title: A unique pattern of toxic synthesis in pentitol catabolism: implications for evolution.
abstract: All of our Escherichia coli C mutants blocked in the first step of D-arabitol catabolism (D-arabitol dehydrogenase) became unable to grow in the presence of D-arabitol. We have shown that this sensitivity is eliminated by a defect in the second enzyme of the pathway (D-xylulokinase), leading to a pattern of toxicity and its relief which has not been previously reported. We have found a similar pattern of toxicity and its relief in the closely related ribitol pathway. The evolutionary significance of these findings is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D001089:Arabinose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D005796:Genes; D005838:Genotype; D009154:Mutation; D013045:Species Specificity; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D001089:Arabinose; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; C014999:arabitol