The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent fructose-specific phosphotransferase system in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Energetics of the phosphoryl group transfer from phosphoenolpyruvate to fructose

Energy coupling to fructose transport in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides is achieved by phosphorylation of the membrane-spanning fructose-specific carrier protein, EFruII. The phosphoryl group of phosphoenolpyruvate is transferred to EFruII via the cytoplasmic component SF (soluble factor). The standard free enthalpy of hydrolysis of the two phosphorylated proteins has been estimated from isotope exchange measurements in chemical equilibrium. The delta G degrees for SF-P is -60.5 kJ/mol. The standard free enthalpy for hydrolysis of EII-P is -37.9 kJ/mol, but -45.2 kJ/mol when SF is still complexed to it, as in the overall reaction. Therefore the standard free enthalpy of hydrolysis of SF X EII-P is 70% of the standard free enthalpy of hydrolysis of P-enolpyruvate. The measurements reveal two regulation sites in the system. First, the phosphorylation of SF is inhibited by pyruvate when the concentration ratio of pyruvate/P-enolpyruvate becomes too high. Second, a low concentration of internal fructose prevents the phosphorylation of the carrier by the internal fructose-1-P pool when the concentration of the latter becomes too high or the phosphorylation rate by P-enolpyruvate too slow. Furthermore comparison of the isotope exchange and the overall phosphotransferase reaction kinetics leads to the conclusion that binding of fructose to the carrier is a slow step relative to the phosphoryl group transfer from EFruII to fructose.     

Mechanistic coupling of transport and phosphorylation activity by enzyme IImtl of the Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system

Mannitol bound to enzyme IImtl could be trapped specifically by rapid phosphorylation with P-HPr. The assay was used to demonstrate transport of mannitol across the cytoplasmic membrane with and without phosphorylation of mannitol. The latter was 2-3 orders of magnitude slower. The fraction of bound mannitol molecules that was actually phosphorylated, the efficiency of the trap, was less than 50%. The efficiency was not very different for enzyme IImtl embedded in the membrane of vesicles with an inside-out orientation or solubilized in detergent. Subsequently, it is argued that the fraction of the bound mannitol molecules that was not phosphorylated dissociated into the cytoplasmic space. A model for the catalytic mechanism of enzyme IImtl is proposed on the basis of interpretations of the present experiments. The main features of the model are the following: (i) mechanistically, the coupling between transport and phosphorylation is less than 50%; (ii) in the physiological steady state of mannitol transport and metabolism, the coupling is 100%; (iii) phosphorylated enzyme IImtl catalyzes facilitated diffusion at a high rate; (iv) the state of phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain modulates the activity of the translocator domain; (v) the enzyme catalyzes phosphorylation of free cytoplasmic mannitol at least as fast as it catalyzes transport plus phosphorylation of free periplasmic mannitol.     

Identification of a phosphoenolpyruvate:fructose phosphotransferase system (fructose-1-phosphate forming) in Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterium whose carbohydrate metabolic pathways are poorly understood. We provide evidence for an inducible phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):fructose phosphotransferase system (PTS) in this pathogen. The system consists of enzyme I, HPr, and a fructose-specific enzyme II complex which generates fructose-1-phosphate as the cytoplasmic product of the PTS-catalyzed vectorial phosphorylation reaction. Fructose-1-phosphate kinase then converts the product of the PTS reaction to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. HPr was shown to be phosphorylated by [32P]PEP and enzyme I as well as by [32P]ATP and a fructose-1,6-bisphosphate-activated HPr kinase like those found in other gram-positive bacteria. Enzyme I, HPr, and the enzyme II complex of the Listeria PTS exhibit enzymatic cross-reactivity with PTS enzyme constituents from Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.     

Functional reconstitution of the purified phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent mannitol-specific transport system of Escherichia coli in phospholipid vesicles: coupling between transport and phosphorylation.

