Physiological Characterization of Polar Tn5-Induced Isoleucine-Valine Auxotrophs in ESCHERICHIA COLI K-12: Evidence for an Internal Promoter in the ilvOGEDA OPERON

The properties of 22 isoleucine-valine auxotrophs induced in Escherichia coli K-12 by the transposable element, Tn5, were characterized on the basis of growth requirements, cross-feeding behavior, and enzyme activity. Mutants defective in ilvA, ilvC, ilvD and ilvE were found. Mutation in ilvE were not completely polar on ilvD and ilvA enzyme activities (that is, ilvE mutants possessed a low constitutive level of expression of the enzymes coded by ilvD and ilvA), while mutations in ilvD were completely polar on ilvA enzyme activity. The data suggest that there is an internal promoter between the sites of Tn5 insertion in ilvE and ilvD.