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Heme-deficient mutants of Salmonella typhimurium: Two genes required for ALA synthesis

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Summary

The first step in heme biosynthesis is the formation of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). We have isolated, mapped and characterized a large number of Salmonella typhimurium mutants auxotrophic for ALA. These mutants carry defects in either one of two genes, both required for ALA synthesis. The previously identified hemA gene maps at 35 min, and the hemL gene maps at 5 min on the S. typhimurium genetic map. Mutants in hemA and hemL are defective for aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and appear to be oxygen sensitive. The Hem− phenotype of hemL mutants is less severe than that of hemA mutants. Although hemA and hemL mutants are deficient in heme synthesis, genetic tests indicate that they still synthesize two minor products of the heme pathway, siroheme and cobalamin (vitamin B12), under anaerobic conditions. In contrast, hemB, hemC and cysG mutants, blocked after ALA synthesis, make neither siroheme nor vitamin B12. Double mutants defective in both hemA and hemL also make siroheme. We suggest that hemA and hemL are required for one route of ALA synthesis and that a second, minor route of ALA synthesis may operate in S. typhimurium; this second pathway would be independent of the hemA and hemL functions.

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Abbreviations

Amp:

ampicillin

Cam:

chloramphenicol

Kan:

kanamycin

Tet:

tetracycline

Str:

streptomycin

X-gal:

5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-d-galactoside

DES:

diethyl sulfate

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  1. Thomas Elliott

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, Birmingham, AL, USA

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Utah, 84112, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Thomas Elliott & John R. Roth

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Communicated by H. Hennecke

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Elliott, T., Roth, J.R. Heme-deficient mutants of Salmonella typhimurium: Two genes required for ALA synthesis. Mol Gen Genet 216, 303–314 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334369

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