Purified mannitol-specific enzyme II (EII) from Escherichia coli was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles with the aid of a detergent-dialysis procedure followed by a freeze-thaw sonication step. The orientation of EII in the proteoliposomes was random. The cytoplasmic moiety of the inverted EII could be removed with trypsin without effecting the integrity of the liposomal membrane. This enabled us to study the two different EII orientations independently. The population of inverted EII molecules was monitored by measuring active extrusion of mannitol after the addition of phosphoenolpyruvate, EI, and histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein (HPr) at the outside of the vesicles. The population of correctly oriented EII molecules was monitored by measuring active uptake of mannitol with internal phosphoenolpyruvate, EI, and HPr. A low rate of facilitated diffusion of mannitol via the unphosphorylated carrier could be measured. On the other hand, a high phosphorylation activity without translocation was observed at the outside of the liposomes. The kinetics of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent transport reaction and the nonvectorial phosphorylation reaction were compared. Transport of mannitol into the liposomes via the correctly oriented EII molecules occurred with a high affinity (Km, lower than 10 microM) and with a relatively low Vmax. Phosphorylation at the outside of the liposomes catalyzed by the inverted EII molecules occurred with a low affinity (Km of about 66 microM), while the maximal velocity was about 10 times faster than the transport reaction. The latter observation is kinetic proof for the lack of strict coupling between transport and phosphorylation in these enzymes.     

The glucose transporter of Escherichia coli. Mutants with impaired translocation activity that retain phosphorylation activity.

The glucose transporter of the bacterial phosphotransferase system couples translocation with phosphorylation of the substrate in a 1:1 stoichiometry. It is a complex consisting of a transmembrane subunit (IIGlc) and a hydrophilic subunit (IIIGlc). Both subunits are transiently phosphorylated. IIIGlc is phosphorylated at a histidyl residue by the cytoplasmic phosphoryl carrier protein phospho-heat-stable phosphoryl carrier protein; IIGlc is phosphorylated at a cysteinyl residue by phospho-IIIGlc. The IIGlc subunit consists of two domains. The N-terminal hydrophobic domain is presumed to span the membrane several times; the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain includes the phosphorylation site. IIGlc phosphorylates glucose and methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside in transit across the inner membrane but can also phosphorylate intracellular glucose. Ten mutants resistant against extracellular toxic methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside yet capable of phosphorylating intracellular glucose were isolated. Strong impairment of transport activity in these mutants was accompanied by only a slight decrease of phosphorylation activity. Amino acid substitutions occurred at six sites that are clustered in three presumably hydrophilic loops in the transmembrane domain of IIGlc: M17T, M17I, G149S, K150E, S157F, H339Y, and D343G. We presume that the three polypeptide segments are directly involved in sugar translocation and/or binding but are of little importance for phosphorylation activity, folding, and membrane localization of IIGlc.     

Phosphotransferase-dependent glucose transport in Corynebacterium glutamicum

G.M. MALIN AND G.I. BOURD. 1991. The transport system for glucose and its non-metabolizable analogue methyl-α-D-glucoside (MG) has been described in Corynebacterium glutamicum. The initial product of the transport reaction was shown to be a phosphate ester of MG (MGP). Free MG appeared inside the cells as a result of MGP dephosphorylation. The bacteria transported MG with an apparent K_m of 0.08 ± 0.017 mmol/l and V_max of 21 ± 2.3 nmol/(min × mg dry wt). Toluenized cells and crude cell extracts catalysed phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphorylation of MG and glucose. Both the membrane and the cytoplasmic fractions of bacterial extracts were required for phosphotransferase reaction. Most of the spontaneous mutants resistant to 2-deoxyglucose (DG), xylitol and 5-thioglucose were defective both in transport and in PEP-dependent phosphorylation of MG. Some strains were defective only in glucose utilization and some were also unable to grow on a number of other sugars. The phosphotransferase activity in extracts from mutant cells was restored by the addition of either membrane or cytoplasmic fraction from wild type bacteria. It was concluded that Corynebacterium glutamicum accumulated glucose and MG by means of a PEP-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS).     

