Mitchell Shirvan

Ion pumps and volume regulation in mycoplasma.

Membrane-bound transport processes regulate the ionic environment within cells. These processes control the concentration of ions within a cell by moving ions across the cell membrane and, by doing so, generating electrochemical gradients. These gradients can be used for many essential functions such as volume regulation, regulation of intracellular pH, and transport of nutrients into the cell.

Isolation ofMycoplasma gallisepticum membranes by a mild alkaline-induced lysis of nonenergized cells

A procedure is described for the preparation of purified membranes from late-exponential or stationary phase cells ofMycoplasma gallisepticum. NonenergizedM. gallisepticum cells were lysed in an isosmotic NaCl-Tris buffer at pH 8.5, conditions that seem to interfere with cell volume regulation. Electron microscopy, chemical, density gradient, and enzymatic analyses of the membrane preparation showed the membranes to be free of cytoplasmic contaminants and partially sealed.