Purification and Characterization of glpX-Encoded Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphatase, a New Enzyme of the Glycerol 3-Phosphate Regulon of Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the utilization of glycerol and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate is mediated by gene products of the glp regulon. The regulon encompasses five operons, including the glpFKX operon. Although glpF and glpK encode glycerol diffusion facilitator and glycerol kinase,respectively, the function of glpX was unknown. In the present work, we show that glpX encodes a fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate and phosphate. The purified FBPase was dimeric, dependent on Mn2+ for activity and exhibited an apparent Km of 35 μM for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. The enzyme was inhibited by ADP, ATP and phosphate and activated by PEP. The attributes of the glpX-encoded FBPase were different from those of the previously characterized E. coli FBPase encoded by fbp. Mutants deleted in fbp (Δfbp) display a growthnegative phenotype on gluconeogenic carbon sources such as glycerol, indicating the inability of chromosomal glpX+ to complement Δfbp. However, a Δfbp mutation was complemented by overexpression of glpX+. In contrast, a glpX mutant exhibited a growth-positive phenotype on glycerol, glucose or fructose media. Surprisingly, a double mutant strain glpX pfkA (6-phosphofructokinase I) was more inhibited in growth on glucose and glycerol media than the pfkA parent. Carbohydrate metabolism in the pfkA background may be affected by the glpXmediated change in fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate levels. FBPase activities of soluble proteins separated by non-denaturing PAGE were visualized, showing a novel (third) FBPase, perhaps encoded by the glpX homolog, yggF.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biochemistry and Anaerobic Microbiology

Department dc:contributor.department

Biochemistry and Anaerobic Microbiology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Donahue, Janet Lee

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Larson, Timothy J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hess, John L.
• Gillaspy, Glenda E.

• fructose 6-phosphate
• carbon metabolism
• 6-bisphosphatase
• fructose 1
• glycerol 3-phosphate regulon

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04272000-16290048

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31955