. The mutations used were in the proA and proB genes. Our results demonstrated that the product of the acrA gene hinders the accumulation of sodium in the cell even in the presence of mutations in the proA and proB gene