FACTORS AFFECTING FORMATION OF ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE ISOZYMES IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI K-12

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 20  (2) , 47-55
Abstract
Physiological and genetic factors affecting the formation of isozymes of alkaline phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.1] in E. coli K-12 were studied. The multiple forms of the enzyme are produced by converting a newly synthesized one (the least negatively charged one) into less negatively charged forms. Neither energy source nor de novo synthesis of the enzyme was necessary for the conversion. The conversion is effectively inhibited by externally added arginine but only partially by canavanine (arginine analog) or casamino acids. A mutant strain which did not form isozyme(s) under the condition in which the wild type strain formed isozymes was isolated. The mutation(s) was mapped in the locus (or loci) other than alkaline phosphatase structure gene in the E. coli genetic map. This locus (loci) was tentatively designated as the iap gene(s), an abbreviation for isozyme of alkaline phosphatase, and it plays a role in the isozyme formation.