Glucose transport system in a facultative iron-oxidizing bacterium, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

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Abstract
Properties of a heat-labile glucose transport system in T. ferrooxidans strain AP-44 were investigated with Fe-grown cells. [14C]glucose was incorporated into cell fractions and the cells metabolized [14C]glucose to 14CO2. Amytal, rotenone, cyanide, azide, 2,4-dinitrophenol and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide strongly inhibited [14C]glucose uptake activity, suggesting the presence of an energy-dependent glucose transport system in T. ferrooxidans. Heavy metals such as Hg, Ag, U and Mo markedly inhibited the transport activity at 1 mM. When grown on mixotrophic medium, the bacteria preferentially utilized Fe (II) as an energy source. When Fe was exhausted, the cells used glucose if the the concentration of FeSO4 in the medium was > 3% (wt/vol). When FeSO4 was < 1%, both energy sources were consumed simultaneously.