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cumA multicopper oxidase genes from diverse Mn(II)-oxidizing and non-Mn(II)-oxidizing Pseudomonas strains.

A multicopper oxidase gene, cumA, required for Mn(II) oxidation was recently identified in Pseudomonas putida strain GB-1. In the present study, degenerate primers based on the putative copper-binding regions of the cumA gene product were used to PCR amplify cumA gene sequences from a variety of Pseudomonas strains, including both Mn(II)-oxidizing and non-Mn(II)-oxidizing strains. The presence of highly conserved cumA gene sequences in several apparently non-Mn(II)-oxidizing Pseudomonas strains suggests that this gene may not be expressed, may not be sufficient alone to confer the ability to oxidize Mn(II), or may have an alternative function in these organisms. Phylogenetic analysis of both CumA and 16S rRNA sequences revealed similar topologies between the respective trees, including the presence of several distinct phylogenetic clusters. Overall, our results indicate that both the cumA gene and the capacity to oxidize Mn(II) occur in phylogenetically diverse Pseudomonas strains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of glucose in enhancing the temperature-dependent growth inhibition of Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 by a Pseudomonas sp.

Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain ATCC 43895 was monitored at 5, 10, 15, and 25 degrees C in both pure and mixed (1:1) cultures with a gluconate-producing Pseudomonas sp. found in meat to evaluate the effect of the absence and presence of 1% glucose in broth on temperature-dependent competition. The number of colonies of the Pseudomonas strain exceeded 9 log CFU/ml under all conditions tested. The pathogen grew better as the temperature increased from 10 to 15 and 25 degrees C and grew better in pure culture than in mixed cultures. Pseudomonas sp. inhibited E. coli O157:H7 in cocultures with glucose at 10 degrees C, while at 15 degrees C the pathogen exhibited a biphasic pattern of growth with an intermediate inactivation period. Pathogen inhibition was much weaker in cocultures grown without glucose at 10 to 15 degrees C and, irrespective of glucose, at 25 degrees C. These results indicate that glucose enhances the growth inhibition of E. coli O157:H7 by some Pseudomonas spp., potentially due to its rapid uptake and conversion to gluconate, at low (< or = 15 degrees C) temperatures.

Antibiosis↗

Microscopic characterization of rabbit lung damage produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases.

The intratracheal administration of highly purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases (ca. 10 to 100 microgram) elicited extensive, grossly observable rabbit lung damage by 3 h postinjection. Light and electron microscopic characterization of the lesions revealed: (i) progressive injury and necrosis of type I epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cells from 3 h to 1 day postinjection, and progressively increasing accumulations of erythrocytes, plasma proteins, fibrin, and released type II epithelial cell lamellar bodies in alveolar lumina during that time period; (ii) progressively increasing accumulations of macrophages, but not of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in alveolar lumina from 3 h to 6 days postinjection; (iii) progressive hyperplasia of type II epithelial cells from 12 h to 4 days postinjection; (iv) progressive infiltration of alveolar septa by mononuclear inflammatory cells (interstitial pneumonitis) from 2 to 6 days postinjection; (v) no loss of alveolar septal connective tissue and no damage to pulmonary arterioles and venules; and (vi) almost normal alveolar structure by ca. 8 days postinjection. The study revealed that the intra-alveolar hemorrhage, the injury and necrosis of alveolar septal cells, and the infiltration by mononuclear cells that have been reported to occur during human pseudomonas pneumonia can also be elicited by the experimental administration of pseudomonas proteases. Thus, the results support the idea that in vivo production and activity of P. aeruginosa proteases is important, at least in part, in eliciting the lung damage characteristic of pseudomonas pneumonia.

