Evidence for a methionine-controlled homoserine dehydrogenase in Salmonella typhimurium.

Evidence is presented for the existence of a second homoserine dehydrogenase in Salmonella typhimurium. The formation, but not the activity, of this enzyme is controlled by methionine. Two distinct homoserine dehydrogenases were separated from wild-type cells by diethylaminoethyl (cellulose) column chromatography. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation gave molecular weight estimates for the threonine-regulated enzyme (HSD I) of 220,000 to 240,000 and for the methionine controlled enzyme (HSD II) of 130,000 to 140,000. Approximately 12% of the total HSD activity in wild-type cells was accounted for by HSD II. A threonine-requiring strain of S. typhimurium was found to lack HSD I but not HSD II. Under certain conditions, this mutant grew rapidly in minimal medium. Rapid growth in minimal medium was correlated with the appearance of an enzyme with similar characteristics to HSD I. The possible origins of this HSD I-like enzyme are presented.