Biochemical evidence for the presence of two a-glucoside ABC-transport systems in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

SONJA M. KONING,¹ WIL N. KONINGS ¹ and ARNOLD J. M. DRIESSEN ^1,2

¹ Department of Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, P. O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
² Author to whom correspondence should be addressed ([email protected])

Received June 14, 2001; accepted September 14, 2001; published online October 11, 2001

Summary
The hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus can utilize different carbohydrates, such as starch, maltose and trehalose. Uptake of a-glucosides is mediated by two different, binding protein-dependent, ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-type transport systems. The maltose transporter also transports trehalose, whereas the maltodextrin transport system mediates the uptake of maltotriose and higher malto-oligosaccharides, but not maltose. Both transport systems are induced during growth on their respective substrates.

Keywords
binding protein, maltodextrin, maltose.