Biomedical subjects

Alfred Pühler

Publications and source records attributed to Alfred Pühler.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Functional genomics and expression analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum fpr2-cysIXHDNYZ gene cluster involved in assimilatory sulphate reduction.

BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium glutamicum is a high-GC Gram-positive soil bacterium of great biotechnological importance for the production of amino acids. To facilitate the rational design of sulphur amino acid-producing strains, the pathway for assimilatory sulphate reduction providing the necessary reduced sulfur moieties has to be known. Although this pathway has been well studied in Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli and low-GC Gram-positives like Bacillus subtilis, little is known for the Actinomycetales and other high-GC Gram-positive bacteria. RESULTS: The genome sequence of C. glutamicum was searched for genes involved in the assimilatory reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds. A cluster of eight candidate genes could be identified by combining sequence similarity searches with a subsequent synteny analysis between C. glutamicum and the closely related C. efficiens. Using mutational analysis, seven of the eight candidate genes, namely cysZ, cysY, cysN, cysD, cysH, cysX, and cysI, were demonstrated to be involved in the reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds. For three of the up to now unknown genes possible functions could be proposed: CysZ is likely to be the sulphate permease, while CysX and CysY are possibly involved in electron transfer and cofactor biosynthesis, respectively. Finally, the candidate gene designated fpr2 influences sulphur utilisation only weakly and might be involved in electron transport for the reduction of sulphite. Real-time RT-PCR experiments revealed that cysIXHDNYZ form an operon and that transcription of the extended cluster fpr2 cysIXHDNYZ is strongly influenced by the availability of inorganic sulphur, as well as L-cysteine. Mapping of the fpr2 and cysIXHDNYZ promoters using RACE-PCR indicated that both promoters overlap with binding-sites of the transcriptional repressor McbR, suggesting an involvement of McbR in the observed regulation. Comparative genomics revealed that large parts of the extended cluster are conserved in 11 of 17 completely sequenced members of the Actinomycetales. CONCLUSION: The set of C. glutamicum genes involved in assimilatory sulphate reduction was identified and four novel genes involved in this pathway were found. The high degree of conservation of this cluster among the Actinomycetales supports the hypothesis that a different metabolic pathway for the reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds than that known from the well-studied model organisms E. coli and B. subtilis is used by members of this order, providing the basis for further biochemical studies.

Actinobacteria↗

PubMed2005

EST sequencing and time course microarray hybridizations identify more than 700 Medicago truncatula genes with developmental expression regulation in flowers and pods.

To evaluate the molecular mechanisms during pod and seed formation in legumes, starting with the development of reproductive organs, we constructed two cDNA libraries from developing flowers (MtFLOW) and pods including seeds (MtPOSE) of the model plant Medicago truncatula Gaertner. A total of 2,516 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) clustered into 1,776 nonredundant sequences (2k-set), which were annotated and assigned to functional classes. While about 30% of the ESTs encoded proteins of yet unknown function, typical annotations pointed to seed storage proteins, LTPs and lipoxygenases. The 2k-set was used to upgrade Mt6k-RIT microarrays (Küster et al. in J Biotechnol 108: 95, 2004) to Mt8k versions representing approximately 6,300 nonredundant M. truncatula genes. These were used to perform time course expression profiling studies based on hybridizations of samples that covered eight different developmental stages from flower buds to almost mature pods versus leaves as a common reference. About 180 up- and 70 downregulated genes were typically found for each stage and in total, 782 genes were either twofold up- or downregulated in at least one of the eight stages investigated. Based on this set, a combination of self-organizing map and hierarchical clustering revealed genes displaying expression regulation during characteristic stages of M. truncatula flower and pod development. Amongst those, several genes encoded proteins related to seed metabolism and development including novel regulators and proteins involved in signaling.

Expressed Sequence Tags↗

PubMed2005

The individual and common repertoire of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium efficiens, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium deduced from the complete genome sequences.

