Effect of silver ions on transport and retention of phosphate by Escherichia coli

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Abstract
Ag ions inhibited phosphate uptake and exchange in E. coli and caused efflux of accumulated phosphate as well as of mannitol, succinate, glutamine and proline. The effects of Ag+ were reversed by thiols and, to a lesser extent, by bromide. In the presence of N-ethylmaleimide and several uncouplers, Ag+ failed to cause phosphate efflux but still inhibited exchange of intracellular and extracellular phosphate, indicating an interaction at more than 1 site. It is unlikely that Ag+ caused metabolite efflux by acting solely as an uncoupler, as an inhibitor of the respiratory chain or as a thiol reagent.