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P C Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to P C Cooper.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of three group A klebicin plasmids: localization of their E colicin immunity genes.

We have investigated the immunity to E colicins conferred by three group A klebicin plasmids. pP5a, which encodes klebicin A1-P5, like pClo-DF13, confers immunity to colicin E6 on Escherichia coli K12, whilst pP5b and pP3, which encode klebicins A2-P5 and A3-P3 respectively, both confer immunity to colicin E3. We have determined the restriction endonuclease and functional maps of the three group A klebicin plasmids. By sub-cloning and transposon mutagenesis we have investigated the relationship between the klebicin immunity and the E colicin immunity conferred by these plasmids. The colicin E6 and the klebicin A1 immunity are encoded by a single gene present on pP5a. The colicin E3 and the klebicin A2 immunity are encoded by a single gene present on pP5b. The colicin E3 and the klebicin A3 immunity are encoded by separate genes present on pP3. Recombinant pML8412, which is derived from the ColE6-CT14 plasmid and encodes colicin E6 immunity, confers klebicin A1-P5 immunity upon Klebsiella pneumoniae UNF5023. Recombinant pKC23, which is derived from the ColE3-CA38 plasmid and confers colicin E3 immunity, confers immunity to klebicin A2-P5, but not to klebicin A3-P3.

Bacteriocins

Incompatibility between E colicin plasmids.

We have tested the ability of pairs of colicin E plasmids to replicate stably in the same cell line. Although many of the pairs of E colicin plasmids were compatible, plasmids ColE3-CA38, ColE7-K317 and ColE8-J were mutually incompatible, as were ColE5-099, ColE6-CT14 and ColE9-J. Incompatibility between ColE6-CT14 and ColE5-099 or ColE9-J was asymmetrical, whereas incompatibility between the other plasmid pairs was symmetrical.

Bacteriocin Plasmids

Biosynthetic labeling with 32P: radiation damage to mammalian cells.

Theoretical calculations showed that biosynthetic radiolabeling of cells using typical concentrations of 32P (1 mCi/ml) resulted in high radiation doses (200-500 rad/h) being absorbed by the cells. Subsequent investigations with a mouse myelomonocytic leukemia cell line (WEHI-3B(D+)) showed significant loss of replicative ability during brief (less than 1 h) exposures to 1 mCi/ml of 32P. Complete loss of cell replicative ability was found with isotopic doses less than 100 rad (i.e., 100 muCi/ml for 5 h). Experiments employing a less radiosensitive pre-B-cell line (18.81) revealed that significant loss of viability occurred during incubation with 32P under identical conditions to those employed for the WEHI-3B(D+) cell line. Control experiments utilizing decayed batches of 32P and physical separation of the isotope solution from the cells confirmed that the cytotoxicity was caused by radiation emission rather than the presence of toxic components in the isotopic solution. The radiation doses absorbed by cells biosynthetically labeled with 59Fe, 33P, 35S, and 14C were calculated. Although significant levels of radiation can be absorbed 32P was considerably more radiotoxic than the other isotopes. The results of calculations indicated that the judicious choice of container geometry could reduce the absorbed radiation dose from 32P solutions. In particular the biosynthetic radiolabeling of cells in capillary tubes (diameter less than 1 mm) can reduce the absorbed rate to less than one-tenth of the dose received by cells suspended in Petri dishes or centrifuge tubes.

Animals

Three immunity types of klebicins which use the cloacin DF13 receptor of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

We have investigated a group of bacteriocinogenic strains used in the epidemiological investigation of Klebsiella infections. Transfer of plasmids from these strains to laboratory strains allowed the identification of three klebicins which use the cloacin DF13 receptor in Klebsiella, but are of three distinct immunity types. These klebicins use the ferric-aerobactin receptor determined by ColV-K30 in Escherichia coli, which is also used by cloacin DF13. We propose to call them group A klebicins, of immunity types A1, A2 and A3. On the basis of immunity, cloacin DF13 also belongs to the klebicin A1 group.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins