PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R K Hartmann

Publications and source records attributed to R K Hartmann.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Comparative analysis of ribosomal protein L5 sequences from bacteria of the genus Thermus.

The genes for the ribosomal 5S rRNA binding protein L5 have been cloned from three extremely thermophilic eubacteria, Thermus flavus, Thermus thermophilus HB8 and Thermus aquaticus (Jahn et al, submitted). Genes for protein L5 from the three Thermus strains display 95% G/C in third positions of codons. Amino acid sequences deduced from the DNA sequence were shown to be identical for T flavus and T thermophilus, although the corresponding DNA sequences differed by two T to C transitions in the T thermophilus gene. Protein L5 sequences from T flavus and T thermophilus are 95% homologous to L5 from T aquaticus and 56.5% homologous to the corresponding E coli sequence. The lowest degrees of homology were found between the T flavus/T thermophilus L5 proteins and those of yeast L16 (27.5%), Halobacterium marismortui (34.0%) and Methanococcus vannielii (36.6%). From sequence comparison it becomes clear that thermostability of Thermus L5 proteins is achieved by an increase in hydrophobic interactions and/or by restriction of steric flexibility due to the introduction of amino acids with branched aliphatic side chains such as leucine. Alignment of the nine protein sequences equivalent to Thermus L5 proteins led to identification of a conserved internal segment, rich in acidic amino acids, which shows homology to subsequences of E coli L18 and L25. The occurrence of conserved sequence elements in 5S rRNA binding proteins and ribosomal proteins in general is discussed in terms of evolution and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Processing and termination of 23S rRNA-5S rRNA-tRNA(Gly) primary transcripts in Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The two 23S rRNA-5S rRNA-tRNAGly operons from the extreme thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 were used to characterized the in vivo processing and termination of 23S rRNA-5S rRNA-tRNAGly primary transcripts in this organism by nuclease S1 mapping. A processing site in the pre-23S rRNA 3'-flanking region is located approximately 25 nucleotides upstream of 5S rRNA and precedes a putative 23S-5S rRNA spacer antitermination box A. Cleavage at this site and 5S rRNA 5' end formation were shown to be inseparable events. Termination of transcription at the uridine cluster following the termination-associated hairpin was shown to be efficient but leaky. Subsequent to the operon, a functional promoter was detected whose -35 box coincided with the uridine-rich termination region. The promoter directed synthesis of a beta-galactosidase fusion protein in Escherichia coli.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and physical properties of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The DNA-directed RNA polymerase from the extremely thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 was purified employing a new and rapid method. The subunit pattern of the enzyme, analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis, was interpreted as: 140 kDa and 170 kDa for beta and beta', 40 kDa for alpha and 92 kDa for sigma. The RNA polymerase is active at elevated temperatures (65 degrees C). Kinetic data provide evidence for the existence of two NTP binding sites with very strong cooperativity. The promoter site specificity of the isolated enzyme has been proven by in vitro transcription employing two T. thermophilus templates whose in vivo starts of transcription were characterized by nuclease S1 mapping.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1989

Transcription and processing of Bacillus subtilis small cytoplasmic RNA.

The 271 nucleotides long scRNA (small cytoplasmic RNA) from Bacillus subtilis is structurally related to the Escherichia coli 4.5 S RNA (114 nucleotides), an essential molecule supposed to be involved in protein biosynthesis, but it possesses an additional moiety completely missing in the E. coli 4.5 S RNA. Both RNAs share a conserved hairpin with the eukaryotic 7SL RNAs, which mediate protein translocation as part of the signal recognition particle (SRP). We have cloned and sequenced the entire scRNA gene region from B. subtilis and have studied transcription and processing of the scRNA in B. subtilis by nuclease S1 mapping. This analysis revealed the scRNA gene to constitute a monofunctional transcription unit, expressed from a single promoter to a rho-independent terminator, yielding a precursor which extends the mature scRNA by approximately 40 nucleotides at both ends. Processing of the scRNA apparently involves only two endonucleolytic cuts and occurs first at the 5' end.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1989

Thermus thermophilus 16S rRNA is transcribed from an isolated transcription unit.

