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Propionyl coenzyme A carboxylase is required for development of Myxococcus xanthus.

A dcm-1 mutant, obtained by transposon mutagenesis of Myxococcus xanthus, could aggregate and form mounds but was unable to sporulate under nutrient starvation. A sequence analysis of the site of insertion of the transposon showed that the insertion lies within the 3' end of a 1,572-bp open reading frame (ORF) designated the M. xanthus pccB ORF. The wild-type form of the M. xanthus pccB gene, obtained from a lambdaEMBL library of M. xanthus, shows extensive similarity to a beta subunit of propionyl coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase, an alpha subunit of methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase, and a 12S subunit of transcarboxylase. In enzyme assays, extracts of the dcm-1 mutant were deficient in propionyl-CoA carboxylase activity. This enzyme catalyzes the ATP-dependent carboxylation of propionyl-CoA to yield methylmalonyl-CoA. The methylmalonyl-CoA rescued the dcm-1 mutant fruiting body and spore development. During development, the dcm-1 mutant cells also had reduced levels of long-chain fatty acids (C16 to C18) compared to wild-type cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An initial map of insertion and deletion (INDEL) variation in the human genome.

Although many studies have been conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in humans, few studies have been conducted to identify alternative forms of natural genetic variation, such as insertion and deletion (INDEL) polymorphisms. In this report, we describe an initial map of human INDEL variation that contains 415,436 unique INDEL polymorphisms. These INDELs were identified with a computational approach using DNA re-sequencing traces that originally were generated for SNP discovery projects. They range from 1 bp to 9989 bp in length and are split almost equally between insertions and deletions, relative to the chimpanzee genome sequence. Five major classes of INDELs were identified, including (1) insertions and deletions of single-base pairs, (2) monomeric base pair expansions, (3) multi-base pair expansions of 2-15 bp repeat units, (4) transposon insertions, and (5) INDELs containing random DNA sequences. Our INDELs are distributed throughout the human genome with an average density of one INDEL per 7.2 kb of DNA. Variation hotspots were identified with up to 48-fold regional increases in INDEL and/or SNP variation compared with the chromosomal averages for the same chromosomes. Over 148,000 INDELs (35.7%) were identified within known genes, and 5542 of these INDELs were located in the promoters and exons of genes, where gene function would be expected to be influenced the greatest. All INDELs in this study have been deposited into dbSNP and have been integrated into maps of human genetic variation that are available to the research community.

Animals↗

Mapping of a Leishmania major gene/locus that confers pentamidine resistance by deletion and insertion of transposable element.

Pentamidine (PEN) is an alternative compound to treat antimony-resistant leishmaniasis patients, which cellular target remains unclear. One approach to the identification of prospective targets is to identify genes able to mediate PEN resistance following overexpression. Starting from a genomic library of transfected parasites bearing a multicopy episomal cosmid vector containing wild-type Leishmania major DNA, we isolated one locus capable to render PEN resistance to wild type cells after DNA transfection. In order to map this Leishmania locus, cosmid insert was deleted by two successive sets of partial digestion with restriction enzymes, followed by transfection into wild type cells, overexpression, induction and functional tests in the presence of PEN. To determine the Leishmania gene related to PEN resistance, nucleotide sequencing experiments were done through insertion of the transposon Mariner element of Drosophila melanogaster (mosK) into the deleted insert to work as primer island. Using general molecular techniques, we described here this method that permits a quickly identification of a functional gene facilitating nucleotide sequence experiments from large DNA fragments. Followed experiments revealed the presence of a P-Glycoprotein gene in this locus which role in Leishmania metabolism has now been analyzed.

Animals↗

A T7 RNA polymerase-based system for the construction of Pseudomonas strains with phenotypes dependent on TOL-meta pathway effectors.

