DcuA of aerobically grown Escherichia coli serves as a nitrogen shuttle (L-aspartate/fumarate) for nitrogen uptake

What is it about?

Under aerobic conditions, when L-aspartate is the only N-source for Escherichia coli, the transporter DcuA catalyzes uptake of L-aspartate. The uptake is coupled to the excretion of fumarate (or malate), resulting in the net import of ammonia. Nitrogen (or ammonia) shuttling by DcuA represents a new type of transport for supplying nitrogen to the bacteria.

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