Interpretation of the phenomenon of activation of K super(+) transport in Escherichia coli) in the transition to anaerobiosis

Earlier the authors showed that in the transition to anaerobiosis in the bacteria E. coli K-12, an accumulation of K super(+) is activated. It has been established that K super(+), additionally accumulated in the transition to anaerobiosis, is discarded from the cells after the respiratory chain is turned on. It is suggested that under aerobic conditions, the electrogenic system for accumulation of K super(+) functions simultaneously with a system of its elimination--a K super(+)/J super(+) exchange, which is inactivated with the onset of anaerobiosis, evidently on account of acidification of the cytoplasm. This is manifested in the form of an activation of K super(+) accumulation. It is suggested that the trigger function of the K super(+)/H super(+) exchange in E. coli) may provide for regulation of the intracellular pH and switching from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.