Mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 defective in D-glucosamine biosynthesis.

A mutant was isolated from a derivative of Escherichia coli K-12 after mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. This mutant contained normal levels of 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (deaminating) (EC 5.3.1.10), but no detectable activity of l-glutamine:d-fructose-6-phosphate amino-transferase (EC 2.6.1.16). It required either N-acetyl-d-glucosamine or d-glucosamine for growth, and went into rapid lysis when the supply of these compounds was exhausted. In medium containing 11% sucrose, the cells were converted into spheroplasts in the absence of d-glucosamine.