Regulation of beta-galactoside phosphate accumulation in Streptococcus pyogenes by an expulsion mechanism.

Streptococcus pyogenes pregrown on lactose took up glucose, lactose, or methyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (MeSGal or TMG) by a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. MeSGal accumulated in the cell as MeSGal-phosphate (MeSGalP). Three effects were noted when various sugars were added to MeSGal preloaded cells: (i) no decrease in intracellular MeSGalP concentration after addition of fructose, sucrose, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside, glycerol, 6-deoxyglucose, alpha-methyl D-glucoside, 2-deoxygalactose, glucose 1-phosphate, or glucose 6-phosphate; (ii) slow loss of preaccumulated MeSGalP evoked by lactose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, or unlabeled MeSGal; and (iii) a short lag followed by extremely rapid expulsion of intracellular MeSGalP elicited by glucose or mannose and a slower expulsion elicited by glucosamine. The expelled compound was free MeSGal, indicating the involvement of dephosphorylation in the expulsion mechanism. Deoxyglucose inhibited the expulsion evoked by mannose, and prepoisoning of cells with fluoride or arsenate prevented the glucose-dependent expulsion. The expulsion is due to activation of an expulsion mechanism rather than to turnover of MeSGalP and leak of internal MeSGal with concomitant inhibition of MeSGal influx. The results suggest the need for phosphotransferase-dependent translocation of a preferential sugar or accumulation of the sugar catabolite for expulsion activation. The significance of the expulsion mechanism in synthesis regulation of enzymes involved in carbohydrate utilization is proposed.