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P C Loewen

Publications and source records attributed to P C Loewen.

80 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Total synthesis of the structural gene for the precursor of a tyrosine suppressor transfer RNA from Escherichia coli. 8. Enzymatic joining of the chemically synthesized segments to form DNA duplexes corresponding to nucleotide sequences 23-60 and 23-66.

Polynucleotide ligase-catalyzed joining of the eight chemically synthesized deoxyribopolynucleotide segments (Fig. 1) comprising the nucleotide sequence 23-66 of the DNA corresponding to the Escherichia coli tyrosine tRNA precursor has been systematically investigated. Joining was studied using all possible combinations of 3, 4, and 5 and larger numbers of segments at a time. The extent of joining varied widely (0 to about 90%) in three component systems. The "self-structure" of some of the components evidently inhibited the joining. Addition of a fourth segment in general enhanced the extent of joining and optimal yields were obtained in systems containing six or more segments. A comparison of the T4-induced ligase and the E. coli polynucleotide ligase for joining of the chemically synthesized segments showed the E. coli enzyme to be inferior to the T4-induced ligase. Satisfactory syntheses of the duplexes [IIa] and [IIb] comprising, respectively, eight and seven segments were achieved in single steps. Of the two terminal segments carrying 5'-OH groups in the duplexes, only one (segment 7) was used in the prephosphorylated form. The duplexes were isolated pure and characterized by enzymatic degradations and by electrophoresis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Partial characterization of an endonuclease activity which appears in nuclease free T4 polynucleotide kinase.

A nuclease activity has been found to appear in preparations of T4 induced polynucleotide kinase which had originally been nuclease free. The nuclease introduced random nicks into T7 DNA suggesting that it was an endonuclease. Destabilization of the kinase molecule by osmotic shock or by the removal of reducing agents, ATP or salts was shown to stimulate the endonuclease appearance. The molecular weight was found to be 32,000 +/- 10% by gel filtration on G100 Sephadex. The nuclease was active over a wide pH range from pH 5.0 to pH 9.2 in a number of buffer systems and required MgCl2 and reducing agent for maximum activity. Sodium azide did not affect the nuclease appearance.

Coliphages↗
PubMed1975

Determination of the sequences of 18 nucleotides from the 5'-end of the 1-strand and 15 nucleotides from the 5'-end of the r-strand of T7 DNA.

The sequences of 18 nucleotides from the 5'-end of the 1-strand and 15 nucleotides from the 5'-end of the r-strand of T7 bacteriophage DNA have been determined to be pT-C-T-C-A-C-A-G-T-G-T-A-C-G-T-C-C-C (1-strand) and pA-G-G-G-A-C-A-C-A-G-C-G-C-T-C (r-strand). The 5'-termini of whole DNA or separated strands were kinased using polynucleotide kinase and (gamma-32-P) rATP. The DNA was partially digested with pancreatic DNase and the fragments were separated by two dimensional electrophoresis and homochromatography. To complete the sequence, snake venom phosphodiesterase digestions of these fragments were carried out. The relationship of these sequences to the proposed cleavage of concatemeric DNA during DNA replication is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular characterization of three mutations in katG affecting the activity of hydroperoxidase I of Escherichia coli.

Hydroperoxidase I (HPI) of Escherichia coli is a bifunctional enzyme exhibiting both catalase and peroxidase activities. Mutants lacking appreciable HPI have been generated using nitrosoguanidine and the gene encoding HPI, katG, has been cloned from three of these mutants using either classical probing methods or polymerase chain reaction amplification. The mutant genes were sequenced and the changes from wild-type sequence identified. Two mutants contained G to A changes in the coding strand, resulting in glycine to aspartate changes at residues 119 (katG15) and 314 (katG16) in the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein. A third mutant contained a C to T change resulting in a leucine to phenylalanine change at residue 139 (katG14). The Phe139-, Asp119-, and Asp314-containing mutants exhibited 13, less than 1, and 18%, respectively, of the wild-type catalase specific activity and 43, 4, and 45% of the wild-type peroxidase specific activity. All mutant enzymes bound less protoheme IX than the wild-type enzyme. The sensitivities of the mutant enzymes to the inhibitors hydroxylamine, azide, and cyanide and the activators imidazole and Tris were similar to those of the wild-type enzyme. The mutant enzymes were more sensitive to high temperature and to beta-mercaptoethanol than the wild-type enzyme. The pH profiles of the mutant catalases were unchanged from the wild-type enzyme.

Base Sequence↗