Modulation of the 3′,5′-cyclic AMP content by the respiration rate in E. coli K-12

Flagellation and β-galactosidase activity were repressed in electron transport-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli K-12. The repressed state was alleviated upon restoring respiration capacity or in the presence of added 3′,5′-cyclic AMP. The repressed/derepressed states observed with varying respiration rates were due to modulation of the intracellular 3′,5′-cyclic AMP content effected by respective changes in the activity of adenylate cyclase as a function of respiration rate.