The existence of three types of acetohydroxy acid synthetase in an isoleucine-requiring mutant of Aerobacter aerogenes.

The synthesis of the three types of acetolactate synthase (EC 4.1.3.18) which are responsible for the biosynthesis os isoleucine and valine, was observed in Aerobacter aerogenes I-12, an isoleucine-requiring mutant, when grown on the four kinds of media. When the cells were grown on isoleucine-rich medium, acetolactate synthase sensitive to feedback inhibition and having an optimum pH at 8.0 was formed. By increasing the amount of potassium phosphate in the medium, the catabolite repression of the enzyme having an optimum pH at 6.0 and which is insensitive to feedback inhibition, was released. In contrast, acetolactate synthase having an optimum pH at 8.0 and insensitive to feedback inhibition was formd when isoleucine was limited, irrespective of phosphate concentrations. Two insensitive enzymes were not regulated by isoleucine, leucine and valine, although sensitive pH 8.0 enzyme was repressed by them. Thus, it may be assumed that the synthesis of insensitive pH 8.0 enzyme were repressed by limiting the amount of isoleucine is still open.