Heterogeneous elevation of amino acid transport rates in pantothenate-and lipid-deficient Lactobacillus plantarum.

The effect of a pantothenic acid deficiency in Lactobacillus plantarum on the initial rate of amino acid transport was investigated. Although the steady-state accumulation capacity for all amino acids was markedly reduced in pantothenate-deficient cells, initial rates of uptake either were not changed (asparagine, alanine, lysine) or were increased (glutamic acid, aspartic acid leucine). The findings suggest that a reduction in membrane lipid content heterogeneously affects the operation and/or synthesis of amino acid transport catalysts.