Bacteria can carry out gluconeogenesis using components of thecitric acid cycle or amino acids, but unlike mammals, they cangenerate glucose from acetate via the glyoxylate pathway. Becausebacteria have no organelles, the enzymes of the citric acid cycleand the glyoxylate pathway are not compartmentalized. (a) Why isregulation of the glyoxylate pathway necessary in bacteria? (b)Studies show that bacterial isocitrate lyase is allostericallyinhibited by high concentrations of phosphoenolpyruvate. Would youexpect to see the inhibition of isocitrate lyase when bacteria areutilizing glucose as a sole carbon source? Why? (c) Would youexpect the glyoxylate pathway to be more active than the citricacid cycle when bacteria are growing on acetate? Why? (d) Would youexpect to find glucose-6-phosphatase in bacteria?
