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. 1988 Aug;170(8):3443–3447. doi: 10.1128/jb.170.8.3443-3447.1988

A deficiency in cyclic AMP results in pH-sensitive growth of Escherichia coli K-12.

D Ahmad 1, E B Newman 1
PMCID: PMC211313  PMID: 2841287

Abstract

Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 deficient in adenyl cyclase (cya) and catabolite activator protein (crp) have been shown to grow more slowly than their parent strains in glucose-minimal medium. Their growth rate decreased markedly with increasing pH between 6 and 7.8. We have shown that this pH sensitivity is a direct consequence of the cya mutation, because a mutation to pH resistance also restored ability to ferment a variety of sugars. The proton motive force-dependent uptake of proline and glutamate was also reduced and sensitive to pH in the cya mutant. The membrane-bound ATPase activity was normal. The rate of oxygen uptake by cells, although reduced, was pH insensitive. We suggest several explanations for this phenotype, including a possible defect in energy transduction.

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Selected References

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