Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate

Escherichia coli translocates formate/formic acid bidirectionally across the cytoplasmic membrane by the FocA/FocB formate channels during fermentation. Depending on the pH and whether formate is supplied exogenously or generated internally, the mechanisms of translocation differ. This study elucida...

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Main Authors: L. Grigoryan, A. Babayan, A. Vassilian, A. Poladyan, G. Sawers, K. Trchounian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Biophysical Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667074725000308
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author L. Grigoryan
A. Babayan
A. Vassilian
A. Poladyan
G. Sawers
K. Trchounian
author_facet L. Grigoryan
A. Babayan
A. Vassilian
A. Poladyan
G. Sawers
K. Trchounian
author_sort L. Grigoryan
collection DOAJ
description Escherichia coli translocates formate/formic acid bidirectionally across the cytoplasmic membrane by the FocA/FocB formate channels during fermentation. Depending on the pH and whether formate is supplied exogenously or generated internally, the mechanisms of translocation differ. This study elucidates the role of these channels in dependence on FOF1 ATPase activity in stationary phase cells after cultivation by mixed-carbon fermentation at pH 7.5. In cells cultivated with glucose plus glycerol, exogenously added formate increased the N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-sensitive (FOF1 ATPase-dependent) proton flux in single or double foc mutants. Moreover, exogenously supplied formate also increased the DCCD-sensitive potassium flux, but only in mutants where focB was absent. In the cells grown on glucose, glycerol, and formate, addition of formate in the whole-cell assays increased FOF1 ATPase activity by ∼60% compared with cells grown on a mixture of only glucose and glycerol. In a focA mutant cultivated to the stationary phase on glucose, glycerol, and formate, FOF1 ATPase activity was double that compared with cells grown on only glucose and glycerol, while in a focA-focB double-null mutant FOF1 ATPase activity decreased by ∼50% in formate assays. These data suggest that the cell regulates the mechanism of formate translocation depending on whether formate is generated internally or added exogenously. Thus, FOF1-ATPase activity and the FocA/FocB channels together with formate hydrogenlyase activity combine to balance pH and ion gradients during fermentation in stationary phase cells in response to whether formate is generated metabolically or supplied in high concentration from the environment.
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spelling doaj-art-414d8c6e42d34748813fa6dddb3ec7172025-08-22T04:58:36ZengElsevierBiophysical Reports2667-07472025-09-015310022510.1016/j.bpr.2025.100225Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formateL. Grigoryan0A. Babayan1A. Vassilian2A. Poladyan3G. Sawers4K. Trchounian5Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Microbial Biotechnologies and Biofuel Innovation Center, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, ArmeniaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Microbial Biotechnologies and Biofuel Innovation Center, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, ArmeniaResearch Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Department of Ecology and Nature Protection, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Corresponding authorDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Corresponding authorInstitute of Microbiology, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), GermanyDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Microbial Biotechnologies and Biofuel Innovation Center, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia; Corresponding authorEscherichia coli translocates formate/formic acid bidirectionally across the cytoplasmic membrane by the FocA/FocB formate channels during fermentation. Depending on the pH and whether formate is supplied exogenously or generated internally, the mechanisms of translocation differ. This study elucidates the role of these channels in dependence on FOF1 ATPase activity in stationary phase cells after cultivation by mixed-carbon fermentation at pH 7.5. In cells cultivated with glucose plus glycerol, exogenously added formate increased the N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-sensitive (FOF1 ATPase-dependent) proton flux in single or double foc mutants. Moreover, exogenously supplied formate also increased the DCCD-sensitive potassium flux, but only in mutants where focB was absent. In the cells grown on glucose, glycerol, and formate, addition of formate in the whole-cell assays increased FOF1 ATPase activity by ∼60% compared with cells grown on a mixture of only glucose and glycerol. In a focA mutant cultivated to the stationary phase on glucose, glycerol, and formate, FOF1 ATPase activity was double that compared with cells grown on only glucose and glycerol, while in a focA-focB double-null mutant FOF1 ATPase activity decreased by ∼50% in formate assays. These data suggest that the cell regulates the mechanism of formate translocation depending on whether formate is generated internally or added exogenously. Thus, FOF1-ATPase activity and the FocA/FocB channels together with formate hydrogenlyase activity combine to balance pH and ion gradients during fermentation in stationary phase cells in response to whether formate is generated metabolically or supplied in high concentration from the environment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667074725000308
spellingShingle L. Grigoryan
A. Babayan
A. Vassilian
A. Poladyan
G. Sawers
K. Trchounian
Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
Biophysical Reports
title Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
title_full Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
title_fullStr Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
title_full_unstemmed Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
title_short Escherichia coli FocA/B-dependent H+ and K+ fluxes: Influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
title_sort escherichia coli foca b dependent h and k fluxes influence of exogenous versus endogenous formate
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667074725000308
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