Energy coupling of the hexose phosphate transport system in Escherichia coli.

The active transport of hexose phosphates in Escherichia coli was inhibited by many uncouplers or inhibitors of oxidative metabolism. Fluoride and the lipid soluble cation, triphenylmethylphosphonium, had little effect. The uninduced level of transport was sensitive to fluoride, but not to azide. After energy uncoupling of active transport, the cells could equilibrate their intracellular water with the glucose-6-phosphate in the medium and displayed exit counter-flow suggesting the existence of carrier-mediated transport in the energy-uncoupled cells. The uncoupled transport of glucose-6-phosphate was inhibited by fructose-6-phosphate; the uninduced level of glucose-6-phosphate transport was not inhibited by fructose-6-phosphate. After energy uncoupling, the influx had a low affinity suggesting that, unlike the transport of beta-galactosides, the energy coupling for the active transport of hexose phosphate involved a change in the affinity of influx.