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P L Bergquist

Publications and source records attributed to P L Bergquist.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Phylogeny of twenty Thermus isolates constructed from 16S rRNA gene sequence data.

The sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of 20 Thermus isolates were determined to a high fidelity by using automated DNA sequencing and fluorescent-dye-labelled primers. The strains tested included members of the three validly named Thermus species and representatives of major taxonomic clusters defined previously for this genus. The parsimony method was used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the strains from the aligned sequences, and a bootstrap analysis revealed a number of well-supported clades. Our results are not consistent with groupings inferred from numerical taxonomy data but support the conjecture that the genus Thermus contains more species than the three currently recognized species.

Base Sequence↗

Some characteristics of a proteinase from a thermophilic Bacillus sp. expressed in Escherichia coli: comparison with the native enzyme and its processing in E. coli and in vitro.

Proteinase Ak.1 was produced during the stationary phase of Bacillus sp. Ak.1 cultures. It is a serine proteinase with a pI of 4.0, and the molecular mass was estimated to be 36.9 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme was stable at 60 and 70 degrees C, with half-lives of 13 h and 19 min at 80 and 90 degrees C, respectively. Maximum proteolytic activity was observed at pH 7.5 with azocasein as a substrate, and the enzyme also cleaved the endoproteinase substrate Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-NH-Np (succinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-phenylalanine p-nitroanalide). Major cleavage sites of the insulin B chain were identified as Leu-15-Tyr-16, Gln-4-His-5, and Glu-13-Ala-14. The proteinase gene was cloned in Escherichia coli, and expression of the active enzyme was detected in the extracellular medium at 75 degrees C. The enzyme is expressed in E. coli as an inactive proproteinase at 37 degrees C and is converted to the mature enzyme by heating the cell-free media to 60 degrees C or above. The proproteinase was purified to homogeneity and had a pI of 4.3 and a molecular mass of 45 kDa. The NH2-terminal sequence was Ala-Ser-Asn-Asp-Gly-Val-Glu-, showing the exact signal peptide cleavage point. Heating the proenzyme resulted in the production of active proteinase with an NH2-terminal sequence identical to that of the native enzyme. The characteristics of the cloned proteinase were identical to those of the native enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic restriction map of the extremely thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8.

A physical map of the chromosome of the extremely thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 has been constructed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis techniques. A total of 26 cleavage sites for the rarely cutting restriction endonucleases HpaI, MunI, and NdeI were located on the genome. On the basis of the sizes of the restriction fragments generated, the genome size was estimated to be 1.74 Mbp, which is significantly smaller than the chromosomes of Escherichia coli and other mesophiles. Partial digestion experiments revealed the order of the six HpaI bands on the chromosome. Hybridization of isolated restriction fragments to pulsed-field gel-separated restriction digestions confirmed the deduced order of the HpaI fragments and allowed ordering and alignment of the NdeI and MunI fragments. In addition, 16 genes or gene clusters cloned from several different Thermus strains were located on the T. thermophilus HB8 chromosomal map by hybridization of gene probes to pulsed-field gel-resolved restriction digestions.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Regulatory interactions between RepA, an essential replication protein, and the DNA repeats of RepFIB from plasmid P307.

The control of RepFIB replication appears to rely on the interaction between an initiator protein (RepA) and two sets of DNA repeat elements located on either side of the repA gene (BCDD'D" and EFGHIJ). In vivo genetic tests demonstrate that the BCDD'D" repeats form part of the origin of replication, while some of the downstream repeat elements (HIJ) are involved in the sensing and setting of plasmid copy number. RepA DNA binding to these groups of repeats has been investigated in vivo by utilizing the fact that the replicon contains three active promoters (orip, repAp, and EFp), one of which has previously been shown to control the expression of repA (repAp). All three promoters are closely associated with the repeat elements flanking repA, and an investigation using lacZ or cml gene fusions has demonstrated that RepA expressed in trans is able to repress each promoter. However, these assays suggest that the transcriptional responses of orip and repAp to RepA repression are significantly different, despite the fact that both promoters are embedded within the BCDD'D" repeat elements. Extra copies of the BCDD'D" or EFG repeats in trans have no effect on RepA repression of repAp embedded in a second copy of the BCDD'D" repeats, but copies of the HIJ or EFGHIJ repeats are able to derepress repAp, suggesting that there is a fundamental difference between RepA-BCDD'D" or -HIJ complexes and RepA-EFG or -EFGHIJ complexes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

In vitro mutagenesis of a xylanase from the extreme thermophile Caldocellum saccharolyticum.