Animals↗

Inactivation of human gamma interferon by Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases: elastase augments the effects of alkaline protease despite the presence of alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa alkaline protease (AP) has recently been shown to produce limited proteolysis of human gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and thereby destroy the antiviral and macrophage-activating activities of the lymphokine. In the present study we describe some of the characteristics of Pseudomonas elastase (E) with regard to inactivation of human IFN-gamma. The inhibitory effect of E on IFN-gamma bioactivity differed from that of AP in that the direct effects of E were reduced in the presence of human serum. That this property of human serum was in large part attributable to the protease inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) was suggested by the following observations: (i) methylamine treatment of serum reduced its effect on E, (ii) E interacted directly with alpha 2-M to induce a characteristic conformational change in the protease inhibitor, and (iii) preformed E-alpha 2-M complexes lacked IFN-gamma-degrading activity. Despite these findings, anti-E antiserum partially neutralized the effect that a Pseudomonas filtrate showed on IFN-gamma, suggesting that E contributes to the activity of bacterial filtrates. Treatment of IFN-gamma with E in the presence of a suboptimal concentration of AP resulted in an E dose-dependent inactivation of the lymphokine. Preformed E-alpha 2-M complexes, although ineffective by themselves at cleaving IFN-gamma, degraded the lymphokine, providing AP was also present in the reaction mixture. These data demonstrate that the destruction of small, biologically significant peptides by Pseudomonas proteases can involve protease-protease synergy that acts even in the presence of the serum protease inhibitor alpha 2-M.

Endopeptidases↗

Coregulation by phenylacetyl-coenzyme A-responsive PaaX integrates control of the upper and lower pathways for catabolism of styrene by Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2.

The P(styA) promoter of Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2 controls expression of the styABCD genes, which are required for the conversion of styrene to phenylacetate, which is further catabolized by the products of two paa gene clusters. Two PaaX repressor proteins (PaaX1 and PaaX2) regulate transcription of the paa gene clusters of this strain. In silico analysis of the P(styA) promoter region revealed a sequence located just within styA that is similar to the reported PaaX binding sites of Escherichia coli and the proposed PaaX binding sites of the paa genes of Pseudomonas species. Here we show that protein extracts from some Pseudomonas strains that have paaX genes, but not from a paaX mutant strain, can bind and retard the migration of a P(styA) specific probe. Purified maltose-binding protein (MBP)-PaaX1 fusion protein specifically binds the P(styA) promoter proximal PaaX site, and this binding is eliminated by the addition of phenylacetyl-coenzyme A. The sequence protected by MBP-PaaX1 binding was defined by DNase I footprinting. Moreover, MBP-PaaX1 represses transcription from the P(styA) promoter in a phenylacetyl-coenzyme A-dependent manner in vitro. Finally, the inactivation of both paaX gene copies of Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2 leads to a higher level of transcription from the P(styA) promoter, while heterologous expression of the PaaX1 in E. coli greatly decreases transcription from the P(styA) promoter. These findings reveal a control mechanism that integrates regulation of styrene catabolism by coordinating the expression of the styrene upper catabolic operon to that of the paa-encoded central pathway and support a role for PaaX as a major regulatory protein in the phenylacetyl-coenzyme A catabolon through its response to the levels of this central metabolite.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of histidine utilization genes from Pseudomonas putida.

A library of the Pseudomonas putida chromosome, prepared through the use of the cosmid pJB8 ligated to a partial Sau3A digest of bacterial DNA, followed by in vitro packaging into bacteriophage lambda particles, was used to construct a strain of Escherichia coli which contained the genes for histidine utilization. This isolate produced a repressor product and all five enzymes required in Pseudomonas spp. for histidine dissimilation, whereas none of these could be detected in the nontransduced parent E. coli strain. When this transductant was grown on various media containing histidine or urocanate as the inducer, it was observed that production of the cloned histidine degradative enzymes was influenced somewhat by the choice of nitrogen source used but not by the carbon source. The recombinant cosmid was isolated and found to consist of 21.1 kilobase pairs of DNA, with approximately 16 kilobase pairs derived from Pseudomonas DNA and the remainder being from the pJB8 vector. Digestion of this insert DNA with EcoRI provided a 6.1-kilobase-pair fragment which, upon ligation in pUC8 and transformation into an E. coli host, was found to encode histidine ammonia-lyase and urocanase. The inducible nature of this production indicated that the hut repressor gene also was present on this fragment. Insertional inactivation of the histidine ammonia-lyase and urocanase genes by the gamma-delta transposon has permitted location of these structural genes and has provided evidence that transcription proceeds from urocanase through histidine ammonia-lyase. Mapping of the 16-kilobase-pair Pseudomonas DNA segment with restriction enzymes and subcloning of additional portions, one of which contained the gene for formiminoglutamate hydrolase and another that could constitutively express activities for both imidazolone propionate hydrolase and formylglutamate hydrolase, has provided evidence for the organization of all hut genes.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Sym plasmid genes of Rhizobium trifolii expressed in Lignobacter and Pseudomonas strains.

