Regulation of two phosphatases and a cyclic phosphodiesterase of Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract

The regulation of three Salmonella typhimurium phosphatases in reponse to different nutritional limitations has been studied. Two enzymes, an acid hexose phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) and a cyclic phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.d), appear to be regulated by the cyclic adenosine 3' ,5'-monophosphate (AMP) catabolite repression system. Levels of these enzymes increased in cells grown on poor carbon sources but not in cells grown on poor nitrogen or phosphorus sources. Mutants lacking adenyl cyclase did not produce elevated levels of these enzymes in response to carbon limitation unless cyclic AMP was supplied. Mutants lacking the cyclic AMP receptor protein did not produce elevated levels of these enzymes in response to carbon limitation regardless of the presence of cyclic AMP. Since no specific induction of either enzyme could be demonstrated, these enzymes appear to be controlled solely by the cyclic AMP system. Nonspecific acid phsphatase activity (EC 3.1.3.2) increased in response to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur limitation. The extent of the increase depended on growth rate, with slower growth rates favoring greater increases, and on the type of limitation. Limitation for either carbon or phosphorus resulted in maximum increases, whereas severe limitation of Mg2+ caused only a slight increase. The increase in nonspecific acid phosphatase during carbon limitation was apparently not mediated by the catabolite repression system since mutants lacking adenyl cyclase or the cyclic AMP receptor protein still produced elevated levels of this enzyme during carbon starvation. Nor did the increase during phosphorus limitation appear to be mediated by the alkaline phosphatase regulatory system. A strain of Salmonella bearing a chromosomal mutation, which caused constitutive production of alkaline phosphatase (introduced by an episome from Escherichia coli), did not have constitutive levels of nonspecific acid phosphatase.