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Comparison of the expression of the seven ribosomal RNA operons in Escherichia coli.

We have compared the expression of the seven ribosomal RNA operons (rrn) of Escherichia coli and their responses to a variety of physiological and genetic perturbations. We used a set of rrn promoter fusion constructs in their native chromosomal positions to examine effects of chromosomal location on rrn operon expression and the same set of fusions on lambda lysogens to assay intrinsic promoter strengths independent of chromosome context. In its native chromosomal location, expression of the rrnH operon was significantly lower than expected. This effect was not attributable to weak promoter activity and was dependent on the growth medium. The rrnE operon had reduced promoter activity relative to the other ribosomal operons in minimal medium and thus appears to have abnormal growth rate regulation. The ribosomal RNA operons showed varied responses to amino acid starvation; expression of rrnD was inhibited most. There was only a slight increase in rrn transcription in response to a temperature shift (30 degrees C to 42 degrees C) and the differences between individual operons was very small. The rrnG operon showed a significantly lower response than the other ribosomal RNA operons to a depletion of the rrn transcription activator, Fis, and thus appears to have decreased Fis-mediated transactivation. Finally, the chromosomal fusion strains were used to study the effect on growth rate of inactivating each rrn operon. In fast growth conditions, loss of certain rrn operons caused subtle decreases in growth rate on complex medium.

Base Sequence

Delineation of two distinct regulatory domains in the 5' region of the nar operon of Escherichia coli.

A detailed restriction site map was determined for an 8.4-kilobase DNA fragment containing the 5' regulatory and promoter region of the nar operon of Escherichia coli. The 5' end of the nar operon was subcloned as a 2.5-kilobase fragment, and an intact nar operon was constructed from this subcloned fragment and an EcoRI fragment containing the remainder of the nar operon. A set of Bal 31 deletions extending into the 5' region of the intact operon was selected, mapped, and characterized. Based on the synthesis of the alpha and beta subunits of nitrate reductase in a nar::Tn5 mutant, three categories of deletions were found: (i) those which permitted normal expression, (ii) those which completely prevented expression, and (iii) those which permitted anaerobic expression of the operon but prevented any additional induction by nitrate. The nucleotide sequence was determined for a segment of the nar promoter region starting at one of the latter deletion end points and extending into the first structural gene of the operon. The position of the deletion end point relative to the translation start site for the first structural gene, narG, was defined by identifying the nucleotide sequence for the first 20 N-terminal amino acid residues of the alpha subunit of nitrate reductase. Deletions terminating 161 base pairs (bp) and approximately 200 bp upstream from the narG translation start site permitted anaerobic formation of nitrate reductase but interfered with the stimulation of nar operon expression by nitrate. A maximum size for the regulatory region was defined by two Tn5 insertions, which mapped approximately 550 bp 5' from the translation start site and did not interfere with the normal expression of nitrate reductase under anaerobic conditions with or without nitrate. We conclude that the nar operon 5' regulatory region is divided into two distinct regions: the 100 to 150 bp immediately 5' to the narG gene include a transcriptional start site and the signals necessary for anaerobic expression of the operon, and an adjacent region of 50 to 400 bp is required for the stimulation of operon expression by nitrate.

Base Sequence

Non-autogenous control of ribosomal protein synthesis from the trmD operon in Escherichia coli.

The trmD operon of Escherichia coli encodes the ribosomal proteins S16 and L19, the tRNA(m1G37)methyltransferase and a 21,000 Mr protein of unknown function. Here we demonstrate that, in contrast to the expression of other ribosomal protein operons, the amount of trmD operon mRNA and the rate of synthesis of the proteins encoded by the operon respond to increased gene dosage. The steady-state level of the mRNA was about 18 times higher, and the relative rate of synthesis of the ribosomal proteins S16 and L19, the tRNA(m1G37)methyltransferase and the 21,000 Mr protein was 15, 9, 25 and 23 times higher, respectively, in plasmid-containing cells than in plasmid-free cells. Overproduced tRNA(m1G37)methyltransferase and 21,000 Mr protein were as stable as E. coli total protein, whereas the two ribosomal proteins were degraded to a large extent. The steady-state amount of S16 and L19 in the plasmid-containing cells exceeded that in plasmid-free cells by threefold and twofold, respectively. No significant effect on the synthesis of the trmD operon proteins from the chromosomally located genes was observed when parts of the operon were expressed on different plasmids. Taken together, these results suggest that the expression of the trmD operon is not subject to transcriptional or translational feedback regulation, and demonstrate that not all ribosomal protein operons are regulated in the same manner. We propose that ribosomal protein operons that do not encode proteins that bind directly to rRNA are not under autogenous control. Metabolic regulation at the transcriptional level and protein degradation are plausible mechanisms for the control of expression of such operons.

