Glutathione-gated K super(+) channels of Escherichia coli) carry out K super(+) efflux controlled by the redox state of the cell

The kinetics of K super(+) efflux across the membranes of wild-type Escherichia coli) poisoned by the thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide, K super(+) retention mutants and glutathione-deficient mutants, have revealed a common "K super(+) leaky phenotype"; it is characterized by a very high rate of K super(+) efflux. The results suggest that the products of kefB and kefC genes could encode two K super(+) channels, both gated by glutathione.