Uptake of the lipophilic cation dibenzyldimethylammonium into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interaction with the thiamine transport system.

The distribution ratio of the lipophilic cation dibenzyldimethylammonium between the cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the medium appears to reflect changes in the membrane potential in a way that is qualitatively correct: the addition of a proton conductor or of an agent which blocks metabolism causes an apparent depolarization of the cell membrane; monovalent cations cause also a lowering of the equilibrium distribution, whereas the addition of divalent cations results in an increase of the partition ratio. However, uptake of dibenzyldimethylammonium and probably also of other liophilic cations proceeds via the thiamine transport system of the yeast. Dibenzyldimethylammonium transport is inducible, like thiamine transport. A kinetic analysis of the mutual interaction between thiamine and dibenzyldimethylammonium uptake shows that these compounds share a common transport system; moreover, dibenzyldimethylammonium uptake is inhibited complete by thiamine disulfide, a competitive inhibitor of thiamine transport and dibenzyldimethylammonium uptake in a thiamine-transport mutant is reduced considerably. It is concluded that one should be cautious when using lipophilic cations to measure the membrane potential of cells of S. cerevisiae.