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Accessory genes in the darA operon of bacteriophage P1 affect antirestriction function, generalized transduction, head morphogenesis, and host cell lysis.

Bacteriophage P1 mutants with the 8.86-kb region between the invertible C-segment and the residential IS1 element deleted from their genome are still able to grow vegetatively and to lysogenize stably, but they show several phenotypic changes. These include the formation of minute plaques due to delayed cell lysis, the abundant production of small-headed particles, a lack of specific internal head proteins, sensitivity to type I host restriction systems, and altered properties to mediate generalized transduction. In the wild-type P1 genome, the accessory genes encoding the functions responsible for these characters are localized in the darA operon that is transcribed late during phage production. We determined the relevant DNA sequence that is located between the C-segment and the IS1 element and contains the cin gene for C-inversion and the accessory genes in the darA operon. The darA operon carries eight open reading frames that could encode polypeptides containing >100 amino acids. Genetic studies indicate that some of these open reading frames, in particular those residing in the 5' part of the darA operon, are responsible for the phenotypic traits identified. The study may contribute to a better comprehension of phage morphogenesis, of the mobilization of host DNA into phage particles mediating generalized transduction, of the defense against type I restriction systems, and of the control of host lysis.

Bacteriolysis↗

Organization, expression and nucleotide sequence of the operon encoding R-phycoerythrin alpha and beta subunits from the red alga Polysiphonia boldii.

The characterization of the operon encoding the alpha and beta subunits of rhodophytan (R)-phycoerythrin (PE) from the macrophytic red alga Polysiphonia boldii is reported. This plastid-encoded operon was cloned, its nucleotide sequence determined, and its expression characterized by northern and primer extension analyses. The arrangement and expression of the PE alpha and beta genes, named rpeA and rpeB, are similar to those of the cyanobacterial (C)-PE genes: rpeB is located 5' of rpeA, with an intergenic region of 64 nucleotides. The two genes are transcribed on a 1.25 kb dicistronic transcript, and each coding region is preceded by a prokaryotic ribosome binding site consensus sequence. Transcription is initiated 95 nucleotides upstream of the initiating methionine codon of rpeB. The promoter region resembles that of prokaryotic genes, with an AT-rich -10 sequence. A direct pentanucleotide repeat (5'-TGTTA-3') was found in the -35 region. This pentanucleotide is present upstream of all PE operons that have been characterized thus far. An extensive inverted repeat is present 3' of rpeA; inverted repeats are found downstream of all PE operons sequenced to date, although the sequence is not conserved. The deduced amino acid sequences from these genes provide complete sequences for an R-PE. Of the amino acid residues 85% are identical to those of bangeophycean (B)-PE from the unicellular red alga Porphyridium cruentum. Conserved residues include cysteines at the bilin attachment sites of C- and B-PEs, aspartates at positions postulated to interact with bilin chromophores, and an apparent consensus sequence for N-methylation of an asparagine residue in C-PEs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of cho and melC operons by a Streptococcus thermophilus synthetic promoter in Escherichia coli.

A 63-base-pair synthetic promoter, sP1, was synthesized on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a putative Streptococcus thermophilus promoter. When inserted upstream from the Streptomyces cho operon in a recombinant plasmid, pUCO195P-36, sP1 activated the expression of the cho genes in Escherichia coli, as shown by the production of cholesterol oxidase by the transformants. The sP1-driven cholesterol oxidase production in pUCO195P-36-transformed cells was estimated to be 40% of that produced by P(lac)-mediated cho expression in a pUCO193-containing host. The recombinant pUCO195P-36 appeared to be segregationally less stable in E. coli DH5 alpha than in HB101. Its non-expressing counterpart, pUCO195P-1, was stable in both E. coli strains. The activity of sP1 was further demonstrated in E. coli by the expression of a Streptomyces melC operon. When placed upstream from the test operon in the pMCU22aPa construct, sP1 activated the melC expression as shown by the production of tyrosinase at (3.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(-3) U/mg and (16.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(-3) U/mg protein equivalent of cell extract in the absence and presence of isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside, respectively. The presence of a counter-oriented P(lac) at the 3' end of the operon in the pMCU22bPa plasmid reduced the sP1-mediated tyrosinase production by about 85%.

