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1H NMR studies of lambda cro repressor. 1. Selective optimization of two-dimensional relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy.

Two-dimensional relayed coherence transfer NMR spectroscopy (RELAY) has been used to corroborate side chain spin system identities in crowded regions of the 1H NMR spectrum of the lambda cro repressor protein. The mixing time in the RELAY experiments was optimized for specific preselected spin systems by using recently developed methods [Bax, A., & Drobny, G. (1985) J. Magn. Reson, 61, 306-320], which utilize the transverse relaxation time (T2) of the molecule and relevant J couplings for the defined spin system. We demonstrate that a mixing time of 26 ms gives rise to strong C alpha H-C gamma H3 RELAY cross peaks for all valine, threonine, and isoleucine residues, while RELAY cross peaks for other spin systems are weak or are not observed. This allows for rapid and unambiguous identification of the side chain resonances for valine, isoleucine, threonine, and alanine (by elimination). The use of optimized RELAY for analyzing and identifying spin systems in complex spectra is discussed.

Amino Acids↗

1H NMR studies of lambda cro repressor. 2. Sequential resonance assignments of the 1H NMR spectrum.

The cro repressor protein from bacteriophage lambda has been studied in solution by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D NMR). Following the approach of Wüthrich and co-workers [Wüthrich, K., Wider, G., Wagner, G., & Braun, W. (1982) J. Mol. Biol. 155, 311-319], individual spin systems were identified by J-correlated spectroscopy (COSY) supplemented, where necessary, by relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy (RELAY). Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) was used to obtain sequence-specific assignments. From the two-dimensional spectra, the peptide backbone resonances (NH and C alpha H) for 65 of the 66 amino acids were assigned, as well as most of the side chain resonances. The chemical shifts for the assigned protons are reported at 35 degrees C in 10 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.8, and in 10 mM potassium phosphate, pH 4.6, 0.2 M KCl, and 0.1 mM EDTA. Small shifts were observed for some resonances upon addition of salt, but no major changes in the spectrum were seen, indicating that no global structural change occurs between these ionic strengths. NOE patterns characteristic of alpha-helices, beta-strands, and turns are seen in various regions of the primary sequence. From the location of these regions the secondary structure of cro in solution appears to be virtually identical with the crystal structure [Anderson, W. F., Ohlendorf, D. H., Takeda, Y., & Matthews, B. W. (1981) Nature (London) 290, 754-758]. Missing assignments include the Pro-59 resonances and the peripheral protons of the eight lysine, the three arginine, and three of the five isoleucine residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fourier transform infrared investigation of the Escherichia coli methionine aporepressor.

This study represents the first physicochemical analysis of the recently cloned methionine repressor protein (Met aporepressor) from Escherichia coli. Infrared spectrometry was used to investigate the secondary structure and the hydrogen-deuterium exchange behavior of the E. coli Met aporepressor. The secondary structure of the native bacterial protein was derived by analysis of the amide I mode. The amide I band contour was found to consist of five major component bands (at 1625, 1639, 1653, 1665, and 1676 cm-1) which reflect the presence of various substructures. The relative areas of these component bands are consistent with a high alpha-helical content of the peptide chain secondary structure in solution (43%) and a small amount of beta-sheet structure (7%). The remaining substructure is assigned to turns (10%) and to unordered (or less ordered) structures (40%). The temperature dependence of the infrared spectra of native Met aporepressor in D2O medium over the temperature interval 20-80 degrees C indicates that there are two discrete thermal events: the first thermal event, centered at 42 degrees C, is associated with the hydrogen-deuterium exchange of the hard-to-exchange alpha-helical peptide bonds accompanied by a partial denaturation of the protein, while the second event, centered around 50 degrees C, represents the irreversible thermal denaturation of the protein.

Apoproteins↗

Structure-based design of Tet repressor to optimize a new inducer specificity.

