ISOLATION AND PROPERTIES OF A PUTRESCINE-DEGRADING MUTANT OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Kim, Ki-han (Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.). Isolation and properties of a putrescine-degrading mutant of Escherichia coli . J. Bacteriol. 86: 320–323. 1963.—A mutant was isolated from Escherchia coli B which can grow on putrescine as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. This mutant contains a constitutive putrescine α-ketoglutarate transaminase and can be induced for the enzymes responsible for the conversion of γ-aminobutyraldehyde to succinate. The intracellular putrescine of this mutant could be nearly quantitatively removed by nitrogen starvation. This removal of intracellular putrescine did not damage the reproduction of T 2 in these cells.