Regulation of myo-inositol catabolism in Aerobacter aerogenes

A mutant of Aerobacter aerogenes produces constitutively the series of enzymes that mediates the degradation of myo-inositol and which in the wildtype strain is inducible. When grown on l-histidine, the mutant forms the enzymes at a level approximately three times as high as that seen in the induced wild type. The enzymes appear to be coordinately regulated and are sensitive to catabolite repression. Unless repressed, the synthesis of these enzymes markedly retards the growth of the mutant.