A 14-kilobase (kb) fragment of Rhizobium trifolii Sym plasmid containing nodulation (nod) genes or the pSym plasmid of R. trifolii cointegrated with a broad-host-range vector R68.45 (pPN1) were transferred to Lignobacter strain K17 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO5 by conjugation. Lignobacter transconjugants carrying Sym plasmid pPN1 formed nodules on white, red, and subterranean clover plants. Lignobacter transconjugants containing a 14-kb fragment of nod genes cloned into a multicopy plasmid nodulated only white and subterranean clover plants, whereas transconjugants carrying the same fragment cloned into a low-copy plasmid vector nodulated only white clover plants. All nodules formed by Lignobacter transconjugants showed bacterial release from the infection threads into the host cytoplasm. Pseudomonas transconjugants with plasmid pPN1 formed nodule-like structures on white clover plants. These structures were not invaded by bacteria; however, a few bacteria were found within the intercellular spaces of the outermost cells of the structures. Pseudomonas transconjugants carrying the 14-kb fragment of R. trifolii nod genes did not form nodules on tested clover plants. All clover plants inoculated with either Pseudomonas or Lignobacter transconjugants containing a 14-kb fragment of nod genes (but not entire Sym plasmid) showed the "thick-and-short-root" response when compared to the control plants inoculated with the R. trifolii wild-type strain.

Conjugation, Genetic↗

Nucleotide sequence and expression of clcD, a plasmid-borne dienelactone hydrolase gene from Pseudomonas sp. strain B13.

The clcD structural gene encodes dienelactone hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.45), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of dienelactones to maleylacetate. The gene is part of the clc gene cluster involved in the utilization of chlorocatechol and is carried on a 4.3-kilobase-pair BglII fragment subcloned from the Pseudomonas degradative plasmid pAC27. A 1.9-kilobase-pair PstI-EcoRI segment subcloned from the BglII fragment was shown to carry the clcD gene, which was expressed inducibly under the tac promoter at levels similar to those found in 3-chlorobenzoate-grown Pseudomonas cells carrying the plasmid pAC27. In this study, we present the complete nucleotide sequence of the clcD gene and the amino acid sequence of dienelactone hydrolase deduced from the DNA sequence. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence encoded by the clcD gene from plasmid pAC27 corresponds to a 33-residue sequence established for dienelactone hydrolase encoded by the Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 plasmid pWR1. A possible relationship between the clcD gene and pcaD, a Pseudomonas putida chromosomal gene encoding enol-lactone hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.24) is suggested by the fact that the gene products contain an apparently conserved pentapeptide neighboring a cysteinyl side chain that presumably lies at or near the active sites; the cysteinyl residue occupies position 60 in the predicted amino acid sequence of dienelactone hydrolase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas spp. that stimulate plant growth: composition and use for strain identification.

The outer membrane proteins of a series of fluorescent, root-colonizing, plant-growth-stimulating Pseudomonas spp. having been characterized (L. A. de Weger et al., J. Bacteriol. 165:585-594, 1986), the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of these strains were examined. The chemical composition of the LPSs of the three best-studied plant-growth-stimulating Pseudomonas strains WCS358, WCS361, and WCS374 and of P. aeruginosa PAO1 as a reference strain was determined and appeared to differ from strain to strain. The 2,6-dideoxy-2-aminosugar quinovasamine was the most abundant compound in the LPS of strain WCS358. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified LPS and of proteinase K-treated cell envelopes revealed ladderlike patterns for most of these strains. These patterns were not substantially influenced by differences in culture conditions. Analysis of proteinase K-treated cell envelopes of 24 root-colonizing Pseudomonas spp. revealed a unique band pattern for each strain, suggesting a great variety in the LPS structures present in these root colonizers. Therefore, electrophoretic analysis of LPS can be used for characterization and identification of the fluorescent root-colonizing Pseudomonas strains.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Cytokinin production by Agrobacterium and Pseudomonas spp.

