Lactose metabolism involving phospho-beta-galactosidase in Klebsiella

Klebsiella strain RE1755A is a Lac- Gal- mutant which has lost both of its lac operons, but possesses a gene specifying beta-galactosidase III, an enzyme which hydrolyzes o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside but does not hydrolyze lactose. Selective pressure was applied to isolate mutants able to utilize lactose. The lactose-utilizing mutants obtained were shown to possess an unaltered beta-galactosidase III. Lactose utilization was shown to result from a pleiotropic mutation which also (i) permits galactose utilization and (ii) prevents induction of beta-galactosidase III synthesis by lactose. Evidence is presented suggesting that a phospho-beta-galactosidase enzyme is involved in lactose metabolism.