Summary
The regulation of catabolite repression of β-galactosidase has been studied in Escherichia coli mutants deleted for the adenyl cyclase gene (cya Δ), and thus unable to synthesize cyclic AMP. It has been found that, provided a second mutation occurs either in the crp gene coding for the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) or in the Lactose region, these mutants exhibit catabolite repression. If the catabolite repression seen in the mutant strains corresponds to the mechanism operating in wild-type cells, the results would suggest that the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP cannot be the unique regulator of catabolite repression.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arditti, R., Grozzicker, T., Beckwith, J.: Cyclic adenosine monophosphate-independent mutants of the lactose operon of Escherichia coli. J. Bact. 114, 652–655 (1973)
Brickman, E., Soll, L., Beckwith, J.: Genetic characterization of mutations which affect catabolite-sensitive operon in Escherichia coli, including deletions of the gene for adenylcyclase. J. Bact. 116, 582–587 (1973)
Magasanik, B.: Catabolite repression. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 26, 249 (1961)
Miller, J.H.: Experiments in molecular genetics, pp. 44–48. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Lab. 1972a
Miller, J.H.: Experiments in molecular genetics, pp. 125. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Lab. 1972b
Monod, J.: The phenomenon of enzymatic adaptation. Growth 11, 223 (1947)
Pardee, A.B., Jacob, F., Monod, J.: The genetic control and cytoplasmic expression of “inductibility” in the synthesis of β-galactosidase by Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 1, 165–178 (1959)
Sabourin, D., Beckwith, J.: Deletion of Escherichia coli crp genes. J. Bact. 122, 338–340 (1975)
Ullmann, A., Tillier, F., Monod, J.: Catabolite modulator factor. A possible mediator of catabolite repression in bacteria. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 73, 3476–3479 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by F. Gros
Jacques Monod was still with us when most of the work described in this and the following paper was accomplished. His constant interest, his unfailing advice, his warm support, were invaluable. It will be difficult for us to ever enjoy a successful experiment without regretting that he cannot share this pleasure with us.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dessein, A., Schwartz, M. & Ullmann, A. Catabolite repression in Escherichia coli mutants lacking cyclic AMP. Molec. Gen. Genet. 162, 83–87 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333853
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333853