BACKGROUND: The genus Corynebacterium includes Gram-positive microorganisms of great biotechnologically importance, such as Corynebacterium glutamicum and Corynebacterium efficiens, as well as serious human pathogens, such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium. Although genome sequences of the respective species have been determined recently, the knowledge about the repertoire of transcriptional regulators and the architecture of global regulatory networks is scarce. Here, we apply a combination of bioinformatic tools and a comparative genomic approach to identify and characterize a set of conserved DNA-binding transcriptional regulators in the four corynebacterial genomes. RESULTS: A collection of 127 DNA-binding transcriptional regulators was identified in the C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 genome, whereas 103 regulators were detected in C. efficiens YS-314, 63 in C. diphtheriae NCTC 13129 and 55 in C. jeikeium K411. According to amino acid sequence similarities and protein structure predictions, the DNA-binding transcriptional regulators were grouped into 25 regulatory protein families. The common set of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators present in the four corynebacterial genomes consists of 28 proteins that are apparently involved in the regulation of cell division and septation, SOS and stress response, carbohydrate metabolism and macroelement and metal homeostasis. CONCLUSION: This work describes characteristic features of a set of conserved DNA-binding transcriptional regulators present within the corynebacterial core genome. The knowledge on the physiological function of these proteins should not only contribute to our understanding of the regulation of gene expression but will also provide the basis for comprehensive modeling of transcriptional regulatory networks of these species.

Carbohydrates↗

PubMed2005

Plasmid pB8 is closely related to the prototype IncP-1beta plasmid R751 but transfers poorly to Escherichia coli and carries a new transposon encoding a small multidrug resistance efflux protein.

The IncP-1beta plasmid pB8, which confers resistance to amoxicillin, spectinomycin, streptomycin, and sulfonamides, was previously isolated from a sewage treatment plant. It was found to possess abnormal conjugative transfer properties, i.e., transfer to Escherichia coli by conjugation or electroporation could not be detected. We showed in this study that plasmid pB8 is transferable to E. coli by conjugation, but only at low frequencies and under specific experimental conditions, a phenomenon that is very unusual for IncP-1 plasmids. Determination of the complete 57,198bp pB8 nucleotide sequence revealed that the backbone of the plasmid consists of a complete set of IncP-1beta-specific genes for replication initiation, conjugative plasmid transfer, stable inheritance, and plasmid control with an organisation identical to that of the prototype IncP-1beta plasmid R751. All of the minor differences in the pB8 backbone sequence compared to that of R751 were also found in other IncP-1beta plasmids known to transfer to and replicate in E. coli. Plasmids pB8 and R751 can be distinguished with respect to their accessory genetic elements. First, the pB8 region downstream of the replication initiation gene trfA contains two transposable elements one of which is similar to Tn5501. The latter transposon encodes a putative post-segregational-killing system and the small multidrug resistance (SMR) protein QacF, mediating quaternary ammonium compound resistance. The accessory genes in this region are not responsible for the poor plasmid transfer to E. coli since a pB8 deletion derivative devoid of all genes in that region showed the same conjugative transfer properties as pB8. A Tn5090/Tn402 derivative carrying a class 1 integron is located between the conjugative transfer modules. The Tn5090/Tn402 integration-sites are exactly identical on pB8 and R751 but in contrast to R751 the pB8 element carries the resistance gene cassettes oxa-2 for amoxicillin resistance and aadA4 for streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance, the integron-specific conserved segment consisting of the genes qacEDelta1, sul1, and orf5, and a truncated tni transposition module (tniAB). Although future work will have to determine the molecular basis for the poor transfer of pB8 to E. coli, our findings demonstrate that the host-range of typical IncP-1 plasmids may be less broad than expected.

