THE CONTROL OF SULPHATE ACTIVATION IN BACTERIA.

1. ATP-sulphate adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.4) and ATP-adenylyl sulphate 3'-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.25) of Escherichia coli 9723, E. coli K(12) and Bacillus subtilis 1379 are each repressed by growth in the presence of cystine. Repression of the two enzymes in E. coli 9723 may be co-ordinate. 2. ATP-sulphate adenylyltransferase of Desulphovibrio desulphuricans, in which sulphate reduction is linked to the energy supply of the organism, is not repressed by growth in the presence of inorganic sulphite or cysteine. 3. Leuconostoc mesenteroides lacks all the enzymes between sulphate and cysteine whether grown on cysteine or glutathione.