Tellurite-exposed Escherichia coli exhibits increased intracellular α-ketoglutarate

► Tellurite-exposed E. coli exhibits decreased α-KG dehydrogenase activity. ► Cells lacking α-KGDH genes are more sensitive to ROS than isogenic, wt E. coli. ► KG accumulation may serve to face tellurite-mediated oxidative damage in E. coli.