Regulation of the Escherichia coli Tryptophan Operon by Early Reactions in the Aromatic Pathway

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

7 p.

Publication Date

1-1970

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

Source Publication

Journal of Bacteriology

Source ISSN

0021-9193

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1128/jb.101.1.202-208.1970

Abstract

7-Methyltryptophan (7MT) or compounds which can be metabolized to 7MT, 3-methylanthranilic acid (3MA) and 7-methylindole, cause derepression of the trp operon through feedback inhibition of anthranilate synthetase. Tyrosine reverses 3MA or 7-methylindole derepression, apparently by increasing the amount of chorismic acid available to the tryptophan pathway. A mutant isolated on the basis of 3MA resistance (MAR 13) was found to excrete small amounts of chorismic acid and to have a feedback-resistant phenylalanine 3-deoxy-d-arabinoheptulosonic acid-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthetase. Genetic evidence indicates that the mutation conferring 3MA resistance and feedback resistance is very closely linked to aroG, the structural gene for the DAHP synthetase (phe). Since feedback inhibition of anthranilate synthetase by l-tryptophan (or 7MT) is competitive with chorismic acid, alterations in growth conditions (added tyrosine) or in a mutant (MAR 13) which increase the amount of chorismic acid available to the tryptophan pathway result in resistance to 7MT derepression. Owing to this competitive nature of tryptophan feedback inhibition of anthranilate synthetase by chorismic acid, the early pathway apparently serves to exert a regulatory influence on tryptophan biosynthesis.

Comments

Published version. Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 101, No. 1 (January 1970): 202-208. DOI. © 1970 American Society for Microbiology. Used with permission.

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