Identification and initial characterization of the eutF locus of Salmonella typhimurium

We report the isolation and initial characterization of mutations in the newly described eutF locus of Salmonella typhimurium LT2. Mutations in eutF render a strain unable to utilize ethanolamine as a source of carbon and/or energy and impair growth on ethanolamine as a sole nitrogen source. Strains carrying eutF mutations exhibit a 2-order-of-magnitude decrease in transcription of the unlinked eutDEABCR operon (50 min), which codes for the enzymes needed to catabolize ethanolamine; have only 10% of the ethanolamine ammonia-lyase activity found in the wild type; and show a marked reduction in the rate of ethanolamine uptake. Deletion mapping and three-factor cross analysis results are consistent with the gene order cobA trp eutF tonB at 34 min on the linkage map. We discuss two possible roles for the EutF protein: (i) as an ethanolamine permease or (ii) as a transcription factor required for the expression of the eutDEABCR operon.