Regulation of leucine catabolism in Pseudomonas putida

The generation time of Pseudomonas putida with l-leucine was 20 h in synthetic media but only 3 h with d-leucine. Slow growth in the presence of l-leucine was partially overcome by addition of 0.1 mM amounts of either d-valine, l-valine, or 2-ketoisovalerate. The activities of five enzymes which take part in the oxidation of leucine by P. putida were measured under various conditions of growth. Four enzymes were induced by growth with dl-leucine as sole source of carbon: d-amino acid dehydrogenase, branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase, 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase. The segment of the pathway required for oxidation of 3-methylcrotonate was induced by growth on isovalerate or 3-methylcrotonate without formation of the preceding enzymes. The synthesis of carboxylase and lyase appeared to have been repressed by the addition of l-glutamate or glucose to cells growing on dl-leucine as the sole carbon source. Mutants unable to grow at the expense of isovalerate had reduced levels of carboxylase and lyase, whereas the levels of three enzymes common to the catabolism of all three branched-chain amino acids and those of two isoleucine catabolic enzymes were normal.     

Regulation of valine catabolism in Pseudomonas putida

The activities of six enzymes which take part in the oxidation of valine by Pseudomonas putida were measured under various conditions of growth. The formation of four of the six enzymes was induced by growth on d- or l-valine: d-amino acid dehydrogenase, branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase, and methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase. Branched-chain amino acid transaminase and isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase were synthesized constitutively. d-Amino acid dehydrogenase and branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase were induced during growth on valine, leucine, and isoleucine, and these enzymes were assumed to be common to the metabolism of all three branched-chain amino acids. The segment of the pathway required for oxidation of isobutyrate was induced by growth on isobutyrate or 3-hydroxyisobutyrate without formation of the preceding enzymes. d-Amino acid dehydrogenase was induced by growth on l-alanine without formation of other enzymes required for the catabolism of valine. d-Valine was a more effective inducer of d-amino acid dehydrogenase than was l-valine. Therefore, the valine catabolic pathway was induced in three separate segments: (i) d-amino acid dehydrogenase, (ii) branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase, and (iii) 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase plus methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase. In a study of the kinetics of formation of the inducible enzymes, it was found that 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenases were coordinately induced. Induction of enzymes of the valine catabolic pathway was studied in a mutant that had lost the ability to grow on all three branched-chain amino acids. Strain PpM2106 had lowered levels of branched-chain amino acid transaminase and completely lacked branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase when grown in medium which contained valine. Addition of 2-ketoisovalerate, 2-ketoisocaproate, or 2-keto-3-methylvalerate to the growth medium of strain PpM2106 resulted in induction of normal levels of branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase; therefore, the branched-chain keto acids were the actual inducers of branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase.     

Cyclopropanol in the exploration of bacterial alcohol oxidation

Abstract Cyclopropanol selectively inhibits bacterial alcohol oxidation proceeding via NAD-independent, quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases. Thus, for instance, alcohol oxidation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa , grown on ethanol, was inhibited for about 50% by cyclopropanol treatment. Accordingly, cell-free extracts of untreated cells had nearly equal activities of quinoprotein and NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases, whereas only the latter enzyme activity was found in cell-free extracts of cyclopropanol-treated cells. Upon incubation of Hyphomicrobium X with cyclopropanol, oxidation of alcohols was blocked while formaldehyde oxidation was not. Therefore, methanol dehydrogenase in this organism is not specifically involved in formaldehyde oxidation. The examples show that cyclopropanol-derived substrates are potential tools in revealing the physiological role of bacterial alcohol dehydrogenases.     

Amino acid transport in Mycobacterium smegmatis

The transport of d-alanine, d-glutamic acid, and d-valine in Mycobacterium smegmatis was compared quantitatively with that of their l-isomers. It appeared that the uptake of d-alanine was mediated by an active process displaying saturation kinetics characteristic of enzyme function, whereas the uptake of d-glutamic acid was accomplished by a passive process showing diffusion kinetics. Both processes were involved in the uptake of l-alanine, l-glutamic acid, d-valine, and l-valine. d-Valine competed with l-valine for entry into the cell through a single active process. d-Alanine and l-alanine also utilized the same active process, but the d-isomer could not enter the cell through the passive process. The passive process exhibited characteristics of diffusion, but was sensitive to sulfhydryl-blocking reagents and showed competition among structurally related amino acids. These last findings suggested that the passive process is a facilitated diffusion.     

