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G G Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to G G Wilson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The corrected nucleotide sequences of the TaqI restriction and modification enzymes reveal a thirteen-codon overlap.

The nucleotide sequence of the genes encoding methyltransferase TaqI (M.TaqI) and restriction endonuclease TaqI (R.TaqI) with the recognition sequence, TCGA, were analyzed in clones isolated from independent libraries. The genes, originally reported as 363 and 236 codons long [Slatko et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 15 (1987) 9781-9796] were redetermined as 421 and 263 codons long, respectively. The C terminus of the taqIM gene overlaps the N terminus of the taqIR gene by 13 codons, as observed with the isoschizomeric TthHB8I restriction-modification system [Barany et al., Gene 112 (1992) 13-20]. Removal of the overlapping codons did not interfere with in vivo M.TaqI activity. We postulate the overlap plays a role in regulating taqIR expression.

Amino Acid Sequence

Organization of restriction-modification systems.

The genes for over 100 restriction-modification systems have now been cloned, and approximately one-half have been sequenced. Despite their similar function, they are exceedingly heterogeneous. The heterogeneity is evident at three levels: in the gene arrangements; in the enzyme compositions; and in the protein sequences. This paper summarizes the main features of the R-M systems that have been cloned.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cloning and characterization of the HpaII methylase gene.

The HpaII restriction-modification system from Haemophilus parainfluenzae recognizes the DNA sequence CCGG. The gene for the HpaII methylase has been cloned into E. coli and its nucleotide sequence has been determined. The DNA of the clones is fully protected against cleavage by the HpaII restriction enzyme in vitro, indicating that the methylase gene is active in E. coli. The clones were isolated in an McrA-strain of E. coli; attempts to isolate them in an McrA+ strain were unsuccessful. The clones do not express detectable HpaII restriction endonuclease activity, suggesting that either the endonuclease gene is not expressed well in E. coli, or that it is not present in its entirety in any of the clones that we have isolated. The derived amino acid sequence of the HpaII methylase shows overall similarity to other cytosine methylases. It bears a particularly close resemblance to the sequences of the HhaI, BsuFI and MspI methylases. When compared with three other methylases that recognize CCGG, the variable region of the HpaII methylase, which is believed to be responsible for sequence specific recognition, shows some similarity to the corresponding regions of the BsuFI and MspI methylases, but is rather dissimilar to that of the SPR methylase.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cleavage at the twelve-base-pair sequence 5'-TCTAGATCTAGA-3' using M.Xbal (TCTAGm6A) methylation and DpnI (Gm6A/TC) cleavage.

The DNA methylase M.Xbal was isolated from an E. coli recombinant clone. We deduce that the enzyme methylates at the sequence 5'-TCTAGm6A-3'. In combination with the methylation-dependent restriction endonuclease, DpnI (5'-Gm6A/TC-3'), DNA cleavage occurs at the sequence 5'-TCTAGA/TCTAGA-3'. This twelve-base-pair site should occur once every 16,000,000 base pairs in a random sequence of DNA. The exceptional rarity of the M.XbaI/DpnI sequence makes it an ideal candidate for transpositional integration of a unique cleavage site into bacterial genomes. Retrotransposition into mammalian genomes is also an attractive possibility.

Adenoviruses, Human

Cloning, characterization, and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene coding for the CpG DNA methylase from Spiroplasma sp. strain MQ1(M.SssI).

We describe here the cloning, characterization and expression in E. coli of the gene coding for a DNA methylase from Spiroplasma sp. strain MQ1 (M.SssI). This enzyme methylates completely and exclusively CpG sequences. The Spiroplasma gene was transcribed in E. coli using its own promoter. Translation of the entire message required the use of an opal suppressor, suggesting that UGA triplets code for tryptophan in Spiroplasma. Sequence analysis of the gene revealed several UGA triplets, in a 1158 bp long open reading frame. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed in M.SssI all common domains characteristic of bacterial cytosine DNA methylases. The putative sequence recognition domain of M.SssI showed no obvious similarities with that of the mouse DNA methylase, in spite of their common sequence specificity. The cloned enzyme methylated exclusively CpG sequences both in vivo and in vitro. In contrast to the mammalian enzyme which is primarily a maintenance methylase, M.SssI displayed de novo methylase activity, characteristic of prokaryotic cytosine DNA methylases.

Amino Acid Sequence

Nucleotide sequence of the FokI restriction-modification system: separate strand-specificity domains in the methyltransferase.

