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Molecular cloning of avian sarcoma virus closed circular DNA: structural and biological characterization of three recombinant clones.

Unintegrated, circular viral DNA, isolated from Prague A avian sarcoma virus (PrA-ASV)-infected quail cells (QT6), was cloned in the lambda vector lambda gtWES x lambda B. Three independent lambda-ASV recombinants were identified, and each contained a complete copy of the PrA-ASV genome. The arrangement of the ASV sequences within the recombinants was determined by restriction enzyme analysis and hybridization with labeled ASV-specific complementary DNA. One of the recombinants (lambda RPA101) resulted from cloning at the EcoRI site located within the terminally repeated sequence and therefore was virtually co-linear with PrA-ASV virion RNA. The other two recombinants (lambda RPA102 and 103) resulted from cloning at the EcoRI site located within the viral env gene. By restriction enzyme analysis and by measurement of R-loops formed between lambda RPA101 and PrA-ASV virion 35S RNA, the viral genome was estimated to be 9,100 bases in length. Genome length viral DNA purified from clones lambda RPA102 and 103 was biologically active. Transfection of chicken embryo cells with viral DNA, in the form of either circles or linear dimers, produced foci of transformed cells within 8 to 10 days. Linear DNA was much less efficient at inducing transformation. Viral DNA from the clone lambda RPA101 was unable to cause transformation; the basis for this defect is unknown.

Alpharetrovirus

Structures of two spliced herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early mRNA's which map at the junctions of the unique and reiterated regions of the virus DNA S component.

We have examined the structures of two herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early (IE) RNAs (IE mRNA-4 and IE mRNA-5) which map at the junctions of the unique (Us) and reiterated regions (TRs/IRs) of the virus DNA short component. Hybrids between IE cytoplasmic RNA and herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA restriction fragments were digested with single-strand-specific nucleases S1 and exonuclease VII, and the products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Data obtained with the nuclease digestion technique were confirmed by electron microscopy of R-loop structures formed with polyadenylated IE RNA and virus DNA fragments. It was found that both IE mRNA-4 and IE mRNA-5 contained a 260-base 5'-terminal cotranscript which mapped at equivalent loci within TRs/IRs. These 5'-terminal sequences were shown to be spliced to 3'-terminal cotranscripts of 1,450 bases (for IE mRNA-4) and 1,540 bases (for IE mRNA-5). The 3'-terminal cotranscripts contained sequences encoded by both TRs/IRs and opposite ends of Us, indicating that the introns contained by the IE mRNA-4 and IE mRNA-5 genes, found to be approximately 150 base pairs in size, mapped entirely within the reiterated sequences. The data suggest that these genes may contain common and unique components, and the implications of this model are discussed.

Base Sequence

Nucleotide sequence of an immediate-early frog virus 3 gene.

We have used "gene walking" with synthetic oligonucleotides and M13 dideoxynucleotide sequencing techniques to obtain the complete coding and flanking sequences of the gene encoding a major immediate-early RNA (molecular weight, 169,000) of frog virus 3. R-loop mapping of the cloned XbaI K fragment of frog virus 3 DNA with immediate-early RNA from infected cells showed that an RNA of approximately 500 to 600 nucleotides (the right size to code for the immediate-early viral 18-kilodalton protein of unknown function) hybridized to a region within 100 base pairs of one end of the XbaI K fragment; no evidence for splicing was observed in the electron microscope or by single-strand nuclease analysis. Further restriction mapping narrowed the location of the gene to the XbaI end of a 2-kilobase-pair XbaI-Bg/II fragment, which was bidirectionally subcloned into the bacteriophage pair mp10 and mp11 for sequencing. Mung bean nuclease mapping was used to identify both the 5' and the 3' ends of the mRNA. The 5' end mapped within an AT-rich region 19 base pairs upstream from two in-phase AUG start codons that were immediately followed by an open reading frame of 157 amino acids. Another AT-rich sequence was found at -29 base pairs from the 5' end of the mRNA start site; this sequence may function as a TATA box. The 3' end of the message displayed considerable microheterogeneity, but clearly terminated within a third AT-rich region 50 to 60 base pairs from the translation stop codon. The eucaryotic polyadenylic acid addition signal (AATAAA) was not present, a finding to be expected since frog virus 3 mRNA is not polyadenylated. Both the single-stranded mp10 clone of the XbaI-Bg/II fragment and a 15-base oligonucleotide complementary to the region flanking the two AUG translation start codons inhibited translation of the immediate-early 18-kilodalton protein in vitro, confirming the identity of the sequenced gene. As the regulatory sequences of this gene did not resemble those of known eucaryotic genes or of the cytoplasmic vaccinia virus, we conclude that frog virus 3 has evolved unique signals for the initiation and termination of transcription.