Conjugation, Genetic↗

PubMed2005

Overlaps in the transcriptional profiles of Medicago truncatula roots inoculated with two different Glomus fungi provide insights into the genetic program activated during arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a widespread symbiotic association between plants and fungal microsymbionts that supports plant development under nutrient-limiting and various stress conditions. In this study, we focused on the overlapping genetic program activated by two commonly studied microsymbionts in addition to identifying AM-related genes. We thus applied 16,086 probe microarrays to profile the transcriptome of the model legume Medicago truncatula during interactions with Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices and specified a total of 201 plant genes as significantly coinduced at least 2-fold, with more than 160 being reported as AM induced for the first time. Several hundred genes were additionally up-regulated during a sole interaction, indicating that the plant genetic program activated in AM to some extent depends on the colonizing microsymbiont. Genes induced during both interactions specified AM-related nitrate, ion, and sugar transporters, enzymes involved in secondary metabolism, proteases, and Kunitz-type protease inhibitors. Furthermore, coinduced genes encoded receptor kinases and other components of signal transduction pathways as well as AM-induced transcriptional regulators, thus reflecting changes in signaling. By the use of reporter gene expression, we demonstrated that one member of the AM-induced gene family encoding blue copper binding proteins (MtBcp1) was both specifically and strongly up-regulated in arbuscule-containing regions of mycorrhizal roots. A comparison of the AM expression profiles to those of nitrogen-fixing root nodules suggested only a limited overlap between the genetic programs orchestrating root endosymbioses.

Carrier Proteins↗

PubMed2005

The promoter of the leghaemoglobin gene VfLb29: functional analysis and identification of modules necessary for its activation in the infected cells of root nodules and in the arbuscule-containing cells of mycorrhizal roots.

In this study the further characterization of the Vicia faba leghaemoglobin promoter pVfLb29 is presented that was previously shown to be specifically active in the infected cells of root nodules and in arbuscule-containing cells of mycorrhizal roots. Using promoter studies in transgenic hairy roots of the Pisum sativum mutant RisNod24, disabled in the formation of functional arbuscules, VfLb29 promoter activity is assigned to later stages of arbuscule development. In order to narrow down the regions containing cis-acting elements of pVfLb29, the activity of five VfLb29 promoter deletions (-797/-31 to -175/-31 in relation to the start codon) fused to the gusAint coding region were tested in transgenic V. hirsuta hairy roots. The results specify a promoter region ranging from position -410 to -326 (85 bp) as necessary for gus expression in arbuscule-containing cells, whereas this segment is not involved in the nodule-specific activity. Sequence analysis of the pVfLb29 fragment -410/-326 (85 bp) revealed sequence motifs previously shown to be cis-acting elements of diverse promoters. To investigate the autonomous function of pVfLb29 regions for activation in arbuscule-containing cells, different regions of pVfLb29 from positions -410 to -198 were used to prepare chimeric promoter constructs for trans-activation studies. These fragments alone did not activate the mycorrhiza inactive promoter of the Vicia faba leghaemoglobin gene VfLb3, showing that the activation of pVfLb29 in arbuscule-containing cells is governed by a complex regulatory system that requires at least two modules located between position -410 and -31 of the VfLb29 gene.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Characterization of the Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris lipopolysaccharide substructures essential for elicitation of an oxidative burst in tobacco cells.

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria are essential for perception of pathogens by animals and plants. To identify the LPS substructure or substructures recognized by plants, we isolated water-phase (w)LPS from different Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris mutants and analyzed their sugar content and ability to elicit an oxidative burst in tobacco cell cultures. The different wLPS species are characterized by lacking repetitive subunits of the O-antigen, the complete O-antigen, or even most of the core region. Because loss of lipid A would be lethal to bacteria, pure lipid A was obtained from X. campestris pv. campestris wild-type wLPS by chemical hydrolysis. The elicitation experiments with tobacco cell cultures revealed that LPS detection is dependent on the bioavailability of the amphiphilic wLPS, which can form micelles in an aqueous environment. By adding deoxycholate to prevent micelle formation, all of the tested wLPS species showed elicitation capability, whereas the lipid A alone was not able to trigger an oxidative burst or calcium transients in tobacco cell cultures. These results suggest that the LPS substructure recognized by tobacco cells is localized in the inner core region of the LPS, consisting of glucose, galacturonic acid, and 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acids. Although lipid A alone seems to be insufficient to induce an oxidative burst in tobacco cell cultures, it cannot be ruled out that lipid A or the glucosamine backbone may be important in combination with the inner core structures.

