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A Săsărman

Publications and source records attributed to A Săsărman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Naturally occurring R.ColBM plasmids belonging to the IncFIII incompatibility group.

Two Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary tract infections were resistant to streptomycin, kanamycin, neomycin, tetracycline and sulphonamides. The strains also produced colicins B and M. The resistance to streptomycin, kanamycin and neomycin and the ability to produce colicins B and M could be transferred to an E. coli K12 recipient. Resistance and colicinogeny markers were transferred together by conjugation, and did not segregate even after interrupted mating or phage P1-mediated transduction. Hence, the drug-resistance and colicinogeny markers were carried by the same plasmid, designated as R.ColBM plasmid. The two R.ColBM plasmids were Fi+ and produced an F-like pilus. They belonged to the IncFIII incompatibility group, being thus the first R plasmids identified in this group. The two plasmids were isolated and their molecular sizes were determined by electrophoresis in agarose gels and by contour length measurements. Both methods showed that both plasmids were about 52 megadaltons.

Bacteriocin Plasmids↗

Uroporphyrin- and coproporphyrin I-accumulating mutant of Escherichia coli K12.

A new type of haem-deficient mutant was isolated in Escherichia coli K12 by neomycin selection. The mutant was deficient in uroporphyrinogen III cosynthase activity as indicated by the accumulation of uroporphyrin I and coproporphyrin. The mapping of the corresponding hemD gene by P1-mediated transduction showed that the new gene was located between ilv and cya, at min 83 on the chromosomal map of Escherichia coli K12.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Mapping of a new hem gene in Escherichia coli K12.

A new type of haem-deficient mutant was isolated in Escherichia coli K12 by neomycin selection. The mutant, designated SASX38, accumulated uroporphyrin, coproporphyrin and protoporphyrin. Since it possessed normal ferrochelatase activity, it was assumed to be deficient in protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity. The gene affected in the mutant was designated hemG. Mapping of the hemG gene by phage P1-mediated transduction showed that it was located very close to the chlB gene (frequency of cotransduction 78.7%), between the metE and rha markers. This location is distinct from the other known hem loci in E. coli K12.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Mapping of the hemE locus in Salmonella typhimurium.

A new type of heme-deficient mutant was isolated in Salmonella typhimurium by neomycin selection. The mutant was deficient in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity, coded by the hemE gene. The hemE gene was located between the genes rif and thi at 128 min on the chromosomal map of S. typhimurium.

Carboxy-Lyases↗

Porphobilinogen-accumulating mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2.

Four independent porphobilinogen-accumulating mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 were isolated by selecting for dwarf colony formation on neomycin agar media. Cell-free extracts of the parent strain, but not of the mutants, were able to convert 5-aminolaevulinic acid or porphobilinogen to porphyrins. The results indicated that the mutants were deficient in uroporphyrinogen I synthase (EC. 4.3.I. 8) activity: these are the first mutants of this type reported in S. typhimurium LT2. Mapping of the hemC locus (for uroporphyrinogen I synthase) by F-mediated conjugation and by P22-mediated transduction showed the gene sequence ilvEDAC-hemC-cya-metE.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

Uroporphyrin-accumulating mutant of Escherichia coli K-12.

An uroporphyrin III-accumulating mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 was isolated by neomycin. The mutant, designated SASQ85, was catalase deficient and formed dwarf colonies on usual media. Comparative extraction by cyclohexanone and ethyl acetate showed the superiority of the former for the extraction of the uroporphyrin accumulated by the mutant. Cell-free extracts of SASQ85 were able to convert 5-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen to uroporphyrinogen, but not to copro- or protoporphyrinogen. Under the same conditions cell-free extracts of the parent strain converted 5-aminolevulinic to uroporphyringen, coproporphyrinogen, and protoporphyrinogen. The conversion of porphobilinogen to uroporphyrinogen by cell-free extracts of the mutant was inhibited 98 and 95%, respectively, by p-chloromercuribenzoate and p-chloromercuriphenyl-sulfonate, indicating the presence of uroporphyrinogen synthetase activity in the extracts. Spontaneous transformation of porphobilinogen to uroporphyrin was not detectable under the experimental conditions used [4 h at 37 C in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-potassium phosphate buffer, pH 8.2]. The results indicate a deficient uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity of SASQ85 which is thus the first uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase-deficient mutant isolated in E. coli K-12. Mapping of the corresponding locus by P1-mediated transduction revealed the frequent joint transduction of hemE and thiA markers (frequency of co-transduction, 41 to 44%). The results of the genetic analysis suggest the gene order rif, hemE, thiA, metA; however, they do not totally exclude the gene order rif, thiA, hemE, metA.

Acetates↗

Hemin-deficient mutants of Salmonella typhimurium.

Nine hemin-deficient mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 were isolated as neomycin-resistant colonies. Five of these mutants could be stimulated by Delta-aminolevulinic acid (Delta-ALA), thus representing hemA mutants. Since S. typhimurium LT2 is not able to incorporate hemin, the identification of the mutants not stimulated by Delta-ALA was made on the basis of the simultaneous loss of catalase activity and cytochromes. The hemA gene was mapped by conjugation in the trp region, probably in the order purB-pyrD-hemA-trp; the episome FT(71)trp does not carry the hemA gene. Transductional intercrosses by phage P22 indicate that hemA 11, 12, 13, and 37 are at very closely linked sites, whereas hemA14 is at a more distant site in the same or an adjacent gene. No joint transduction was detected between hemA and trp or pyrF. The loci affected in the other hemin-deficient mutants were linked in conjugation to the pro(+) marker (frequency of linkage, 88 to 97%), but cotransduction of the two markers could not be obtained. The episome F lac hem purE, which originates from Escherichia coli K-12, could complement these hemin-deficient mutants of S. typhimurium LT2. As a result, the sequence of the markers on the chromosome of S. typhimurium LT2 is probably pro heme purE, analogous to the sequence found in E. coli K-12. Thus, the chromosome of S. typhimurium also possesses two hem regions, with a location similar to that described in E. coli K-12.

Amino Acids↗