Alanine and aspartate formation during growth on valine-C14 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Sokatch, J. R. (University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City). Alanine and aspartate formation during growth on valine-C(14) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 92:72-75. 1966.-Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown with dl-valine-4,4'-C(14) synthesized alanine labeled mainly in carbons 1 and 3, indicating that the isopropyl carbons of valine were the precursors of pyruvate for alanine formation by a pathway which did not involve randomization of isotope. Alanine from cells grown on valine-1-C(14) contained isotope only in the carboxyl carbon, suggesting another route to pyruvate from valine by carbon dioxide fixation. Oxidation of valine to propionyl-coenzyme A (CoA), as it occurs in animal tissues, followed by the oxidation of propionyl-CoA to acrylyl-CoA, lactyl-CoA, and pyruvate, would account for the isotope data. Cells grown on valine oxidized valine, isobutyrate, and propionate immediately, whereas cells grown on acetate did not oxidize valine or isobutyrate and required an induction period before propionate was oxidized. P. aeruginosa grown with propionate-1-C(14) or propionate-2-C(14) formed alanine-1-C(14) and alanine-2-C(14), respectively, which agrees with the contention that at least part of the propionate is oxidized via the acrylate pathway. Aspartate formed from valine-1-C(14) was labeled only in the carboxyl carbons, whereas that formed from valine-4,4'-C(14) was labeled in all four carbons, but most heavily in carbons 1 and 3. These data suggest that the main route for the formation of the carbon skeleton of aspartate was by a C(3) plus C(1) condensation, with the C(3) unit derived from the isopropyl carbons of valine and the C(1) unit probably from carbon dioxide.     

Distribution of xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase specificity types among bacteria.

A diverse collection of xanthine-metabolizing bacteria was examined for xanthine-, 1-methylxanthine-, and 3-methylxanthine-oxidizing activity. Both particulate and soluble fractions of extracts from aerobically grown gram-negative bacteria exhibited oxidation of all three substrates; however, when facultative gram-negative bacteria were grown anaerobically, low particulate and 3-methylxanthine activities were detected. Gram-positive and obligately anaerobic bacteria showed no particulate activity or 3-methylxanthine oxidation. Substrate specificity studies indicate two types of enzyme distributed among the bacteria along taxonomic lines, although other features indicate diversity of the enzyme within these two major groups. The soluble and particulate enzymes from Pseudomonas putida and the enzyme from Arthrobacter S-2 were examined as type examples with a series of purine and analogues differing in the number and position of oxygen groups. Each preparation was active with a variety of compounds, but the compounds and position attacked by each enzyme was different, both from the other enzymes examined and from previously investigated enzymes. The soluble enzyme from Pseudomonas was inhibited in a competitive manner by uric acid, whereas the Arthrobacter enzyme was not. This was correlated with the ability of Pseudomonas, but not Arthrobacter, to incorporate radioactivity from [2-14C]uric acid into cellular material.     

Formation of Protoporphyrin from Coproporphyrinogen in Extracts of Various Bacteria

The enzyme system capable of converting coproporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin was demonstrated in the soluble fraction of extracts of Pseudomonas fluorescens grown aerobically, of P. denitrificans grown anaerobically under denitrifying conditions, and of Escherichia coli grown both aerobically and anaerobically. Protoporphyrin accumulation by each of these extracts occurred only if the assay was conducted aerobically. Attempts to replace this oxygen requirement with several alternate electron acceptors were not successful. The conversion of coproporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin could not be demonstrated in extracts of the heme-containing organisms Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis.     

Influence of exogenous substrates on the endogenous respiration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Gronlund, Audrey F. (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada), and J. J. R. Campbell. Influence of exogenous substrates on the endogenous respiration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 91:1577-1581. 1966.-The influence of growth conditions, ammonium ions, and glucose concentration on endogenous respiration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined by measuring C(14)O(2) evolution from uniformly labeled cells that had previously been grown on C(14)-glucose. A 93% suppression of endogenous C(14)O(2) evolution was evident under growth conditions, and a 66% suppression was observed in the presence of excess glucose. Increasing exogenous glucose concentrations supported decreasing levels of endogenous C(14)O(2) evolution. Ammonium ions slightly suppressed endogenous activity and enhanced the decrease in C(14)O(2) release observed with exogenous glucose. In addition, the effect of exogenous glucose, alpha-ketoglutarate, 2-ketogluconate, aspartic acid, and adenosine selectively on both endogenous ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein oxidation was followed by measuring C(14)O(2) evolution from cells grown with C(14)-uracil or C(14)-proline. The five exogenous substrates examined suppressed endogenous RNA oxidation, and the degree of suppression appeared to be correlated with the amount of oxygen consumption and, hence, energy gained during the oxidation of these substrates. Oxidation of endogenous protein was decreased when cells were incubated with glucose, aspartate, and adenosine, but was increased when alpha-ketoglutarate and 2-ketogluconate were the exogenous substrates. The influence of the oxidizable exogenous compounds appeared to be related, in part, to the ammonium ion requirement imposed upon the cells for assimilation of the individual exogenous substrate.     