Aequorin↗

PubMed2005

Combined transcriptome profiling reveals a novel family of arbuscular mycorrhizal-specific Medicago truncatula lectin genes.

The large majority of plants are capable of undergoing a tight symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. During this symbiosis, highly specialized new structures called arbuscules are formed within the host cells, indicating that, during interaction with AM fungi, plants express AM-specific genetic programs. Despite increasing efforts, the number of genes known to be induced in the AM symbiosis is still low. In order to identify novel AM-induced genes which have not been listed before, 5,646 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated from two Medicago truncatula cDNA libraries: a random cDNA library (MtAmp) and a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library (MtGim), the latter being designed to enhance the cloning of mycorrhiza-upregulated genes. In silico expression analysis was applied to identify those tentative consensus sequences (TCs) of The Institute for Genomic Research M. truncatula gene index (MtGI) that are composed exclusively of ESTs deriving from the MtGim or MtAmp library, but not from any other cDNA library of the MtGI. This search revealed 115 MtAmp- or MTGim-specific TCs. For the majority of these TCs with sequence similarities to plant genes, the AM-specific expression was verified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Annotation of the novel genes induced in mycorrhizal roots suggested their involvement in different transport as well as signaling processes and revealed a novel family of AM-specific lectin genes. The expression of reporter gene fusions in transgenic roots revealed an arbuscule-related expression of two members of the lectin gene family, indicating a role for AM-specific lectins during arbuscule formation or functioning.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

The McbR repressor modulated by the effector substance S-adenosylhomocysteine controls directly the transcription of a regulon involved in sulphur metabolism of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032.

In a recent proteomics study we have shown that the mcbR gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 most probably encodes a transcriptional repressor of the TetR type, which regulates the expression of at least six genes involved in the synthesis of sulphur-containing amino acids. By means of DNA microarray hybridizations we detected 86 genes with enhanced transcription in an mcbR mutant when compared with the wild-type strain. Bioinformatic analysis identified the inverted repeat 5'-TAGAC-N6-GTCTA-3' as a consensus sequence within the upstream region of 22 genes and operons, suggesting that the transcription of at least 45 genes is directly controlled by the McbR repressor. These 45 genes encode a variety of functions in (S-adenosyl)methionine and cysteine biosynthesis, in sulphate reduction, in uptake and utilization of sulphur-containing compounds and in transcriptional regulation. The function of the inverted repeat motif as potential McbR binding site in front of the genes hom, cysI, cysK, metK and mcbR was verified experimentally by competitive electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. A systematic search for the potential effector substance modulating the function of McbR revealed that only S-adenosylhomocysteine prevented the binding of McbR to its target sequence. These results indicate that the transcriptional repressor McbR directly regulates a set of genes comprising all aspects of transport and metabolism of the macroelement sulphur in C. glutamicum. As the activity of McbR is modulated by S-adenosylhomocysteine, a major product of transmethylation reactions, the results point also to a novel regulatory mechanism in bacteria to control the biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

The transcriptional regulator SsuR activates expression of the Corynebacterium glutamicum sulphonate utilization genes in the absence of sulphate.

