Simultaneous measurements of proton motive force, delta pH, membrane potential, and H+/O ratios in intact Escherichia coli.

An instrument is described that enables the simultaneous monitoring of proton motive force (PMF), membrane potential (delta psi), the delta pH across a membrane, oxidase activity, proton movements, and H+/O ratios. We have studied the relationship existing among these parameters of energy transduction as a critical condition is changed during an experiment. The major findings are: (a) In the pH range of 4.5 to 7.5, increasing the external pH causes an increase in delta psi, internal pH, and oxidase activity, a decrease in H+/O ratio, and a peak-plateau in PMF from pH 5.5 to 6.6 where delta pH is converted to delta psi. (b) An increase in [K+] from 1 to 100 mM, in the presence of 0.5 microM valinomycin, causes the conversion of delta psi to delta pH, a gradual decline in PMF and an increase in H+/O ratio, internal pH, and oxidase activity. (c) Increasing valinomycin concentration from 0 to 2.5 microM, in the presence of 50 mM [K+], causes a decline in delta psi from 125 to 0 mV, and an increase in delta pH from 35 to 70 mV. From 2.5 to 10 microM, the delta pH and the PMF (which it solely represents), stay constant, H+/O ratio increases mainly from 0 to 0.5 microM and much more slowly from 2.5 to 10 microM. (d) Oxygen at only 10% of its concentration in air-saturated buffer can support the generation of 90% or more of the delta psi, delta pH, and PMF generated in an air-saturated solution. (e) The return of extruded protons to the cell (referred to here as "suck-back") represents a complicated process driven by delta psi and influenced by a variety of factors. (f) H+/O ratios measured by the kinetic technique used here are much higher than those measured by standard oxygen pulse techniques.