N -Acetylglucosamine Assimilation in Escherichia coli and Its Relation to Catabolite Repression

Abstract

The ability of N-acetylglucosamine (AcGN) to enhance catabolite repression by glucose was studied by using cultures grown on a combination of these substrates. Under these conditions, it was shown that 2/3 of the AcGN utilized was routed into dissimilatory pathways, whereas the remaining 1/3 was channeled into biosynthesis. Over 50% of the AcGN assimilates was incorporated directly into amino sugar polymers. This exogenous supply of AcGn used preferentially over glucose as the precursor for amino sugar polymer biosynthesis. Catabolite repression in E. coli may be interrelated with certain reactions involved in amino "sugar biosynthesis.