The role of valine in the biosynthesis of penicillin N and cephalosporin C by a Cephalosporium sp

1. The production of penicillin N, but not that of cephalosporin C, was inhibited by the addition of d-valine to suspensions in water of washed mycelium of Cephalosporium sp. 8650. The production of cephalosporin C was selectively inhibited by gamma-hydroxyvaline. 2. l-[(14)C]Valine was taken up rapidly and virtually completely by suspensions of washed mycelium but d-[(14)C]valine and alpha-oxo[(14)C]-isovalerate were taken up relatively slowly. 3. Part of the l-valine was rapidly degraded in the mycelium and part was incorporated into protein. Turnover of the valine in the amino acid pool was estimated to occur in 10-17min. 4. No detectable amount of l-[(14)C]valine was converted into the d-isomer in the mycelium. alpha-Oxo[(14)C]isovalerate was rapidly converted into l-[(14)C]valine in mycelium and mycelial extracts. 5. d-[(14)C]Valine was partially converted into the l-isomer in the mycelium and (14)C from d-valine was incorporated into protein. 6. The labelling of penicillin N and cephalosporin C by (14)C from l-[(14)C]valine was consistent with the view that l-valine is a direct precursor of C(5) fragments of both antibiotics and that any intermediates involved are present in relatively small pools in rapid turnover. 7. Labelling of the antibiotics with (14)C from d-[1-(14)C]valine appeared to occur after the latter had been converted into the l-isomer. Unlabelled d-valine did not decrease the efficiency of incorporation of (14)C from l-[1-(14)C]valine. 8. Intracellular peptide material which contained, among others, residues of alpha-aminoadipic acid, cysteine and valine, was rapidly labelled by (14)C from l-[1-(14)C]valine in a manner consistent with it being an intermediate in the biosynthesis of one or both of the antibiotics. 9. Labelling of penicillin N from l-[1-(14)C]valine occurred more rapidly than that of cephalosporin C. However, the effects of d-valine and gamma-hydroxyvaline on antibiotic production and the course of labelling of the antibiotics from l-[(14)C]valine could not readily be explained on the assumption that penicillin N was a precursor of cephalosporin C.     

Adenosine triphosphate-linked control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 7700) cells grown on glucose, gluconate, or glycerol had enzyme activities related to the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. These activities were present in no more than trace amounts when the bacteria were grown on succinate. Fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase could not be detected in extracts of the bacteria grown on any of the above carbon sources. Therefore, it appears that P. aeruginosa degrades glucose via an inducible Entner-Doudoroff pathway. The apparent absence of fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase in cells growing on succinate suggests that the bacteria can form hexose and pentose phosphates from succinate by an alternate route. d-Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a branch-point enzyme of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, was purified 50-fold from glucose-grown cells. Its molecular weight, estimated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, was found to be approximately 190,000. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by adenosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, and deoxyguanosine triphosphate, which decreased the apparent binding of glucose-6-phosphate to the enzyme. It is suggested that adenine nucleotide-linked control of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase may regulate the overall catabolism of hexose phosphates and prevent their wasteful degradation under certain conditions requiring gluconeogenesis.     