We constructed a mutant of the tetracycline-inducible repressor protein TetR with specificity for the tc analogue 4-de(dimethylamino)anhydrotetracycline (4-ddma-atc), which is neither an antibiotic nor an inducer for the wild-type protein. The previously published relaxed specificity mutant TetR H64K S135L displays reduced induction by tc but full induction by doxycycline (dox), anhydrotetracycline (atc), and 4-de(dimethylamino)-6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline (cmt3). To create induction specificity for tc derivatives lacking the 4-dimethylamino grouping such as cmt3 and 4-ddma-atc, the residues at positions 82 and 138, which are located close to that moiety in the crystal structure of the TetR-[tc-Mg](+)(2) complex, were randomized. We anticipated that a residue with increased size may lead to sterical hindrance, and screening for 4-ddma-atc-specific induction indeed revealed the mutant TetR H64K S135L S138I. Out of 24 exchanges only the addition of S138I to TetR H64K S135L yielded a mutant with a pronounced reduction of affinity for atc and dox, while the one for 4-ddma-atc is not affected. The ratio of binding constants revealed a 200-fold specificity increase for 4-ddma-atc over atc. The contributions of each single mutant to specificity indicate that the tc variants bind slightly different positions in the TetR tc binding pocket.

Models, Molecular↗

Crystal structure of the yeast MATalpha2/MCM1/DNA ternary complex.

The structure of a complex containing the homeodomain repressor protein MATalpha2 and the MADS-box transcription factor MCM1 bound to DNA has been determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.25 A resolution. It reveals the protein-protein interactions responsible for cooperative binding of MATalpha2 and MCM1 to DNA. The otherwise flexible amino-terminal extension of the MATalpha2 homeodomain forms a beta-hairpin that grips the MCM1 surface through parallel beta-strand hydrogen bonds and close-packed, predominantly hydrophobic, side chains. DNA bending induced by MCM1 brings the two proteins closer together, facilitating their interaction. An unusual feature of the complex is that an eight-amino-acid sequence adopts an alpha-helical conformation in one of two copies of the MATalpha2 monomer and a beta-strand conformation in the other. This 'chameleon' sequence of MATalpha2 may be important for recognizing natural operator sites.

Binding Sites↗

Altered Cro repressors from engineered mutagenesis of a synthetic cro gene.

A portion of the gene coding for the Cro repressor protein of bacteriophage lambda has been chemically synthesized, incorporating base pair changes that generate restriction endonuclease sites without altering the amino acid coding sequence. These restriction endonuclease sites were used to remove small segments of the synthetic cro gene and the segments were replaced with duplexes carrying desired mutations. Altered Cro proteins produced by mutants constructed in this manner were then assayed for binding to lambda operator OR3 in vivo. Mutations directed into the region of the cro gene encoding the alpha-3 helix produced altered Cro proteins with a range of affinities for operator DNA. These changes suggest which amino acids play an important role in Cro-OR3 complex formation.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Serine-arginine (SR) protein-like factors that antagonize authentic SR proteins and regulate alternative splicing.

We have characterized two RNA-binding proteins, of apparent molecular masses of approximately 40 and 35 kDa, which possess a single N-terminal RNA-recognition motif (RRM) followed by a C-terminal domain rich in serine-arginine dipeptides. Their primary structures resemble the single-RRM serine-arginine (SR) protein, SC35; however their functional effects are quite distinctive. The 40-kDa protein cannot complement SR protein-deficient HeLa cell S100 extract and showed a dominant negative effect in vitro against the authentic SR proteins, SF2/ASF and SC35. Interestingly, the 40- and 35-kDa proteins antagonize SR proteins and activate the most distal alternative 5' splice site of adenovirus E1A pre-mRNA in vivo, an activity that is similar to that characterized previously for the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles A/B group of proteins. A series of recombinant chimeric proteins consisting of domains from these proteins and SC35 in various combinations showed that the RRM, but not the C-terminal domain rich in serine-arginine dipeptides, has a dominant role in this activity. Because of the similarity to SR proteins we have named these proteins SRrp40 and SRrp35, respectively, for SR-repressor proteins of approximately 40 and approximately 35 kDa. Both factors show tissue- and cell type-specific patterns of expression. We propose that these two proteins are SR protein-like alternative splicing regulators that antagonize authentic SR proteins in the modulation of alternative 5' splice site choice.

3T3 Cells↗

Isolation and analysis of mutant alleles of the Bacillus subtilis HrcA repressor with reduced dependency on GroE function.

