Adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis in XXXX submitted to a microsecond electric pulse.

@entity12475 @entity9942 @entity855 @entity3789 @entity526
The total cytoplasmic @entity855 content (bound and free) increased in @entity526 when the bacteria were submitted to electric pulses with field strengths of 1-6 kV/cm and a decay time of 7-20 microseconds. The electron-transport chain was blocked by @entity3789 , and @entity855 synthesis was detected by a luminescence assay. The amount of newly formed @entity855 depends on the field strength. A total of 150 pmol of @entity855 was formed per milligram of bacteria submitted to a 3 kV/cm pulse. Synthesis was blocked by uncouplers and ionophores ( @entity9942 ). The F1F0- @entity855 synthase inhibitor @entity12475 blocked a large part of this synthesis. Synthesis was not induced in unc mutants (unc B, unc D). The synthesis of @entity855 is related to the induced transmembrane potential, not to the Joule heating. A minimum 35-50-mV increase in membrane potential must be maintained for at least 12 microseconds to trigger this synthesis. This very fast energy transduction in bacteria is in good agreement with our previous results concerning submitochondrial particles. Because of the localized character of the induced membrane potential, these results are in agreement with the recent hypothesis of "mosaic proton coupling".
