Interactions of Arsenate with the Phosphate-Transporting System of Yeast

Arsenate competes with phosphate for transport into the yeast cell. The affinity of the two substances for the transport system is about equal, but in mixtures the phosphate is taken up about twice as fast as arsenate, because the maximal transport rate for phosphate is about twice as high. In addition to the competitive effect, arsenate causes a continuous and irreversible inactivation of the transport system that can be characterized by first order kinetics. The rate of arsenate inactivation is slower in the presence of phosphate and the amount of arsenate taken up before complete block is established is also decreased. The inactivation of the transport system cannot be relieved by washing or by treatment with glucose and phosphate. The inactivation is not the result of an inhibition of metabolism.