Temperature-sensitive mutation affecting synthesis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in Escherichia coli.

A mutation has been characterized in Escherichia coli which results in temperature-sensitive expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity and antigen. The enzyme produced by the mutant strain at a permissive temperature or by cells treated with chloramphenicol at nonpermissive temperatures had normal activity and stability in extracts. Since phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase had a monomeric structure, the mutation probably affects the synthesis, rather than the structure or assembly, of the enzyme.