The bacterial metabolism of 2,4-xylenol

1. Measurements of the rates of oxidation of various compounds by a fluorescent Pseudomonas indicated that metabolism of 2,4-xylenol was initiated by oxidation of the methyl group para to the hydroxyl group. 2. 4-Hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid was isolated as the product of oxidation of 2,4-xylenol by cells inhibited with alphaalpha'-bipyridyl. 3. 4-Hydroxyisophthalic acid accumulated at low oxygen concentrations when either 2,4-xylenol or 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid was oxidized by cells grown with 2,4-xylenol. 4. When supplemented with NADH, but not with NADPH, cell extracts oxidized 4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid readily. 2-Hydroxy-5-methylbenzoic acid was not oxidized. 5. Both 4-hydroxyisophthalic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were oxidized to beta-oxoadipic acid by cell extracts supplemented with either NADH or NADPH. 4,5-Dihydroxyisophthalic acid was not oxidized. 6. From measurements of oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide evolved it was concluded that protocatechuic acid is an intermediate in the conversion of 4-hydroxyisophthalic acid into beta-oxoadipic acid.     

Induction and quantification of phenylacyl-CoA ligase enzyme activities in Pseudomonas putida CA-3 grown on aromatic carboxylic acids

Three phenylacyl-CoA ligase activities were detected in extracts of Pseudomonas putida CA-3 cells grown with a variety of aromatic carboxylic acids. The three phenylacyl-CoA enzyme activities measured were phenylpropyl-CoA ligase (acting on both phenylpropanoic acid and cinnamic acid), a phenylacetyl-CoA ligase, and a medium chain length phenylalkanoyl-CoA ligase acting on aromatic substrates with 5 or more carbons in the acyl moiety. The rate of each enzyme activity detected in extracts of P. putida CA-3 cells is dependent on the growth substrate supplied. High rates of phenylpropyl-CoA ligase activity were observed with extracts of cells grown on phenylpropanoic acid, cinnamic acid or medium chain length phenylalkanoic acids with an uneven number of carbons in the acyl moiety. Extracts of P. putida CA-3 cells exhibited high rates of phenylacetyl-CoA ligase activity when grown on phenylacetic acid or medium chain length phenylalkanoic acids with an even number of carbons in the acyl moiety. In addition, high rates of medium chain length phenylalkanoyl-CoA ligase activity, towards phenylvaleric acid and phenylhexanoic acid, were exhibited by extracts of cells grown on all medium chain length phenylalkanoic acids. Low levels of the various phenylacyl-CoA ligase activities were found in extracts of cells grown on benzoic acid and glucose. Benzoyl-CoA ligase activity was not detected in any cell free extracts generated in this study.     

Paraffin oxidation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. I. Induction of paraffin oxidation

The induction of paraffin oxidation in intact cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated. Oxidation of (14)C-heptane by cell-free extracts of adapted cells showed that the activity of whole cells is a reliable reflection of the synthesis of the first enzyme in the degradation of n-alkanes. Induction was significantly affected by glucose and could be completely repressed by malate. The amino acids l-proline, l-alanine, l-arginine, and l-tyrosine exhibited a rather low repressor action. Malonate, a nonrepressive carbon source, allowed gratuitous enzyme synthesis. A number of compounds which did not sustain growth were found to be suitable substitutes for paraffins as an inducer. Among these were cyclopropane and diethoxymethane. The induction studied under conditions of gratuity with the latter compound as an inducer showed immediate linear kinetics only at saturating inducer concentrations. With n-hexane as the inducer, a lag time was always observed, even when high concentrations were used.     

Gentisic acid and its 3- and 4-methyl-substituted homologues as intermediates in the bacterial degradation of m-cresol, 3,5-xylenol and 2,5-xylenol

1. Intact cells of a non-fluorescent Pseudomonas grown with m-cresol, 2,5-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol, 3-ethyl-5-methylphenol or 2,3,5-trimethylphenol rapidly oxidized all these phenols to completion. 3-Hydroxybenzoate and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate (gentisate) were also readily oxidized. 2. 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid were isolated as products of m-cresol oxidation by cells inhibited by alphaalpha'-bipyridyl. Alkyl-substituted 3-hydroxybenzoic acids and alkyl-substituted gentisic acids were formed similarly from 2,5-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol, 3-ethyl-5-methylphenol and 2,3,5-trimethylphenol. 3. When supplemented with NADH, not NADPH, extracts of cells grown with 2,5-xylenol catalysed the oxidation of all five phenols and accumulated the corresponding gentisic acids in the presence of alphaalpha'-bipyridyl. 4. Cells of a fluorescent Pseudomonas grown with m-cresol oxidized m-cresol, 3,5-xylenol and 3-ethyl-5-methylphenol to completion and oxidized 2,5-xylenol and 2,3,5-trimethylphenol partially. The oxidation product of 2,5-xylenol was identified as 3-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoic acid. In the presence of alphaalpha'-bipyridyl, 3-hydroxy-5-methylbenzoic acid and 3-methylgentisic acid were formed from 3,5-xylenol.     

