Methionine transport by mycelia of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Abstract

Mycelia of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici accumulated L-methionine by an energy-dependent process, and the energy required for uptake may be derived from either respiration or glycolysis. The pH optimum for transport was 4 and the temperature optimum was 35 °C. The apparent Km for methionine uptake was 2.5–3.3 μM and the Vmax was 0.24–0.30 nmol∙min−1∙mg dry weight−1. S-adenosylhomocysteine (Ado-Hcys) was the major metabolic product of methionine although S-adenosylmethionine (Ado-Met), homocysteine (Hcys), and an unidentified metabolite (compound X) were also detected. The failure to demonstrate efflux of accumulated methionine in the presence of the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol or excess unlabeled methionine was probably due to the fact that methionine was rapidly metabolized within the cells.Acidic and basic amino acids, and those amino acids having less than a four-carbon chain, did not inhibit methionine uptake. The rate of uptake of methionine, which was greatest in log phase mycelia, decreased substantially as the cells entered the stationary phase.