Evaluation of Arsenate- and Vanadate-Associated Changes of Electrical Membrane Potential and Phosphate Transport inLemna gibbaG1

Interference of arsenate and vanadate with phosphate uptake in Lemna gibba L. was studied by measuring voltage changes and (32P)phosphate uptake. Arsenate proved to be competitive with the highand low-affinity phosphate uptake system. It induced transient membrane potential changes of up to 120 mV which were similar to those induced by phosphate and indicated a cotransport mechanism with at least 2H+/H2As04. The amplitude of the transient arsenate-induced membrane depolarization was strongly influenced by phosphate starvation. A permanent membrane depolarization to the diffusion potential was achieved within 2 to 6 h in P-starved plants. Thus, arsenate is indeed a strongly competitive physi…