The hrcA gene of Bacillus subtilis codes for a transcriptional repressor protein that negatively regulates expression of the heptacistronic dnaK and the bicistronic groE operon by binding to an operator-element called CIRCE. Recently, we have published data suggesting that the activity of HrcA is modulated by the GroE chaperonin system. Biochemical analyses of the HrcA protein have been hampered so far by its strong tendency to aggregate. Here, a genetic method was used to isolate mutant forms of HrcA with increased activity under conditions of decreased GroE function. One of these mutant forms (HrcA114) containing five amino acid replacements exhibited enhanced solubility when overexpressed. HrcA114 purified under native conditions produced two retarded CIRCE-containing DNA fragments in band shift experiments. The amount of the larger fragment increased after addition of GroEL, GroES, and ATP but decreased when ATP was replaced by the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog ATPgammaS. DNase I footprinting experiments exhibited full protection of the CIRCE element and neighboring nucleotides in an asymmetric way. An in vitro binding assay using affinity chromatography showed direct and specific interaction between HrcA114 and GroEL. All these experimental data are in full agreement with our previously published model that HrcA needs the GroE chaperonin system for activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Glutamate synthase of Corynebacterium glutamicum is not essential for glutamate synthesis and is regulated by the nitrogen status.

The Corynebacterium glutamicum gltB and gltD genes, encoding the large (alpha) and small (beta) subunit of glutamate synthase (GOGAT), were investigated in this study. Using RT-PCR, a common transcript of gltB and gltD was shown. Reporter gene assays and Northern hybridization experiments revealed that transcription of this operon depends on nitrogen starvation. The expression of gltBD is under control of the global repressor protein AmtR as demonstrated by gel shift experiments and analysis of gltB transcription in an amtR deletion strain. In contrast to other bacteria, in C. glutamicum GOGAT plays no pivotal role; e.g. gltB and gltD inactivation did not result in growth defects when cells were grown in standard minimal medium and only a slight increase in the doubling time of the corresponding mutant strains was observed in the presence of limiting amounts of ammonia or urea. Additionally, mutant analyses revealed that GOGAT has no essential function in glutamate production by C. glutamicum.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Erwinia chrysanthemi requires a second iron transport route dependent of the siderophore achromobactin for extracellular growth and plant infection.

Full virulence of the pectinolytic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi strain 3937 depends on the production in planta of the catechol-type siderophore chrysobactin. Under iron-limited conditions, E. chrysanthemi synthesizes a second siderophore called achromobactin belonging to the hydroxy/carboxylate class of siderophore. In this study, we cloned and functionally characterized a 13 kb long operon comprising seven genes required for the biosynthesis (acs) and extracellular release (yhcA) of achromobactin, as well as the gene encoding the specific outer membrane receptor for its ferric complex (acr). The promoter of this operon was negatively regulated by iron. In a fur null mutant, transcriptional fusions to the acsD and acsA genes were constitutively expressed. Band shift assays showed that the purified E. chrysanthemi Fur repressor protein specifically binds in vitro to the promoter region of the acsF gene confirming that the metalloregulation of the achromobactin operon is achieved directly by Fur. The temporal production of achromobactin in iron-depleted bacterial cultures was determined: achromobactin is produced before chrysobactin and its production decreases as that of chrysobactin increases. Pathogenicity tests performed on African violets showed that achromobactin production contributes to the virulence of E. chrysanthemi. Thus, during infection, synthesis of these two different siderophores allows E. chrysanthemi cells to cope with the fluctuations of iron availability encountered within plant tissues. Interestingly, iron transport mediated by achromobactin or a closely related siderophore probably exists in other phytopathogenic bacterial species such as Pseudomonas syringae.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Carbon repression in Aspergilli.

Many microorganisms prefer easily metabolizable carbon sources over alternative, less readily metabolized carbon sources. One of the mechanisms to achieve this is repression of the synthesis of enzymes related to catabolism of the alternative carbon sources, i.e. carbon repression. It is now clear that in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger the repressor protein CREA plays a major role in carbon repression. CREA inhibits transcription of many target genes by binding to specific sequences in the promoter of these genes. Unfortunately there is little information on other components of the signalling pathway that triggers repression by CREA. In this review we summarize the current understanding of carbon repression in Aspergilli.

