PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Markovitz

Publications and source records attributed to A Markovitz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

A novel rho promoter::Tn10 mutation suppresses and ftsQ1(Ts) missense mutation in an essential Escherichia coli cell division gene by a mechanism not involving polarity suppression.

An extragenic suppressor of the Escherichia coli cell division gene ftsQ1(Ts) was isolated. The suppressor is a Tn10 insertion into the -35 promoter consensus sequence of the rho gene, designated rho promoter::Tn10. The ftsQ1(Ts) mutation was also suppressed by the rho-4 mutant allele. The rho promoter::Tn10 strain does not exhibit rho mutant polarity suppressor phenotypes. In addition, overexpression of the ftsQ1(Ts) mutation does not reverse temperature sensitivity. Furthermore, DNA sequence analysis of the ftsQ1(Ts) allele revealed that the salt-remediable, temperature-sensitive phenotype arose from a single missense mutation. The most striking phenotype of the rho promoter::Tn10 mutant strain is an increase in the level of negative supercoiling. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that the ftsQ1(Ts) mutation may be suppressed by a change in supercoiling.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Overproduction and identification of the ftsQ gene product, an essential cell division protein in Escherichia coli K-12.

ftsQ is an essential cell division gene in Escherichia coli. The ftsQ gene has been sequenced, and a presumptive open reading frame has been identified; however, no protein product has been observed (A.C. Robinson, D.J. Kenan, G.F. Hatfull, N.F. Sullivan, R. Spiegelberg, and W.D. Donachie, J. Bacteriol. 160:546-555, 1984, and Q.M. Yi, S. Rockenbach, J.E. Ward, Jr., and J. Lutkenhaus, J. Mol. Biol. 184:399-412, 1985). The ftsQ gene was isolated on a 970-base-pair EcoRI-PvuII fragment of the E. coli chromosome and used to construct a trp-lac (Ptac) transcriptional fusion in plasmid pKK223-3. The fused construct (pDSC78) complemented an ftsQ1(Ts) mutant strain in trans, restoring growth at 42 degrees C on low-salt medium. An ftsQ1(Ts) mutant strain transformed with pDSC78 appeared normal upon microscopic examination, with no indication of filamentation. The ftsQ gene product was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of radiolabeled, isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-induced maxicell and normal cell extracts. As predicted from the nucleotide sequence, the 970-base-pair EcoRI-PvuII fragment encoded a polypeptide of approximately 31,400 daltons. Analysis of the data obtained from pulse-chase experiments in maxicells and normal cells suggests that the FtsQ protein is stable. Most of the radiolabeled FtsQ protein from maxicells was found in the inner membrane. On the basis of available information, the prior inability to detect FtsQ can be attributed to low levels of transcription or translation rather than to proteolysis.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Construction and characterization of mutations in hupB, the gene encoding HU-beta (HU-1) in Escherichia coli K-12.

Plasmid pJMC21 contains Escherichia coli chromosomal DNA encoding Lon protease, HU-beta (HU-1), and an unidentified 67,000-dalton protein. A kanamycin resistance cassette was used in the construction of insertion and deletion mutations in hupB, the gene encoding HU-beta on plasmid pJMC21. The reconstructed plasmids were linearized and used to introduce hupB chromosomal mutations into JC7623 (recBC sbcBC). These mutations, as expected, mapped in the 9.8-min region of the E. coli chromosome by P1 transduction (16% linkage to proC+). Southern blot hybridization of chromosomal fragments verified that hupB+ was replaced by the mutant allele, with no indication of gene duplication. All the mutant strains had growth rates identical to that of wild-type E. coli, were resistant to UV irradiation and nitrofurantoin, and supported the in vivo transposition-replication of bacteriophage Mu, Mu lysogenization, Tn10 transposition from lambda 1098, and lambda replication-lysogenization. The only observable phenotypic variation was a reduced Mu plaque size on the hupB mutant strains; however, the yield of bacteriophage Mu in liquid lysates prepared from the mutant strains was indistinguishable from the yield for the wild type.

ATP-Dependent Proteases↗
PubMed1985

Regulatory region of the heat shock-inducible capR (lon) gene: DNA and protein sequences.