Catabolism of Fructose and Mannitol in Clostridium thermocellum: Presence of Phosphoenolpyruvate: Fructose Phosphotransferase, Fructose l-Phosphate Kinase, Phosphoenolpyruvate: Mannitol Phosphotransferase, and Mannitol l-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Cell Extracts

Fructose and mannitol are fermented by Clostridium thermocellum in a medium containing salts and 0.5% yeast extract. The initial reaction in the catabolism of fructose was found to be the formation of fructose l-phosphate by phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):fructose phosphotransferase which resembles the Kundig-Roseman phosphotransferase system. The phosphorylation of fructose l-phosphate to form fructose-1, 6-diphosphate is catalyzed by fructose l-phosphate kinase. Fructose-1, 6-diphosphate can be further metabolized by the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. The formation of both PEP:fructose phosphotransferase and fructose l-phosphate kinase is induced by growth in fructose medium. Mannitol catabolism was found to proceed by the phosphorylation of mannitol by PEP:mannitol phosphotransferase to form mannitol l-phosphate. Mannitol l-phosphate is converted to fructose 6-phosphate by a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-specific mannitol l-phosphate dehydrogenase. The fructose 6-phosphate formed in the reaction can enter the glycolytic scheme. The formation of both PEP:mannitol phosphotransferase and mannitol l-phosphate dehydrogenase is induced by growth in mannitol medium. Evidence is presented for the induction by mannitol of PEP:mannitol phosphotransferase and mannitol l-phosphate dehydrogenase in suspensions of fructose-grown cells.     

Regulation and characterization of the galactose-phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system in Lactobacillus casei.

Cells of Lactobacillus casei grown in media containing galactose or a metabolizable beta-galactoside (lactose, lactulose, or arabinosyl-beta-D-galactoside) were induced for a galactose-phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (gal-PTS). This high-affinity system (Km for galactose, 11 microM) was inducible in eight strains examined, which were representative of all five subspecies of L. casei. The gal-PTS was also induced in strains defective in glucose- and lactose-phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase systems during growth on galactose. Galactose 6-phosphate appeared to be the intracellular inducer of the gal-PTS. The gal-PTS was quite specific for D-galactose, and neither glucose, lactose, nor a variety of structural analogs of galactose caused significant inhibition of phosphotransferase system-mediated galactose transport in intact cells. The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of galactose in vitro required specific membrane and cytoplasmic components (including enzyme IIIgal), which were induced only by growth of the cells on galactose or beta-galactosides. Extracts prepared from such cells also contained an ATP-dependent galactokinase which converted galactose to galactose 1-phosphate. Our results demonstrate the separate identities of the gal-PTS and the lactose-phosphoenol-pyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system in L. casei.     

Properties of ATP-dependent protein kinase from Streptococcus pyogenes that phosphorylates a seryl residue in HPr, a phosphocarrier protein of the phosphotransferase system.

Transport of sugars across the cytoplasmic membranes of gram-positive bacteria appears to be regulated by the action of a metabolite-activated, ATP-dependent protein kinase that phosphorylates a seryl residue in the phosphocarrier protein of the phosphotransferase system, HPr. We have developed a quantitative assay for measuring the activity of this enzyme from Streptococcus pyogenes. The product of the in vitro protein kinase-catalyzed reaction was shown to be phosphoseryl-HPr by several independent criteria (rates of hydrolysis in the presence of various agents, detection of serine-phosphate in acid hydrolysates, immunological assay, and electrophoretic migration rates). HPrs isolated from four different gram-positive bacteria (S. pyogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) were shown to be phosphorylated by the kinase from S. pyogenes. In contrast, Escherichia coli HPr was not a substrate of this enzyme. The soluble kinase released from the particulate fraction of the cells with high salt in the presence of a protease inhibitor was shown to have an approximate molecular weight of 60,000 as estimated by gel filtration. Its activity was dependent on divalent cations, with Mg2+ and Mn2+ being most active. EDTA, Pi, and high concentrations of salt were strongly inhibitory. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7.0, exhibited high affinity for its substrates, and was dependent on the presence of one of several metabolites. Of these compounds, fructose 1-6-diphosphate was most active, with gluconate 6-phosphate, 2-phosphoglycerate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and pyruvate exhibiting moderate to low stimulatory activities. Other compounds tested, including a variety of sugar phosphates, pyridine nucleotides, and other metabolites were without effect. The ATP-dependent phosphorylation of HPr on the seryl residue was strongly inhibited by phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of the active histidyl residue of this protein. Treatment of the kinase with diethyl pyrocarbonate strongly inhibited the ATP-dependent phosphorylation activity, although the sulfhydryl reagents N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and iodoacetate were without effect. These results serve to characterize the HPr (serine) kinase, which apparently regulates the rates of carbohydrate transport in streptococcal cells via the phosphotransferase system. A primary role of this kinase in the control of cellular inducer levels and carbohydrate metabolic rates is proposed.     

