Glucose inhibibion of galactose-induced synthesis of beta-galactosidase in Streptomyces violaceus.

Various carbon compounds inhibited galactose induced synthesis of a beta-galactosidase activity in Streptomyces violaceus. Glucose and 2-deoxyglucose, but not methyl-alpha-D-glucose, caused inhibition of galactose uptake activity. In addition, glucose, or one of its metabolites, inhibited the synthesis of the glactose uptake system. Therefore it is concluded that the main inhibitory activity of glucose on galactose induced enzyme synthesis is exerted through inducer exclusion. Other carbon sources, such as D-ribose, D-gluconate, cellobiose or DL-alpha-glycerophosphate, did not inhibit uptake of the inducer galactose and may exert their effect through catabolite repression, inactivation or direct enzyme inhibition.