Change of carbon metabolic activity of Rhizobium under carbon starvation

One fast growing strain of Rhizobium sp (Vigna mungo) VBS 1 was tested for its metabolic activities under carbon starvation. Specific activities of the catabolic enzymes like phosphofructokinase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, iso-citrate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase decreased remarkably whereas, induction of two anapleurotic enzymes like fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and iso-citrate lyase took place in the cell-free extract of the strain. Almost unchanged specific activity of the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase indicated its key role in maintaining a balance between catabolic and anabolic activities under carbon starvation.