A general method to construct recombinant Pseudomonas putida (and related bacteria), which transcribe specific genes inserted into their chromosome in response to the presence of alkyl- and halobenzoates, has been developed. The system is based on the ability of the T7 RNA polymerase (T7pol) to initiate transcription from cognate promoter sequences located upstream from cloned genes. A specialized transposon, mini-Tn5 xylS/Pm::T7pol, was constructed which contains the structural T7 gene 1 downstream from the XylS protein/benzoate-regulated Pm promoter of the meta-operon of the TOL catabolic plasmid. This transposon was stably inserted into the chromosome of a P. putida target strain so that gene 1 is transcribed upon exposure of the bacteria to benzoate effectors of the XylS regulator. Genes whose expression is to be mediated by T7pol are cloned in mini-Tn5 transposons containing T7 promoter sequences upstream from the cloning site and then the hybrid transposons are inserted into different positions in the same chromosome. In this way, expression of the genes cloned within the mini-Tn5 vectors is dependent on the T7pol/XylS/Pm system. This expression device is particularly well suited for applications in which the expression of two or more genes is to take place in response to a single chemical signal, i.e., exposure to certain aromatic compounds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Contribution of gene loss to the pathogenic evolution of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis. Burkholderia thailandensis is a closely related species that can readily utilize l-arabinose as a sole carbon source, whereas B. pseudomallei cannot. We used Tn5-OT182 mutagenesis to isolate an arabinose-negative mutant of B. thailandensis. Sequence analysis of regions flanking the transposon insertion revealed the presence of an arabinose assimilation operon consisting of nine genes. Analysis of the B. pseudomallei chromosome showed a deletion of the operon from this organism. This deletion was detected in all B. pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei strains investigated. We cloned the B. thailandensis E264 arabinose assimilation operon and introduced the entire operon into the chromosome of B. pseudomallei 406e via homologous recombination. The resultant strain, B. pseudomallei SZ5028, was able to utilize l-arabinose as a sole carbon source. Strain SZ5028 had a significantly higher 50% lethal dose for Syrian hamsters compared to the parent strain 406e. Microarray analysis revealed that a number of genes in a type III secretion system were down-regulated in strain SZ5028 when cells were grown in l-arabinose, suggesting a regulatory role for l-arabinose or a metabolite of l-arabinose. These results suggest that the ability to metabolize l-arabinose reduces the virulence of B. pseudomallei and that the genes encoding arabinose assimilation may be considered antivirulence genes. The increase in virulence associated with the loss of these genes may have provided a selective advantage for B. pseudomallei as these organisms adapted to survival in animal hosts.

Animals↗

Identification of an operon involved in tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in Marinomonas mediterranea.

The genomic region of Marinomonas mediterranea containing the genes required for tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis has been cloned by marker rescue using the transposon-generated, amelanogenic strain T105. Five ORFs, two incomplete and three complete, have been sequenced in the genomic region where the transposon was inserted. RT-PCR analysis indicates that ORF 3, coding for tyrosinase, and ORF4, coding for a protein of 250 amino acids, are in the same transcriptional unit, constituting an operon whose promoter region has been determined by 5'-RACE. This operon has been sequenced in the wild-type and several mutant strains, indicating that both ORFs are required for expression of tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis. The nitrosoguanidine generated, amelanogenic mutant ng56, shows a nonsense mutation in ORF3 coding for the tyrosinase. On the other hand, in the strain T105 the transposon is inserted in ORF4. The product of this gene is related to copper metabolism, since the addition of this metal ion to cell extracts or culture media partially restores melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in the strain T105. However, it does not show significant sequence similarity to previously characterized metallochaperones and hence may be an example of a new kind of those proteins. The operon has been denoted as ppoB, taking into consideration that ppoA denotes the M. mediterranea gene coding for the previously cloned polyphenol oxidase with laccase activity. This is the first demonstration of the tyrosinase gene forming part of an operon in a Gram-negative bacterium.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular characterization of a STreptococcus mutans mutant altered in environmental stress responses.