ATP-dependent protein kinase activities in the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans

ATP-dependent protein kinase activities were detected in both membrane and cytoplasmic fractions from the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans. Different polypeptides were phosphorylated by endogenous kinase(s) in the two fractions. In membranes, five phosphoproteins were detected with apparent masses of 82, 37, 22, 12, and 10 kilodaltons (KD). In cytoplasm, two major acid-stable phosphoproteins were found. One was identified as HPr of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), while the other had an apparent mass of 61 KD. Both of these proteins were phosphorylated on a seryl residue. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate stimulated phosphorylation of HPr by the kinase and inhibited phosphorylation of the 61-KD protein. In contrast, fructose 1-phosphate, 2-phosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate inhibited phosphorylation of HPr and stimulated phosphorylation of the 61-KD protein. Several other glycolytic intermediates as well as inorganic phosphate inhibited phosphorylation of either or both proteins. Preincubation of cytoplasm with PEP prior to incubation with ATP reduced the amount of phospho-(seryl)-HPr formed, but not that of the 61-KD phosphoprotein. The latter protein has not yet been identified but has properties that suggest that it may be the protein kinase itself. These results provide evidence for one or more soluble ATP-dependent protein kinases in S mutans that are regulated by glycolytic intermediates and that may play a role in the modulation of carbohydrate uptake and metabolism in this organism. A model for feedback regulation of sugar transport in S mutans, mediated by an allosterically regulated kinase, is presented.     

Rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase. Properties of phospho- and dephospho- forms and of two mutants in which Ser32 has been changed by site-directed mutagenesis.

The mechanism by which cAMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation modulates the activities of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase was examined after site-specific mutation of the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation site (Ser32) to aspartic acid or alanine. The mutant and wild-type enzymes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli in a rich medium to levels as high as 30 mg/liter and were then purified to homogeneity. The kinetic properties of the Ser32-Ala mutant were identical with the dephosphorylated wild-type bifunctional enzyme. Mutation of Ser32 to aspartic acid mimicked several effects of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation: there was an increase in the Km for fructose 6-phosphate for 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and an increase in the maximal velocity of fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase. Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity of the Ser32-Asp mutant was 75% that of the phosphorylated wild-type enzyme, the mutant's kinase reaction had an identical dependence on fructose 6-phosphate, while its maximum velocity was only 60% that of the phosphorylated wild-type enzyme over a wide pH range. Furthermore, catalytic subunit-catalyzed in vitro phosphorylation of the Ser32-Ala mutant on Ser33 increased the Km for fructose 6-phosphate by 4-fold for the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase. The results support the hypothesis that Ser32 is an important residue in the regulation of the activities of the bifunctional enzyme and that phosphorylation of Ser32 can be functionally substituted by aspartic acid. The results suggest a role for negative charge in the effect of phosphorylation.     

Protein kinase-dependent HPr/CcpA interaction links glycolytic activity to carbon catabolite repression in Gram-positive bacteria

CcpA, the repressor/activator mediating carbon catabolite repression and glucose activation in many Gram-positive bacteria, has been purified from Bacillus megaterium after fusing it to a His tag. CcpA-his immobilized on a Ni-NTA resin specifically interacted with HPr phosphorylated at seryl residue 46. HPr, a phosphocarrier protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate: glycose phosphotransferase system (PTS), can be phosphorylated at two different sites: (i) at His-15 in a PEP-dependent reaction catalysed by enzyme I of the PTS; and (ii) at Ser-46 in an ATP-dependent reaction catalysed by a metabolite-activated protein kinase. Neither unphosphorylated HPr nor HPr phosphorylated at His-15 nor the doubly phosphorylated HPr bound to CcpA. The interaction with seryl-phosphorylated HPr required the presence of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. These findings suggest that carbon catabolite repression in Gram-positive bacteria is a protein kinase-triggered mechanism. Glycolytic intermediates, stimulating the corresponding protein kinase and the P-ser-HPr/CcpA complex formation, provide a link between glycolytic activity and carbon catabolite repression. The sensitivity of this complex formation to phosphorylation of HPr at His-15 also suggests a link between carbon catabolite repression and PTS transport activity.     

