Probing the dynamics of the proton-motive force in E. coli

Author

Zajdel, Tom J. ; TerAvest, Michaela A. ; Rad, Behzad ; Ajo-Franklin, Caroline M. ; Maharbiz, Michel M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., Univ. of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

fYear

2014

fDate

2-5 Nov. 2014

Firstpage

1764

Lastpage

1767

Abstract

Flagellar motility in Escherichia coli is driven by the proton motive force (PMF); exogenous control of PMF could allow the use of flagellated bacteria as microactuators. Following recent work, we have engineered cells to express a fluorescent membrane protein (proteorhodopsin optical proton sensor, PROPS) to report PMF, allowing real-time monitoring of the membrane potential and its periodic depolarizations. We show that the timing characteristics of these fluctuations can be controlled by adjusting the availability of oxygen, suggesting a potential scheme of PMF control.

Keywords

bioelectric phenomena; biomembrane transport; cell motility; microorganisms; E. coli; Escherichia coli; PMF reporting; PROPS; exogenous PMF control; flagellar motility; flagellated bacteria; fluorescent membrane protein; microactuators; periodic membrane potential depolarization; proteorhodopsin optical proton sensor; proton-motive force dynamics; real time monitoring; Biomembranes; Force; Imaging; Microorganisms; Nitrogen; Protons; Sociology;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

SENSORS, 2014 IEEE

Conference_Location

Valencia

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICSENS.2014.6985366

Filename

6985366