Aromatic metabolism versus carbon availability: the regulatory network that controls catabolism of less-preferred carbon sources in Escherichia coli.
The current knowledge on the genetics and biochemistry of the catabolism of aromatic compounds in Escherichia coli settles the basis to consider these pathways as a model system to study the complex molecular mechanisms that control the expression of the genes involved in the metabolism of less-preferred carbon sources in this paradigmatic organism. Two different levels of regulation are reviewed: (i) the specific regulatory mechanisms that drive the expression of the catabolic genes when the cognate inducer, i.e., the substrate of the pathway or an intermediate metabolite, is available, and (ii) the global or superimposed regulation that adjust the expression of the catabolic clusters to the general physiological status of the cell.
Prieto
María A
MA
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain. auxi@cib.csic.es
Galán
Beatriz
B
Torres
Begoña
B
Ferrández
Abel
A
Fernández
Cristina
C
Miñambres
Baltasar
B
García
José L
JL
Díaz
Eduardo
E
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D015534:Trans-Activators