A mutant of Escherichia coli auxotrophic for organic phosphates: evidence for two defects in inorganic phosphate transport.

An inorganic phosphate transport mutant has been isolated as a sn-glycerol-3-phosphate auxotroph and characterized genetically. Two lesions are responsible for the transport defect. One lesion, pst, is located at minute 74 of the E. coli genetic map while the other lesion, pit, is located at minute 68. All "K10" strains that were examined carry the pit lesion. Evidence is presented that the glycerol phosphate and hexose phosphate transport systems are not important inorganic phophate transport systems. The mapping data indicate that the genetic distance between malA and xyl is greater than that now allowed.