Coupling Physiology and Gene Regulation in Bacteria: The Phosphotransferase Sugar Uptake System Delivers the Signals

Escherichia coli

and thereby the activity of the catabolite activator protein. In many gram-positive bacteria catabolite repression is mediated by the catabolite control protein CcpA, which requires HPr Ser-46 phosphate as a cofactor to regulate transcription of catabolic genes. HPr Ser-46 phosphate is produced by HPr kinase, the activity of which is under metabolic control via the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates. These recent results establish a multifaceted regulatory role for PTS in addition to its well-established function in active sugar uptake.