Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Proton-motive force and the motile behavior of Bacillus subtilis

  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Changes in the proton-motive force cause a transient change in the motile behavior of Bacillus subtilis cells. Both an increase and a decrease in the proton-motive force cause transient tumbling. Simultaneous decrease of proton-motive force and increase of attractant concentration lessens the response toward the attractant. A simultaneous increase of proton-motive force and increase of attractant concentration prolonges the response toward attractant. A hypothesis explaining the various effects is given.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

KT medium:

potassium taxis medium

NaT medium:

sodium taxis medium

HT medium:

acidic taxis medium

OHT medium:

alkaline taxis medium

DNP:

2,4-dinitrophenol

References

  • Berg, H. C., Brown, D. A.: Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli analysed by three-dimensional tracking. Nature (Lond.) 239, 500–504 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Borst Pauwels, G. W. F. H., Dobbelman, J.: Determination of the yeast cell pH. Acta bot. neerl. 21, 149–154 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jong, M. H., van der Drift, C., Vogels, G. D.: Receptors for chemotaxis in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bact. 123, 824–827 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harold, F. M.: Conservation and transformation of energy by bacterial membranes. Bact. Rev. 36, 172–230 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, S. H., Adler, J., Gargus, J. J., Hogg, R. W.: Chemomechanical coupling without ATP. The source of energy for motility and chemotaxis in bacteria. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 71, 1239–1243 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • MacNab, R. M., Koshland, D. E., Jr.: The gradient-sensing mechanism in bacterial chemotaxis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 69, 2509–2512 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ordal, G. W., Goldman, D. J.: Chemotaxis away from uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation in Bacillus subtilis. Science 189, 802–805 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ordal, G. W., Goldman, D. J.: Chemotactic repellents of Bacillus subtilis. J. molec. Biol. 100, 103–108 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, M. S., Kort, E. N., Larsen, S. H., Ordal, G. W., Reader, R. W., Adler, J.: Role of methionine in bacterial chemotaxis: Requirement for tumbling and involvement in information processing. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 72, 4640–4644 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsang, N., MacNab, R., Koshland, D. E., Jr.: Common mechanism for repellents and attractants in bacterial chemotaxis. Science 181, 60–63 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Drift, C., de Jong, M. H.: Chemotaxis toward amino acids in Bacillus subtilis. Arch. Microbiol. 96, 83–92 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    M. H. De Jong, C. Van der Drift & G. D. Vogels

Authors
  1. M. H. De Jong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Van der Drift
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. D. Vogels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Jong, M.H., Van der Drift, C. & Vogels, G.D. Proton-motive force and the motile behavior of Bacillus subtilis . Arch. Microbiol. 111, 7–11 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446543

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446543

Key words

Search

Navigation