The electrochemical gradient of H⁺ in Candida albicans and its relevance to the uptake of nutrients

Abstract

The electrochemical gradient of protons, delta microH+, in Candida albicans was estimated between pH 3.5 and 8.5. The electrical potential difference (delta psi) and the chemical proton gradient (delta pH) were measured by steady-state distribution of tetraphenylphosphonium ion and of propionic acid across the plasma-membrane, respectively. In the pH range tested, the intracellular pH was maintained fairly constant at values between 7.3 and 8.1. On the other hand, there was an up to three fold enhancement of delta psi under similar conditions. The uptake of a neutral (glycine), an acidic (L-glutamate) and a basic (L-arginine) amino-acids and of the aldopentose (D-xylose) was determined under different values of delta microH+, which was manipulated by varying the pH of the cell suspension. The rate of uptake of D-xylose and glycine appeared to follow delta microH+ while the uptake velocity of L-arginine could be correlated to changes in delta psi. The rate of uptake of L-glutamate, although at highest among the rates of tested nutrients, was, however, largely independent of delta microH+. This and other reasons (discussed below) indicate that delta microH+ may not be the sole driving force of nutrients uptake in C. albicans.