Hydrolysis and synthesis of thiamin triphosphate in bacteria.

Thiamin triphosphate (ThTP) in early stationary phase cells of Escherichia coli grown in nutrient broth with 0.1% yeast extract was found to constitute approximately 5-7% of cellular thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) or around 5 nmol/g cell. Nearly the same level of ThTP was obtained in a Bacillus strain. When E. coli was loaded with an excess of ThTP or ThDP, cellular ThTP was found to be controlled in the course of the long term to maintain its ratio to the amount of cellular ThDP. The ThTP vs. ThDP ratio in E. coli cells after short-term ThDP uptake was found to be a function of the cellular growth phase. The ratio in early exponential phase E. coli cells was found to be approximately 4% and it became lower (less than 3%) when cell growth proceeded to the late exponential stage. Two phosphatases specific for ThTP (ThTPase) among thiamin phosphates were detected in E. coli. One required Mg2+ and was found mainly in the soluble fraction, while the other was Mg2+-independent and originated from the membrane. The two ThTPases were similar to their rat tissue counterparts.