Base Sequence↗

On the operon structure of the cfx gene clusters in Alcaligenes eutrophus.

Three transposon Tn5-induced mutants deficient in autotrophic CO2 fixation were isolated from a megaplasmid pHG1-cured strain of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16. Their phenotypes were initially characterized by their ability to form both key enzymes of the Calvin cycle, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) and phosphoribulokinase (PRK). Since the transposon insertions were at different sites within the chromosomal cluster of cfx genes encoding Calvin cycle enzymes, the individual mutants showed different inactivation patterns for Rubisco and PRK synthesis. These data together with already known sequence data and the arrangement of cfx genes suggested that the Rubisco, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase/sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase and PRK genes are constituents of the same operon. This was further confirmed by trans complementation analyses which indicated that the very similarly organized pHG1-encoded cfx genes additionally present in wild-type strain H16 are functional and also form a common operon. Each operon may also include a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. Thus, the duplicated cfx operons of A. eutrophus H16 are large transcriptional units comprising at least about 8 kilobase pairs (kb) and possibly as much as 11 kb.

Alcaligenes↗

Stimulation in trans of synthesis of E. coli gal operon enzymes by lambdoid phages during low catabolite repression.

The infection of E. coli cells with different lambdoïd prophages triggers a stimulation of galactokinase synthesis when cells are grown in a medium giving rise to a mild catabolite repression (tryptone broth) with an inducer of the gal operon (fucose). These results show that during phage infection (or induction) some factor acting in trans is produced which is able to overcome efficiently catabolite repression of the kinase cistron. Using different strains of lambdapbio252 (pam, qam, "hl), lambdapbio256Hl and lambdaNNS7 we have concluded that the factor is the N gene product which is known for its anti- p(rho) action. Studies of the whole gal operon in the same conditions show that epimerase unlike transferase and galactokinase is practically insensitive to catabolite repression by tryptone broth and that viral development has a low effect on it. This indicates that there is an internal modulation of gal operon expression. A mRNA termination site sensitive to the p factor is known in the gal operon between galE and galT. Another site weaker than this one might exist between galE and operator-promoter region.

Coliphages↗

Nucleotide sequence and analysis of the mgl operon of Escherichia coli K12.

The nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli K12 beta-methylgalactoside transport operon, mgl, was determined. Primer extension analysis indicated that the synthesis of mRNA initiates at guanine residue 145 of the determined sequence. The operon contains three open reading frames (ORF). The operator proximal ORF, mglB, encodes the galactose binding protein, a periplasmic protein of 332 amino acids including the 23 residue amino-terminal signal peptide. Following a 62 nucleotide spacer, the second ORF, mglA, is capable of encoding a protein of 506 amino acids. The amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal halves of this protein are homologous to each other and each half contains a putative nucleotide binding site. The third ORF, mglC, is capable of encoding a hydrophobic protein of 336 amino acids which is thought to generate the transmembrane pore. The overall organization of the mglBAC operon and its potential to encode three proteins is similar to that of the ara FGH high affinity transport operon, located approximately 1 min away on the E. coli K12 chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential expression of the partially duplicated chloroplast S10 ribosomal protein operon.