Transport and phosphorylation of disaccharides by the ruminal bacterium Streptococcus bovis

Toluene-treated cells of Streptococcus bovis JB1 phosphorylated cellobiose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Glucose phosphorylation was constitutive, while all three disaccharide systems were inducible. Competition experiments indicated that separate phosphotransferase systems (enzymes II) existed for glucose, maltose, and sucrose. [14C]maltose transport was inhibited by excess (10 mM) glucose and to a lesser extent by sucrose (90 and 46%, respectively). [14C]glucose and [14C]sucrose transports were not inhibited by an excess of maltose. Since [14C]maltose phosphorylation in triethanolamine buffer was increased 160-fold as the concentration of Pi was increased from 0 to 100 mM, a maltose phosphorylase (Km for Pi, 9.5 mM) was present, and this activity was inducible. Maltose was also hydrolyzed by an inducible maltase. Glucose 1-phosphate arising from the maltose phosphorylase was metabolized by a constitutive phosphoglucomutase that was specific for alpha-glucose 1-phosphate (Km, 0.8 mM). Only sucrose-grown cells possessed sucrose hydrolase activity (Km, 3.1 mM), and this activity was much lower than the sucrose phosphotransferase system and sucrose-phosphate hydrolase activities.     

Enzymes II of the phosphotransferase system do not catalyze sugar transport in the absence of phosphorylation.

In Salmonella typhimurium, glucose, mannose, and fructose are normally transported and phosphorylated by the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system. We have investigated the transport of these sugars and their non-metabolizable analogs in mutant strains lacking the phospho-carrier proteins of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, the enzymes I and HPr, to determine whether the sugar-specific, membrane-bound components of the phosphonenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system, the enzymes II, can catalyze the uptake of these sugars in the absence of phosphorylation. This process does not occur. We have also isolated mutant strains which lack enzyme I and HPr, but have regained the ability to grow on mannose or fructose. These mutants contained elevated levels of mannokinase (fructokinase). In addition, growth on mannose required constitutive synthesis of the galactose permease. When strains were constructed which lacked the galactose permease, they were unable to grow even on high concentrations of mannose, although elevated levels of mannokinase (fructokinase) were present. These results substantiate the conclusion that the enzymes II of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system are unable to carry out facilitated diffusion.     

Transport and phosphorylation of disaccharides by the ruminal bacterium Streptococcus bovis.

Toluene-treated cells of Streptococcus bovis JB1 phosphorylated cellobiose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Glucose phosphorylation was constitutive, while all three disaccharide systems were inducible. Competition experiments indicated that separate phosphotransferase systems (enzymes II) existed for glucose, maltose, and sucrose. [14C]maltose transport was inhibited by excess (10 mM) glucose and to a lesser extent by sucrose (90 and 46%, respectively). [14C]glucose and [14C]sucrose transports were not inhibited by an excess of maltose. Since [14C]maltose phosphorylation in triethanolamine buffer was increased 160-fold as the concentration of Pi was increased from 0 to 100 mM, a maltose phosphorylase (Km for Pi, 9.5 mM) was present, and this activity was inducible. Maltose was also hydrolyzed by an inducible maltase. Glucose 1-phosphate arising from the maltose phosphorylase was metabolized by a constitutive phosphoglucomutase that was specific for alpha-glucose 1-phosphate (Km, 0.8 mM). Only sucrose-grown cells possessed sucrose hydrolase activity (Km, 3.1 mM), and this activity was much lower than the sucrose phosphotransferase system and sucrose-phosphate hydrolase activities.     

Carbohydrate Utilization in Lactobacillus sake

The ability of Lactobacillus sake to use various carbon sources was investigated. For this purpose we developed a chemically defined medium allowing growth of L. sake and some related lactobacilli. This medium was used to determine growth rates on various carbohydrates and some nutritional requirements of L. sake. Mutants resistant to 2-deoxy-d-glucose (a nonmetabolizable glucose analog) were isolated. One mutant unable to grow on mannose and one mutant deficient in growth on mannose, fructose, and sucrose were studied by determining growth characteristics and carbohydrate uptake and phosphorylation rates. We show here that sucrose, fructose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, and glucose are transported and phosphorylated by the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). The PTS permease specific for mannose, enzyme II(supMan), was shown to be responsible for mannose, glucose, and N-acetylglucosamine transport. A second, non-PTS system, which was responsible for glucose transport, was demonstrated. Subsequent glucose metabolism involved an ATP-dependent phosphorylation. Ribose and gluconate were transported by PTS-independent permeases.     