A cloned 16S rRNA gene from the extreme thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 was used to characterize the in vivo expression of the 16S rRNA genes in this organism by nuclease S1 mapping. The gene represents an isolated transcription unit encoding solely 16S rRNA. Under exponential growth conditions, transcription was initiated at a single promoter, which represents the structural equivalent of Escherichia coli rrn P2 promoters. The promoter-leader region was very similar to the E. coli rrn P2 promoter-leader segment that is responsible for antitermination. The T. thermophilus leader region was approximately 85 nucleotides shorter than its E. coli P2 counterpart. Potential processing intermediates were correlated with a proposed secondary structure of T. thermophilus pre-16S rRNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

In vitro incorporation of eubacterial, archaebacterial and eukaryotic 5S rRNAs into large ribosomal subunits of Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Bacillus stearothermophilus large ribosomal subunits were reconstituted in the presence of 5S rRNAs from different origins and tested for their biological activities. The results obtained have shown that eubacterial and archaebacterial 5S rRNAs can easily substitute for B. stearothermophilus 5S rRNA in the reconstitution, while eukaryotic 5S rRNAs yield ribosomal subunits with reduced biological activities. From our results we propose an interaction between nucleotides 42-47 of 5S rRNA and nucleotides 2603-2608 of 23S rRNA during the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit. Other experiments with eukaryotic 5.8S rRNAs reveal, if at all, a very low incorporation of these RNA species into the reconstituted ribosomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Sequences implicated in the processing of Thermus thermophilus HB8 23S rRNA.

Nuclease S1 mapping analyses were performed in order to detect processing intermediates of pre-23S rRNA from Thermus thermophilus HB8. Two processing sites were identified downstream the start of transcription and several consecutive cleavage sites are associated with the mature 5'-end. In the 3'-flanking region one "primary" site and two cleavages which generate short-living intermediates were detected. A series of successive intermediates in the region of the mature 3'-end implies the existence of--in analogy to Escherichia coli--a 3'-exonucleolytic activity. The data were correlated with potential secondary structures within the pre-23S rRNA, which exhibit various repeated sequence elements. M13 sequencing data support the existence of one secondary structural element associated with the strong "primary" cleavage site in the 3'-flanking region. In T. thermophilus we can exclude the formation of an extended base-paired and precursor-specific stem enclosing the 23S rRNA which is inferred to mediate recognition by RNase III in E. coli.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The sequence of the 6S RNA gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

From the gram-negative eubacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa we have isolated a stable 6S RNA, approximately 180 nucleotides in length. The RNA was partially sequenced and identified by comparison with the known Escherichia coli 6S RNA sequence. Southern hybridizations revealed a single copy gene coding for the 6S RNA. DNA from other prokaryotes, i.e. E. coli, Thermus thermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus stearothermophilus and Halobacterium maris mortui, did not give detectable hybridization signals. The 6S RNA gene was cloned in E. coli and its complete primary structure was determined. Although the 6S RNA sequences from P. aeruginosa and E. coli share only a 60.4% homology, we are able to propose a common secondary structural model.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Structural analysis of 5S rRNA, 5S rRNA-protein complexes and ribosomes employing RNase H and d(GTTCGG).

The hybridization of d(GTTCGG) to eubacterial 5S rRNAs, 5S rRNA-protein complexes, 70S ribosomes and 50S and 30S ribosomal subunits was investigated. This oligonucleotide, which may be considered to be an analogue of the T psi CG loop of tRNAs, was chosen in order to investigate a possible interaction between tRNAs with ribosomal components during protein synthesis. The hybridization was analysed by RNase H hydrolysis studies and, in the case of the ribosomes and ribosomal subunits, in addition with the radioactively labelled oligodeoxyribonucleotide in binding studies. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that nucleotides in loop c, i.e. positions 42-47, are available for oligonucleotide interaction in free Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus 5S rRNAs and not available in the corresponding 5S rRNA-protein complexes. The 70S ribosomes and ribosomal subunits did not interact with the oligonucleotide. Under the assumption that d(GTTCGG) is an analogue of the T psi CG loop of tRNAs and in view of the results obtained, we conclude that in the unprogrammed ribosomes the T psi CG loop of tRNAs does not interact via standard Watson-Crick base pairs with the ribosomal 5S, 16S or 23S RNAs.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1987

An unusual rRNA operon constellation: in Thermus thermophilus HB8 the 23S/5S rRNA operon is a separate entity from the 16S rRNA operon.

We succeeded in identifying a promoter element within 200 base pairs upstream a transcriptional unit comprising only a 23S rRNA, 5S rRNA and a tRNA(gly) gene in Thermus thermophilus HB8 [1, 2]. This element shows a high degree of homology to the -35 and -10 consensus sequences for promoters described for Escherichia coli [3, 4]. The promoter activity was measured by the induction of the synthesis of functional chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in Escherichia coli. A region located at the transcriptional start, rich in guanosines and cytidines, is very similar in sequence to the one believed to be under stringent control in stable RNA and ribosomal protein genes of Escherichia coli [5]. Employing nuclease S1 protection we were able to determine the in vivo start of transcription, which was identical with the in vitro start using Escherichia coli RNA-polymerase. Furthermore we identified sequences in the region following the origin of transcription, which are homologous to sections in Escherichia coli rrn promoter-leader regions responsible for antitermination. Our finding of a promoter immediately preceding a 23S/5S rRNA operon proves a transcriptional decoupling of the 16S rRNA genes, a situation so far unprecedented among prokaryotes.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1986