Base Sequence

Identification and mapping of human papillomavirus type 1 RNA transcripts recovered from plantar warts and infected epithelial cell cultures.

Multiple spliced transcripts of human papillomavirus type 1 were detected by electron microscopic analysis of R-loops formed with total RNA extracted from plantar warts and with poly(A)+ RNA isolated from cultured keratinocytes infected with human papillomavirus type 1. The 5' ends of the RNAs were mapped to sites in the E7 open reading frame (ORF), just upstream of the E6 ORF and in the upstream regulatory region. Species with 5' ends in E7 accounted for over 95% of all transcripts seen. Two polyadenylation sites were used, one at the end of the early (E) region of the viral DNA, the other at the end of the late (L) region. The most abundant species had a short 5' exon of approximately 100 nucleotides spanning the junction of the E7 and E1 ORFs spliced to a 3' exon of 800 nucleotides in the region with overlapping E2 and E4 ORFs; it was polyadenylated at the end of the E region. This species probably encodes the abundant E4 protein found in plantar warts (F. Breitburd, O. Croissant, and G. Orth, Cancer Cells, vol. 5, in press; J. Doorbar, D. Campbell, R. J. A. Grand, and P. H. Gallimore, EMBO J. 5:355-362, 1986). Other transcripts had exons spanning the E6-E7 ORFs, the E4-E5-L2-L1 ORFs, or the L1 ORF. The infrequent L1 transcript, probably the mRNA coding for the major capsid protein, had the same 5' exon in E7 as the abundant mRNA spliced from E1 and E4 ORFs, suggesting genetic regulation via the choice of the alternative polyadenylation sites or mRNA processing.

Base Sequence

Human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 mRNAs from genital condylomata acuminata.

We have identified and mapped a number of RNA species of human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 from condylomata acuminata by the electron microscopic R-loop technique. Each of the early (E)- and late (L)-region open reading frames (ORFs) deduced from the DNA sequences was represented in one or more transcripts. In addition, RNA species that could encode the modulator of DNA replication and the repressor of transcription, functions recently identified in the genetically similar bovine papillomavirus type 1, were also detected. Some ORFs were 5' proximal in one or more transcripts, whereas others were not 5' proximal in any species, suggesting that internal initiation of translation might be required to gain access to these latter ORFs. Virtually all transcripts had their 5' ends located in the E region and were polyadenylated at one of two sites, i.e., at the end of the E region or at the end of the L region. The great majority of the RNAs were derived from the E region of the genome, with one species approximately 50 to 100 times more abundant than the others. For most of the RNAs, the 5' end mapped near nucleotide 700; minor populations had 5' ends near nucleotide 100 or 1200. By correlating our mapping data with the genomic DNA sequences as well as available RNA structures and cDNA sequences of several papillomaviruses, we predict a number of mRNA splice donor and acceptor sites and suggest that the papillomaviruses have sophisticated usage of ORFs through alternative promoters, mRNA splice sites, and polyadenylation sites.

Anus Neoplasms

Fine structure and evolution of the rat serum albumin gene.