Escherichia coli

Sequence of the 5S rRNA gene and organization of ribosomal RNA operons in Streptomyces rimosus.

One Streptomyces rimosus ribosomal RNA gene set (rrnF) was cloned into pBR322 as 8.8 kilobase-pairs BamHI fragment and sequence of the 3' end of the operon with 5S rRNA gene was determined. 5S rRNA gene is 120 bp long and highly homologous with two other known 5S rRNA from Streptomyces. Remarkable sequence homology with S. ambofaciens rrnD operon exists in the 3' noncoding regions, including first transcription termination signal. S. rimosus rrnF operon contains second putative terminator which is absent in S. ambofaciens rrnD operon. tRNA genes were not found at the 3' end of rrnF operon. The number of rRNA operons in S. rimosus was defined by Southern hybridization analysis. S. rimosus possess six rRNA operons and all rRNA operons contain identical PstI fragment of 4.5 kb. rRNA genes in operons are separated by short intergenic regions and organized in the order 16S-23S-5S. Efforts to connect tRNA genes with S. rimosus rRNA operons were unsuccessful.

Base Sequence

FIS-dependent trans activation of stable RNA operons of Escherichia coli under various growth conditions.

In Escherichia coli transcription of the tRNA operon thrU (tufB) and the rRNA operon rrnB is trans-activated by the protein FIS. This protein, which stimulates the inversion of various viral DNA segments, binds specifically to a cis-acting sequence (designated UAS) upstream of the promoter of thrU (tufB) and the P1 promoter of the rrnB operon. There are indications that this type of regulation is representative for the regulation of more stable RNA operons. In the present investigation we have studied UAS-dependent transcription activation of the thrU (tufB) operon in the presence and absence of FIS during a normal bacterial growth cycle and after a nutritional shift-up. In early log phase the expression of the operon rises steeply in wild-type cells, whereafter it declines. Concomitantly, a peak of the cellular FIS concentration is observed. Cells in the stationary phase are depleted of FIS. The rather abrupt increase of transcription activation depends on the nutritional quality of the medium. It is not seen in minimal medium. After a shift from minimal to rich medium, a peak of transcription activation and of FIS concentration is measured. This peak gets higher as the medium gets more strongly enriched. We conclude that a correlation between changes of the UAS-dependent activation of the thrU (tufB) operon and changes of the cellular FIS concentration under a variety of experimental conditions exists. This correlation strongly suggests that the production of FIS responds to environmental signals, thereby trans-activating the operon. Cells unable to produce FIS (fis cells) also show an increase of operon transcription in the early log phase and after a nutritional shift-up, albeit less pronounced than that wild-type cells. Presumably it is controlled by the ribosome feedback regulatory system. cis activation of the operon by the upstream activator sequence is apparent in the absence of FIS. This activation is constant throughout the entire growth cycle and is independent of nutritional factors. The well-known growth rate-dependent control, displayed by exponentially growing cells studied under various nutritional conditions, is governed by two regulatory mechanisms: repression, presumably by ribosome feedback inhibition, and stimulation by trans activation. FIS allows very fast bacterial growth.

Carrier Proteins

Attenuation control of the Escherichia coli phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase operon.

