d -Mannitol Utilization in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract

A biochemical and genetic analysis of d -mannitol metabolism in Salmonella typhimurium indicates that d -mannitol is phosphorylated by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. d -Mannitol-1-phosphate is converted to d -fructose-6-phosphate by mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase. Two classes of mannitol mutants are described. Both map at about 115 min on the Salmonella chromosome. Mutants missing mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase activity are mannitol sensitive; i.e., either growth is inhibited or the cells are lysed in the presence of mannitol. In a strain missing adenyl cyclase activity, the mannitol genes require exogenous cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate for expression.