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. 1972 Mar;109(3):1156–1161. doi: 10.1128/jb.109.3.1156-1161.1972

Factors Affecting the Level of Alanine Racemase in Escherichia coli1

Mary Pulliam Lambert a, Francis C Neuhaus a
PMCID: PMC247338  PMID: 4551748

Abstract

Alanine racemase occupies a key position in the alanine branch of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. The level of this enzyme in Escherichia coli W is a function of the carbon source. For example, growth on l-alanine causes a 25-fold higher level of alanine racemase when compared with growth on glucose. When potential inducers of this enzyme are added to either a glucose or succinate medium, a low specificity is observed with those compounds that cause higher levels of enzyme. Growth of E. coli W on either pyruvate, d-alanine, or l-alanine resulted in lower levels of l- and d-alanine in the internal pool. With each of these carbon sources, the level of alanine racemase was markedly elevated when compared to glucose-grown cells; thus, with single carbon sources, the concentration of alanine in the pool is inversely related to the specific activity of alanine racemase. These observations support derepression as a possible mechanism that gives rise to higher levels of alanine racemase. Since multiple forms of the alanine racemase were not detected in extracts from E. coli W grown on various carbon sources, it would appear that this type of heterogeneity is not a consideration in interpreting the above results.

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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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