Stoichiometry of the H+-ATPase of Escherichia coli cells during anaerobic growth.

The H+/ATP stoichiometry of the H+-ATPase was investigated in Escherichia coli cells growing under anaerobic conditions at pH 6 and 7. The protonmotive force was determined from the intracellular accumulation of benzoate and tetraphenylphosphonium ions, as well as the accumulation of lactose in this lac operon inducible, but beta-galactosidase negative strain. The phosphorylation potential was calculated from the cellular concentrations of ATP, ADP and inorganic phosphate. By comparing the phosphorylation potential and the proton motive force under these steady state conditions, the H+/ATP stoichiometry was determined to be 3, similar to the value previously found in the same cells growing under aerobic conditions.