Lactose utilization in a cryptic strainEscherichia coli ML 35

The permease-negative strainE. coli ML 35 utilized lactose at 30°C 5–6 times more slowly than glucose or permease-positive strains. The rate of utilization could be raised by cultivating the cells in the presence of streptomycin, acriflavine or actinomycin C. Phenethyl alcohol and the basic proteins ribonuclease, protamine or histone stimulated lactose utilization by washed cells of the same strain not precultivated in the presence of these substances. Ribonuclease did not influence lactose utilization by the permease-positive strain ML 308. Under the given experimental conditions, the presence of basic proteins did not cause β-galactosidase to be released into the medium as a result of lysis of the cells. Streptomycin and ribonuclease did not influence TMG transport into the cells. Basic proteins increased the rate of ONPG hydrolysis by intact cells almost to the level observed in the permease-positive strain. Guanidine, spermine, spermidine, putrescine and cadaverine did not influence lactose utilization by strain ML 35. Spermine antagonized the stimulant effect of ribonuclease or histone on lactose utilization. The experiments were supplemented by comparing the effect of temperature on lactose and glucose utilization by a permease-positive and-negative strain ofE. coli.