The pheST operon codes for the two subunits of the essential enzyme phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase. The nucleotide sequence of the regulatory regions of the operon, in vitro transcription data and in vivo experiments indicate that the operon is controlled by attenuation in a way similar to many amino acid biosynthetic operons. In this work the control of the pheST operon was studied in vivo by measuring the effect of deletions in the regulatory regions on downstream expression. The presence of a strong promoter followed by an approximately 90% efficient terminator in front of the structural parts of the operon is demonstrated. An open reading frame coding for a 14 amino acid long leader peptide containing five phenylalanine residues is located between the promoter and the terminator. The presence of the transcription terminator is shown to be essential to the operon's regulation. The localization of the promoter and the terminator agrees with the results of previous in vitro experiments. It is also shown that about 30% of the transcripts covering the pheST operon come from the upstream gene, rplT, which codes for the ribosomal protein L20. Although cotranscription exists between rplT and pheST, these genes are not systematically coregulated since reducing the translation of rplT about tenfold, does not change pheST expression. The pheST operon is also shown to be derepressed by a cellular excess of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase. This derepression is shown to be due to the pheST attenuator.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases

The distribution and divergence of DNA sequences related to the Tn21 and Tn501 mer operons.

The mercury resistance (mer) operons of the Gram-negative bacterial transposons, Tn21 and Tn501, are phenotypically indistinguishable and have extensive DNA identity. However, Tn21 mer has an additional coding region (merC) in the middle of the operon which is lacking in Tn501 and there is also a discrete region of the mercuric ion reductase gene (merA) which differs markedly between the two operons. DNA fragment probes were used to determine the distribution of specific mer coding regions in two distinct collections of mercury-resistant (Hgr) Gram-negative bacteria. Colony blot hybridization analysis showed that merC-positive operons occur almost exclusively in Escherichia, although merC-negative operons can also be found in this genus. The merC-negative operons were found in Citrobacter, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter and in some Pseudomonas. Most of the Pseudomonas did not hybridize detectably with either of the two operons studied, indicating that they harbor an unrelated or more distantly related class of mercury resistance locus. Southern hybridization patterns demonstrated that the merC-positive mer operon is well conserved at the DNA level, whereas the merC-negative operons are much less conserved. The presence of merC also correlated with conservation of a specific variant region of the merA gene and with an antibiotic resistance pattern similar to that of Tn21. Tn501 appears to be an atypical example of the merC-negative subgroup of Hgr loci.

Blotting, Southern

The cyanase operon and cyanate metabolism.

Cyanase is an inducible enzyme in E. coli that catalyzes bicarbonate-dependent decomposition of cyanate. It is encoded as part of an operon we have named the cyn operon, which includes three genes in the following order: cynT (cyanate permease), cynS (cyanase), and cynX (protein of unknown function). The direction of transcription is opposite to that of the lac operon, and the 3'-end of the cyn operon overlaps the 3'-end of the lac operon by 98 nucleotides. The gene cynR (regulatory protein) is located upstream from the cyn operon, and its transcription is opposite that of the cyn operon. The genes of the cyn operon and the cynR gene have been cloned, sequenced and over-expressed. Cyanate at concentrations of about 1 mM is toxic to strains of E. coli lacking the cyanase gene, but strains in which the inducible gene for cyanase is present can grow on cyanate as the sole source of nitrogen at concentrations as high as 20 mM. The presence of cyanase itself is not sufficient to overcome cyanate toxicity--the permease must also be present. Strains lacking the cyanase gene, but having a functional permease gene, are extremely sensitive to cyanate. Uptake of cyanate involves the product of the permease gene in an energy-dependent process. It appears that the cyn operon has evolved to function in detoxification/decomposition of cyanate arising from both intra- and extracellular sources.

Aminohydrolases

Multiple regulator gene control of the galactose operon in Escherichia coli K-12.