A mutant defective in aciduricity, GS5Tn1, was constructed following mutagenesis of Streptococcus mutans GS5 with the conjugative transposon Tn916. The mutant grew poorly at acidic pH levels and was sensitive to high osmolarity and elevated temperatures. These properties resulted from a single insertion of Tn916 into the GS5 chromosome, and the DNA fragment harboring the transposon was isolated into the cosmid vector, charomid 9-20. Spontaneous excision of Tn916 from the cosmid revealed that Tn916 inserted into a 8.6-kb EcoRI fragment. On the basis of the restriction analyses of insert fragments, it was found that Tn916 inserted into a 0.9-kb EcoRI-XbaI fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment indicated the presence of two open reading frames, ORF1 and ORF2. By using a marker rescue strategy, a 6.0-kb HindIII fragment including the target site for Tn916 insertion and the 5' end of ORF1 was isolated and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences of ORF1 and ORF2 showed significant homology with the diacylglycerol kinase and Era proteins, respectively, from Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the Tn916 insertion junction region in the GS5Tn1 chromosome revealed that the transposon inserted near the 3' terminus of ORF1. Restoration of ORF1 to its original sequence in mutant GS5Tn1 was carried out following transformation with integration vector pVA891 containing an intact ORF1. The resultant transformant showed wild-type levels of aciduricity as well as resistance to elevated temperatures and high osmolarity. These results suggest that the S. mutans homolog of diacylglycerol kinase is important for adaptation of the organism to several environmental stress signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Direct sequencing of bacterial and P1 artificial chromosome-nested deletions for identifying position-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

A loxP-transposon retrofitting strategy for generating large nested deletions from one end of the insert DNA in bacterial artificial chromosomes and P1 artificial chromosomes was described recently [Chatterjee, P. K. & Coren, J. S. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 2205-2212]. In this report, we combine this procedure with direct sequencing of nested-deletion templates by using primers located in the transposon end to illustrate its value for position-specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery from chosen regions of large insert clones. A simple ampicillin sensitivity screen was developed to facilitate identification and recovery of deletion clones free of transduced transposon plasmid. This directed approach requires minimal DNA sequencing, and no in vitro subclone library generation; positionally oriented SNPs are a consequence of the method. The procedure is used to discover new SNPs as well as physically map those identified from random subcloned libraries or sequence databases. The deletion templates, positioned SNPs, and markers are also used to orient large insert clones into a contig. The deletion clone can serve as a ready resource for future functional genomic studies because each carries a mammalian cell-specific antibiotic resistance gene from the transposon. Furthermore, the technique should be especially applicable to the analysis of genomes for which a full genome sequence or radiation hybrid cell lines are unavailable.

Base Sequence↗

Salmonella typhimurium loci involved in survival within macrophages.

A set of Tn10 mutants of Salmonella typhimurium which have a diminished capacity to survive in murine macrophages and decreased virulence in mice has been described previously. In this study, we characterized 30 of these mutants and determined map locations of Tn10 insertions for 23 of these strains. In addition, short fragments of transposon-flanking DNA were cloned, and the nucleotide sequence was determined for 23 mutants. Seven mutants carried transposon insertions in known genes, representing six loci: htrA, prc, purD, fliD, nagA, and smpB. The possible roles of these genes in Salmonella virulence are discussed. One insertion was found to be in an unknown gene which shared homology with the open reading frames Bv' and Bv located in the pin inversion system of Shigella boydii. In one mutant, Tn10 was found to be inserted in a gene with significant homology to adhE of Escherichia coli and Clostridium acetobutylicum. The map location and degree of homology indicate that the Salmonella gene encodes a related, but different, dehydrogenase. In 14 of the mutants analyzed, Tn10 was inserted into genes which had no significant homologies to entries in the DNA and protein data bases. In conclusion, 16 insertions define loci, termed ims for impaired macrophage survival, which have not yet been described in S. typhimurium but have been shown previously to be necessary for full virulence in mice. Although most ims loci are distributed randomly throughout the genome, a cluster was found between 75 and 78 min on the Salmonella chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Specificity of insertion of IS1.

A systematic study of the specificity of insertion of the transposable element IS1 into small defined-sequence plasmids (pBR322 and derivatives) was conducted to determine the features of the DNA sequence that influence target site selection. We have physically mapped several collections of independent insertions of IS1 into these plasmids and have determined: (1) that about 80% of all insertions occur in the DNA segment (about 200 base-pairs) between the unique EcoRI site of pBR322 and the beginning of the beta-lactamase gene, one of the two regions of high A + T density in this plasmid; (2) that there is a strong orientation effect in this region (almost all IS1 insertions are in one orientation) that depends on both the pBR322 sequence and the environment of the transposon in the donor molecule; and (3) that the orientation effect does not depend on the strong transcription that is directed through this region in pBR322. Furthermore, we have found that insertion of a poly(dA X dT) segment into pBR322 creates an artificial hotspot for IS1 insertion, even though it is not as attractive for insertion as the above-mentioned major hotspot. Our observations suggest that an interplay between several properties of the target sequences and the sequence environment of the donor transposon is responsible for the observed specificity of position and orientation. One of the possibilities discussed here is that preferred "entry-sites", or "signal" sequences, for the transposition complex play a major role in determining the positions and orientations of IS1 insertions.

