REGULATION OF CARBON METABOLISM IN GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA BY PROTEIN-PHOSPHORYLATION

The main function of the bacterial phosphotransferase system is to tra nsport and to phosphorylate mono- and disaccharides as well as sugar a lcohols. However, the phosphotransferase system is also involved in re gulation of carbon metabolism. In Grampositive bacteria, it is implica ted in carbon catabolite repression and regulation of expression of ca tabolic genes by controlling either catabolic enzyme activities, trans criptional activators or antiterminators. All these different regulati ons follow a protein phosphorylation mechanism.