Aspergillus↗

Promoter characterization and constitutive expression of the Escherichia coli gcvR gene.

The Escherichia coli glycine cleavage repressor protein (GcvR) negatively regulates expression of the glycine cleavage operon (gcv). In this study, the gcvR translational start site was determined by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of a GcvR-LacZ fusion protein. Primer extension analysis of the gcvR promoter region identified a primary transcription start site 27 bp upstream of the UUG translation start site and a minor transcription start site approximately 100 bp upstream of the translation start codon. The -10 and -35 promoter regions upstream of the primary transcription start site were defined by mutational analysis. Expression of a gcvR-lacZ fusion was unaltered in the presence of glycine or inosine, molecules known to induce or repress expression of gcv, respectively. In addition, it was shown that gcvR-lacZ expression is neither regulated by the glycine cleavage activator protein (GcvA) nor autogenously regulated by GcvR. From DNA sequence analysis, it was predicted that the translation start codon of the downstream bcp gene overlaps the gcvR stop codon, suggesting that these genes may form an operon. However, a down mutation in the -10 promoter region of gcvR had no effect on the expression of a downstream bcp-lacZ fusion, and primer extension analysis of the bcp promoter region demonstrated that bcp has its own promoter within the gcvR coding sequence. These results show that gcvR and bcp do not form an operon. Furthermore, the deletion of bcp from the chromosome had no effect on gcv-lacZ expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The staphylococcal QacR multidrug regulator binds a correctly spaced operator as a pair of dimers.

Expression of the Staphylococcus aureus plasmid-encoded QacA multidrug transporter is regulated by the divergently encoded QacR repressor protein. To circumvent the formation of disulfide-bonded degradation products, site-directed mutagenesis to replace the two cysteine residues in wild-type QacR was undertaken. Analysis of a resultant cysteineless QacR derivative indicated that it retained full DNA-binding activities in vivo and in vitro and continued to be fully proficient for the mediation of induction of qacA expression in response to a range of structurally dissimilar multidrug transporter substrates. The cysteineless QacR protein was used in cross-linking and dynamic light-scattering experiments to show that its native form was a dimer, whereas gel filtration indicated that four QacR molecules bound per DNA operator site. The addition of inducing compounds led to the dissociation of the four operator-bound QacR molecules from the DNA as dimers. Binding of QacR dimers to DNA was found to be dependent on the correct spacing of the operator half-sites. A revised model proposed for the regulation of qacA expression by QacR features the unusual characteristic of one dimer of the regulatory protein binding to each operator half-site by a process that does not appear to require the prior self-assembly of QacR into tetramers.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Bovine papillomavirus E2 repressor mutant displays a high-copy-number phenotype and enhanced transforming activity.

The methionine codon at bovine papillomavirus type 1 nucleotide 3091 was mutated to determine whether it may serve as an initiation codon for an E2 transcriptional repressor protein and to determine the role of the repressor in the biological activities of the virus. A series of transient expression experiments with CV1 cells documented that the mutation reduced expression of repressor activity from the viral genome and resulted in increased expression of the E5 transforming gene. Viral genomes containing the mutation displayed enhanced transforming activity in several assays in mouse C127 cells, including focus formation, colony formation in agarose, and tumorigenicity. In transformed cells, the mutant viral DNA was maintained as a plasmid with approximately 500 genomes per cell, whereas the wild-type copy number was approximately 75. These results indicate that the wild-type bovine papillomavirus type 1 genome encodes an E2 repressor protein that moderates the viral transforming activity and allows maintenance of the viral DNA at a relatively low copy number.

Animals↗

The bacteriophage P22 arc and mnt repressors. Overproduction, purification, and properties.

