PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W E Borrias

Publications and source records attributed to W E Borrias.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Isolation and overexpression in Escherichia coli of the flavodoxin gene from Anabaena PCC 7119.

The gene coding for flavodoxin from Anabaena PCC 7119 was cloned by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The gene is transcribed into a 1250-base transcript. The expression of the flavodoxin gene was analysed and found to be regulated at the transcriptional level by the availability of iron. The PCR-amplified gene was cloned into the expression vector pTrc 99b and expressed in Escherichia coli. High concentrations of flavodoxin were found (20% of total protein). The recombinant protein was purified from the cytosolic fraction of the cells and it exhibited properties identical with those of the wild-type Anabaena flavodoxin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Cloning of nitrate reductase genes from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans.

Anacystis nidulans, a non-nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, can fulfill its nitrogen requirement by the assimilation of nitrate. The first step in the pathway, the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, is catalyzed by the molybdo-protein nitrate reductase. In this study, newly developed techniques for gene cloning in A. nidulans R2 were used for the isolation of two genes involved in nitrate reduction. One gene was cloned by complementation of the corresponding mutant; the other gene was picked up from a cosmid gene library by using a restriction fragment containing the transposon-inactivated gene as a probe. Both genes were unlinked single-copy chromosomal genes. Transformation studies provided evidence for the existence of a third locus involved in nitrate reduction.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1983

A host-vector system for gene cloning in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2.

We describe the construction of a series of vectors suitable for gene cloning in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2. From the indigenous plasmid pUH24, derivatives were constructed with streptomycin as the selective marker; one of these plasmids was used to construct pUC303, a shuttle vector capable of replication in A. nidulans R2 as well as in Escherichia coli K12. It has two markers, streptomycin and chloramphenicol resistance, and three unique restriction sites. Instability of recombinant plasmids was overcome by using a derivative of A. nidulans R2 cured of the indigenous plasmid pUH24. This strain, R2-SPc, can be transformed stably and at high frequency by the plasmids described in this paper. The combination of the cured strain R2-SPc and the new plasmid pUC303 serves as a suitable host-vector system for gene cloning in cyanobacteria.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1982

A new approach for molecular cloning in cyanobacteria: cloning of an Anacystis nidulans met gene using a Tn901-induced mutant.

A new strategy for molecular cloning in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R-2 is described. This strategy involved the use of a transposon and was developed for the cloning of a gene encoding methionine biosynthesis. A met::Tn901 mutant was isolated. Chromosomal DNA fragments were cloned in the Escherichia coli plasmid vector pACYC184. A recombinant plasmid carrying the inactivated met::Tn901 gene was selected after transformation to E. coli. The cloned met::Tn901 DNA fragment was used as a probe to select the corresponding A. nidulans R-2 wild-type met gene from a gene library prepared in E. coli, using the newly constructed shuttle cosmid vector pPUC29. When transformed into A. nidulans Met- mutants, this cloned gene allowed the mutants to grow prototrophically.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1981

Vectors for cloning in cyanobacteria: construction and characterization of two recombinant plasmids capable of transformation of Escherichia coli K12 and Anacystis nidulans R2.

Two plasmids were constructed consisting of the E. coli vector pACYC184 and the cyanobacterial plasmid pUC1. These recombinants, designated pUC104 and pUC105, can be transformed to E. coli K12 as well as to the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2 and in both hosts they express their antibiotic markers. pUC104 and pUC105 differ with respect to the location and the orientation of the pACYC184 segment in pUC1. pUC104 was found to be stable under all circumstances. Transformation of pUC105 to A. nidulans R2 gave intact plasmids when chloramphenicol was the selective agent, but upon ampicillin selection a deletion derivative was produced identical to pUC1. Further characteristics of pUC104 and pUC105 are described and their usefulness as cloning vectors is discussed.

Chloramphenicol↗
PubMed1980

Introduction of transposon Tn901 into a plasmid of Anacystis nidulans: preparation for cloning in cyanobacteria.

We have used the TEM beta-lactamase transposon Tn901, located on Escherichia coli plasmid pRI46, to introduce in vivo a genetic marker into plasmid pUH24, present in the cyanobacterial strain Anacystis nidulans R-2. Restriction enzyme analysis and heteroduplex studies of the 8.3 x 10(6)-dalton plasmids pCH1-pCH5, present in the ampicillin-resistant A. nidulans R-2 colonies obtained after transformation with pRI46, demonstrated that these plasmids consist of the complete sequence of Tn901 inserted at different places into plasmid pUH24. The pUH24::Tn901 recombinant plasmids transform A. nidulans R-2 with a frequency of 10(-4)--10(-5) per microgram of plasmid DNA and contain a single cleavage site for the restriction enzyme Xho I. From pCH1 a plasmid of 5.5 x 10(6) daltons,pUC1, was constructed with only a part of the Tn901 sequence and an additional single cleavage site for the restriction enzyme BamHI. This plasmid, as well as plasmids pCH1-pCH5, are potentially useful as vectors for cloning genes in cyanobacteria and for studying cyanobacterial plasmid biology.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1979

Functional relationship between bacteriophages G4 and phi X174.

Mutants of bacteriophage G4 were isolated and characterized, and their mutations were mapped. They constitute six different genes, namely, A, B, E, F, G, and H. The functional relationship with bacteriophage phi X174 was determined by complementation experiments using amber mutants of phi X and amber mutants of G4. Bacteriophage phi X was able to use the products of G4 genes E, F, G, and H. In bacteriophage G4, however, only the phi X gene H product was functional.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1977

Bacteriophage phiX174: gene A overlaps gene B.

The map position of several phiX174 mutations in the genes A and B was determined by marker rescue with DNA fragments produced by the restriction enzymes Hha I, HindII, Hae III, and Alu I. All the gene B mutants were found to be located within gene A. Genetic complementation and analysis of phage-specific protein synthesis show that, under restrictive conditions, nonsense mutants in gene A do not block the synthesis and activity of the B protein and nonsense mutants in gene B do not affect the gene A function. The map position of the COOH-terminal end of gene A was determined using an amber mutant that synthesizes slightly shortened A and A proteins. It is concluded from these experiments that gene A overlaps gene B completely (or almost completely) and that the overlap region can be translated in two ways with different reading frames: one frame for the synthesis of the A and A proteins and another for the synthesis of the B protein.

Coliphages↗