The chloroplast S10 ribosomal protein operon is partially duplicated in many plants because it initiates within the inverted repeat of the circular chloroplast genome. In spinach, the complete S10 operon (S10B) spans the junction between inverted repeat B (IRB) and the large single-copy (LSC) region. The S10 operon is partially duplicated in the inverted repeat A (IRA), but the sequence of S10A completely diverges from S10B at the junction of S10A and the LSC region. The DNA sequence shared by S10A and S10B includes trnI1, the rpl23 pseudogene (rpl23 psi), the intron-containing rpl2 and rps19, which is truncated in S10A at the S10A/LSC junction (rps19'). Transcription of rps19' from the promoter region of S10A could result in the synthesis of a mutant S19 protein. Analysis of RNA accumulation and run-on transcription from S10A and S10B using unique probes from the S10A/LSC and S10B/LSC junctions reveals that expression of S10A is reduced. The difference in S10A and S10B expression appears to be the result of reduced transcription from S10A, rather than differences in RNA stability. Transcription of S10B can initiate at three distinct promoter regions, P1, P2 and P3, which map closely to transcripts detected by S1 nuclease analysis. P1 is located upstream of trnI1 and has the highest transcription initiation frequency in vitro of the three promoter regions. The DNA sequence of P1 is most similar to the chloroplast promoter consensus DNA sequence. Interference by the highly and convergently transcribed psbA-trnH1 operon is considered as a mechanism to explain the reduced activity of the S10A promoters.

Chloroplasts↗

The meta cleavage operon of TOL degradative plasmid pWW0 comprises 13 genes.

The meta-cleavage operon of TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida encodes a set of enzymes which transform benzoate/toluates to Krebs cycle intermediates via extradiol (meta-) cleavage of (methyl)catechol. The genetic organization of the operon was characterized by cloning of the meta-cleavage genes into an expression vector and identification of their products in Escherichia coli maxicells. This analysis showed that the meta-cleavage operon contains 13 genes whose order and products (in kilodaltons) are xylX(57)-xylY(20)-xylZ(39)-xylL(28)-xylT(1 2)-xylE(36)-xylG(60)-xylF(34)- xylJ(28)-xylQ(42)-xylK(39)-xylI(29)-xylH(4 ). The xylXYZ genes encode three subunits of toluate 1,2-dioxygenase. The xylL, xylE, xylG, xylF, xylJ, xylK, xylI, and xylH genes encode 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylate dehydrogenase, catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde hydrolase, 2-oxopent-4-enoate hydratase, 4-hydroxy-2-oxovalerate aldolase, 4-oxalocrotonate decarboxylase and 4-oxaloccotonate tautomerase, respectively. The functions of xylT and xylQ are not known at present. The comparison of the coding capacity and the sizes of the products of the meta-cleavage operon genes indicated that most of the DNA between xylX and xylH consists of coding sequences.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Autoregulation by cooperative binding of the PemI and PemK proteins to the promoter region of the pem operon.

The low copy number plasmid R100 carries the pem region, consisting of two genes, pemI and pemK, which are required for stable maintenance of the plasmid. Here, to understand the regulation of the expression of the pem region, we constructed plasmids carrying either the pemI or the pemK gene, whose initiation codons were fused in frame with the lacZ gene, and examined their expression by assaying beta-galactosidase (LacZ) activity. The synthesis of both PemI and PemK proteins was found to be repressed coordinately in the presence of a plasmid carrying the entire pem region. This indicates that pemK and pemI cistrons form an operon, and that the expression of the operon is negatively regulated by its own products. We then conducted a gel retardation assay in vitro and found that the two pem products, each of which was obtained as a tripartite protein (PemI-collagen-LacZ and PemK-collagen-LacZ), bound cooperatively to a specific fragment containing the proximal region of the pem operon. The binding region, determined by DNase I footprinting analysis, included the promoter for the pem operon. This indicates that both PemI and PemK proteins bind to the promoter region to autoregulate their synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The promoters of the atp operon of Escherichia coli K12.

