Effect of Electro-energizing Conditions on Cellular Permeability toward L-Glutamic Acid

Abstract

The accumulation of L-glutamate (L-Glu)by Brevibacterium flavum No. 2247 was investigated from the standpoint of cellular permeability toward L-Glu under electro-energizing (E-E) conditions. In both biotin-poor (4 μg/liter) and biotin-rich (10 μg/liter) conditions, an increase in K⁺ uptake and easy leakage of intracellular L-Glu were induced by E-E. In addition, under the biotin-rich conditions, E-E culture caused changes in cellular fatty acid composition and in the net charge of the cell surface, thus causing the cells to become similar to the biotin-poor cells. These cellular changes facilitated the leakage of intracellular L-Glu.