Mapping of the fabD locus for fatty acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

Abstract

fabD mutants of E. coli contain a thermolabile malonyl coenzyme A acyl carrier protein transacylase which causes defective fatty acid synthesis and temperature sensitive growth. By conjugation and P1 transduction the fabD locus has now been mapped at min 24, between pyrC and purB and close to cat. The order of sites is tentatively given as pyrC, cat, fabD, and purB, though the orientation of cat and fabD could be reversed. The possible relationship of fabD with another mutation lying in this region and also affecting acid synthesis is discussed. In the course of these studies the authors also confirmed the location of the fabA gene, determined that poaA lies between fabA and pyrC, and inadvertently found that the pyr mutation in strain AT3143 is probably pyrF and not pyrC.