[Gene-enzyme relationships of the arom aggregate of Schizosaccharomyces pombe].

The gene-enzyme relationships of the arom multienzyme complex of Schizosaccharomyces pombe that catalyzes steps two through six in the prechorismate polyaromatic amino acid biosynthetic pathway have been studied. The various mutants were subjected to biochemical analysis by direct enzymic assays. These studies have established that aro-3A, aro-3B, aro-3C, aro-3D, and aro-3E mutants lack, respectively, the enzymic activities 5-dehydroquinate synthase, 5-dehydroquinase, shekimate kinase, 3-enolpyruvylshikimate 5-phosphate synthase, and shikimate: NADP oxidoreductase. In S. pombe lack enzymic activities for the inducible quinate catabolic pathway. The functional significance of the arom aggregate is discussed.