Abstract
In Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reduction is catalyzed by two separate enzymes during aerobic and anaerobic growth. The aerobic enzyme is coded by the nrdAB genes, the anaerobic enzyme by nrdDG. We now show that knock-out mutants of either nrdD or nrdG cannot grow during strict anaerobiosis, achieved by inclusion of sodium sulfide in the medium. Interestingly, these mutants grow well under microaerophilic conditions by overproducing the aerobic enzyme. Under such conditions wild-type bacteria turn off nrdAB and switch on nrdDG.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aerobiosis
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Anaerobiosis
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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Escherichia coli / genetics*
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Escherichia coli / growth & development*
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Escherichia coli Proteins*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
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Genes, Bacterial*
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Hydroxyurea / pharmacology
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Mutation
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Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Ribonucleotide Reductases / genetics*
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Ribonucleotide Reductases / metabolism
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Viral Proteins / genetics*
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Viral Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Escherichia coli Proteins
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Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
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Viral Proteins
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NrdG protein, E coli
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Ribonucleotide Reductases
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anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase
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Hydroxyurea