Abstract

A Salmonella typhimurium mutant showing impairment in the utilization of hexoses was isolated after treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. At 30 C, it grew with hexoses (glucose, fructose, galactose, mannitol), glycerol, succinate, or acid-hydrolyzed casein. At 37 C, it failed to grow with any of the hexoses. Enzymatic determinations demonstrated, however, that the enzymes of the glycolytic pathway (up to the formation of triose phosphates) were present and active at 25 and 32 C. At 42 C, the mutant did not grow with any of the carbon sources used. At both 37 and 42 C, the mutant grew perfectly well with hexoses if yeast extract was present. The metabolite required for growth was thiamine or, specifically, its thiazole moiety. If glucose was added to a culture growing in glycerol, at 37 C, growth was inhibited. This inhibition was relieved by the addition of thiamine or thiazole. Thus, at 37 C and only in the presence of hexoses, the mutant manifests a requirement for thiazole. This auxotrophy is absolute at 42 C. These data indicate that, in this mutant, some derivative of hexoses inhibits the synthesis of thiazole, and that this inhibition is also dependent on the temperature of incubation. The position in the bacterial chromosome of the genetic locus of this lesion (thz(-)) was determined by conjugation and found to coincide with the only thiamine (thi) locus so far reported.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.