[Effect of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate on the growth rate of Escherichia coli]

Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) inhibits the rate of Escherichia coli growth in media with glucose. When the exogenous nucleotide is added, the generation time and the lag phase become longer. These parameters decrease if cAMP is entirely absent from the cya- mutant as compared to the parent cya+ strain. The nucleotide exerts a low activity in media with glycerol. The action of cAMP is highly specific.