Six mutant xylanases were obtained by in vitro mutagenesis of a xylanase gene from the extremely thermophilic bacterium Caldocellum saccharolyticum. The temperature stability of all enzymes was affected by mutation to various degrees and one of the xylanases had an altered temperature optimum. The mutations had no effect on the pH optimum. The C. saccharolyticum xylanase showed strong homology to several thermophilic and mesophilic xylanases, and comparison of primary sequences allowed the localization of probable active sites and residues involved in thermostability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The beta-mannanase from "Caldocellum saccharolyticum" is part of a multidomain enzyme.

The complete sequence of a beta-mannanase gene from an anaerobic extreme thermophile was determined, and it shows that the expressed protein consists of two catalytic domains and two binding domains separated by spacer regions rich in proline and threonine residues. The amino-terminal catalytic domain has beta-mannanase activity, and the carboxy-terminal domain acts as an endoglucanase. Neither domain shows homology with any other cellulase or hemicellulase sequence at the nucleic acid or protein level.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression and regulation of the RepA protein of the RepFIB replicon from plasmid P307.

The control of RepFIB replication appears to rely on the interaction between an initiator protein (RepA) and two sets of DNA repeat elements located on either side of the repA gene. Limited N-terminal sequence information obtained from a RepA:beta-galactosidase fusion protein indicates that although the first residue of RepA is methionine, the initiation of translation of RepA occurs from a CTG codon rather than from the predicted GTG codon located further downstream. Overexpressed RepA in trans is capable of repressing a repA:lacZ fusion plasmid in which the expression of the fusion protein is under the control of the repA promoter. The repA promoter has been located functionally by testing a series of repA:lacZ fusion plasmids. Both in vivo genetic tests and in vitro DNA-binding studies indicate that repA autoregulation can be achieved by RepA binding to one or more repeat elements which overlap the repA promoter sequence.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Cloning, sequence analysis, and expression in Escherichia coli of a gene coding for a beta-mannanase from the extremely thermophilic bacterium "Caldocellum saccharolyticum".

A lambda recombinant phage expressing beta-mannanase activity in Escherichia coli has been isolated from a genomic library of the extremely thermophilic anaerobe "Caldocellum saccharolyticum." The gene was cloned into pBR322 on a 5-kb BamHI fragment, and its location was obtained by deletion analysis. The sequence of a 2.1-kb fragment containing the mannanase gene has been determined. One open reading frame was found which could code for a protein of Mr 38,904. The mannanase gene (manA) was overexpressed in E. coli by cloning the gene downstream from the lacZ promoter of pUC18. The enzyme was most active at pH 6 and 80 degrees C and degraded locust bean gum, guar gum, Pinus radiata glucomannan, and konjak glucomannan. The noncoding region downstream from the mannanase gene showed strong homology to celB, a gene coding for a cellulase from the same organism, suggesting that the manA gene might have been inserted into its present position on the "C. saccharolyticum" genome by homologous recombination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overproduction of an acetylxylan esterase from the extreme thermophile "Caldocellum saccharolyticum" in Escherichia coli.

The xynC gene coding for an acetylxylan esterase from the extreme thermophile "Caldocellum saccharolyticum" was overexpressed in Escherichia coli strain RR28 by cloning the gene downstream from the lacZ promoter region of pUC18 (pNZ1447) or downstream from the temperature-inducible lambda pRpL promoters of pJLA602 (pNZ1600). The protein formed high molecular weight aggregates in induced cells of RR28/pNZ1600 but not in RR28/pNZ1447. The enzyme constituted up to 10% of the total cell protein and was located in the cytoplasmic fraction of RR28/pNZ1447. The acetyl esterase was most active at pH 6.0 and 70-75 degrees C with a half-life of 64 h at 70 degrees C and 30 h at 80 degrees C, respectively.

Acetylesterase↗

Cloning and sequence of IS1000, a putative insertion sequence from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The complete nucleotide sequences of two copies of a putative insertion sequence IS1000 from Thermus thermophilus HB8 are presented. IS1000 is 1196 base pairs long, contains a long open reading frame which could code for a protein of 317 amino acids, and has imperfect terminal inverted repeats of 6 base pairs (confirmed by the terminal sequencing of 4.5 copies of IS1000), but does not cause a target site duplication. There are at least 6 copies of IS1000 in the genome of T. thermophilus HB8. A search of the GEN-EMBL data base revealed that the putative 317 amino acid protein had significant homology with open reading frames in the transposable elements IS110 of Streptomyces coelicolor and IS492 of Pseudomonas atlantica.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

celB, a gene coding for a bifunctional cellulase from the extreme thermophile "Caldocellum saccharolyticum".

