Roles of crr-gene products in regulating carbohydrate uptake by Escherichia coli

Linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12, edition 10: the traditional map

This map is an update of the edition 9 map by Berlyn et al. (M. K. B. Berlyn, K. B. Low, and K. E. Rudd, p. 1715-1902, in F. C. Neidhardt et al., ed., Escherichia coli and Salmonella: cellular and molecular biology, 2nd ed., vol. 2, 1996). It uses coordinates established by the completed sequence, expressed as 100 minutes for the entire circular map, and adds new genes discovered and established since 1996 and eliminates those shown to correspond to other known genes. The latter are included as synonyms. An alphabetical list of genes showing map location, synonyms, the protein or RNA product of the gene, phenotypes of mutants, and reference citations is provided. In addition to genes known to correspond to gene sequences, other genes, often older, that are described by phenotype and older mapping techniques and that have not been correlated with sequences are included.

Effects of GTP,GDP[beta S] and glucose on adenylate cyclase activity of E. coli B

Adenylate cyclase activity was measured in suspensions of E.coli B, rendered permeable with toluene. The enzyme was activated in a dose-dependent manner by GTP and by its non-hydrolysable analogue, GTP[gamma S]. In contrast, incubation with GDP[beta S], a non-phosphorylatable analogue of GDP, caused a dose-related inhibition of adenylate cyclase; this was partially overcome by addition of GTP. GTP did not relieve, and GDP[beta S] augmented, the non-competitive and dose-related inhibition of E.coli adenylate cyclase by glucose.

Role of IIIGlc of the phosphoenolpyruvate-glucose phosphotransferase system in inducer exclusion in Escherichia coli

The phosphoenolpyruvate-D-glucose phosphotransferase system of Enterobacteriaceae is thought to regulate the synthesis and activity of a number of catabolite uptake systems, including those for maltose, lactose, and glycerol, via the phosphorylation state of one of its components, IIIGlc. We have investigated the proposal by Kornberg and co-workers (FEBS Lett. 117(Suppl.):K28-K36, 1980) that not IIIGlc, but an unknown protein, the product of the iex gene, is responsible for the exclusion of the above-mentioned compounds from the cell. The iex mutant HK738 of Escherichia coli contains normal amounts of IIIGlc as measured by specific antibodies, in contrast to crr mutants that lack IIIGlc. The IIIGlc of the iex strain functions normally in glucose and methyl alpha-glucoside transport, and the specific activity in in vitro phosphorylation is approximately 60% of that of the parent. The IIIGlc activity of the iex strain is, however, heat labile, in contrast to the parental IIIGlc, suggesting that the mutant contains an altered IIIGlc. This is supported by the observation that IIIGlc from the iex strain cannot bind to the lactose carrier. Thus it cannot inhibit the carrier, and this explains why the uptake of non-phosphotransferase system compounds in an iex strain is resistant to phosphotransferase system sugars. The introduction of a plasmid containing a wild-type crr+ allele into the iex strain restores the iex phenotype to that of the iex+ parent. The IIIGlc produced from the plasmid in the iex strain is heat stable and binds normally to the lactose carrier. These results lead to the conclusion that the iex mutation is most likely allelic with crr and results in an altered, temperature-sensitive IIIGlc that is still able to function D-glucose and methyl alpha-glucoside uptake and phosphorylation and in the activation of adenylate cyclase, but is unable to bind to and inhibit the lactose carrier.

[Microbial utilization of mixed substrates]

Decomposition of substrates by heterotrophic microorganisms is accomplished in natural biotopes such as in soil and in waters, on or in macroorganisms but also in laboratory and industrial biotopes. The interest of man in these processes is manifold. Starting with the division of substrates into three groups of simple substrates, complex and mixed substrates with or without solid particles their qualitative and quantitative occurrence in nature and their significance in biotechnology will be discussed. In the decomposition of these substrates their utilization by pure cultures or mixed populations is to be exactly distinguished. Simple growth curves, di- or polyauxy, sequences of decomposition of simple substrates of a mixed substrate, population changes and successions are only some of the phenomena occurring in this process. The pathways of catabolism are subjected to manifold regulations on the three levels of stoichiometric regulation, the regulation of enzyme activity and the regulation of enzyme synthesis. In natural biotopes there is hardly a constant substrate supply over a longer period. That's why certain mechanisms of regulation are permanently acting. Thus the "normal" physiological state for microorganisms is characterized by permanent transition situations--called "transients". These reactions are also applied to many biotechnological processes.

Isolation of IIIGlc of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent glucose phosphotransferase system of Salmonella typhimurium

We report a procedure for the isolation of IIIglc of Salmonella typhimurium, a protein component of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar phosphotransferase system. IIIGlc is a soluble protein with a molecular weight of 21,000, as determined by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified protein is involved in the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of methyl alpha-glucoside in vitro. Its affinity for octyl-Sepharose may be an indication of the partial hydrophobic nature of IIIGlc. A specific antiserum against purified IIIGlc was prepared. Growth on different carbon sources did not affect the synthesis of IIIGlc, as determined by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis. Mutations which lower the adenosine 3',5'-phosphate level, such as cya and pts, do not alter the IIIGlc level. The closely related enteric bacteria Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes contain a protein factor which is closely related to IIIGlc of S. typhimurium, whereas Staphylococcus aureus does not.

Methyl-alpha-maltoside and 5-thiomaltose: analogs transported by the Escherichia coli maltose transport system

Neither methyl-alpha-maltoside nor 5-thiomaltose is utilized by Escherichia coli as a sole carbon source. Both are, however, effective competitive inhibitors of maltose transport into the bacterium (Km for maltose, 0.8 microM, Ki for methyl-alpha-maltoside, 5.5 microM; Ki for 5-thiomaltose, 0.2 microM). Both analogs are bound by the periplasmic maltose-binding protein. Methyl-alpha-[14C]maltoside and 5-[3H]thiomaltose were both accumulated inside E. coli. Methyl-alpha-maltoside was unchanged after accumulation, but 5-thiomaltose was converted to an unidentified compound that could exit from the bacterium. Both analogs were inhibitory to the growth of E. coli, but only when the bacteria were previously induced for the maltose transport system. The analogs are substrates for but poor inducers of the maltose transport system.