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Abstract
The labdene diterpene forskolin acts on the enzyme adenylyl cyclase to increase cyclic-3’ 5’ adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and is thought to have an effect on glucose transport in eukaryotic cells. Previous studies have shown this compound to act on mammalian cells, however studies concerning the effect of forskolin on E. coli is limited. Characterizing potential effects could provide a method for cAMP modulation in E. coli without exogenous cAMP addition. This study aimed to determine the effect of forskolin on E. coli B23 cells by examining potential changes in cAMP levels upon addition of this compound, and any potential effect on glucose transport. Results show that forskolin does not inhibit glucose transport as growth rate was not repressed in forskolin-supplemented cultures. Also, forskolin does not have a significant effect on β -galactosidase levels in E. coli B23, regardless of the carbon source utilized, and thus may not provide a reliable method for cAMP modulation in a research setting.