The nucleotide sequence has been determined of a 900 bp segment of chromosomal DNA located between 2.6 and 3.5 kb left of the origin of replication, oriC. This segment, which overlaps with the known sequence of the atp operon coding for the eight subunits of the Escherichia coli K12 ATP synthase, contains two coding sequences with the same polarity (counterclockwise) as the atp genes: One of these, designated atpI, which codes for the N-terminal part of a 14 kD polypeptide, is located in front (upstream) of the atpB gene (the first structural gene in the atp operon), the other one codes for the C-terminal part of the gidB gene. The 606 bp segment located between the gidB and the atpI genes contains no coding sequences. By employing the nuclease S1 mapping technique, we have determined a promoter, designated atpIp, for the atp operon located in front of the atpI gene; two additional, weak transcription starts were located within the atpI gene. No transcription start sites were detected up to 1,000 bp upstream of the atpIp promoter, neither were any transcription start sites detected within the cluster of the eight structural atp genes. The atp operon transcription terminates at a site approximately 50 bp downstream from the atpC gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and DNA sequence of tdcR, a positive regulatory gene of the tdc operon of Escherichia coli.

Efficient in vivo expression of the biodegradative threonine dehydratase (tdc) operon of Escherichia coli is dependent on a regulatory gene, tdcR. The tdcR gene is located 198 base pairs upstream of the tdc operon and is transcribed divergently from this operon. The nucleotide sequence of tdcR and two unrelated reading frames has been determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of TdcR indicates that it is a polypeptide of Mr 12,000 with 99 amino acid residues and contains a potential helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif. Deletion analysis and minicell expression of the tdcR gene suggest that TdcR may serve as a trans-acting positive activator for the tdc operon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulation of proline utilization in Salmonella typhimurium: molecular characterization of the put operon, and DNA sequence of the put control region.

The two genes required for proline utilization (put) in Salmonella typhimurium form a divergent operon. Extensive genetic evidence suggests that transcription of the put operon is autoregulated by the putA gene product, a membrane-associated dehydrogenase. In order to understand the mechanism of regulation, we characterized plasmid clones of the put operon. A 7.5 kb clone contains both of the put structural genes and regulatory sites. This clone only expressed two unique proteins corresponding to the putA and putP gene products. By comparing the physical and genetic maps of the put operon, the position of the put regulatory region was defined and the DNA sequence of this region was determined. Analysis of the DNA sequence indicated several potential regulatory sites for the put genes. Based on genetic and physical mapping studies, the most likely regulatory sites are two convergent promoters approximately 30 bp apart. A 27 bp palindrome located between the two promoters may be the operator for autoregulation by the PutA protein. The putA translational start site is 40 bp downstream of its putative mRNA start site. The putP promoter and its translational start site are separated by a 400 bp untranslated region.

Base Sequence↗

A secondary promoter for elongation factor Tu synthesis in the str ribosomal protein operon of Escherichia coli.

The str operon of Escherichia coli contains genes for ribosomal proteins S12 and S7 and for elongation factors EF-G and EF-Tu (Jaskunas et al. 1975). We have subcloned various segments of DNA from this operon onto multicopy plasmids. We found that cells carrying a recombinant plasmid which lacks the major promoter for the str operon but contains the 5' portion of the EF-Tu gene synthesize a novel protein which we have identified as a truncated EF-Tu molecule. Moreover, cells carrying plasmids with an intact EF-Tu gene synthesize the elongation factor at a 3- to 5-fold higher rate than haploid cells. Thus the EF-Tu gene can be expressed in the absence of the major promoter for the str operon. This expression is not due to read-through from plasmid promoters, but it is dependent on the presence of the distal portion of the EF-G gene on the plasmids. These results indicate that there is a secondary promoter for EF-Tu expression, apparently located within the structural gene for elongation factor EF-G.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Increased expression of the Escherichia coli umuDC operon restores SOS mutagenesis in lexA41 cells.

The lexA41 allele of Escherichia coli encodes a semidefective mutant repressor that is also resistant to RecA facilitated cleavage. Cells harboring the lexA41 allele were found previously to repress only a subset of operons in the SOS regulon. lexA41 cells cannot promote SOS mutagenesis, presumably because one or more operons required for mutagenesis are repressed by this mutant repressor. Using the lac regulatory system to increase the expression of the umuDC operon, we were able to restore mutagenesis in the lexA41 mutant. We conclude that the products of the umuDC operon appear to be uniquely limiting in this mutant.

