Alkali-metal ions in the metabolism of Bact. lactis aerogenes III. General discussion of their role and mode of action

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Abstract
The experimental findings described in parts I and II and previous work in the literature lead to certain conclusions about the role of alkali-metal ions in the growth and metabolism of Bact. lactis aerogenes. The view is favoured that the positive alkali-metal ions accompany negative phosphate ions into the cell during metabolism and that potassium or rubidium ions are of a size suitable for incorporation into a structure involving phosphorylated intermediates and enzyme surfaces. As long as a binding of this type persists there can be an automatic displacement of hydrions from the cell, which is therefore to some extent protected against their action. The mechanism, however, by which the cell is able to grow at a rate almost independent of pH over a wide range involves also adaptive changes in the proportions of enzymes.