In a recent study, the putative regulatory gene cg0012 was shown to belong to the regulon of McbR, a global transcriptional regulator of sulphur metabolism in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032. A deletion of cg0012, now designated ssuR (sulphonate sulphur utilization regulator), led to the mutant strain C. glutamicum DK100, which was shown to be blocked in the utilization of sulphonates as sulphur sources. According to DNA microarray hybridizations, transcription of the ssu and seu genes, encoding the sulphonate utilization system of C. glutamicum, was considerably decreased in C. glutamicum DK100 when compared with the wild-type strain. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with purified SsuR protein demonstrated that the upstream regions of ssuI, seuABC, ssuD2 and ssuD1CBA contain SsuR binding sites. A nucleotide sequence alignment of the four DNA fragments containing the SsuR binding sites revealed a common 21 bp motif consisting of T-, GC- and A-rich domains. Mapping of the transcriptional start sites in front of ssuI, seuABC, ssuD2 and ssuD1CBA indicated that the SsuR binding sites are located directly upstream of identified promoter sequences and that the ssu genes are expressed by leaderless transcripts. Binding of the SsuR protein to its operator was shown to be diminished in vitro by the effector substance sulphate and its direct assimilation products adenosine 5'-phosphosulphate, sulphite and sulphide. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments verified that the expression of the ssu and seu genes was also repressed in vivo by the presence of sulphate or sulphite. Therefore, the regulatory protein SsuR activates the expression of the ssu and seu genes in C. glutamicum in the absence of the preferred sulphur source sulphate.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Role of the regulatory gene rirA in the transcriptional response of Sinorhizobium meliloti to iron limitation.

A regulatory network of Sinorhizobium meliloti genes involved in adaptation to iron-limiting conditions and the involvement of the rhizobial iron regulator gene (rirA) were analyzed by mutation and microarray analyses. A constructed S. meliloti rirA mutant exhibited growth defects and enhanced H2O2 sensitivity in the presence of iron, but symbiotic nitrogen fixation was not affected. To identify iron-responsive and RirA-regulated S. meliloti genes, a transcriptome approach using whole-genome microarrays was used. Altogether, 45 genes were found to be jointly derepressed by mutation of rirA and under different iron-limited conditions. As expected, a number of genes involved in iron transport (e.g., hmuPSTU, shmR, rhbABCDEF, rhtX, and rhtA) and also genes with predicted functions in energy metabolism (e.g., fixN3, fixP3, and qxtAB) and exopolysaccharide production (e.g., exoY and exoN) were found in this group of genes. In addition, the iron deficiency response of S. meliloti also involved rirA-independent expression changes, including repression of the S. meliloti flagellar regulon. Finally, the RirA modulon also includes genes that are not iron responsive, including a gene cluster putatively involved in Fe-S cluster formation (sufA, sufS, sufD, sufC, and sufB).

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Adaptation of Corynebacterium glutamicum to ammonium limitation: a global analysis using transcriptome and proteome techniques.

Theresponse of Corynebacterium glutamicum to ammonium limitation was studied by transcriptional and proteome profiling of cells grown in a chemostat. Our results show that ammonium-limited growth of C. glutamicum results in a rearrangement of the cellular transport capacity, changes in metabolic pathways for nitrogen assimilation, amino acid biosynthesis, and carbon metabolism, as well as a decreased cell division. Since transcription at different growth rates was studied, it was possible to distinguish specific responses to ammonium limitation and more general, growth rate-dependent alterations in gene expression. The latter include a number of genes encoding ribosomal proteins and genes for F(o)F(1)-ATP synthase subunits.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2005

Rational design of a Corynebacterium glutamicum pantothenate production strain and its characterization by metabolic flux analysis and genome-wide transcriptional profiling.

