title: relA Gene control of bacterial glycogen synthesis.
abstract: Starvation of Escherichia coli K12 for an amino acid results in the stimulation of bacterial glycogen synthesis in cells containing the relA+ gene, but not in cells carrying the relA- allele. Similarly, a large difference in glycogen content is demonstrable between relA+ and relA- cells in stationary phase. It is concluded that guanosine 5',3' -bis(diphosphate) (ppGPP) or some related relA -dependent metabolite is involved in the regulation of bacterial glycogen synthesis. Detection of significant basal levels of glycogen in a relA- strain of E. coli and in unstarved relA+ C. coli indicates that relA control is not absolutely required for glycogen synthesis but serves as a signal for modulation in response to nutrient availability.
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D005796:Genes; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006159:Guanosine Tetraphosphate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000378:metabolism; D014633:Valine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006150:Guanine Nucleotides; D007532:Isoleucine; D006159:Guanosine Tetraphosphate; D006003:Glycogen; D014633:Valine