Characterization of MtfA, a novel regulatory output signal protein of the glucose-phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli K-12.

The glucose-phosphotransferase system (PTS) in Escherichia coli K-12 is a complex sensory and regulatory system. In addition to its central role in glucose uptake, it informs other global regulatory networks about carbohydrate availability and the physiological status of the cell. The expression of the ptsG gene encoding the glucose-PTS transporter EIICB(Glc) is primarily regulated via the repressor Mlc, whose inactivation is glucose dependent.