A "second-generation" production strain was derived from a Corynebacterium glutamicum pantothenate producer by rational design to assess its potential to synthesize and accumulate the vitamin pantothenate by batch cultivation. The new pantothenate production strain carries a deletion of the ilvA gene to abolish isoleucine synthesis, the promoter down-mutation P-ilvEM3 to attenuate ilvE gene expression and thereby increase ketoisovalerate availability, and two compatible plasmids to overexpress the ilvBNCD genes and duplicated copies of the panBC operon. Production assays in shake flasks revealed that the P-ilvEM3 mutation and the duplication of the panBC operon had cumulative effects on pantothenate production. During pH-regulated batch cultivation, accumulation of 8 mM pantothenate was achieved, which is the highest value reported for C. glutamicum. Metabolic flux analysis during the fermentation demonstrated that the P-ilvEM3 mutation successfully reoriented the carbon flux towards pantothenate biosynthesis. Despite this repartition of the carbon flux, ketoisovalerate not converted to pantothenate was excreted by the cell and dissipated as by-products (ketoisocaproate, DL-2,3,-dihydroxy-isovalerate, ketopantoate, pantoate), which are indicative of saturation of the pantothenate biosynthetic pathway. Genome-wide expression analysis of the production strain during batch cultivation was performed by whole-genome DNA microarray hybridization and agglomerative hierarchical clustering, which detected the enhanced expression of genes involved in leucine biosynthesis, in serine and glycine formation, in regeneration of methylenetetrahydrofolate, in de novo synthesis of nicotinic acid mononucleotide, and in a complete pathway of acyl coenzyme A conversion. Our strategy not only successfully improved pantothenate production by genetically modified C. glutamicum strains but also revealed new constraints in attaining high productivity.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Complete genome sequence and analysis of the multiresistant nosocomial pathogen Corynebacterium jeikeium K411, a lipid-requiring bacterium of the human skin flora.

Corynebacterium jeikeium is a "lipophilic" and multidrug-resistant bacterial species of the human skin flora that has been recognized with increasing frequency as a serious nosocomial pathogen. Here we report the genome sequence of the clinical isolate C. jeikeium K411, which was initially recovered from the axilla of a bone marrow transplant patient. The genome of C. jeikeium K411 consists of a circular chromosome of 2,462,499 bp and the 14,323-bp bacteriocin-producing plasmid pKW4. The chromosome of C. jeikeium K411 contains 2,104 predicted coding sequences, 52% of which were considered to be orthologous with genes in the Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium efficiens, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae genomes. These genes apparently represent the chromosomal backbone that is conserved between the four corynebacteria. Among the genes that lack an ortholog in the known corynebacterial genomes, many are located close to transposable elements or revealed an atypical G+C content, indicating that horizontal gene transfer played an important role in the acquisition of genes involved in iron and manganese homeostasis, in multidrug resistance, in bacterium-host interaction, and in virulence. Metabolic analyses of the genome sequence indicated that the "lipophilic" phenotype of C. jeikeium most likely originates from the absence of fatty acid synthase and thus represents a fatty acid auxotrophy. Accordingly, both the complete gene repertoire and the deduced lifestyle of C. jeikeium K411 largely reflect the strict dependence of growth on the presence of exogenous fatty acids. The predicted virulence factors of C. jeikeium K411 are apparently involved in ensuring the availability of exogenous fatty acids by damaging the host tissue.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2005

Insights into genome plasticity and pathogenicity of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria revealed by the complete genome sequence.

The gram-negative plant-pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria is the causative agent of bacterial spot disease in pepper and tomato plants, which leads to economically important yield losses. This pathosystem has become a well-established model for studying bacterial infection strategies. Here, we present the whole-genome sequence of the pepper-pathogenic Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria strain 85-10, which comprises a 5.17-Mb circular chromosome and four plasmids. The genome has a high G+C content (64.75%) and signatures of extensive genome plasticity. Whole-genome comparisons revealed a gene order similar to both Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris and a structure completely different from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. A total of 548 coding sequences (12.2%) are unique to X. campestris pv. vesicatoria. In addition to a type III secretion system, which is essential for pathogenicity, the genome of strain 85-10 encodes all other types of protein secretion systems described so far in gram-negative bacteria. Remarkably, one of the putative type IV secretion systems encoded on the largest plasmid is similar to the Icm/Dot systems of the human pathogens Legionella pneumophila and Coxiella burnetii. Comparisons with other completely sequenced plant pathogens predicted six novel type III effector proteins and several other virulence factors, including adhesins, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and extracellular polysaccharides.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

PubMed2004

Sequence of the 68,869 bp IncP-1alpha plasmid pTB11 from a waste-water treatment plant reveals a highly conserved backbone, a Tn402-like integron and other transposable elements.