Transaminase B from Escherichia coli: quaternary structure, amino-terminal sequence, substrate specificity, and absence of a separate valine-alpha-ketoglutarate activity.

Transaminase B (branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.42), the ilvE gene product, was purified to apparent homogeneity from an Escherichia coli K-12 strain which carries the ilvE gene both on the host chromosome and on a plasmid. The oligomeric structure of the enzyme, as determined by analytical ultracentrifugation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was confirmed to be that of a hexamer with a molecular weight of about 182,000 and apparently identical subunits. Cross-linking with dimethylsuberimidate yielded trimers, dimers, and monomers, but essentially no species of higher molecular weight. These results are consistent with a double-trimer arrangement of the subunits in native enzyme. The amino-terminal sequence was found to be: Gly Thr Lys Lys Ala Asp Tyr Ile (Trp) Phe Asn Gly (Thr) (Met) Val. Purified transaminase B catalyzed transamination between alpha-ketoglutarate and l-isoleucine, l-leucine, l-valine, and, to a lesser extent, l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine, the latter reacting very sluggishly. The enzyme was free of aspartate transaminase and of transaminase C. The apparent K(m) values for the branched-chain alpha-ketoacids were smaller than those for the corresponding amino acids. The lowest K(m) was recorded for dl-alpha-keto-beta-methyl-n-valerate, and the highest was recorded for l-valine. The ratio of the valine- and isoleucine-alpha-ketoglutarate activities did not change significantly during purification, and both activities were quantitatively removed from crude extract by antibody raised against purified transaminase B. These observations argue against the existence of a separate valine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase. Anti-E. coli transaminase B antibody cross-reacted with crude extract from Salmonella typhimurium, but not with extract obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Effect of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin on production of a chemotherapeutic enzyme, L-asparaginase, by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The production of L-asparaginase, an enzyme widely used in cancer chemotherapy, is mainly regulated by carbon catabolite repression and oxygen. This study was carried out to understand how different carbon sources and Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) affect the production of this enzyme in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its VHb-expressing recombinant strain (PaJC). Both strains grown with various carbon sources showed a distinct profile of the enzyme activity. Compared to no carbohydrate supplemented medium, glucose caused a slight repression of L-asparaginase in P. aeruginosa, while it stimulated it in the PaJC strain. Glucose, regarded as one of the inhibitory sugars for the production L-asparaginase by other bacteria, was determined to be the favorite carbon source compared to lactose, glycerol and mannitol. Furthermore, contrary to common knowledge of oxygen repression of L-asparaginase in other bacteria, oxygen uptake provided by VHb was determined to even stimulate the L-asparaginase synthesis by P. aeruginosa. This study, for the first time, shows that in P. aeruginosa utilizing a recombinant oxygen uptake system, VHb, L-asparaginase synthesis is stimulated by glucose and other carbohydrate sources compared to the host strain. It is concluded that carbon catabolite and oxygen repression of L-asparaginase in fermentative bacteria is not the case for a respiratory non-fermentative bacterium like P. aeruginosa.     

The bacterial oxidation of vitamin B6. 4-Pyridoxic acid dehydrogenase: a membrane-bound enzyme from Pseudomonas MA-1

A highly specific inducible membrane-bound 4-pyridoxic acid dehydrogenase has been solubilized and purified to apparent homogeneity from Pseudomonas MA-1 grown with pyridoxine as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The undenatured enzyme migrates as a single band on gel electrophoresis; denatured preparations show two barely resolved bands (Mr = 63,000 and 61,000). Undenatured preparations aggregate readily, as evidenced by Mr values of 148,000, 470,000, and greater than 670,000 obtained by density gradient centrifugation or by gel filtration under various conditions. The enzyme contains FAD but no Fe or acid-labile S; an average minimum molecular weight of 131,000 was calculated from the FAD content. In the presence of 2,6-dichloroindophenol, the enzyme dehydrogenates 4-pyridoxic acid to the corresponding aldehyde; this reaction is not inhibited by CN-. At the pH optimum of 8.0, a Vm of approximately 7.0 mumol min-1 mg-1 and a Km of 9 microM were obtained. 2,6-Dichloroindophenol, phenazine methosulfate, and menadione are effective electron acceptors; ubiquinones are less active, while NAD, FAD, and O2 are inactive. However, in membrane fractions, oxygen supports 4-pyridoxic acid oxidation via a CN--sensitive electron transport chain, indicating that the dehydrogenase probably is coupled to ATP generation in such preparations.     

