Methionine limitation in Escherichia coli K-12 by growth on the sulfoxides of D-methionine.
The synthesis and resolution of the diastereoisomers of d-methionine sulfoxide in high yield is described. Growth of two methionine auxotrophs (strains HfrC and AB1932) on the d-methionine sulfoxides is slower than on l-methionine, and the resultant cells are markedly derepressed for three enzymes of the methionine regulon (cystathionine synthetase, cystathionase, and S-adenosyl-l-methionine synthetase). Strain HfrC grows more rapidly on the sulfoxides and shows less derepression than strain AB1932. Although growth on d-methionine-d-sulfoxide is much slower than on d-methionine-l-sulfoxide (two- to threefold increase in division times), cells grown on d-methionine-l-sulfoxide generally have higher enzyme activities. The sulfoxides of d-methionine appear to provide a useful supplement to obtain methionine-limited growth in Escherichia coli.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003540:Cystathionine; D004590:Electrophoresis, Paper; D004794:Enzyme Repression; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D012695:L-Serine Dehydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D013454:Sulfoxides; D003540:Cystathionine; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008715:Methionine; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; D012695:L-Serine Dehydratase; D008025:Ligases