Maintenance of the energy charge in the presence of large decreases in the total adenylate pool of Escherichia coli and concurrent changes in glucose-6-P, fructose-P2 and glycogen synthesis

Abstract Lowered aeration and lowered aeration in the presence of chloramphenicol cause a respective 40% and 60% decrease in the total adenylate concentration of nitrogen-starved E. coli W4597 (K). These decreases are accompanied by maintenance of the adenylate energy charge and adenylate kinase mass action ratio, increases in fructose-1,6-P 2 and glucose-6-P, and decreases in the net rates of glycogen synthesis. The important new observation is that a drastic decrease in the total adenylate pool is accompanied by complete maintenance of the energy charge. These decreases in the adenylate pool are correlated with the accompanying metabolic changes.