Previous studies showed that nonsense mutations in either of two genes (capR or capS) or an undefined mutation in a third gene (capT) led to pleiotropic effects: (i) increased capsular polysaccharide synthesis (mucoid phenotype); (ii) increased synthesis of enzymes specified by at least four spatially separated operons involved in synthesis of capsular polysaccharide including the product of the galE gene, UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.2) in capR mutants. The present study demonstrated that the entire galactose (gal) operon (galE, galT, and galK) is derepressed by mutations in either the capR or the capT genes, but not by mutation in capS. Double mutants (capR9 capT) were no more derepressed than the capR9 mutant, indicating that capR9 and capT regulate the gal operon via a common pathway. Isogenic double mutants containing either galR(+), galR(-), galR(s), or galO(c) in combination with either capR(+) or capR9 were prepared and analyzed for enzymes of the gal operon. The results demonstrated that capR9 caused derepression as compared to capR(+) in all of the combinations. Strains with a galR(s) mutation are not induced, for the gal operon, by any galactose compound including d-fucose, and this was confirmed in the present study using d-fucose. Nevertheless, the derepression of galR(s) capR9 compared to galR(s) capR(+) was four- to sixfold. The same derepression was observed when galR(+)capR9 was compared to galR(+)capR(+). The data eliminate the explanation that internal induction of the gal operon by a galactose derivative was causing increased gal operon enzyme synthesis in capR or capT mutants. Furthermore, the same data suggest that the galR and capR genes are acting independently to derepress the gal operon. A modified model for the structure of the gal operon is proposed to explain these results. The new feature of the model is that two operator sites are suggested, one to combine with the galR repressor and one to combine with the capR repressor.

Binding Sites

Replication origin region of Bacillus subtilis chromosome contains two rRNA operons.

The first replicating DNA fragment (BamHI-7) of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome contains two promoters for a rRNA operon. A map of restriction enzyme cleavage sites of the region of replication origin suggests the presence of a second rRNA operon in this region. Hybridization of rRNA genes (rDNA) with DNA fragments derived from the origin region by treatment with various enzymes clearly revealed two rRNA operons in this region, one at the B7-B3 junction and the other at the B5-B6 junction. The restriction enzyme cleavage sites surrounding the rRNA operons show that the operon at the B5-B6 junction corresponds to the rrnA operon. A novel operon at the B7-B3 junction was termed rrnO. Transformation by density-labeled fragments of the origin region showed that the first replicating marker, guaA, is located in the B3 fragment. From these results, a map was constructed for the first time to correlate the genetic markers with the physical structure of the replication origin region of the B. subtilis chromosome. The role of the rrnO operon in regulating the initiation of chromosomal replication is discussed, based on the fact that the promoter of the rrnO operon suppresses the replication of the plasmid carrying the promoter.

Bacillus subtilis

Comparison of the overlapping frd and ampC operons of Escherichia coli with the corresponding DNA sequences in other gram-negative bacteria.

Specific DNA probes from Escherichia coli K-12 were used to analyze the sequence divergence of the frd and ampC operons in various species of gram-negative bacteria. These operons code for the fumarate reductase complex and the chromosomal beta-lactamase, respectively. We demonstrate that the two operons show the same general pattern of divergence, although the frd operon is considerably more conserved than is the ampC operon. The major exception is Salmonella typhimurium LT2, which shows a strong homology to the E. coli frd probe but none to the E. coli ampC probe. The operons from Citrobacter freundii and Shigella sonnei were cloned and characterized by physical mapping, Southern hybridization, and protein synthesis in minicells. In S. sonnei, as in E. coli K-12, the frd and ampC operons overlap (T. Grundström and B. Jaurin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79:1111-1115, 1982). Only minor discrepancies between the two operons were found over the entire frd-ampC region. In C. freundii, the ampC and frd operons do not overlap, being separated by about 1,100 base pairs. Presumably the inducible property of the C. freundii chromosomal beta-lactamase is encoded by this 1,100-base-pair DNA segment.

Base Sequence

Functional significance of overlapping transcripts of crtEF, bchCA, and puf photosynthesis gene operons in Rhodobacter capsulatus.

