Table 1 Characteristics and sources of bacterial strains used in this study

E. coli W3110

Coli Genetic Stock Center strain (CGSC) No. 4474

CGSC^a

E. coli TOP10

F⁻ mcrA Δ(mrr-hsdRMS-mcrBC) φ80lacZΔM15 ΔlacX74 deoR recA1 araD139 Δ(ara-leu)7697galU galK rpsL endA1 nupG

Invitrogen^b

E. coli THR

W3110 (ΔlacI, thrA^C1034T, lysC^C1055T, PthrABC::Ptac, ΔlysA, ΔmetA, Δtdh, ΔiclR, Pppc::PTrc)

This study

E. coli THR ΔrhtA

E. coli THR derivative, ΔrhtA

This study

E. coli THR ΔrhtC

E. coli THR derivative, ΔrhtC

This study

E. coli THR ΔrhtAΔrhtC

E. coli THR derivative, ΔrhtA/ΔrhtC

This study

E. coli THR ΔrhtAΔilvIH

E. coli THR derivative, ΔrhtA/ΔilvIH

This study