2-Ketobutyrate: a putative alarmone of Escherichia coli.

Abstract

2-ketobutyrate is synthesized from threonine by threonine deaminase (dehydratase) in E. coli. The effects of 2-ketobutyrate as a regulatory metabolite were studied in vivo. 2-ketobutyrate was shown to inhibit the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP): sugar phosphotransferase system resulting in aspartate starvation, elevation of ppGpp endogenous pools, and cessation of growth in E. coli grown in glucose and related carbon sources. Accordingly, we propose that 2-ketobutyrate might serve as an alarmone whose concentration precisely governs the shift from anaerobic growth to aerobic growth in E. coli. Such shifts are common phenomena among the Enterobacteriaceae.

• Authors: J Daniel, L Dondon, A Danchin
• Journal: Molecular & general genetics : MGG (Mol Gen Genet) Vol. 190 Issue 3 Pg. 452-8 ( 1983) ISSN: 0026-8925 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 6348482 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Butyrates
• Hydroxy Acids
• Aspartic Acid
• Guanosine Tetraphosphate
• vinylglycolic acid
• alpha-ketobutyric acid
• Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System

Topics

• Anaerobiosis
• Aspartic Acid (metabolism)
• Butyrates (pharmacology)
• Escherichia coli (drug effects, growth & development, physiology)
• Guanosine Tetraphosphate (metabolism)
• Hydroxy Acids (pharmacology)
• Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Structure-Activity Relationship