| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Until now, the direct link between central carbon metabolism and DNA replication has been demonstrated only in <it>Bacillus. subtilis</it>. Therefore, we asked if this is a specific phenomenon, characteristic for this bacterium and perhaps for its close relatives, or a more general biological rule.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that temperature-sensitivity of mutants in particular genes coding for replication proteins could be suppressed by deletions of certain genes coding for enzymes of the central carbon metabolism. Namely, the effects of <it>dnaA46</it>(ts) mutation could be suppressed by dysfunction of <it>pta </it>or <it>ackA</it>, effects of <it>dnaB</it>(ts) by dysfunction of <it>pgi </it>or <it>pta</it>, effects of <it>dnaE486</it>(ts) by dysfunction of <it>tktB</it>, effects of <it>dnaG</it>(ts) by dysfunction of <it>gpmA, pta </it>or <it>ackA</it>, and effects of <it>dnaN159</it>(ts) by dysfunction of <it>pta </it>or <it>ackA</it>. The observed suppression effects were not caused by a decrease in bacterial growth rate.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The genetic correlation exists between central carbon metabolism and DNA replication in the model Gram-negative bacterium, <it>E. coli</it>. This link exists at the steps of initiation and elongation of DNA replication, indicating the important global correlation between metabolic status of the cell and the events leading to cell reproduction.</p>
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