The production of cytokinins by plant-associated bacteria was examined by radioimmunoassay. Strains producing trans-zeatin were identified in the genera Agrobacterium and Pseudomonas. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains containing nopaline tumor-inducing plasmids, A. tumefaciens Lippia isolates, and Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains produced trans-zeatin in culture at 0.5 to 44 micrograms/liter. Pseudomonas solanacearum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. savastanoi produced trans-zeatin at levels of up to 1 mg/liter. In vitro cytokinin biosynthetic activity was measured for representative strains and was found to correlate with trans-zeatin production. The genetic locus for trans-zeatin secretion (tzs) was cloned from four strains: A. tumefaciens T37, A. rhizogenes A4, P. solanacearum K60, and P. syringae pv. savastanoi 1006. Southern blot analysis showed substantial homology of the Agrobacterium tzs genes to each other but not to the two Pseudomonas genes.

Cytokinins↗

Specificity of pyoverdine-mediated iron uptake among fluorescent Pseudomonas strains.

Pyoverdine-mediated iron transport was determined for seven fluorescent Pseudomonas strains belonging to different species. For all strains, cell or cell outer membrane and iron(III)-pyoverdine combinations were compared with their homologous counterparts in uptake, binding, and cross-feeding experiments. For four strains (Pseudomonas putida ATCC 12633, Pseudomonas fluorescens W, P. fluorescens ATCC 17400, and Pseudomonas tolaasii NCPPB 2192), the pyoverdine-mediated iron transport appeared to be strictly strain specific; pyoverdine-facilitated iron uptake by iron-starved cells and binding of ferripyoverdine to the purified outer membranes of such cells were efficient only in the case of the homologous systems. Cross-feeding assays, in liquid or solid cultures, resulted, however, especially for P. fluorescens ATCC 17400, in some discrepancies compared with uptake and binding assays, suggesting that growth experiments are the least likely to yield correct information on specificity of the pyoverdine-mediated iron transport. For the three other strains (P. fluorescens ATCC 13525, P. chlororaphis ATCC 9446, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 15692), cross-reactivity was demonstrated by the uptake, binding, and cross-feeding experiments. In an attempt to determine which parts of the iron transport system were responsible for the specificity, the differences in amino acid composition of the pyoverdines, together with the differences observed at the level of the iron-sensitive outer membrane protein pattern of the seven strains, are discussed.

Biological Transport↗

Genetic organization and sequence of the Pseudomonas cepacia genes for the alpha and beta subunits of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase.

The locations of the genes for the alpha and beta subunits of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.3) on a 9.5-kilobase-pair PstI fragment cloned from the Pseudomonas cepacia DBO1 chromosome were determined. This was accomplished through the construction of several subclones into the broad-host-range cloning vectors pRO2317, pRO2320, and pRO2321. The ability of each subclone to complement mutations in protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (pcaA) was tested in mutant strains derived from P. cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas putida. These complementation studies also showed that the two subunits were expressed from the same promoter. The nucleotide sequence of the region encoding for protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence matched that determined by N-terminal analysis of regions of the isolated enzyme. Although over 400 nucleotides were sequenced before the start of the genes, no homology to known promoters was found. However, a terminator stem-loop structure was found immediately after the genes. The deduced amino acid sequence showed extensive homology with the previously determined amino acid sequence of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from another Pseudomonas species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Properties of a Pseudomonas stutzeri outer membrane channel-forming protein (NosA) required for production of copper-containing N2O reductase.

A protein (NosA) in the outer membrane of Pseudomonas stutzeri that is required for copper to be inserted into N2O reductase has been extracted and purified to homogeneity. The purified protein could form channels in black lipid bilayers. Like N2O reductase, NosA contained copper and was only made anaerobically. In contrast to N2O reductase, its synthesis was repressed by exogenous copper (but not by Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, or Fe). Also in contrast to N2O reductase, NosA homologs were not immunologically detectable in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, or other strains of P. stutzeri.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Identification and characterization of genes for a second anthranilate synthase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: interchangeability of the two anthranilate synthases and evolutionary implications.