The CapR protein is an ATP hydrolysis-dependent protease as well as a DNA-stimulated ATPase and a nucleic acid-binding protein. The sequences of the 5' end of the capR (lon) gene DNA and N-terminal end of the CapR protein were determined. The sequence of DNA that specifies the N-terminal portion of the CapR protein was identified by comparing the amino acid sequence of the CapR protein with the sequence predicted from the DNA. The DNA and protein sequences established that the mature protein is not processed from a precursor form. No sequence corresponding to an SOS box was found in the 5' sequence of DNA. There were sequences that corresponded to a putative -35 and -10 region for RNA polymerase binding. The capR (lon) gene was recently identified as one of 17 heat shock genes in Escherichia coli that are positively regulated by the product of the htpR gene. A comparison of the 5' DNA region of the capR gene with that of several other heat shock genes revealed possible consensus sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Outer membrane protein a and other polypeptides regulate capsular polysaccharide synthesis in E. coli K-12.

capR (lon) mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 are mucoid on minimal agar because they produce large quantities of capsular polysaccharide. When such mutants are transformed to tetracycline resistance by plasmid pMC44, a hybrid plasmid that contains a 2 megadalton (Mdal) endonuclease EcoR1 fragment of E. coli K-12 DNA joined to the cloning vehicle-pSC101, capsular polysaccharide synthesis is inhibited and the transformed colonies exhibit a non-mucoid phenotype. Re-cloning of the 2 Mdal EcoR1 fragment onto plasmid pHA105, a min-colE1 plasmid, yielded plasmid pFM100 which also inhibited capsular polysaccharide synthesis in the capR mutants. A comparison of the polypeptides specified by both plasmids pFM100 and pMC44 in minicells demonstrated that seven polypeptide bands were specified by the 2 MDal DNA, one of which was previously demonstrated to be outer membrane protein a; also known as 3b or M2 (40 kilodaltons, Kdal). Plasmid mutants no longer repressing capsular polysaccharide synthesis were either unable to specify the 40 Kdal outer membrane protein a or were deficient in synthesis of 25 Kdal and 14.5 Kdal polypeptides specified by the 2 Mdal DNA fragments. Studies with a minicell-producing strain that also contained a capR mutation indicated that the capR gene product regulated processing of at least one normal protein, the precursor of outer membrane protein a.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1979

Neuroactive drugs inhibit trypsin and outer membrane protein processing in Escherichia coli K-12.

Previous studies demonstrated that a cloned 2-megadalton (MDal) fragment of Escherichia coli DNA contained the structural gene for major outer membrane protein a (also known as 3b or M2 (40 kDal). The present study demonstrates that M2 is synthesized from a 42-kDal precursor that also is present in the outer membrane. The conversion of the 42-kDal precursor to M2 is inhibited by a number of different local anesthetics (procaine, piperocaine, lidocaine, cocaine), by the neuroactive drug atropine, and by the classical trypsin inhibitors N alpha-tosyllysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) and benzamidine. Our kinetic studies demonstrate that the amidase action of pure trypsin is inhibited competitively by the local anesthetics tested (excluding lidocaine) as well as by atropine and neostigmine. A mechanism of action for local anesthetics as well as atropine in E. coli may to be inhibit trypsinlike proteases, in a competitive manner, in the region of the outer membrane. The mechanism of action of these compounds in regulating nerve conduction in man have certain features in common with the mechanism proposed in E. coli.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMed1979

Myocardial infarction in pregnancy associated with a coronary artery thrombus.

The case of a 36-year-old multigravid woman in whom acute myocardial infarction developed at five months post partum is described. Coronary angiography performed 11 days following myocardial infarction demonstrated a thrombus-like lesion in the coronary artery branch supplying the area of myocardial damage with no other evidence of coronary artery disease. This finding suggests that the development of a coronary artery thrombus is part of the mechanism of myocardial infarction in this case where the phenomenon of angiographically normal coronary arteries following myocardial infarction has bee- described. The mechanism leading to the development of a coronary thrombus in pregnancy is obscure, but may be similar to other clotting abnormalities complicating the third trimester and puerperium.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Cloned DNA fragment specifying major outer membrane protein a in Escherichia coli K-12.

