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PubMed1993

Unassigned or nonsense codons in Micrococcus luteus.

We previously reported that in Micrococcus luteus, a Gram-positive eubacterium with high genomic G + C content, certain codons ending with A did not appear in coding frames, including termination sites, and tRNAs that translate these codons were not detected. These facts suggest that at least some of them are unassigned (nonsense) codons, i.e. not assigned to any amino acid or to any stop signal. We have investigated whether AGA and AUA, universal Arg and Ile codons, respectively, are really unassigned codons by using a cell-free extract prepared from M. luteus and synthetic messenger RNAs. Translation of synthetic mRNA containing in-frame AGA codons does not result in "read-through" to codons beyond the AGA codons, i.e. translation ceases at codon AGA. Essentially the same result was obtained with mRNA containing AUA in-frame. A sucrose-gradient centrifugation profile of the reaction mixture has shown that practically all of the peptides that have been synthesized are attached to 70 S ribosomes. When in-frame AGA or AUA codons are replaced by UGA codons in mRNA, no read-through occurs beyond UGA, just as in the case of AGA or AUA. However, the synthesized peptide is released from the 70 S ribosomes. These data suggest that AGA and AUA are unassigned codons and differ from UGA in that they are not used for termination.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of a complex plasmid insertion in a phototaxis-deficient transformant of Dictyostelium discoideum selected on a Micrococcus luteus lawn.

A novel method for clonal selection of G418-resistant Dictyostelium discoideum transformants on lawns of Micrococcus luteus was developed. The procedure was used to isolate transformants deficient in phototaxis after nontargeted insertion of shuttle vector DNA. Southern blot analysis as well as restriction, T-tracking, and sequencing analysis of plasmids rescued from the genomic DNA of one of the putative phototaxis gene disruptants showed that it contained a complex multicopy insertion of the vector. While insertions of such plasmid vectors might typically be in tandem multicopy format, they can be much more complex, containing, as in this case, inverse as well as tandemly duplicated copies and various deletions.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Overexpression of salt-tolerant glutaminase from Micrococcus luteus K-3 in Escherichia coli and its purification.

A high-expression plasmid, pKSGHE3-1, containing the salt-tolerant glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2) from marine bacterium Micrococcus luteus K-3 was constructed. pKSGHE3-1 was made by inserting the DNA fragment (1.43 kb) containing the structural gene synthesized by polymerase chain reaction into the downstream region of the tac promoter of expression vector pKK223-3. The translational start codon was located 10 bases downstream of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence (AGGA) of pKK223-3. Escherichia coli JM109 transformed with pKSGHE3-1 exhibited more than 190-fold higher glutaminase activity than M. luteus K-3 under optimal culture conditions. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity through three column chromatography steps with a final yield of 17.1%. The recombinant enzyme showed the same enzymatic properties, including salt tolerance, as those of M. luteus K-3. This glutaminase expression system allows the production of sufficient quantities of glutaminase for basic structure-function studies including chemical modification and future X-ray crystallization analysis.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Purification and characterization of a unique alkaline elastase from Micrococcus luteus.

Micrococcus luteus isolated from human skin secretes an alkaline protease which degrades elastin. M. luteus protease (MLP) was produced in the late logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. MLP, purified to homogeneity by a three-step process, had a molecular mass of 32,812 Da and an isoelectric point of 9.3. MLP was active and highly stable in solution for 24 h from pH 6.0 to 10.5; it had maximal activity at temperatures between 57 and 59 degrees C. The presence of calcium in the solution was essential for enzyme activity and to prevent autolysis. Optimal activity occurred between pH 9.0 and 9.5, with 60% maximal activity from pH 6.5 to 11.0. The enzyme was inhibited by the serine enzyme inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and chymostatin but not by the metalloenzyme inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline or sulfhydryl enzyme inhibitors. Casein, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and elastin were digested by the protease while collagen and keratin were resistant to digestion. MLP demonstrated both esterase and amidase activity on synthetic peptide substrates. MLP preferentially cleaved the Leu(15)-Tyr(16) and Phe(24)-Phe(25) bonds of the oxidized beta-chain of insulin. Longer digests of insulin and the pattern of activity against synthetic substrates suggest that MLP has a cleavage specificity for bulky, hydrophobic, or aromatic amino acids in the P(1) or P(1)' positions. Amino acid sequences from the N-terminus and internal peptides of MLP were unique.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Substrate specificity of Micrococcus luteus UV endonuclease and its overlap with DNA photolyase activity.

The action of an endonuclease from Micrococcus luteus that operates on UV damage in DNA overlaps with that of DNA photolyase from yeast: homo- and heterocyclobutane dipyrimidines in DNA are substrates for both enzymes, but pyrimidine adducts or the "spore photoproduct" in DNA are not. As expected from this overlap, the action of the two enzymes is mutually interfering: single-strand nicks introduced by the endonuclease effectively preclude photoreactivation; conversely, formation of a photolyase-cyclobutane dipyrimidine complex can prevent nicking by the endonuclease.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Repair of double-strand breaks in Micrococcus radiodurans.

