Arginine Uptake by a Psychrophilic Marine Vibrio sp. During Starvation-induced Morphogenesis

The effects of starvation on the arginine transport system in ANT-300, a psychrophilic marine Vibrio sp., were investigated. A rapid rate of uptake was detected on the first day of starvation, followed by a much lower but constant rate of uptake until day 35. Transport was found to require maintenance of a proton gradient across the membrane, but not to involve ATP. Respiration of the transported arginine increased during the 35 d of starvation. Thus, ANT-300 is able to maintain a high-affinity, active transport system for arginine during extended periods of starvation even in the absence of an exogenously supplied energy source.