relA gene control of the synthesis of lipid A fatty acyl moieties

Abstract

The incorporation of [14C] acetate into the fatty acid moieties of lipid A was measured during amino acid starvation of rel+ and relA strains of Escherichia coli K-12. The synthesis of the β-hydroxymyristate and other fatty acid moieties was inhibited two- to fourfold in rel+ strains, whereas no inhibition was observed in relA strains. The fatty acid compositions of the phospholipids synthesized after amino acid starvation of rel+ and relA strains were also determined.