The exons, their boundaries, and approximately half of the intronic deoxyribonucleic acid of the rat serum albumin gene were sequenced. In addition to the 14 exons identified earlier by R-loop analysis, a small exon was detected between the "leader" exon (Z) and exon B. The leader exon encoded the 5'-untranslated portion of albumin messenger ribonucleic acid and the "pre-pro" oligopeptide present on the nascent protein. The sites of initiation and termination of transcription were tentatively identified by comparison of the 5' and 3' gene-flanking sequences with those of other eucaryotic genes. All 28 intron/exon junctions conformed to the "GT-AG rule" (Breathnach et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 75:4853-4857, 1978). The three homologous domains of albumin were encoded by three subgenes that consisted of four exons each and evolved by intragenic duplication of a common ancestor. The second and forth exons of each subgene appeared to be the result of an even earlier duplication event. We propose a model for the evolution of this gene that accounts for the observed patterns of exon size and homology.

Animals

Intracisternal A-particle genes in Mus musculus: a conserved family of retrovirus-like elements.

The structural organization of intracisternal A-particle genes has been studied, using isolates from a mouse gene library in lambda phage Charon 4A. The predominant gene form among the isolates was 7.3 kilobases (kb) in length. R-loops between the 7-kb (35S) A-particle genomic ribonucleic acid and several of these genes were colinear, with no visible evidence of intervening deoxyribonucleic acid sequences. One recombinant was found with an A-particle gene that contained a 1.7-kb deletion. Using the deletion as a reference, the deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid homology regions were localized with respect to one another and to the restriction map: the 5' terminus of the ribonucleic acid was several hundred base pairs within the 5' end of the deoxyribonucleic acid homology region. Restriction endonuclease fragments encompassing the 5' and 3' regions of one 7.3-kb gene were separately subcloned into pBR322. Heteroduplexes between the two subclones revealed an approximately 300-base pair segment of terminally redundant sequences. The cloned 3' fragment hybridized with restriction fragments from the 5' end of several other A-particle genes, demonstrating the presence of common (though not necessarily identical) terminally repeated sequences. A-particle genes varied in the occurrence of specific restriction sites at characteristic internal loci. However, heteroduplexes between several variant 7.3-kb genes showed continuous homology regions even when spread under stringent hybridization conditions. The relative abundance of restriction site variants was highly conserved in 12 laboratory strains of Mus musculus, in embryonic and adult tissues of a single inbred strain, and in the SC-1 cell line of feral mouse origin, but appeared to differ in a feral Japanese substrain, Mus musculus molossinus. Some evidence suggests that subsets of A-particle genes may have similar flanking sequences. The results are discussed in terms of the evolution of this multigene family.

Animals

RNA and homology mapping of two DNA fragments with repressible acid phosphatase genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Two EcoRI restriction fragments carrying Saccharomyces cerevisiae repressible acid phosphatase genes were analyzed. Transcripts were mapped by restriction endonuclease cleavage of glyoxal-stabilized R-loops and by gel blot hybridizations to cDNA. Homology between the two fragments was examined by gel blots and heteroduplex analysis. Each fragment carried a region of about 1.5 kilobases that coded for a repressible acid phosphatase, and these regions showed homology to one another. In addition, one fragment carried a second region of somewhat lower homology that probably codes for the so-called constitutive acid phosphatase.

Acid Phosphatase

Isolation and transcriptional characterization of three genes which function at start, the controlling event of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell division cycle: CDC36, CDC37, and CDC39.

The genes CDC36, CDC37, and CDC39, thought to function in the cell division control process in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were isolated from a recombinant plasmid library prepared by partial digestion of S. cerevisiae genomic DNA with Sau3A and insertion into the S. cerevisiae-Escherichia coli shuttle vector YRp7. In each case, S. cerevisiae DNA sequences were identified which could complement mutant alleles of the gene in question and which could direct integration of a plasmid at the chromosomal location known to correspond to that gene. Complementing DNA segments were subcloned to remove extraneous coding regions. The coding regions corresponding to CDC36, CDC37, and CDC39 were then identified and localized by R-loop analysis. The estimated sizes of the three coding regions were 615, 1,400, and 2,700 base pairs, respectively. Transcriptional orientation of the coding regions was established by using M13 vectors to prepare strand-specific probes followed by hybridization to blots of electrophoresed S. cerevisiae mRNA. The intracellular steady-state abundance of the mRNA species corresponding to the genes was estimated by comparing hybridization signals on RNA blots to that of a previously determined standard, the cell cycle start gene CDC28. The quantities calculated for the three mRNA species were low, ranging from 1.5 +/- 1 copies per haploid cell for the CDC36 mRNA to 3.1 +/- 1.5 and 4.6 +/- 2 copies per haploid cell for the CDC37 and CDC39 mRNAs, respectively. The CDC28 mRNA had been previously estimated at 7.0 +/- 2 copies per cell.