Energy transduction by electron transfer via a pyrrolo-quinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (var. lwoffi).

The coupling of membrane-bound glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.17) to the respiratory chain has been studied in whole cells, cell-free extracts, and membrane vesicles of gram-negative bacteria. Several Escherichia coli strains synthesized glucose dehydrogenase apoenzyme which could be activated by the prosthetic group pyrrolo-quinoline quinone. The synthesis of the glucose dehydrogenase apoenzyme was independent of the presence of glucose in the growth medium. Membrane vesicles of E. coli, grown on glucose or succinate, oxidized glucose to gluconate in the presence of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone. This oxidation led to the generation of a proton motive force which supplied the driving force for uptake of lactose, alanine, and glutamate. Reconstitution of glucose dehydrogenase with limiting amounts of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone allowed manipulation of the rate of electron transfer in membrane vesicles and whole cells. At saturating levels of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, glucose was the most effective electron donor in E. coli, and glucose oxidation supported secondary transport at even higher rates than oxidation of reduced phenazine methosulfate. Apoenzyme of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenases with similar properties as the E. coli enzyme were found in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (var. lwoffi) grown aerobically on acetate and in Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown anaerobically on glucose and nitrate.     

Pyruvate Carboxylase Deficiency in Pleiotropic Carbohydrate-Negative Mutant Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Cell extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO were found to contain pyruvate carboxylase activity. Specific activities were minimal when cells were grown on Casamino Acids, acetate, or succinate, but were three- to fourfold higher when cells were grown in glucose, gluconate, glycerol, lactate, or pyruvate minimal media. The reaction in crude cell extracts and in partially purified preparations was dependent on pyruvate, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, and Mg(2+), but was not affected by either the presence or absence of acetyl coenzyme A. Activity was nearly totally inhibited by avidin and this inhibition was substantially blocked by free biotin in incubation mixtures. Cell extracts were shown to fix (14)CO(2) in a reaction that had these same characteristics. Eight pleiotropic, carbohydrate-negative mutant strains of the organism were isolated after nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. Each mutant strain grew normally in acetate, succinate, and citrate minimal media but failed to utilize glucose, gluconate, 2-ketogluconate, mannitol, glycerol, lactate, and pyruvate as sole sources of carbon and energy. These strains were found by quantitative transductional analysis with phage F116 to form a single linkage group. Cell extracts of each mutant strain were either lacking or severely deficient in pyruvate carboxylase activity. Spontaneous revertants of five of the eight strains were isolated and found to recover simultaneously both pyruvate carboxylase activity and the ability to utilize each of the C(6) and C(3) compounds. A second linkage group of similar mutant strains that grew on the C(3) compounds was found to contain normal levels of pyruvate carboxylase activity, but each strain was deficient in an enzyme of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway.     

Endotoxin biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: enzymatic incorporation of laurate before 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate.

Unlike Escherichia coli, living cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa can complete the fatty acylation of lipid A when the biosynthesis of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate (Kdo) is inhibited (R. C. Goldman, C. C. Doran, S. K. Kadam, and J. O. Capobianco, J. Biol. Chem. 263:5217-5233, 1988). In this study, we demonstrate the presence of a novel enzyme in extracts of P. aeruginosa that can transfer lauroyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) to a tetraacyl disaccharide-1,4'-bis-phosphate precursor of lipid A (termed lipid IVA) that accumulates in Kdo-deficient mutants of E. coli. Comparable E. coli extracts cannot transfer laurate from lauroyl-ACP to lipid IVA, only to (Kdo)2-lipid IVA (K. A. Brozek, and C. R. H. Raetz, J. Biol. Chem. 265:15410-15417, 1990). P. aeruginosa extracts do not utilize myristoyl- or R-3-hydroxymyristoyl-ACP instead of lauroyl-ACP to acylate lipid IVA. Laurate incorporation in P. aeruginosa extracts is dependent upon time, protein concentration, and the presence of Triton X-100 but is inhibited by lauroyl-coenzyme A. P. aeruginosa extracts transfer only one laurate to lipid IVA, whereas E. coli extracts can transfer two laurates to (Kdo)2-lipid IVA. These results demonstrate that incorporation of laurate into lipid A does not require prior attachment of Kdo in all gram-negative bacteria.