Method of isolation of cysteine constitutive mutants of the cysteine regulon in Salmonella typhimurium.

A method for selection of constitutive cysB mutation is described which takes advantage of the resistance of cysteine constitutive mutants to 1,2,4-triazole. Since cysM cysK double mutants are cysteine auxotrophs, by selecting for triazole resistance in cysM strains, mutants arising under this condition also should be constitutive for cysteine biosynthesis. Genetic analysis of mutants isolated by this technique showed that their mutational sites are located in the cysB region. Biochemical assays of cysteine enzymes, sulphite reductase and O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase of the mutants showed the derepressed level of these enzymes and the lack or slight repression by 1-cysteine.