Variation of enzyme activities at a branched pathway involved in the utilization of gluconate in Escherichia coli

Evolution. 2001 May;55(5):897-908. doi: 10.1554/0014-3820(2001)055[0897:voeaaa]2.0.co;2.

Abstract

Twenty-four strains of Escherichia coli from the ECOR collection were characterized for growth rate in gluconate minimal salts medium and for Vmax and Km of the three enzymes (gluconokinase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase) that form a branch point for the utilization of gluconate. A total of 11 characters--growth rate, three Vmax values, four Km values, and three Vmax/Km values--were determined for these 24 ECOR strains. Most of the characters were normally distributed. Statistical tests showed that growth rate is significantly less variable than enzyme activities. Also, analyses of variance showed significant differences among strains and among the extant five genetic groups of E. coli for the characters measured. A Mantel test showed that, for some characters, closely related strains shared similar character values. Two hypotheses regarding the relationships between growth rate and enzyme activity and between various enzyme activities were tested. None of the expected correlations between growth rate and enzyme activity or between enzyme activities was detected. The results were discussed in terms of metabolic control analysis and neutral theory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Gluconates / metabolism*
  • Hydro-Lyases / genetics
  • Hydro-Lyases / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / metabolism

Substances

  • Gluconates
  • Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
  • gluconokinase
  • Hydro-Lyases
  • phosphogluconate dehydratase
  • gluconic acid