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. 1995 Feb;177(4):926–931. doi: 10.1128/jb.177.4.926-931.1995

Activation of the dephosphorylation of nitrogen regulator I-phosphate of Escherichia coli.

J Liu 1, B Magasanik 1
PMCID: PMC176685  PMID: 7860602

Abstract

The transcription of sigma 54 RNA polymerase-dependent nitrogen-regulated genes is activated by nitrogen regulator I (NRI)-phosphate. The kinase NRII is responsible for the phosphorylation of NRI. It has been shown that NRII also has the ability to dephosphorylate NRI-phosphate but only when PII is present at a concentration greatly in excess of that of NRII. We have now shown that glutamate enables PII to stimulate the dephosphorylation of NRI-phosphate when present in equimolar concentration with NRII. This effect of glutamate appears to be a backup control that becomes effective when the normal regulation of PII activity is disabled.

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Selected References

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