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. 1976 May;126(2):739–742. doi: 10.1128/jb.126.2.739-742.1976

Ammonia-sensitive mutant of Klebsiella aerogenes.

K Struhl, B Magasanik
PMCID: PMC233208  PMID: 1262316

Abstract

We have isolated a temperature-sensitive mutant of Klebsiella aerogenes unable to grow aerobically at 42 C in standard glucose minimal medium containing 0.03 M ammonium sulfate as a source of nitrogen. This strain, MK810, will grow at this temperature in significantly lower concentrations of ammonia (1 mM) or when ammonia is replaced by a growth rate-limiting source of nitrogen such as histidine or glutamate. A detailed physiological characterization and preliminary biochemical tests support the contention that the mutant has an altered alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase that at the restrictive condition fails to manufacture sufficient succinyl-coenzyme A. We explain the ammonia sensitivity by the dual role of alpha-ketoglutarate as substrate for the formation of succinyl-coenzyme A and glutamate. A defect in the enzyme necessary for the production of succinyl-coenzyme A makes ammonia an overly effective competitor for alpha-ketoglutarate.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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