relA gene control of the synthesis of lipid A fatty acyl moieties

Abstract
The incorporation of [14C]acetate into the fatty acid moieties of lipid A was measured during amino acid starvation of rel+ and relA strains of Escherichia coli K-12. The synthesis of the .beta.-hydroxymyristate and other fatty acid moieties was inhibited 2- to 4-fold in rel+ strains, but no inhibition was observed in relA strains. The fatty acid compositions of the phospholipids synthesized after amino acid starvation of rel+ and relA strains were also determined.