The arc and mnt genes of bacteriophage P22 encode small repressor proteins. We have cloned these genes onto plasmids that overproduce Arc and Mnt to greater than 1% of the soluble cellular protein. Both proteins were purified to greater than 95% homogeneity, and N-terminal sequences and amino acid compositions were determined. These data, in combination with previously determined gene sequences, establish the complete protein sequences for Arc (53 residues) and Mnt (82 residues). Both proteins have melting temperatures between 45 and 55 degrees C and can be renatured to a fully active species. Arc is a dimer in solution and Mnt is a tetramer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic studies of the lac repressor. XIV. Analysis of 4000 altered Escherichia coli lac repressors reveals essential and non-essential residues, as well as "spacers" which do not require a specific sequence.

Amber mutations have been constructed at 328 positions, corresponding to residues 2 to 329 in the E. coli lac repressor protein. Synthetic and naturally occurring nonsense suppressors have been used to insert, in series, 12-13 amino acids at positions specified by an amber (UAG) codon in the lacI mRNA. The resulting set of over 4000 single amino acid replacements in the lac repressor protein allows a detailed analysis of its substitution tolerance along the linear array of residues, and reveals structure-function relationships in lac repressor and in proteins in general. (1) There are two main regions in the repressor which are extremely sensitive to amino acid replacements. One, the amino-terminal 59 residues, has been implicated in DNA and operator binding by a large body of work. The second, extending from approximately residues 239 to 289/292, forms the repressor core and shares the most homology with other repressor and DNA binding proteins. (2) Throughout the rest of the protein, segments of 6 to 14 amino acids, which are highly tolerant to single amino acid replacements, appear to act as "spacers" between one or several hydrophobic residues that are relatively intolerant to substitutions. (3) We have replaced the amino acids in these tolerant regions with spans of alanine residues, from 5 to 13 amino acids. In all five of the regions tested, alanine replacements, sometimes of up to 8 amino acids, still allowed functional repressor, while deletion of the same residues destroyed repressor function. This reinforces the view that many regions of a protein do not require a specific sequence to serve as spacers between more important residues. (4) A distinct pattern of substitutions leading to the I(s) phenotype suggests the location of residues involved in inducer binding. (5) A number of general substitution patterns can be recognized. For instance, proline is not tolerated at over 40 sites which tolerate all the other amino acid replacements. Another set of sites tolerates only non-polar amino acids, whereas a third set tolerates a subset of the smallest amino acids, (serine, alanine, glycine and cysteine, and sometimes threonine and valine). (5) Overall, 93 of 328 sites (28%) tolerate all 13 amino acids tested, and 144 of 328 (44%) tolerate 12/13 or all 13 substitutions. We judge that 192 of 328 sites (59%) are generally tolerant to substitutions.

Alanine↗

Mutational study at Ser300 position of the Escherichia coli lactose repressor.

We have previously reported that a Ser300Asn mutant of the Escherichia coli lactose repressor protein produced a temperature-sensitive phenotype. In order to analyze the structure-function relationship of the lactose repressor protein, we conducted 18 amino acid substitutions at this Ser 300 site by using in vitro mutagenesis. The substitutions at this position that exhibited repressors with the wild-type phenotype in vivo were Gly, Ala, Ile, Thr, Met and Cys; the other 10 substitutions examined (Leu, Val, Tyr, Trp, Asp, Glu, Gln, His, Lys and Arg) resulted in the lacI- phenotype. In addition, the Ser300Phe mutation resulted in the lacIts phenotype, while the Ser300Pro mutation resulted in lacIts,s. It seems likely that the Ser300 position plays an important role in oligomer formation and inducer binding.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Cleavage of bacteriophage phi 80 CI repressor by RecA protein.

We have purified the CI repressor protein of bacteriophage phi 80. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence and its amino acid composition agree with those predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the cI gene. The phi 80 CI repressor was cleaved at a Cys-Gly bond by the wildtype RecA protein in the presence of single-stranded DNA and ATP or its analogues. This cleavage site is different from other repressors such as LexA, lambda CI and P22 C2, which were cleaved at an Ala-Gly bond. The phi 80 CI repressor was cleaved at the same site by the RecA430 protein, but was not cleaved by the RecA1 protein. This effect of the bacterial recA mutations on cleavage is consistent with the fact that prophage phi 80 in recA430 cells can be induced by irradiation with ultraviolet light, while the prophage in recA1 cells cannot.

Amino Acid Sequence↗