Two forms of D-glycerate kinase in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli K-12 synthesizes two chromatographically distinct forms of glycerate kinase which differ both in their thermolability and in the dependence of their activity upon pH. One enzymatic form, GK I, is found in cells grown with glycerate, glucarate, or glycolate. Of these compounds, glycolate is the only carbon source that elicits the synthesis of the second enzymatic form, GK II.