Two anthranilate synthase gene pairs have been identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They were cloned, sequenced, inactivated in vitro by insertion of an antibiotic resistance gene, and returned to P. aeruginosa, replacing the wild-type gene. One anthranilate synthase enzyme participates in tryptophan synthesis; its genes are designated trpE and trpG. The other anthranilate synthase enzyme, encoded by phnA and phnB, participates in the synthesis of pyocyanin, the characteristic phenazine pigment of the organism. trpE and trpG are independently transcribed; homologous genes have been cloned from Pseudomonas putida. The phenazine pathway genes phnA and phnB are cotranscribed. The cloned phnA phnB gene pair complements trpE and trpE(G) mutants of Escherichia coli. Homologous genes were not found in P. putida PPG1, a non-phenazine producer. Surprisingly, PhnA and PhnB are more closely related to E. coli TrpE and TrpG than to Pseudomonas TrpE and TrpG, whereas Pseudomonas TrpE and TrpG are more closely related to E. coli PabB and PabA than to E. coli TrpE and TrpG. We replaced the wild-type trpE on the P. aeruginosa chromosome with a mutant form having a considerable portion of its coding sequence deleted and replaced by a tetracycline resistance gene cassette. This resulted in tryptophan auxotrophy; however, spontaneous tryptophan-independent revertants appeared at a frequency of 10(-5) to 10(6). The anthranilate synthase of these revertants is not feedback inhibited by tryptophan, suggesting that it arises from PhnAB. phnA mutants retain a low level of pyocyanin production. Introduction of an inactivated trpE gene into a phnA mutant abolished residual pyocyanin production, suggesting that the trpE trpG gene products are capable of providing some anthranilate for pyocyanin synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction of a Pseudomonas hybrid strain that mineralizes 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.

A bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. strain C1S1, able to grow on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, and 2-nitrotoluene as N sources, was isolated. The bacterium grew at 30 degrees C with fructose as a C source and accumulated nitrite. Through batch culture enrichment, we isolated a derivative strain, called Pseudomonas sp. clone A, which grew faster on TNT and did not accumulate nitrite in the culture medium. Use of TNT by these two strains as an N source involved the successive removal of nitro groups to yield 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2-nitrotoluene, and toluene. Transfer of the Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid pWW0-Km to Pseudomonas sp. clone A allowed the transconjugant bacteria to grow on TNT as the sole C and N source. All bacteria in this study, in addition to removing nitro groups from TNT, reduced nitro groups on the aromatic ring via hydroxylamine to amino derivatives. Azoxy dimers probably resulting from the condensation of partially reduced TNT derivatives were also found.

Hybridization, Genetic↗

Lipase modulator protein (LimL) of Pseudomonas sp. strain 109.

Plasmids containing a Pseudomonas sp. strain 109 extracellular lipase gene (lipL) lacking NH2-terminal sequence and a lipase modulator gene (limL) lacking the NH2-terminal hydrophobic region were constructed and expressed independently in Escherichia coli by using the T7 promoter expression vector system. Recombinant LipL (rLipL) was produced as inclusion bodies, whereas recombinant LimL (rLimL) was present as a soluble protein. During in vitro renaturation of the purified rLipL inclusion bodies after they had been dissolved in 8 M urea, addition of rLimL was essential to solubilize and modulate rLipL. The solubility and activity of rLipL were influenced by the rLimL/rLipL molar ratio; the highest level of solubility was obtained at an rLimL/rLipL ratio of 4:5, whereas the highest activity level was obtained at an rLimL/rLipL ratio of 4:1. After renaturation, rLipL and rLimL were coprecipitated with anti-rLipL antibody, indicating the formation of an rLipL-rLimL complex. Activity of the native lipase purified from Pseudomonas sp. strain 109 was also inhibited by rLimL. By Western blotting (immunoblotting) with anti-rLimL antibody, native LimL was detected in Pseudomonas cells solubilized by sarcosyl treatment. LimL was purified from Pseudomonas sp. strain 109, and the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be NH2-Leu-Glu-Pro-Ser-Pro-Ala-Pro-. We propose that to prevent membrane degradation, LimL weakens lipase activity inside the cell, especially in the periplasm, in addition to modulating lipase folding.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Molecular characterization of genes of Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199 involved in bioconversion of vanillin to protocatechuate.