Alleles↗

A novel Euglena gracilis chloroplast operon encoding four ATP synthase subunits and two ribosomal proteins contains 17 introns.

The structure of a Euglena gracilis chloroplast operon encoding four subunits of the chloroplast ATP synthase complex and two ribosomal proteins has been determined. These six genes contain 17 introns. This operon is transcribed as a hexacistronic primary transcript which is subsequently processed to monocistronic mRNAs. The linear order of these genes, 5'-rps2-atpI-atpH-atpF-atpA-rps18-3' , encoding ribosomal protein S2, chloroplast ATP synthase subunits CF0IV, CF0III, CF0I, CF1 alpha and ribosomal protein S18, respectively, is similar to the equivalent operons of prokaryotes, cyanelles and land-plant chloroplasts. This operon differs from those of these other organisms in the co-transcription of rps18 and in intron content.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence and evolution of the regions between thr rrn operons in the chloroplast genome of Euglena gracilis bacillaris.

The rRNA genes are arranged in three sequential operons preceded by a fourth partial operon. Part or all of a 1462 nucleotide sequence extending from within the 3'-end of the 23S rRNA gene, across the 5S rRNA gene and a presumptive transcription terminator, to within the first structural gene (for 16S rRNA) of the rrn operon was determined for each region between operons. Homologies of the 3'-end of the 23S rRNA gene with the 4.5S rRNA genes of higher plant chloroplasts, and of the 5S rRNA gene with other 5S rRNA genes were examined. The region preceding the 16S rRNA gene, which is expected to contain sites for initiation and regulation of rrn transcription, includes a 305 base-pair sequence with substantial homology with structural genes elsewhere in the chloroplast genome. The homologies suggest that this portion of the leader evolved from copies of parts of the structural genes which had been inserted before the 16S rRNA genes. Thus the chloroplast rrn leader may provide a unique opportunity to study how a regulatory sequence evolved from well-defined structural genes.

Base Sequence↗

Two overlapping SOS-boxes in ColE operons are responsible for the viability of cells harboring the Col plasmid.

In this study, oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis was used to change the consensus sequences of the LexA binding motifs in either one of the two SOS-boxes of the ColE7 operon. The results indicated that both mutants produced larger amounts of colicin than cells harboring the wild-type ColE7 plasmid. This finding would imply that two biologically functional SOS boxes exist in the ColE7 operon. In the non-induced state, no lysis of cells harboring wild-type plasmids occurred at 37 degrees C, whereas, cells harboring recombinant plasmids containing either one of the mutated SOS boxes underwent lysis within 100 min under the same conditions. This result indicated that adaptation of two SOS boxes of the ColE operon would obviously tightly control the expression of ColE operons. In such a way that it may prevent excessive expression of the lysis (cel) gene, thus safeguard the host cells from being lysed in ordinary living conditions.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutations in PurBox1 of the Bacillus subtilis pur operon control site affect adenine-regulated expression in vivo.

Transcription of the Bacillus subtilis pur operon is regulated by a purine repressor (PurR)-DNA control site interaction. The pur operon control site has two PurBoxes that are required for high-affinity PurR binding. An upstream, strong-binding PurBox1 is at position -81 to -68 relative to the transcription start site and a downstream weak-binding PurBox2 is at position -49 to -36. We constructed three PurBox1 mutations and the effects on binding of PurR to the control region in vitro and on regulation of pur operon expression in vivo were investigated. The mutations significantly reduced the binding of PurR to control region DNA. In strains with G-75A, G-75T and a five bp deletion (delta5) pur operon repression was defective in vivo. In addition in vivo PurR titration was used to confirm that sequences flanking PurBox1 and PurBox2 are required for PurR binding to the puroperon control site.

Adenine↗