Lactose and D0galactose metabolism in Staphylococcus aureus: pathway of D-galactose 6-phosphate degradation

The pathway by which D-galactose 6-phosphate is degraded in Staphylococcus aureus has been elucidated. Galactose 6-phosphate is isomerized to tagatose 6-phosphate, which is phosphorylated with adenosine 5′-triphosphate, and the resulting tagatose 1,6-diphosphate is cleaved to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. The isomerase, kinase, and aldolase that catalyze these reactions are inducible and are distinct from the corresponding enzymes of glucose 6-phosphate metabolism.