The gene loci vdh, vanA, and vanB, which are involved in the bioconversion of vanillin to protocatechuate by Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199 (DSM 7063), were identified as the structural genes of a novel vanillin dehydrogenase (vdh) and the two subunits of a vanillate demethylase (vanA and vanB), respectively. These genes were localized on an EcoRI fragment (E230), which was cloned from a Pseudomonas sp. strain HR199 genomic library in the cosmid pVK100. The vdh gene was identified on a subfragment (HE35) of E230, and the vanA and vanB genes were localized on a different subfragment (H110) of E230. The nucleotide sequences of fragment HE35 and part of fragment H110 were determined, revealing open reading frames of 1062, 951, and 1446 bp, representing vanA, vanB, and vdh, respectively. The vdh gene was organized in one operon together with a fourth open reading frame (ORF2), of 735 bp, which was located upstream of vdh. The deduced amino acid sequences of vanA and vanB exhibited 78.8 and 62.1% amino acid identity, respectively, to the corresponding gene products from Pseudomonas sp. strain ATCC 19151 (F. Brunel and J. Davison, J. Bacteriol. 170:4924-4930, 1988). The deduced amino acid sequence of the vdh gene exhibited up to 35.3% amino acid identity to aldehyde dehydrogenases from different sources. The deduced amino acid sequence of ORF2 exhibited up to 28.4% amino acid identity to those of enoyl coenzyme A hydratases. Escherichia coli strains harboring fragment E230 cloned in pBluescript SK- converted vanillin to protocatechuate via vanillate, indicating the functional expression of vdh, vanA, and vanB in E. coli. High expression of vdh in E. coli was achieved with HE35 cloned in pBluescript SK-. The resulting recombinant strains converted vanillin to vanillate at a rate of up to 0.3 micromol per min per ml of culture. Transfer of vanA, vanB, and vdh to Alcaligenes eutrophus and to different Pseudomonas strains, which were unable to utilize vanillin or vanillate as carbon sources, respectively, conferred the ability to grow on these substrates to these bacteria.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Expression cloning of a Pseudomonas gene encoding a hydroxydecanoyl-acyl carrier protein-dependent UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase.

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-3-O-acyltransferase (UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase) catalyzes the first step of lipid A biosynthesis (M. S. Anderson and C. R. H. Raetz, J. Biol. Chem. 262:5159-5169, 1987). We here report the isolation of the lpxA gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a library of Pseudomonas strain PAO1 expressed in Escherichia coli LE392 (J. Lightfoot and J. S. Lam, J. Bacteriol. 173:5624-5630, 1991). Pseudomonas lpxA encodes a 10-carbon-specific UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase, whereas the E. coli transferase is selective for a 14-carbon acyl chain. Recombinant cosmid 1137 enabled production of a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-specific UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase in E. coli. It was identified by assaying lysozyme-EDTA lysates of individual members of the library with 3-hydroxydecanoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) as the substrate. Cosmid 1137 contained a 20-kb insert of P. aeruginosa DNA. The lpxA gene region was localized to a 1.3-kb SalI-PstI fragment. Sequencing revealed that it contains one complete open reading frame (777 bp) encoding a new lpxA homolog. The predicted Pseudomonas LpxA is 258 amino acids long and contains 21 complete hexapeptide repeating units, spaced in approximately the same manner as the 24 repeats of E. coli LpxA. The P. aeruginosa UDP-GlcNAc acyltransferase is 54% identical and 67% similar to the E. coli enzyme. A plasmid (pGD3) containing the 1.3-kb SalI-PstI fragment complemented E. coli RO138, a temperature-sensitive mutant harboring lpxA2. LpxA assays of extracts of this construct indicated that it is > 1,000-fold more selective for 3-hydroxydecanoyl-ACP than for 3-hydroxymyristoyl-ACP. Mass spectrometry of lipid A isolated from this strain by hydrolysis at pH 4.5 revealed [M-H]- 1,684.5 (versus 1,796.5 for wild-type lipid A), consistent with 3-hydroxydecanoate rather than 3-hydroxymyristate at positions 3 and 3'.

Acyltransferases↗