Regulation of carbohydrate permeases and adenylate cyclase in Escherichia coli. Studies with mutant strains in which enzyme I of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system is thermolabile

Carbohydrate uptake and cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) synthesis were studied employing mutant strains of Escherichia coli in which Enzyme I of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system was heat-labile. Partial loss of Enzyme I activity, which resulted from incubation of cells at the nonpermissive temperature, depressed the rate and extent of methyl alpha-glucoside uptake. Temperature inactivation of Enzyme I also rendered cyclic AMP synthesis and the uptake of several carbohydrates (glycerol, maltose, melibiose, and lactose) hypersensitive to inhibition by methyl alpha-glucoside. Protein synthesis did not appear to be required for these effects. The parental strains and "revertant" strains in which Enzyme I was less sensitive to temperature did not exhibit heat-enhanced regulation. Inhibition was abolished by the crr mutation. The results suggest that Enzyme I functions as a catalytic component of the regulatory system. Simple positive selection procedures are described for the isolation of bacterial mutants which are deficient for either Enzyme I or the heat-stable protein of the phosphotransferase system.

High dose frusemide in established acute renal failure

The results of treatment with frusemide in 105 patients with established acute renal failure admitted during the past six years were reviewed and compared with control groups. Daily doses of 2,000 mg of frusemide administered from the day of admission onwards produced a significant increase in the number of patients who attained a diuresis and decreased the duration of oliguria.The reduction in the time spent in hospital and in the number of dialyses required suggests that the use of frusemide in these large doses is indicated in patients with severe established acute renal failure.