PfkB and pfkC loci of Escherichia coli

Mutants lacking Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase (pfkA, 78 min) are suppressed by the unlinked pfkB1 mutation, which restores some enzyme activity (Morrissey and Fraenkel, 1972). We here describe a secondary mutation at pfkB, "PFKB-," which abolishes the suppression as well as the low residual activity of unsuppressed pfkA mutants. pfkB is at about 33 min. with the gene order groD-pps-pheS-pfkB. A positive selection was found that yielded both the pfkB-mutations and a new similar mutation, pfkC-. pfkC is an early marker in Hfr HL16(ca. 50 to 55 min). Some pfkC-, but no pfkB-, mutations were amber. A temperature-sensitive pfkB- was also obtained. Strains carrying pfkB- or pfkC-, but wild type at pfkA, were not markedly affected in growth on sugars. A new search for suppressors such as pfkB1 gave five independent candidates, all of which suppressed both pfkA1 and pfkA2 and occurred in the pfkB region; none occurred at pfkC. Neither the pfkB nor the pfkC loci have assigned functions. It is likely that they are somehow involved in expression of phosphofructokinase activity 2 (Fraenkel, Kotlarz, and Buc, 1973).