Regulation of Escherichia coli purA by purine repressor, one component of a dual control mechanism.

Escherichia coli purA encodes adenylosuccinate synthetase, one of two enzymes required for synthesis of AMP from IMP. purA is subject to two- to threefold regulation by purR and about twofold regulation by a purR-independent mechanism. The 5'-flanking region of purA confers purR-dependent transcriptional regulation of purA but not the purR-independent regulation. Two operator sites in the 5'-flanking region which bind purine repressor in vitro and are required for in vivo regulation were identified. The purR-independent regulation may be posttranscriptional. It is now established that all transcription units involved in de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides, nine pur operons, as well as purR itself and guaBA, are subject to purR control.