"Caldocellum saccharolyticum" is an obligatory anaerobic thermophilic bacterium. A gene from this organism, designated celB, has been cloned in Escherichia coli as part of a bacteriophage lambda gene library. This gene produces a thermostable cellulase that shows both endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities on test substrates and is able to degrade crystalline cellulose to glucose. The sequence of celB has homology with both exo- and endoglucanases described by others. It appears to have a central domain without enzymatic activity which is joined to the enzymatic domains by runs of amino acids rich in proline and threonine (PT boxes). Deletion analysis shows that the exoglucanase activity is located in the amino-terminal domain of the enzyme and that endoglucanase activity is located in the carboxy-terminal domain. There are internal transcriptional and translational start sites within the gene. The intact gene has been cloned into a temperature-inducible expression vector, pJLA602, and overexpressed in E. coli. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that celB produced a protein with a molecular weight of 118,000 to 120,000. A number of smaller proteins with activity against carboxymethyl cellulose and 4-methyl umbelliferyl-beta-D-cellobioside were also produced. These are believed to be the result of alternative translational start sites and/or proteolytic degradation products of the translated gene product.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning, sequence analysis, and expression of genes encoding xylan-degrading enzymes from the thermophile "Caldocellum saccharolyticum".

A lambda recombinant bacteriophage coding for xylanase and beta-xylosidase activity has been isolated from a genomic library of the extremely thermophilic anaerobe "Caldocellum saccharolyticum." Partial Sau3AI fragments of the lambda recombinant DNA were ligated into pBR322. A recombinant plasmid with an insertion of ca. 7 kilobases of thermophilic DNA expressing both enzymatic activities was isolated. The location of the genes has been established by analyzing deletion derivatives, and the DNA sequence of 6.067 kilobases of the insert has been determined. Five open reading frames (ORFs) were found, one of which (ORF1; Mr 40,455) appears to code for a xylanase (XynA) which also acts on o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside. Another, ORF5 (Mr 56,365), codes for a beta-xylosidase (XynB). The xynA gene product shows significant homology with the xylanases from the alkalophilic Bacillus sp. strain C125 and Clostridium thermocellum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Xylanase from the extremely thermophilic bacterium "Caldocellum saccharolyticum": overexpression of the gene in Escherichia coli and characterization of the gene product.

A xylanase encoded by the xynA gene of the extreme thermophile "Caldocellum saccharolyticum" was overexpressed in Escherichia coli by cloning the gene downstream from the temperature-inducible lambda pR and pL promoters of the expression vector pJLA602. Induction of up to 55 times was obtained by growing the cells at 42 degrees C, and the xylanase made up to 20% of the whole-cell protein content. The enzyme was located in the cytoplasmic fraction in E. coli. The temperature and pH optima were determined to be 70 degrees C and pH 5.5 to 6, respectively. The xylanase was stable for at least 72 h if incubated at 60 degrees C, with half-lives of 8 to 9 h at 70 degrees C and 2 to 3 min at 80 degrees C. The enzyme had high activity on xylan and ortho-nitrophenyl beta-D-xylopyranoside and some activity on carboxymethyl cellulose and para-nitrophenyl beta-D-cellobioside. The gene was probably expressed from its own promoter in E. coli. Translation of the xylanase overproduced in E. coli seemed to initiate at a GTG codon and not at an ATG codon as previously determined.

Base Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence and replication characteristics of RepFIB, a basic replicon of IncF plasmids.

A second autonomous replicon of P307, RepFIB, has been isolated that has significant homology with other replicons in IncFI group plasmids. Eleven homologous repeats of 21 base pairs are present on the sequence and flank an open reading frame capable of coding for a protein of about Mr = 40,000. This protein was identified by maxicell analysis of cloned RepFIB. A series of deletion mutations of RepFIB were inserted into a DNA polymerase I-dependent vector and examined for their replication proficiency in a polA1 strain. These experiments defined a minimal replication region of 1.6 kilobases which includes the three repeats immediately upstream and downstream of the open reading frame. Deletion of a second set of repeats further downstream doubled the copy number of a chimeric plasmid replicating under RepFIB control. It was concluded that these repeats control the copy number of the replicon. Incompatibility tests showed that all three sets of repeats could express incompatibility with a resident RepFIB plasmid.

Base Sequence↗

Sequence structure and expression of a cloned beta-glucosidase gene from an extreme thermophile.

The gene for a beta-glucosidase from the extremely thermophilic bacterium Caldocellum saccharolyticum has been isolated from a genomic library and sequenced. An open reading frame identified by computer analysis of the sequence could encode a protein of Mr 54,400, which is close to the size of the polypeptide experimentally determined using maxicells. Analysis of the amino-terminal residues of the protein produced in Escherichia coli suggests that it is processed by a methionine aminopeptidase. A sequence within C. saccharolyticum DNA upstream of the beta-glucosidase gene was found to act as a promoter for expression of the thermophile gene in E. coli. The protein has been overproduced in E. coli and Bacillus subtilis where it retains its enzymatic activity and heat stability. There appears to be a single copy of the gene in Caldocellum DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