Ampicillin↗

Pleiotropic pigmentation mutants of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative, black pigmented oral anaerobe associated with adult periodontitis. The adherence of the bacterium to junctional epithelial cells is the first step in infection and colonization. The molecular mechanisms and genetics of colonization are, as yet, not well understood, although it has been demonstrated that P. gingivalis fimbriae are involved in adhesion. In addition, cell surface cysteine proteinases may play a role either directly as adhesins or indirectly through their involvement in the biogenesis of fimbriae. A link has been established between cysteine proteinase-hemagglutinating activity and colongy pigmentation on blood agar. In this study a P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 transposon library was screened for white mutants. Pleiotropic mutants were identified with altered pigmentation, proteinase, hemagglutinin and haemolytic activities. Although the mutants fell into two classes based on the above phenotypes, by electron microscopy both classes showed increased fimbriation and decreased vesicle formation. Sequencing of genomic DNA flanking the transposon insertions revealed that one class of mutants carried disruptions in the gene encoding Lys-gingipain (kgp) and the other in a gene homologous to a glycosyl transferase. Potential roles for these genes in pigmentation, fimbriation, vesicle formation and attachment to epithelial cells are discussed.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Identification and characterization of PilS, an essential regulator of pilin expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Expression of the pilin gene, pilA, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires the alternative sigma factor, sigma 54, and also two other transcriptional regulators encoded by the pilS and pilR genes. These two linked genes, which have been identified by transposon insertion mutagenesis, share significant amino acid sequence homology with members of the two-component family of regulators. The transcriptional regulator, PilR, has been described previously. PilS, a 37,285 Dalton protein, shares significant homology with the protein kinase sensors of the two-component regulatory family. PilS, however, has no hydrophobic domains which might be membrane-spanning alpha-helices, suggesting that PilS is a cytoplasmic protein. Characterization of the pilS gene revealed that when overexpressed in Escherichia coli by the bacteriophage T7 promoter it specifies a protein of approximately 40,000 daltons, corresponding to the molecular weight of PilS predicted from the deduced amino acid sequence. Deletion analysis of the pilS promoter fused to a promoterless lacZ gene further showed that a significant region upstream of pilS is essential for expression of pilS and pilR, suggesting a need for transcriptional activation. The pilA promoter can be activated in E. coli but only when PilR and sigma 54 are present. This work suggests that the PilS activation signal is received in the bacterial cytoplasm, and that the mechanism of PilS/PilR-mediated signal transduction resulting in activation of the pilin gene promoter is likely to be similar to that of other two-component systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Translational control of IS10 transposition.

We present genetic evidence that insertion sequence IS10, the active element in transposon Tn10, can negatively control expression of its own transposase protein at the translational level. This control process is manifested in trans in a phenomenon called "multicopy inhibition": the presence of a multicopy plasmid containing IS10 inhibits transposition of a single copy chromosomal Tn10 element by reducing its ability to express transposition functions. Fusion analysis suggests that expression is reduced at the translational and not the transcriptional level. Only the outer 180 bp of IS10-Right are required on the plasmid for full inhibition. Plasmid-encoded transposase protein is not involved. The genetic structure of the essential plasmid region and the effects of point and deletion mutations on multicopy inhibition lead us to propose that inhibition of transposase translation occurs by direct pairing between the transposase messenger RNA and a small, complementary, regulatory RNA specified by the IS10-encoded pOUT promoter.

DNA Transposable Elements↗

UNC-5, a transmembrane protein with immunoglobulin and thrombospondin type 1 domains, guides cell and pioneer axon migrations in C. elegans.