Plasmid-mediated uptake and metabolism of sucrose by Escherichia coli K-12.

The conjugative plasmid pUR400 determines tetracycline resistance and enables cells of Escherichia coli K-12 to utilize sucrose as the sole carbon source. Three types of mutants affecting sucrose metabolism were derived from pUR400. One type lacked a specific transport system (srcA); another lacked sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase (scrB); and the third, a regulatory mutant, expressed both of these functions constitutively (scrR). In a strain harboring pUR400, both transport and sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase were inducible by fructose, sucrose, and raffinose; if a scrB mutant was used, fructose was the only inducer. These data suggested that fructose or a derivative acted as an endogenous inducer. Sucrose transport and sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase were subject to catabolite repression; these two functions were not expressed in an E. coli host (of pUR400) deficient in the adenosine 3-,5'-phosphate receptor protein. Sucrose uptake (apparent Km = 10 microM) was dependent on the scrA gene product and on the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar:phosphotransferase system (PTS) of the host. The product of sucrose uptake (via group translocation) was identified as sucrose-6-phosphate, phosphorylated at C6 of the glucose moiety. Intracellular sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase catalyzed the hydrolysis of sucrose-6-phosphate (Km = 0.17 mM), sucrose (Km = 60 mM), and raffinose (Km = 150 mM). The active enzyme was shown to be a dimer of Mr 110,000.     

Fructose catabolism in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Sequence of the PTS operon, characterization of the fructose-specific enzymes.

In Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, fructose is transported and phosphorylated into fructose 1-phosphate through a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. The nucleotide sequence of the fruA gene encoding the phosphotransferase system permease specific of fructose (EIIFru) was determined. The fructose 1-phosphate produced by the phosphotransferase system is phosphorylated into fructose 1,6-bisphosphate by a 1-phosphofructokinase. This enzyme was characterized and the corresponding gene (fruK) was sequenced. Sequence comparisons revealed that FruK is a member of a new family of ATP-binding proteins composed of sugar (or sugar-phosphate) kinases. In phosphotransferase system-deficient strains, fructose can still be transported by an unidentified permease. The intracellular fructose is then phosphorylated by a multimeric fructokinase of 135 kDa specific for fructose and inhibited by fructose, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and mannose. Several other enzymes of fructose metabolism were assayed and a potential pathway for fructose catabolism is presented.     

Carbohydrate Uptake and Utilization byClostridium beijerinckiiNCIMB 8052

The clostridia are a diverse group of obligately anaerobic bacteria with potential for the fermentative production of fuels, solvents and other chemicals. Several species exhibit a broad substrate range, but there have been few studies of the mechanisms involved in regulation of uptake and metabolism of fermentable carbohydrates.Clostridium beijerinckii(formerlyClostridium acetobutylicum) NCIMB 8052 exhibited transport activity for hexoses and hexitols. Glucose-grown cells transported glucose and fructose, but not galactose, glucitol (sorbitol) or mannitol, transport of which was induced by growth on the respective substrates. Phosphorylation of glucose, fructose, glucitol and mannitol by cell extracts was supported by phosphoenolpyruvate, indicating the involvement of a phosphotransferase system in uptake of these substrates. Fructose phosphorylation was also demonstrated by isolated membranes in the presence of fructose 1-phosphate, thus identifying this derivative as the product of the fructose phosphotransferase system. The presence of phosphotransferase activities in extracts prepared from cells grown on different carbon sources correlated with transport activities in whole cells, and the pattern of transport activities reflected the substrate preference of cells growing in the presence of glucose and another carbon source. Thus, glucose and fructose were co-metabolised, while utilization of glucitol was prevented by glucose, even in cells which were previously induced for glucitol metabolism. Of the substrates examined, only galactose appeared to be transported by a non-phosphotransferase mechanism, since a significant rate of phosphorylation of this sugar was supported by ATP rather than phosphoenolpyruvate.