Micrococcus radiodurans has been shown to sustain double-strand breaks in its DNA after exposure to X-radiation. Following sublethal doses of X-rays (200 krad in oxygen or less), the cells were able to repair these breaks, and an intermediate fast-sedimenting DNA component seemed to be involved in the repair process.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1986

Mannose incorporation and lectin recognition of pronase-sensitive components in Micrococcus lysodeikticus (M. luteus) membranes.

Isolated cytoplasmic membranes from Micrococcus lysodeikticus were able to incorporate [14C]mannose from GDP-[14C]mannose. Labelled mannose remained in the membrane fraction after its repeated washing and lipid extraction. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis in 12% acrylamide showed a set of bands with molecular weights ranging from 230 000 to 19 000 which stained for protein and carbohydrate, and incorporated [14C]mannose. Some of these bands reacted with different lectins (concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin and ricin). Furthermore, the mannose was incorporated via a glycosylation pathway similar to that followed in eukaryotic system as shown by the preliminary identification of a lipid intermediate transferring the sugar to proteins and by the differential sensitivity to bacitracin and tunicamycin. These complex membrane components were sensitive to digestion with pronase. All the results presented suggest their glycoprotein nature.

Bacitracin↗
PubMed1983

Topography of the subunits of Micrococcus lysodeikticus F1-ATPase.

The combined use of proteolytic digestion and lactoperoxidase catalyzed labelling with [125I] applied to membrane-bound or soluble pure F1-ATPase from Micrococcus lysodeikticus has allowed us to establish the topography of its alpha, beta, gamma and delta subunits within the protein molecule and with respect to the plane of the membrane. The beta subunit is most externally located to the membrane bilayer looking towards the cytoplasmic face, a position consistent with its proposed catalytic role. The alpha and gamma subunits lie in an intermediate layer between the beta subunits and the membrane, in which the gamma subunit occupies a central position within the F1-ATPase molecule in contact with the alpha subunit. The delta subunit appears to be tightly bound to the F0 component of the ATPase complex, probably buried in the membrane bilayer. A molecular arrangement of M. lysodeikticus ATPase is proposed that, taking into account the subunit stoichiometry alpha 3 beta 3 gamma 2 delta 2 (MW 420 000), accommodates the role assigned to each subunit and most, if not all, the known properties of this bacterial energy-transducing protein.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1982

Partial characterization of membrane-associated proteinases from Micrococcus lysodeikticus.

We have identified cytoplasmic and membrane-associated proteinases from Micrococcus lysodeikticus (M. luteus) by the use of 125I-labeled casein and insulin as substrates. The membrane-associated activities were released by shock washing. Proteolytic activities showed pH optima at slightly alkaline values and we have concentrated on the activities at pH 8.0. The total units of both proteolytic activities were higher in the cytoplasmic than in any other fractions but the situation was different when the results were expressed in terms of specific activity. The activities against casein and insulin were differentiated by the action of inhibitors, divalent metal ions, Arrhenius plots and dependence on ionic strength. On these grounds, it is proposed that the membrane-associated enzyme acting on insulin is a single thiol proteinase while the proteolysis of casein reflects the action of, at least, two enzymes (thiol proteinase and serine proteinase). The distinction between the casein and insulin degrading activities was confirmed by crossed-inhibition experiments and by their behaviour on gel chromatography and concentration-dependence experiments. The aggregating properties have hampered the purification of the enzymes. The present results raise doubts about the significance of preventing membrane damage and degradation of membrane proteins by the addition of indiscriminated proteinase inhibitors during membrane isolation and manipulation.

Caseins↗
PubMed1980

Defective excision repair in a mutant of Micrococcus radiodurans hypermutable by some monofunctional alkylating agents.

The lethal and mutagenic effects of methyl methanesulphonate (MMS), ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) can be dissociated in a mitomycin C (MTC)-sensitive mutant, strain 302, of Micrococcus radiodurans. As regards lethality 302 is extremely sensitive, compared with the wild type, to MTC and decarbamoyl MTC (DCMTC), slightly sensitive to EMS, MNNG, nitrous acid, 7-bromomethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (BrMBA), and N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAAF), and resistant to MMS, hydroxylamine, and ICR 191G. As regards mutability it is, compared to the wild type, very sensitive to MMS, EMS, and MNNG, and slightly sensitive to hydroxylamine and nitrous acid but not to any other agent examined. Alkaline sucrose gradient studies indicate the 302 does not incise DNA containing BrMBA adducts, although it does incise DNA damaged by AAAF but probably not to the same extent as wild type. We put forward the hypothesis that the hypermutability of 302 is due to the non-removal of bases or nucleotides, modified in exocyclic positions, which have altered base-pairing capabilities, while lethality results from the non-removal of bases or nucleotides, also modified in exocyclic positions, which no longer form hydrogen-bonded base pairs.

