Many Strains of E

Multiple Choice

Many strains of E. coli are able to grow on minimal media which consists only of a single sugar, usually glucose, and inorganic salts to provide nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous and trace nutrients. What does this tell you about E. coli's biosynthetic capabilities?

A) E. coli can funnel intermediates from glycolysis, the intermediate step, and the Krebs cycle to synthesize amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, and nucleotides.
B) E. coli will be unable to build the peptidoglycan it needs for its cell wall.
C) All amino acids are "essential" to E. coli.
D) E. coli will be unable to perform amination.
E) E. coli will use salvage pathways to make nucleotides.