The Rhodobacter capsulatus crtEF, bchCA, and puf operons each encode products that function together to produce photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes. The crtEF operon encodes two enzymes of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, the bchCA operon encodes two enzymes of the bacteriochlorophyll biosynthetic pathway, and the puf operon contains six genes, four of which are known to code for proteins that bind pigment cofactors and position them in the intracytoplasmic membrane. These operons are adjacent on the chromosome and are transcribed in the same direction. Although each of these operons can be expressed from its own promoter, it is possible for transcription to begin at the crtEF promoter and continue through the bchCA and puf operons. We herein present the results of experiments which demonstrate that this overlapping transcriptional arrangement is important for establishment of normal levels of transcripts of the bchCA and puf operons and that read-through transcription from the bchCA operon contributes significantly to the expression of a pufB'::lac'Z gene fusion. Growth studies of crtF and bchC interposon mutants show that this read-through transcription is necessary for efficient transition from respiratory to photosynthetic growth modes.

Blotting, Northern

Interchangeability of repressors for the control of the uxu and uid operons in E. coli K12.

The uidA and uxuAB operons are each under the dual control of two repressor molecules: the uidR and uxuR encoded repressors negatively control the uidA operon whereas the uxuAB operon is regulated by the uxuR and exuR gene products. Plasmids overproducing the regulatory molecules encoded by exuR, uxuR, or uidR were used to investigate the regulation of these two operons. Large amounts of either exuR or uxuR repressor caused a complete repression of the uxuAB operon in exuR and uxuR double-deleted mutants, suggesting that the two repressors, when they are overproduced, are totally interchangeable for the control of the uxuAB operon. In contrast, the UxuR molecule has no effect on the other exu regulon operons controlled by the exuR gene product. The uidR and uxuR gene products appear to be partially interchangeable for the regulation of the uidA gene since addition of multicopy plasmids bearing uidR+, in uxuR deleted mutant strains, only partially suppresses the derepression of the uidA gene. Inversely, multicopies of uidR weakly reduced the synthesis of the uxuB gene product in uxuR derepressed mutants. The restrictions placed by these phenomena on the formulation of the mechanism of cooperation between the two repressor molecules for repressing the uxuAB and uidA operons are discussed.

Escherichia coli

Positive regulation of the expression of the Escherichia coli pts operon. Identification of the regulatory regions.

The pts operon of Escherichia coli is composed of the ptsH, ptsI and crr genes coding for three proteins central to the phosphoenolpyruvate dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), the HPr, enzyme I and EIIIGlc proteins, respectively. We previously showed that transcription from the promoter region located upstream from the pts operon is regulated by two control circuits, which can occur independently from each other. Transcription of the pts operon is (1) stimulated by the CAP-cAMP complex and (2) enhanced during growth on glucose, a PTS substrate. The DNA regions involved in regulation of the expression of the pts operon have been identified. Two promoters, P0 and P1, separated by 100 bp are located upstream from the pts operon. In these promoter regions, we identified two sequences showing similarity with the consensus of CAP-binding sites, CAPa located near P0 and CAPb located in the -35 region of P1. In vivo experiments showed that binding of CAP-cAMP at the CAPa site stimulates transcription from the P0 promoter. The binding sites of CAP-cAMP and/or RNA-polymerase on a DNA fragment containing both P0 and P1 promoters as well as both CAPa and CAPb sites were examined by the technique of DNase I footprinting. These in vitro experiments suggested that CAP-cAMP binding at the CAPb site might also play a role in regulation of the pts operon expression. In addition, we showed that the DNA region carrying the CAPa site is important for regulation by glucose. We finally propose that the expression of the pts operon is controlled by two alternative positive regulatory mechanisms, which are designed to allow activation of the pts operon under a great variety of growth conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence

DNA sequences of promoter regions for the str and spc ribosomal protein operons in E. coli.

The DNA sequences have been determined for promoter regions of two ribosomal protein operons in E. coli, the str operon and the spc operon. The site of in vitro transcription initiation within each of these promoter regions has been determined. The start site of the str operon occurs 69 bases upstream from the initiation codon of the S12 gene. The start site of the spc operon occurs 72 bases upstream from the L14 gene, and only 91 bases downstream from the termination codon of the S17 gene (which is in the preceding S10 operon). Both promoters are similar to other sequenced promoters in that they each have an identifiable "Pribnow box" sequence 5 bases upstream from the transcription start site. The spc promoter has a long sequence of 2 fold symmetry centered within the Pribnow box; the str promoter has a shorter but similar symmetry. At positions -69 through -40 in the spc operon, another long region of symmetry is present which may be the termination signal of the preceding S10 operon. Extensive sequence similarity between the str and spc promoter regions is found downstream from the Pribnow box-that is, in a transcribed region preceding the translation start sites.

