Unsaturated fatty acid synthesis is not required for induction of lactose transport in Escherichia coli

In 1969, Fox reported that induction of lactose transport in Escherichia coli required the simultaneous synthesis of lipids containing unsaturated fatty acids. Later experiments from other laboratories gave differing results. The authors reinvestigated this relationship. They starved cells for unsaturated fatty acid by several different methods and examined induction of lactose transport and of β galactosidase, synthesis of phospholipids containing unsaturated fatty acid, phospholipid synthesis, and cell growth. The induction of lactose transport was found to be normal under conditions allowing only about 4% of the normal rate of unsaturated fatty acid synthesis.