Table 1: Strains, plasmids, and phage.

Strain, plasmid, or phage Relevant genotype Source Strain*  GS162 WT This lab  GS776 cycA30::Tn10 This lab  GS854 argA81::Tn10 This lab  GS998 GS162 gcvA [27, 28]  GS1132 GS162 Δ(gcvAgcvB)::ΩaadA (referred to as ΔgcvAB) [19]  GS1144 GS162 ΔgcvB::ΩCMR (referred to as ΔgcvB) [21]  GS1148 GS162 hfq-1::ΩCMR (referred to as Δhfq) [23] Plasmid  pGS554 Single-copy vector + constitutive gcvB (p) [19]  pGS571 Multicopy vector + WT gcvB (p) [29]  pGS594 Single-copy vector + WT gcvB (p) This lab  pGS609 Multi-copy vector + WT hfq (phfq 3+) [23]  pGS611 Multi-copy vector + WT gcvA (p) This study  pGS624 Multi-copy vector + WT gcvA gcvB (p) This study Phage  λgt2 λ cloning vector; cI857 repressor [30]  λhdeA::lacZ λ vector carrying WT hdeA::lacZ fusion This study  λhdeB::lacZ λ vector carrying WT hdeB::lacZ fusion This study  ::lacZ λ vector carrying ::lacZ transcriptional fusion This study  λPBAD::hdeA::lacZ λ vector carrying hdeA::lacZ fusion under control of the PBAD promoter This study

*All strains also carry the pheA905 thi araD129 rpsL150 relA1 deoC1 flbB5301 ptsF25 rbsR mutations.