Genomic organization of rDNA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We have examined the number and organization of rRNA genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by hybridization of restriction nuclease digests of genomic DNA to 3'-32P-labelled 23 S, 16 S and 5 S rRNAs and corresponding labelled DNA from the rrnB operon of Escherichia coli. The immediate conclusion from these hybridization data is that there are 4 transcriptional units coding for rDNA in P. aeruginosa. We report here a putative model of the genomic organization of all 4 rDNA operons.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1985

Expression of plasmid encoded Escherichia coli 5S ribosomal ribonucleic acid in Pseudomonas putida.

The recombinant plasmid pNRK 36, which represents the plasmids RSF 1010, a small multicopy plasmid of the incompatibility group IncQ that confers resistance to streptomycin and sulfoamide to its host cells, and pKK 223-3, which contains the try-lac (tac) promoter followed by a polylinker and a DNA segment containing the 5S rRNA (rrn B) with the ribosomal RNA transcription terminators, was employed to transform Pseudomonas putida 2440 cells. The plasmid encoded 5 S rRNA from Escherichia coli was transcribed and processed properly in P. putida cells thus demonstrating for the first time the expression of a plasmid encoded ribosomal RNA in a heterologous system. The fact that the E. coli 5 S rRNA was not incorporated into assembled ribosomes suggests that the in vivo incorporation of 5 S rRNA into the 50 S ribosomal subunit is closely linked to 23 S rRNA and/or ribosomal protein synthesis.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗
PubMed1984

Reconstitution of 50 S ribosomal subunits from Bacillus stearothermophilus with 5 S RNA from spinach chloroplasts and low-Mr RNA from mitochondria of Locusta migratoria and bovine liver.

Reconstitution experiments with 50 S ribosomal subunits from Bacillus stearothermophilus demonstrate that spinach chloroplast 5 S rRNA can be incorporated into the bacterial ribosome and yield biologically active particles, thereby establishing the eubacterial nature of chloroplast 5 S rRNA. In contrast, mitochondria from Locusta migratoria or bovine liver do not appear to contain discrete, low-Mr RNAs, which can replace 5 S rRNA in the functional reconstitution of B. stearothermophilus ribosomes.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recent approaches to probe functional groups in ribonuclease P RNA by modification interference.

Modification interference is a powerful method to identify important functional groups in RNA molecules. We review here recent developments of techniques to screen for chemical modifications that interfere with (i) binding of (pre-)tRNA to bacterial RNase P RNA or (ii) pre-tRNA cleavage by this ribozyme. For example, two studies have analyzed positions at which a substitution of sulfur for the pro-Rp oxygen affects tRNA binding [1] or catalysis [2]. The results emphasize the functional key role of a central core element present in all known RNase P RNA subunits. The four sulfur substitutions identified in one study [2] to inhibit the catalytic step also interfered with binding of tRNA to E. coli RNase P RNA [1]. This suggests that losses in binding energy due to the modification at these positions affect the enzyme-substrate and the enzyme-transition state complex. In addition, the two studies have revealed, for the first time, sites of direct metal ion coordination in RNase P RNA. The potentials, limitations and interpretational ambiguities of modification interference experiments as well as factors influencing their outcome are discussed.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Structural analysis of prokaryotic and eukaryotic 5S rRNAs by RNase H.

The availabilities of single-stranded 5S rRNA regions c, d and d' for base pairing interactions were analyzed by using synthetic DNA oligomers. Hybrid formation was detected by the endonucleolytical mode of the RNA-DNA specific action of RNase H. Provided that the hybrid interaction involved 6 successive base pairs, 5S rRNA loop c nucleotides 42-47 displayed accessibility in Escherichia coli, Bacillus stearothermophilus and Thermus thermophilus 5S rRNAs as well as in eukaryotic 5S rRNAs from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Rattus rattus and Equisetum arvense. Investigating eubacterial 5S rRNA regions d and d' (nucleotides 71-76 and 99-105, respectively), susceptibility was observed in E. coli 5S rRNA which, however, decreases in B. stearothermophilus and even more so in T. thermophilus 5S rRNA. For additional evaluation of the data obtained by RNase H cleavage, association constants of the hexanucleotides were determined by equilibrium dialysis at 4 degrees C for B. stearothermophilus 5S rRNA. The results obtained reveal that nucleotides 36-41 of B. stearothermophilus 5S rRNA are inaccessible for Watson-Crick interaction, which suggests that this part of loop c is in a structurally constrained configuration, or buried in the tertiary structure or involved in tertiary interactions.

Animals↗