Affinity For Maltose Research Articles

Transport of maltose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Effect of pH and potassium ions.

The transport of maltose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been generally accepted as a H+-sugar symport, with a stoichiometrical ratio of 1:1. A simultaneous exit of K+ from the cells with the initial uptake of maltose has been reported previously. By using a K+-selective electrode and radioactive maltose, we were able to measure the exit of 1 mol of K+/mol of maltose taken up by the cells in the first 10-15 s. This stoichiometrical ratio is pH-independent. So, uptake of protons in a non-buffered cell suspension or exit of K+ in a buffered one can be used to measure initial rates of maltose uptake. We have used a K+ electrode and a pH electrode to study the effect of external pH and K+ respectively on the kinetic parameters of maltose transport. The following results were obtained: the apparent half-saturation constant for maltose (Km) increased from 5.2 mM at pH 5.8 to 38.0 mM at pH 7.8; the same increase in pH halved the apparent maximum uptake rate (Vmax); K+ had an inhibitory effect, decreasing Vmax. and increasing Km at pH values above 5; K+ had a stimulating effect at pH values below or equal to 4. Under physiological conditions, i.e. lower pH outside, neutral pH inside and much higher [K+] inside the cell, and assuming symmetry of the system, a higher affinity for maltose is to be expected in the outer face of the plasma membrane. This behaviour of the system could explain, by itself, the maintenance of the high concentration of free maltose inside the cell (necessary because of the low affinity of the maltase), without significant back transport to the outside.

Soluble adenosine diphosphate glucose–α-1,4-glucan α-4-glucosyltransferases from spinach leaves

Multiple forms of ADP-glucose-alpha-1,4-glucan alpha-4-glucosyltransferase were obtained from spinach leaves by gradient elution from a DEAE-cellulose column. In the presence of high concentrations of some salts and bovine serum albumin, unprimed activity was found in one (transglucosylase III) of the four fractions eluted from the column. In addition to having unprimed activity, transglucosylase III had a lower K(m) for ADP-glucose, a much higher K(m) for oyster glycogen, greater heat sensitivity and lower affinity for maltose, maltotriose and amylopectin beta-limit dextrin than fractions I, II and IV. In addition, the kinetics at low concentrations of amylose, amylopectin and rabbit liver glycogen were non-linear for transglucosylase III. The properties of transglucosylases I, II and IV were generally similar to each other. Rates of the unprimed reaction at physiological concentrations of ADP-glucose were greater than those found for the primed reaction of fraction III. The product formed by the unprimed reaction was a glucan containing principally alpha-1,4 linkages with some alpha-1,6 linkages. The primer, maltose, at a concentration of 0.5m inhibited the synthesis of the unprimed product.