Bacterial Proteins

Inhibition of transcription of the histidine operon in vitro by the first enzyme of the histidine pathway.

An in vitro system was developed for transcription of the histidine operon of Esherichia coli carried in the genome of a defective varphi80 transducing phage. The messenger RNA (mRNA) of the histidine operon synthesized in the in vitro system was detected by hybridization to single strands of both varphi80 and varphi80dhis DNA, and by competition of this hybridization with unlabeled histidine mRNA that had been synthesized in vivo (RNA extracted from cells in which the histidine operon had been derepressed). Under the conditions used, RNA complementary to the histidine operon was about 15% of the total RNA that was synthesized in vitro from the varphi80dhis DNA template. The RNA complementary to the histidine operon was synthesized on the "sense" strand (the R strand) of varphi80dhis in the form of a polycistronic message with a sedimentation coefficient (about 38 S) very close to that observed for the histidine mRNA synthesized in vivo. Synthesis of the histidine operon RNA appears to be subject to control in vitro. Addition of the first enzyme of the pathway for histidine biosynthesis blocked transcription of the histidine operon specifically, strongly suggesting that this enzyme acts as a regulatory protein for the histidine operon.

Cell-Free System

Genetic organization of the cellulose synthase operon in Acetobacter xylinum.

An operon encoding four proteins required for bacterial cellulose biosynthesis (bcs) in Acetobacter xylinum was isolated via genetic complementation with strains lacking cellulose synthase activity. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the cellulose synthase operon is 9217 base pairs long and consists of four genes. The four genes--bcsA, bcsB, bcsC, and bcsD--appear to be translationally coupled and transcribed as a polycistronic mRNA with an initiation site 97 bases upstream of the coding region of the first gene (bcsA) in the operon. Results from genetic complementation tests and gene disruption analyses demonstrate that all four genes in the operon are required for maximal bacterial cellulose synthesis in A. xylinum. The calculated molecular masses of the proteins encoded by bcsA, bcsB, bcsC, and bcsD are 84.4, 85.3, 141.0, and 17.3 kDa, respectively. The second gene in the operon (bcsB) encodes the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase. The functions of the bcsA, bcsC, and bcsD gene products are unknown. Bacterial strains mutated in the bcsA locus were found to be deficient in cellulose synthesis due to the lack of cellulose synthase and diguanylate cyclase activities. Mutants in the bcsC and bcsD genes were impaired in cellulose production in vivo, even though they had the capacity to make all the necessary metabolic precursors and cyclic diguanylic acid, the activator of cellulose synthase, and exhibit cellulose synthase activity in vitro. When the entire operon was present on a multicopy plasmid in the bacterial cell, both cellulose synthase activity and cellulose biosynthesis increased. When the promoter of the cellulose synthase operon was replaced on the chromosome by E. coli tac or lac promoters, cellulose production was reduced in parallel with decreased cellulose synthase activity. These observations suggest that the expression of the bcs operon is rate-limiting for cellulose synthesis in A. xylinum.

Arabidopsis Proteins

Effect of NusA protein on expression of the nusA,infB operon in E. coli.

Protein and operon fusions between lacZ and various genes of the nusA,infB operon have been constructed on lambda bacteriophages and used to show that the operon is negatively regulated by the level of NusA protein. Overproducing NusA (but not IF2) from a multicopy plasmid reduces the level of beta-galactosidase from the fusions indicating repression of the operon. Introducing the lambda carrying the fusions into nusA mutant strains produces a higher level of beta-galactosidase-indicative of derepression of the operon. In particular, a larger form of the NusA protein which does not affect bacterial growth per se causes a derepression of the operon. As both protein and operon fusions respond equivalently, we conclude that the nusA protein is acting at the transcriptional level to regulate expression of the nusA, infB operon.

Bacterial Proteins