Mutations Affecting Gluconate Metabolism in Escherichia coli

Abstract

A mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 that does not ferment gluconate on fermentation plates was isolated and characterized. This mutant, designated M2, shows a long lag for growth on gluconate mineral medium and somewhat reduced levels of high-affinity transport, gluconokinase, and gluconate-6-P dehydrase activities in the log phase of growth. The mutation involved is near malA . Deletion mutants in which malA region was affected were also studied. They were found to affect the function of different genes involved in gluconate metabolism.