Meeting Abstract

P3.172  Friday, Jan. 6  Physiological response to homocysteine stress in Escherichia coli JALLI, I.S.*; NIJHOUT, H.F.; Duke University; Duke University isj@duke.edu

Variation in response to environmental homocysteine stress on lab strain Escherichia coli (MG1655) and wild isolates is studied. The methionine cycle, a pathway central to the regulation of intracellular homocysteine, is mathematically modeled. The math model helps account for variation in growth and physiological response to metabolite stress in E. coli, both in lab strain and wild isolates. We also report on the effects of S-methylmethionine, a plant-derived metabolite common in the environment but poorly studied in relation to metabolic stress, on E. coli growth and intracellular physiology.