Control of Synthesis of Wall Teichoic Acid in Phosphate-Starved Cultures of Bacillus subtilis W23

Abstract

CDP-glycerol pyrophosphorylase [EC 2.7.7.39], CDP-ribitol pyrophosphorylase [EC 2.7.7.40] and poly(ribitol phosphate) synthetase [EC 2.4.1.55] activities were measured in cultures of B. subtilis W23 as they became phosphate-starved either in batch culture or during changeover from K limitation to phosphate limitation in a chemostat. Repression of synthesis of all 3 enzymes occurred at the onset of phosphate starvation and was accompanied by inhibition or inactivation of CDP-glycerol pyrophosphorylase and poly(ribitol phosphate) synthetase. The initial response to phosphate starvation apparently involves more than inhibition of 1 enzyme as proposed by Glaser and Loewy. Synthesis of both linkage unit and poly(ribitol phosphate) are inhibited independently.