The genes for FokI, a type-IIS restriction-modification system from Flavobacterium okeanokoites (asymmetric recognition sequence: 5'-GGATG/3'-CCTAC), were cloned into Escherichia coli. Recombinants carrying the fokIR and fokIM genes were found to modify their DNA completely, and to restrict lambdoid phages weakly. The nt sequences of the genes were determined, and the probable start codons were confirmed by aa sequencing. The FokI endonuclease (R.FokI) and methyltransferase (M.FokI) are encoded by single, adjacent genes, aligned in the same orientation, in the order M then R. The genes are large by the standards of type-II systems, 1.9 kb for the M gene, and 1.7 kb for the R gene. Preceding each gene is a pair of FokI recognition sites; it is conceivable that interactions between the sites and the FokI proteins could regulate expression of the genes. The aa sequences of the N- and C-terminal halves of M.FokI are similar to one another, and to certain other DNA-adenine methyltransferases, suggesting that the enzyme has a 'tandem' structure, such as could have arisen by the fusion of a pair of adjacent, ancestral M genes. Truncated derivatives of M. FokI were constructed by deleting the 5'- or 3'-ends of the fokIM gene. Deleting most of the C-terminus of M.FokI produced derivatives that methylated only the top (GGATG) strand of the recognition sequence. Conversely, deleting most of the N-terminus produced derivatives that methylated only the bottom (CATCC) strand of the recognition sequence. These results indicate that the domains in M.FokI for methylating the two strands of the recognition sequence are largely separate.

Amino Acid Sequence

M.FokI methylates adenine in both strands of its asymmetric recognition sequence.

M.FokI, a type-IIS modification enzyme from Flavobacterium okeanokoites, was purified, and its activity was characterized in vitro. The enzyme was found to be a DNA-adenine methyltransferase and to methylate both strands of the asymmetric FokI recognition sequence: (formula; see text) M.FokI does not methylate single-stranded DNA, nor does it methylate double-stranded DNA at sequences other than FokI sites.

Adenine

Characterization and cloning of MwoI (GCN7GC), a new type-II restriction-modification system from Methanobacterium wolfei.

R.MwoI, a type-II restriction enzyme with the new specificity 5'-GCN7GC-3', was found in extracts of the thermophilic archaebacterium, Methanobacterium wolfei. R.MwoI cleaves duplex DNA producing fragments with 3-nt, 3'-terminal extensions, thus: GCN5/N2GC. The genes coding for the MwoI restriction and modification enzymes were cloned into Escherichia coli on the plasmid vector pBR322. The clones synthesize a low level of R.MwoI endonuclease. The plasmids display incomplete MwoI-specific modification, suggesting that the clones synthesize a low level of the M.MwoI methyltransferase, too.

Cloning, Molecular

Cloning the BamHI restriction modification system.

BamHI, a Type II restriction modification system from Bacillus amyloliquefaciensH recognizes the sequence GGATCC. The methylase and endonuclease genes have been cloned into E. coli in separate steps; the clone is able to restrict unmodified phage. Although within the clone the methylase and endonuclease genes are present on the same pACYC184 vector, the system can be maintained in E. coli only with an additional copy of the methylase gene present on a separate vector. The initial selection for BamHI methylase activity also yielded a second BamHI methylase gene which is not homologous in DNA sequence and hybridizes to different genomic restriction fragments than does the endonuclease-linked methylase gene. Finally, the interaction of the BamHI system with the E. coli Dam and the Mcr A and B functions, have been studied and are reported here.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cloning of the HhaI and HinPI restriction-modification systems.

The genes for the HhaI (Roberts et al., 1976) and HinPI (Roberts, 1987) restriction-modification (R-M) systems have been cloned in pBR322. The HhaI system was isolated on a 9-kb PstI fragment, and the HinPI system was isolated on two PstI fragments of 1.5 and 4.6 kb in length. The clones were isolated by selecting for recombinant molecules that had protectively modified themselves. The HhaI and HinPI R-M systems recognize the same sequence, GCGC, but hybridization between the DNA fragments encoding them does not take place.

Bacterial Proteins

Cloning and analysis of the HaeIII and HaeII methyltransferase genes.

The HaeIII methyltransferase (MTase) gene from Haemophilus aegyptius (recognition sequence: 5'-GGCC-3') was cloned into Escherichia coli in the plasmid vector pBR322. The gene was isolated on a single EcoRI fragment and on a single HindIII fragment. Clones carrying additional adjacent fragments were found to code also for the HaeII restriction endonuclease and HaeII modification MTase (recognition sequence: 5'-PuGCGCPy-3'). The sequence of the HaeIII modification gene was determined. The inferred amino acid sequence of the protein was found to share extensive similarity with other sequenced m5C-MTases. The central 'non-conserved' region of the M.HaeIII MTase, thought to form the nucleotide sequence-specificity domain, is almost identical to that of the M.BsuRI, M.BspRI and M.NgoPII MTases, which also recognize the sequence 5'-GGCC-3'.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cloning the FnuDI, NaeI, NcoI and XbaI restriction-modification systems.

Methyltransferase genes from the FnuDI, NaeI, NcoI, and XbaI restriction-modification systems have been isolated in Escherichia coli by 'shot-gun' cloning bacterial DNA fragments into plasmid vectors and selecting for protectively modified molecules that resist digestion by the corresponding restriction endonuclease.

Cloning, Molecular

Cloned restriction-modification systems--a review.

The genes for numerous restriction endonucleases and modification methylases have been cloned into Escherichia coli. A summary is given for the clones isolated so far (115 entries) and of the procedures used to obtain them.

Bacterial Proteins