The unc-5 gene is required for guiding pioneering axons and migrating cells along the body wall in C. elegans. In mutants, dorsal migrations are disrupted, but ventral and longitudinal movements are largely unaffected. The gene was tagged for molecular cloning by transposon insertions. Based on genomic and cDNA sequencing, the gene encodes UNC-5, a transmembrane protein of 919 aa. The predicted extracellular N-terminus comprises two immunoglobulin and two thrombospondin type 1 domains. Except for an SH3-like motif, the large intracellular C-terminus is novel. Mosaic analysis shows that unc-5 acts in migrating cells and pioneering neurons. We propose that UNC-5 is a transmembrane receptor expressed on the surface of motile cells and growth cones to guide dorsal movements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

UNC-6, a laminin-related protein, guides cell and pioneer axon migrations in C. elegans.

The unc-6 gene is required for the guidance of pioneer axons and migrating cells along the body wall in C. elegans. In mutants, dorsal and ventral migrations are disrupted, but longitudinal movements are largely unaffected. The gene was tagged for molecular cloning by two independent transposon insertions. Based on genomic and cDNA sequencing, the gene encodes a novel laminin-related protein, UNC-6 (591 amino acids). The N-terminus is homologous to the N-termini (i.e., domains V1, V-1, V-2, and V-3) of laminin subunits, while the C-terminus is a unique domain. We propose that UNC-6 is a component of an extracellular matrix cue that guides dorsoventral migrations on the epidermis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Involvement of DNA helicases in chromate resistance by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Chromate-hypersensitive mutants of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain were isolated using transposon insertion mutagenesis. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the regions interrupted within the PAO1 genome showed that mutant strains GGP-64 and AJ-22 were affected in open reading frames PA0967 and PA5345, which correspond to the ruvB and recG genes, respectively. These genes encode helicases RuvB and RecG involved in DNA replication, recombination and repair. The chromate resistance phenotype in mutants GGP-64 and AJ-22 was restored by cosmids bearing wild type ruvB or recG genes, respectively. Also, both mutant strains showed an increased susceptibility to the toxic oxyanions tellurite and selenite as well as to mitomycin C, but not to arsenite, paraquat and hydrogen peroxide. It was concluded that P. aeruginosa RuvB and RecG helicases are involved in repairing DNA damage caused by chromate or its derivatives.

Base Sequence↗

Target DNA bending is an important specificity determinant in target site selection in Tn10 transposition.

The bacterial transposon Tn10 inserts preferentially into specific DNA sequences. DNA footprinting and interference studies have revealed that the Tn10-encoded transposase protein contacts a large stretch of target DNA ( approximately 24 bp) and that the target DNA structure is deformed upon incorporation into the transpososome. Target DNA deformation might contribute significantly to target site selection and thus it is of interest to further define the nature of this deformation. Circular permutation analysis was used to demonstrate that the target DNA is bent upon its incorporation into the transpososome. Two lines of evidence are presented that target DNA bending is an important event in target site selection. First, we demonstrate a correlation between increased target site usage and an increased level of target DNA bending. Second, transposase mutants with relaxed target specificity are shown to cause increased target DNA bending relative to wild-type transposase. This latter observation provides new insight into how relaxed specificity may be achieved. We also show that Ca(2+) facilitates target capture by stabilizing transposase interactions with sequences immediately flanking the insertion site. Ca(2+) could, in theory, exert this effect by stabilizing bends in the target DNA.

Base Sequence↗

Topological repression of gene activity by a transposable element.

The ebgA (evolved beta-galactosidase) gene of Escherichia coli was isolated as part of a 9.6-kilobase (kb) sequence cloned into plasmid pBR322. The position of the ebgA gene within that 9.6-kilobase sequence was identified by insertional inactivation by means of the transposon gamma-delta. In addition to the gamma-delta insertions that inactivate ebgA by disrupting the coding sequence, seven additional gamma-delta insertions reduce expression of the gene by a factor of greater than 200 by insertions elsewhere into the replicon. One of these insertions is into the pBR322 sequence itself. This action at a distance to reduce expression requires that gamma-delta is cis with respect to the ebgA gene. The effect is independent of the orientation or position of gamma-delta within the replicon, but it does depend both upon the orientation of the ebgA-bearing sequence within the replicon and upon the total size of the replicon. Transcription readthrough (promoter occlusion) does not explain this phenomenon, and we suggest that the presence of gamma-delta may alter the local supercoiling in the region of the ebgA promoter in such a way as to inhibit transcription. This repression by a transposable element appears to represent a novel mechanism for altering gene expression.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