Revista Digital Universitaria ISSN: 1607 - 6079 | Publicación mensual | 1 de enero de 2015 vol.16, No.1
ABSTRACT
In this manuscript, whose reading requires notions of basic biochemistry, the construction of this knowledge is described, starting from a basic serendipity experiment, in which we were able to demonstrate that the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase is more active on potassium than in sodium ions. From this fact, we carried out additional observations and key experiments, including the effect of pH in the intracellular accumulation of NADH and the modification of ATP/ADP levels. The accumulated evidence presented with detail in this text, led us to describe how the yeast cell survives in an acid environment without oxygen and to propose the existence of a protein in the cell membrane that not only breaks down ATP, but also uses the energy from the hydrolysis, to transport Na+ and K+ through the cell membrane.
This protein, (ATPase), also uses this energy to transport protons outside the cell, acidifying the external medium, alkalizing the internal one and creating an electrical potential in both sides of the membrane. This system was later described in other eukaryotes and is now found in all biochemical and cellular biology textbooks.
Keywords:ATP, adenosine triphosphate, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast, Armando Gómez Puyou
The potassium transport mechanism in yeasts. An important discovery carried out in México.
Antonio Peña DíazIn this manuscript, whose reading requires notions of basic biochemistry, the construction of this knowledge is described, starting from a basic serendipity experiment, in which we were able to demonstrate that the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase is more active on potassium than in sodium ions. From this fact, we carried out additional observations and key experiments, including the effect of pH in the intracellular accumulation of NADH and the modification of ATP/ADP levels. The accumulated evidence presented with detail in this text, led us to describe how the yeast cell survives in an acid environment without oxygen and to propose the existence of a protein in the cell membrane that not only breaks down ATP, but also uses the energy from the hydrolysis, to transport Na+ and K+ through the cell membrane.
This protein, (ATPase), also uses this energy to transport protons outside the cell, acidifying the external medium, alkalizing the internal one and creating an electrical potential in both sides of the membrane. This system was later described in other eukaryotes and is now found in all biochemical and cellular biology textbooks.
Keywords:ATP, adenosine triphosphate, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast, Armando Gómez Puyou