DNA Repair↗
PubMed1989

Micrococcus luteus, a bacterium with a high genomic G + C content, contains Escherichia coli-type promoters.

The G + C content of Micrococcus luteus DNA is 74%, which is much higher than that of Escherichia coli (about 50%). In order to understand the influence of GC-directed mutation pressure (GC pressure) on the promoter structure, the initiation sites for both in vitro and in vivo transcription of M. luteus streptomycin (str) and spectinomycin (spc) operons were identified by the reverse transcriptase mapping method. The promoter sequences of M. luteus are similar to those of E. coli, but have significantly higher G + C contents. In an in vitro run-off transcription assay using truncated DNA templates, RNA polymerases from both M. luteus and E. coli were able to transcribe correctly from both the str promoter and the spc major promoter of M. luteus.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Evidence for a Micrococcus luteus gene homologous to uvrB of Escherichia coli.

Restriction fragments of Micrococcus luteus DNA that contained the gene defined by the mutation of an excision repair-deficient mutant, UVsN1, were cloned from both the parental and mutant strains with the Escherichia coli host-vector system. The wild-type fragment was able to reverse the multiple sensitivity of the mutant to ultraviolet, mitomycin C, and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide by one-step transformation. Determination of the nucleotide sequences revealed an open reading frame potentially coding for a protein of 709 amino acid residues, within which the mutation was identified as a CG----TA transition causing a change from serine to phenylalanine. The putative product of the open reading frame showed an extensive amino acid sequence homology to the E. coli UvrB protein comprising 673 residues; the homologous region extended over the greater parts of both polypeptides, in which 55% and 17% of the 659 pairs of aligned amino acids were accounted for by conserved residues and conservative substitutions, respectively. This indicates that the gene defined by the UVsN1 mutation represents a homolog of the E. coli uvrB gene, implying the presence in M. luteus of an enzyme complex homologous to the E. coli UvrABC excinuclease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1977

The photosensitivity of the malate oxidase system of a pigmented strain and a carotenoidless mutant of Sarcina lutea (Micrococcus luteus).

The effect of white light on the malate oxidase of Sarcina lutea (Micrococcus luteus) membranes has been examined using a carotenoid-containing and a carotenoidless mutant. At least three photosensitive sites have been detected. Two of these are associated with the malate dehydrogenase complex (malate-menaquinone reductase) and are unaffected by membrane carotenoid. A third site which has been detected beyond the dehydrogenase complex, is protected by carotenoid since it can only be demonstrated in carotenoidless systems. A repair mechanism has been found for one of the two sites in the dehydrogenase complex.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1984

Respiratory control in Micrococcus lysodeikticus.

The respiration rate of Pi-deprived cells of Micrococcus lysodeikticus is markedly increased by Pi, and returns to the original level following Pi consumption. The stimulation of the respiration was found to be specific for Pi and arsenate. Although succinate and valinomycin enhanced the respiration of both Pi-grown and Pi-deprived cells, only the latter could be further stimulated by Pi. The effect of Pi on the respiration rate was found to be concentration dependent. The control of respiration by Pi is due to its rapid uptake and its subsequent polymerization to polyphosphate via ATP. Both of these processes are coupled to proton influx into the cell, and thus stimulate the proton efflux and the respiration rate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1978

Effects of chloramphenicol on the postreplication repair and sister recombinational DNA exchanges in ultraviolet-irradiated Micrococcus luteus.

The filling of about one third of postreplication DNA gaps in u.v.-irradiated Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 is blocked by chloramphenicol (CA) added just before irradiation. Addition of CA 15 min after u.v.-irradiation does not prevent the complete repair of the gaps. U.v.-sensitive M. luteus mutants (ML 6 and ML 15) are identified as defective in different steps of inducible postreplication DNA repair (PRR). PRR in unexcising M. luteus strain G7 is accompanied by the transfer of about 20% of pyrimidine dimers from parental to daughter DNA strands, which indicates the existance of recombinational pathway of PRR. Recombinational PRR in M. luteus is not inhibited by CA.

Chloramphenicol↗
PubMed1981

Influence of pH and ionic strength on the lysis of Micrococcus luteus cells by hen lysozyme at low (20 degree C) and high (physiological, 40 degree C) temperature.

From isoactivity curves (showing activity as a function of Ph and ionic strength) it was found that in the pH domain 6.7-8.6 frequently used in experiments involving hen lysozyme, the pH optimum of lysis of Micrococcus luteus cells at low ionic strength (0.02-0.05) by the high-temperature form (40 degree C, physiological temperature) was one to two pH units lower than that by the low-temperature form (20 degree C).

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Response of membrane-bound ATPase of Micrococcus luteus to heat and ultraviolet light.

It is shown that the properties of ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) of Micrococcus luteus depend only to some extent on the state of the membrane to which it is attached. Its interaction with the membrane appears to be largely controlled by polar forces. It is shown, however, that the UV-sensitivity of the membrane-bound ATPase is also significantly influenced by the state of membrane lipids.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