Physiological basis of transient repression of catabolic enzymes in Escherichia coli.

Transient repression of catabolic enzymes occurs in cells that encounter a new carbon compound in their growth medium, but only when the cells contain the enzyme catalyzing the transfer of phosphate from phosphoenolpyruvate to a small heat-stable protein (HPr), as well as a permease capable of transporting the new compound across the cell membrane. The newly added compound need not be metabolized. The degree and duration of the transient repression have no obvious relation to the intracellular level of the exogenously added compound. It is suggested that the actual passage of the compound through the cell membrane is responsible for the repression.