To analyse the significance of conjugative broad-host-range IncP-1alpha plasmids for the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants in waste-water treatment plants we isolated and characterised five different IncP-1alpha plasmids from bacteria of activated sludge and the final effluents of a municipal waste-water treatment plant. These plasmids mediate resistance to ampicillin, cefaclor, cefuroxime, gentamicin, kanamycin, spectinomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, tobramycin, and trimethoprim. The complete 68,869 bp DNA-sequence of the IncP-1alpha plasmid pTB11 was determined. The pTB11 backbone modules for replication (Rep), mating pair formation (Trb), multimer resolution (Mrs), post-segregational killing (Psk), conjugative DNA-transfer (Tra), plasmid control (Ctl), and stable maintenance and inheritance (KilA, KilE, and KilC) are highly conserved as compared to the 'Birmingham' IncP-1alpha plasmids. In contrast to the 'Birmingham' plasmids pTB11 carries an insert of a Tn402-derivative integrating a class 1 integron in the intergenic region between the multimer resolution operon parCBA and the post-segregational killing operon parDE. The integron comprises the resistance gene cassettes oxa2 (beta-lactamase), aacA4 (aminoglycoside-6'N-acetyltransferase), and aadA1 (aminoglycoside-3'-adenylyltransferase) and a complete tniABQR transposition module. Integron-specific sequences were also identified on other IncP-1alpha plasmids analysed in this work. In contrast to the 'Birmingham' plasmids the pTB11 tetracycline resistance module carries a pecM- and a pncA-like gene downstream of the tetracycline resistance gene tetA and contains an insertion of the new insertion sequence element ISTB11. The transposable elements IS21 and Tn1 which disrupted, respectively, orf7 and klcB on the 'Birmingham' plasmids are not present on pTB11. Identification of IncP-1alpha plasmids in bacteria of the waste-water treatment plant's final effluents indicates that bacteria carrying these kind of plasmids are released into the environment.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

BACCardI--a tool for the validation of genomic assemblies, assisting genome finishing and intergenome comparison.

SUMMARY: We provide the graphical tool BACCardI for the construction of virtual clone maps from standard assembler output files or BLAST based sequence comparisons. This new tool has been applied to numerous genome projects to solve various problems including (a) validation of whole genome shotgun assemblies, (b) support for contig ordering in the finishing phase of a genome project, and (c) intergenome comparison between related strains when only one of the strains has been sequenced and a large insert library is available for the other. The BACCardI software can seamlessly interact with various sequence assembly packages. MOTIVATION: Genomic assemblies generated from sequence information need to be validated by independent methods such as physical maps. The time-consuming task of building physical maps can be circumvented by virtual clone maps derived from read pair information of large insert libraries.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Expression profiling in Medicago truncatula identifies more than 750 genes differentially expressed during nodulation, including many potential regulators of the symbiotic program.

In this study, we describe a large-scale expression-profiling approach to identify genes differentially regulated during the symbiotic interaction between the model legume Medicago truncatula and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Macro- and microarrays containing about 6,000 probes were generated on the basis of three cDNA libraries dedicated to the study of root symbiotic interactions. The experiments performed on wild-type and symbiotic mutant material led us to identify a set of 756 genes either up- or down-regulated at different stages of the nodulation process. Among these, 41 known nodulation marker genes were up-regulated as expected, suggesting that we have identified hundreds of new nodulation marker genes. We discuss the possible involvement of this wide range of genes in various aspects of the symbiotic interaction, such as bacterial infection, nodule formation and functioning, and defense responses. Importantly, we found at least 13 genes that are good candidates to play a role in the regulation of the symbiotic program. This represents substantial progress toward a better understanding of this complex developmental program.

Biological Transport↗