Uptake of potassium tellurite by a sensitive strain of Escherichia coli

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Abstract
The amt. of Te127 K tellurite absorbed by a buffered suspension of a tellurite-sensitive strain of E. coli was calculated from the radioactivity remaining on the washed organisms. No radioactivity was lost by washing. The system responsible for tellurite uptake was unstable at low pH but did not deteriorate greatly over several hours at pH 5.5-7. Tellurite uptake increased with time, was most rapid at pH 5.5 and 37[degree], and was enzymatic in nature. Growth of E. coli in a medium containing 0.05% glucose decreased the activity of the organisms, even though the pH of the medium was fairly constant. Heating to 100[degree] for 20 min. destroyed the enzymic system. The low uptake then obtained corresponded to a rapid combination with the cells which were saturated at relatively low tellurite concns.