Plasmid pMC44 is a recombinant plasmid that contains a 2-megadalton EcoRI fragment of Escherichia coli K-12 DNA joined to the cloning vehicle, pSC101. The polypeptides specified by plasmid pMC44 were identified and compared with those specified by pSC101 to determine those that are unique to pMC44. Three polypeptides specified by plasmid pMC44 were localized in the cell envelope fraction of minicells: a Sarkosyl-insoluble outer membrane polypeptide (designated M2), specified by the cloned 2-megadalton DNA fragment, and two Sarkosyl-soluble membrane polypeptides specified by the cloning plasmid pSC101. Bacteria containing plasmid pMC44 synthesized quantities of M2 approximately equal to the most abundant E. coli K-12 outer membrane protein. Evidence is presented that outer membrane polypeptide M2, specified by the recombinant plasmid pMC44, is the normal E. coli outer membrane protein designated protein a by Lugtenberg and 3b by Schnaitman.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1977

A gal region mutant that requires cAMP for growth on galactose in an adenyl cyclase negative (cya delta) background.

Strains of Escherichia coli K12 that contain a deletion of the adenyl cyclase gen (cya delta), required for the synthesis of cyclic adenosine-3';5' monophosphate (cAMP), grow on galactose-containing minimal medium. A mutant was isolated that grows on this medium only if cAMP is added. The mutation (designated galP20) is linked to the gal operon region as determined by both generalized transduction with bacteriophage P1 and specialized transduction with bacteriophage lambda. Studies with galP20 cya delta strains as well as gal delta (deletions of the gal operon) cya delta strains indicate that synthesis of the physiologically important transport mechanism for galactose (galactose permease) requires either cAMP or a function mission from both the galdelta strains and the galP20 strain.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1977

New mini-ColE1 as a molecular cloning vehicle.

A new mini-ColE1 plasmid, designated pAC105, was isolated. It has a molecular weight of 1.6 X 10(6) and carries information for its self-replication as well as information for conferring colicin E1 immunity upon its host. Furthermore, pAC105 undergoes replication in the presence of chloramphenicol even when a foreign deoxyribonucleic acid (pSC101) is inserted into its single EcoRI restriction site. Studies in minicell-producing strains demonstrate that pAC105 codes for only two or three polypeptides of low molecular weight. The advantages of using it as a molecular cloning vehicle are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1976

Second-site mutations in capR (lon) strains of Escherichia coli K-12 that prevent radiation sensitivity and allow bacteriophage lambda to lysogenize.

capR (lon) mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 are mucoid and sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray radiation as well as to nitrofurantoin. The mutants form filaments after exposure to these agents. capR mutants are also conditionally lethal since they die when plated on complex medium even without UV treatment; this phenomenon is designated "complex medium-induced killing". Furthermore, capR mutants are poorly lysogenized by bacteriophage lambda. Second-site revertants were isolated by plating on media containing nitrofurantoin. All 17 of the independent revertants studied were still mucoid but resistant to UV radiation. Sixteen of the 17 revertants contained a mutation, sulA, that cotransduced with pyrD (21 min). A second locus, sulB, was also found that cotransduced with leu (2 min). Studies with partial diploids (F'pyrD+ sulA+/pyrD36 sulA17 capR9 (lon) demonstrated that sulA+ is dominant to sulA; thus the indicated partial diploid is UV sensitive, whereas the haploid parent is UV resistant. Furthermore, two other phenotypic traits of capR (lon) mutants were reversed by the sul mutation:complex medium-induced killing and the inability of lambda phage to efficiently lysogenize capR strains. On the basis of these and other results, the following model is suggested to explain capR (lon) and sul gene interactions. capR (lon) is a regulator gene for the structural genes sulA+ and sulB+. Depression of both sul operons results in UV sensitivity and decreased ability of lambda to lysogenize, whereas inactivation of either sul+ protein by mutation to sul prevents these phenomena.

Chromosome Mapping↗