This study introduced the use of a non-invasive ion-selective microelectrode (MIFE) technique to study membrane-transport processes in bacteria. Net ion fluxes and changes in the extracellular concentrations of H+, Ca2+, K+ and NH4 + in adherent bacteria, isolated from cultures at different growth stages (exponential, late exponential, and stationary phases), were monitored. With the exception of Ca2+, a significant (P = 0.05) difference was found in the magnitude of net fluxes of the ions measured from bacterial cells at different stages of the population growth curve. The magnitude of the H+ response was glucose-dependent with maximum changes occurring at the highest concentration. There was a progressive increase in H+ extrusion followed by a gradual return to zero at late stationary phase. Measurements of net ion fluxes crossing the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, demonstrated here for the first time, may offer insight into underlying mechanisms of ion transport kinetics. Applications of the non-invasive ion-selective microelectrode technique in microbiology are discussed. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Physical Sciences
Research Group:	Medical and biological physics
Research Field:	Biological physics
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences
UTAS Author:	Shabala, L (Associate Professor Lana Shabala)
UTAS Author:	Ross, T (Professor Tom Ross)
UTAS Author:	Newman, IA (Dr Ian Newman)
UTAS Author:	McMeekin, TA (Professor Thomas McMeekin)
UTAS Author:	Shabala, SN (Professor Sergey Shabala)
ID Code:	22113
Year Published:	2001
Web of Science® Times Cited:	39
Deposited By:	Physics
Deposited On:	2001-08-01
Last Modified:	2002-05-21
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