Serine Deamination Is a New Acid Tolerance Mechanism Observed in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

The observation that l- serine uptake occurs as E. coli cultures grow is well established, yet the benefit E. coli garners from this uptake remains unclear. Here, we report a novel acid tolerance mechanism where l- serine is deaminated to pyruvate and ammonia, promoting survival of E. coli under acidic conditions. This study is important as it provides evidence of the use of l- serine as an acid response strategy, not previously reported for E. coli .