The present study addresses the regulatory network of Escherichia coli and offers a global
view of the short- and long-term regulation of its metabolic pathways. The regulatory
mechanisms responsible for key metabolic activities and the structure behind such mechanisms
are detailed. Most metabolic functions are dependent on the activity of transcriptional
regulators over gene expression - the so-called long-term regulation. However, enzymatic
regulation - the so-called short-term regulation - often overlays transcriptional
regulation and even, in particular metabolic pathways, enzymatic regulation may prevail.
As such, understanding the balance between these two types of regulation is necessary
to be able to predict and control cell responses, specifically cell responses to the various
environmental stresses.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
