Transport of long-chain fatty acids by Escherichia coli: mapping and characterization of mutants in the fadL gene.
A new locus (fadL) that is required for the utilization of long-chain fatty acids has been mapped and partially characterized in an Escherichia coli mutant. The fadL locus has been mapped at 50 min on the chromosome. A mutant bearing a defect in this locus cannot utilize long-chain fatty acids as a sole carbon source. Derivatives of this mutant that can grow on decanoate (termed fadR) are capable of growth on medium-chain but not long-chain fatty acids. It is believed that the fadL mutants is defective in the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the cell for the following reasons: (i) fadR fadL strains can oxidize in vivo decanoate but not oleate; (ii) neither fadL nor fadR fadL strains can incorporate oleate into their membrane  lipids; (iii) the activity of the acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3) in fadR fadL strains is comparable to the acyl-CoA synthetase activity in fadR fadL+ strains; and (iv) in vitro extracts from fadR fadL+ strains. If the above hypothesis is correct, the uptake of long-chain fatty acids by E. coli requires at least two gene products.
D001692:Biological Transport; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005796:Genes; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D009154:Mutation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
D005227:Fatty Acids; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases