[Convertible energy sources in Neisseria gonorrhoeae].

Availability of two major sources of convertible energy in gonococci--the intracellular pool of ATP and electrochemical potential of hydrogen ions--has been established. ATP synthesis occurs when inducing membrane potential by creation of K+ gradient with presence of valinomycin and when inducing the proton gradient. Transmembrane difference of electric potentials has been determined which changes within 103-145 mV under the increase of pH from 5.0 to 8.0, and concentration gradient of protons decreases from 80 to 47 mV. The proton-motive force value remains unchanged (183-192 mV) in the range of pH 5.0-8.0.