Cadmium-resistant mutant of Bacillus subtilis 168 with reduced cadmium transport.

Cd2+ and Mn2+ accumulation was studied with wild-type Bacillus subtilis 168 and a Cd2+-resistant mutant. After 5 min of incubation in the presence of 0.1 microM 109Cd2+ or 54Mn2+, both strains accumulated comparable amounts of 54Mn2+, while the sensitive cells accumulated three times more 109Cd2+ than the Cd2+-resistant cells did. Both 54Mn2+ and 109Cd2+ uptake, which apparently occur by the same transport system, demonstrated cation specificity; 20 microM Mn2+ or Cd2+ (but not Zn2+) inhibited the uptake of 0.1 microM 109Cd2+ or 54Mn2+. 54Mn2+ and 109Cd2+ uptake was energy dependent and temperature sensitive, but 109Cd2+ uptake in the Cd2+-resistant strain was only partially inhibited by an uncoupler or by a decrease in temperature. 109Cd2+ uptake in the sensitive strain followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of 1.8 microM Cd2+ and a Vmax of 1.5 mumol/min X g (dry weight); 109Cd2+ uptake in the Cd2+-resistant strain was not saturable. The apparent Km value for the saturable component of 109Cd2+ uptake by the Cd2+-resistant strain was very similar to that of the sensitive strain, but the Vmax was 25 times lower than the Vmax for the sensitive strain. The Km and Vmax for 54Mn2+ uptake by both strains were very similar. Cd2+ inhibition of 54Mn2+ uptake had an apparent Ki of 3.4 and 21.5 microM Cd2+ for the sensitive and Cd2+-resistant strains, respectively. Mn2+ had an apparent Ki of 1.2 microM Mn2+ for inhibition of 109Cd2+ uptake by the sensitive strain, but the Cd2+-resistant strain had no defined Ki value for inhibition of Cd2+ uptake by Mn2+.