Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : In Escherichia coli K 12 either of the two genes argF and argI is able to produce a functional ornithine carbamoyltransferase. When both are active in the same cell the two gene products interact to form a family of four hybrid trimeric isoenzymes of undistinguishable molecular weights, a situation presently unique in bacteria where very little genetic redundancy seems to occur. In E. coli B and W only the I gene product is found. Evolutionary implications of the structure and the genetic control of ornithine and aspartate carbamoyltransferase are discussed. Copyright © 1972, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved