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W Messer

Publications and source records attributed to W Messer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

A novel replicon occurring naturally in Escherichia coli is a phage-plasmid hybrid.

A novel DNA replicon in Escherichia coli was identified. It is the smallest natural isolate (1282 bp) found so far. In the presence of phage M13 it grows as a filamentous single-stranded DNA phage. Contrary to previously identified mini-phages this replicon displays sequence homology only to parts of the M13 viral and complementary strand origin. In the absence of M13 this DNA replicates autonomously. The only gene (arp) of the replicon encodes a 32-kd protein, which is essential for autonomous replication. The host rep gene required for replication of single-stranded DNA phages is dispensable. Distinct replication mechanisms are thus involved during growth as defective phage or as autonomous plasmid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Functionality of the dnaA protein binding site in DNA replication is orientation-dependent.

We analyzed the functionality of different dnaA protein binding sites by assaying in vitro dnaA-dependent replication of pBR322 derivatives. Single dnaA sites from oriC and from the mioC and dnaA gene promoters were active when combined with the primer generating element of pBR322 in a proper distance. Prereplisome assembly did not require sequences in addition to the 9-base pair consensus dnaA binding site. Inversion of the structurally asymmetric dnaA site relative to its orientation in wild type pBR322 resulted in a marked reduction in replication efficiency, as observed with five different dnaA sites studied. The direction of DNA replication was not affected.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

AsnC, a multifunctional regulator of genes located around the replication origin of Escherichia coli, oriC.

The expression of the gidA gene which is located immediately counterclockwise of the replication origin of Escherichia coli, oriC, was found to be negatively regulated by the AsnC protein in an in vitro transcription-translation system. This effect is not due to simple repression of transcription originating at the gidA promoter, because the AsnC protein did not change the level of gidA promoter dependent transcription as analysed by promoter-galK fusions and by S1 mapping. From these data we conclude that the AsnC protein controls gidA gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. gidA is the third gene in the oriC region, besides asnA and asnC, whose expression is under AsnC control. However, the mechanisms involved are different: regulation of transcription in the case of asnA and asnC and post-transcriptional control of gidA. The gidA promoter was mapped by deletion analysis and by S1 mapping. We defined two regions that affect promoter activity negatively. Additional transcripts, regulated by AsnC, started more than 300 bp upstream of the gidA promoter and were found to enter the gidA region. These transcripts, originating either at the mioC and/or the ansC promoter traverse the replication origin.

Asparaginase↗
PubMed1988

Transcription in the region of the replication origin, oriC, of Escherichia coli: termination of asnC transcripts.

Transcription from the asnC promoter was found to proceed through the replication origin, oriC, into the gidA gene of Escherichia coli. Between 10% and 20% of asnC transcripts reached oriC in vivo. Termination sites in the intergenic region between asnC and mioC and within mioC were determined in vivo and in vitro using S1 mapping. Only about 10% of the transcripts terminated at the asnC terminator in vivo. DnaA protein dependent termination was observed close to the binding site, dnaA box, for DnaA protein. In the in vitro replication system asnC transcripts did not reach oriC, suggesting that asnC transcripts are not involved in the initiation of replication, contrary to mioC transcripts. We suggest that oriC and mioC might have been transposed during evolution into an asnC regulation.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Discoordinate gene expression in the dnaA-dnaN operon of Escherichia coli.

The dnaN gene of Escherichia coli encodes the beta-subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. Previous work has established that dnaN lies immediately downstream of dnaA and that both genes may be cotranscribed from the dnaA promoters; no promoter for dnaN has been described. We investigated the in vivo regulation of transcription of the dnaN gene by transcriptional fusions to the galK gene, translational fusion to the lacZ gene and S1 mapping analysis. We found that there are at least three dnaN promoters residing entirely in the reading frame of the preceding dnaA gene, and that transcription from these promoters can occur independently of dnaA transcription which, however, extends at least up to dnaN. Furthermore, we found evidence for the inducibility of the dnaN promoters in a dam background under conditions of simultaneously reduced dnaA transcription. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that although dnaA and dnaN are organized in an operon considerable discoordinate transcription can occur, thus uncoupling dnaN and dnaA regulation, when needed.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Expression of the Escherichia coli dnaQ (mutD) gene is inducible.

By promoter fusion to the galK gene and comparative S1 analysis we investigated the in vivo regulation of transcription of the dnaQ gene which encodes the epsilon-subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme carrying the 3'----5' exonucleolytic proofreading function. Induction of a mutagenic stress situation by treatment with the base analogue 2-aminopurine (2-AP) leads to an increase in dnaQ transcription. S1 mapping analysis of the two dnaQ transcripts revealed a differential promoter activation for this 2-AP induced increase in dnaQ transcription. In addition, a similar galK promoter fusion with the dnaN gene coding for the beta-subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme revealed that dnaN transcription is also 2-AP inducible as judged by galactokinase activity. This is the first evidence for the inducibility of dnaQ gene expression (and possibly of other genes of the DNA polymerase II holoenzyme) and is discussed in relation to DNA repair mechanisms.

2-Aminopurine↗
PubMed1987

Transcripts within the replication origin, oriC, of Escherichia coli.

Transcription start and termination sites were mapped in the E. coli replication origin, oriC. Outward transcription from within oriC (promoters Pori-r and Pori-l) was found to start in vivo at position 178 for Pori-l and at positions 294 and 304 for Pori-r, respectively. These transcripts were terminated after 100-150 bases, at terminators designated Tori-l and Tori-r. Transcription from the 16 kd promoter, which lies clockwise adjacent to oriC and promotes transcription toward oriC, started at position 757 and gave transcripts with 3' ends at several positions within and to the left of the minimal replication origin. However, the majority of transcripts traversed the whole oriC region, and were not terminated within the DNA segment tested. Transcription of the chromosomal 16 kd gene was negatively regulated by DnaA protein and positively affected by dam methylation. The possible function of these transcripts is discussed.

DNA Replication↗
PubMed1987

DnaA protein binding to the plasmid origin region can substitute for primosome assembly during replication of pBR322 in vitro.

We analyzed the significance of DnaA protein binding to the origin region of pBR322. Replication of pBR322 in vitro was stimulated by DnaA protein. Moreover, the primosomal component protein i was no longer essential for replication after addition of DnaA protein, whereas, among others, proteins DnaB and DnaG were still required. Complete replication products were synthesized under these conditions. We constructed pBR322 deletion derivatives missing the primosome assembly sites. Efficient replication of these deletion plasmids was dependent on the presence of DnaA protein and its binding site, but independent of protein i activity. We conclude that DnaA protein binding to the pBR322 origin region substitutes for primosome assembly by directing DnaB, DnaC, and DnaG proteins to the origin. We term this process DnaA-directed pre-replisome formation.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1987

Start sites for bidirectional in vitro DNA replication inside the replication origin, oriC, of Escherichia coli.

In vitro replication of mini-chromosomes in the absence of DNA ligase activity resulted in replication products with single-strand breaks at specific sites. The occurrence of these nicks was coupled to an active replication process, therefore we expect them to represent start sites for DNA replication. Two positions within oriC for each of the two leading strands of bidirectional replication were found. Within each position are one or two start sites. Counterclockwise synthesis started at positions 194/199 and 265/272, clockwise synthesis at positions 209/219 and 254. The start positions are located close to DnaA protein binding sites. A model for initiation accommodating this observation is discussed.

Chromosomes, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Reduced transcription of the rnh gene in Escherichia coli mutants expressing the SOS regulon constitutively.

We have analysed the transcription levels for the convergently overlapping Escherichia coli genes for the DNA polymerase III proofreading function (dnaQ) and ribonuclease H (rnh). The two tandem dnaQ promoters are about three times more active than the single rnh promoter as shown by analysing the level of in vivo transcription using dnaQ-galK and rnh-galK fusions. In E. coli mutants constitutively expressing the pleiotropic SOS response, which includes activities that enhance DNA repair, recombination and mutagenesis, a strong reduction in rnh transcription was observed. The lexA51 recA441 double mutant which fully expresses the SOS response shows the strongest reduction in rnh transcription and the highest increase in dnaQ transcription. Nuclease S1 mapping supported the finding that a constitutive expression of SOS function leads to a strong reduction in rnh transcription.

DNA Polymerase III↗
PubMed1986

Initiation of Escherichia coli minichromosome replication at oriC and at protein n' recognition sites. Two modes for initiating DNA synthesis in vitro.

The start sites for leading and lagging DNA strands were determined in vitro with minichromosomes as templates. Fragments from replication intermediates were analyzed by hybridization to single-stranded probes. Leading strand synthesis in the counterclockwise direction was found to originate in or close to (position 248 to -44) the minimal origin. Complementary lagging strand synthesis started several positions to the left outside of oriC. The results suggest in addition a concerted synthesis of leading and lagging strands following the dnaA directed assembly of initiation proteins at double-stranded oricC DNA (pre-replisome). In addition, DNA synthesis could initiate at protein n' recognition sequences located within and clockwise to the asnA gene. Initiation at n' sites was dependent on protein i activity, whereas leading and lagging strand initiation in the oriC region was not affected by protein i. Our results argue against an involvement of the phi X174-type primosome in the initiation of discontinuous DNA synthesis at oriC. An alternative function is suggested.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1986

Regulation of transcription of the chromosomal dnaA gene of Escherichia coli.

By comparative S1 analysis we investigated the in vivo regulation of transcription of the chromosomal dnaA gene coding for a protein essential for the initiation of replication at the chromosomal origin. Inactivation of the protein in dnaA mutants results in derepression, whereas excess DnaA protein (presence of a DnaA overproducing plasmid) leads to repression of dnaA transcription. Both dnaA promoters are subject to autoregulation allowing modulation of transcriptional efficiency by at least 20-fold. Increasing the number of oriC sequences (number of DnaA binding sites) in the cell by introducing oriC plasmids leads to a derepression of transcription. Autoregulation and binding to oriC suggest that the DnaA protein exerts a major role in the regulation of the frequency of initiation at oriC. The efficiency of transcription of the dnaA2 promoter is reduced in the absence of dam methylation, which is involved in the regulation of oriC replication.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1985

Effect of dam methylation on the activity of the E. coli replication origin, oriC.

Methylation of GATC sites by the dam methylase is required for efficient initiation of DNA replication at the replication origin, oriC, of Escherichia coli. This is demonstrated by the inability of minichromosomes to be maintained in dam mutant strains. The requirement for methylated GATC sites is less stringent in vitro than in vivo. The time required for complete methylation of the origin region apparently determines the minimal spacing of replication forks on the chromosome.

Chromosomes, Bacterial↗
PubMed1984

Plasma concentrations of theophylline and quinine in healthy volunteers following oral administration of a fixed drug combination.

Theophylline and quinine plasma concentrations were determined in 4 healthy volunteers following oral administration of two tablets of Limptar . According to the recommended dose schedule the second tablet was administered 3 h after the first tablet. Peak concentrations of theophylline and quinine in the plasma were observed at 5.4 h (theophylline) and 5.1 h (quinine), respectively, following administration of the first tablet. Half-life of theophylline ranged from 7.2 to 15.4 h (9.4 +/- 4.4 h; mean +/- SD) and that of quinine from 5.4 to 27.2 h (14.4 +/- 9.2 h). Peak concentrations of theophylline in the plasma (7.5 +/- 1.6 micrograms/ml) are below those which are thought to produce concentration-dependent side effects. Besides the superior therapeutic efficacy of the combination of quinine and theophylline compared to that of quinine alone, this combination seems to be favourable also from a pharmacokinetic point of view.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1983

Recognition sites for a membrane-derived DNA binding protein preparation in the E. coli replication origin.

The DNA binding protein B' preparation, isolated from the membrane of E. coli, recognizes two sites, one of which is located in the minimum oriC (35-270 bp) and the other between base pairs 417 and 488. Recognition is only possible when restriction fragments containing these sites are in single-stranded state. At the first site the strand reading 3'OH-5'P in the direction of the E. coli genetic map is recognized, at the second site the 5'P-3'OH strand.

Bacterial Proteins↗