Cell Cycle

Developing a disease-specific accessible transcriptional signature as a biomarker for ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2.

BACKGROUND: Genetic ataxias are clinically heterogenous neurodegenerative conditions often involving rare or private mutations and it is often difficult to assign pathogenicity to rare gene variants solely based on DNA sequencing. An effective functional assay from an easy-to-obtain biospecimen would aid this assessment and be of high clinical value. SETX encodes a ubiquitous DNA/RNA helicase crucial for resolving R-loops and maintaining genome stability. Loss-of-function mutations cause a recessive disorder, Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia Type 2 (AOA2). METHODS: Here we utilize Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) from patient blood to construct an AOA2-specific transcriptomic signature as a biomarker to evaluate SETX variants in patients clinically suspected of having AOA2. RESULTS: WGCNA from peripheral blood RNA of 11 AOA2 patients from 7 families initially identified a single gene module that was modestly effective in distinguishing individuals with AOA2 from controls (sensitivity 73%, specificity 97%) and was able to robustly differentiate AOA2 patients from those with genetically distinct, yet phenotypically similar, neurological disorders (sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%). An independent derivation of the transcriptional biomarker identified a dual module model that was able to better distinguish individuals with AOA2 from controls (sensitivity 100%, specificity 97%). As validation, we examined a second cohort of 21 patients from 13 families and demonstrate that this dual module transcriptional biomarker could discriminate patients clinically suspected of AOA2 from controls (57%, 95%CI: 34%-78%). Overall, the transcriptional biomarker was able to separate AOA2 subjects (n = 32) from controls (n = 35) with 72% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Notably, this transcriptomic biomarker enabled verification of the first pathogenic SETX mutation found in a non-canonical transcript, expanding the spectrum of mutations that contribute to AOA2. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified a transcriptional biomarker that was able to differentiate AOA2 from controls and from other related neurological disorders, consequently expanding the spectrum of known pathogenic mutations. This proof-of-concept study illustrates that transcriptional biomarkers may be used to validate variants of uncertain significance in known genetic diseases.

Humans

DNA electron microscopy.

In recent years DNA electron microscopy has become a tool of increasing interest in the fields of molecular genetics and molecular and cell biology. Together with the development of in vitro recombination and DNA cloning, new electron microscope techniques have been developed with the aim of studying the structural and functional organization of genetic material. The most important methods are based on nucleic acid hybridizations: DNA-DNA hybridization (heteroduplex, D-loop), RNA-DNA hybridization (R-loop), or combinations of both (R-hybrid). They allow both qualitative and quantitative analysis of gene organization, position and extension of homology regions, and characterization of transcription. The reproducibility and resolution of these methods make it possible to map a specific DNA region within 50 to 100 nucleotides. Therefore they have become a prerequisite for determining regions of interest for subsequent nucleotide sequencing. Special methods have been developed also for the analysis of protein-DNA interaction: e.g., direct visualization of specific protein-DNA complexes (enzymes, regulatory proteins), and analysis of structures with higher complexity (chromatin, transcription complexes).

Adsorption

The start site of the Acanthamoeba castellanii ribosomal RNA transcription unit.

The 39S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) precursor has been isolated from Acanthamoeba castellanii. In vitro capping of the isolated RNA verified that it is the primary transcript and identified the 5' nucleotide as pppA. The position of the 5' coding nucleotide on the rRNA repeat unit sequence was identified using Northern blot, R-loop, and S1 nuclease mapping techniques. Dinucleotide priming of an in vitro transcription system stalled because of low initiating nucleotide concentration revealed that ApA maximally stimulates initiation of transcription. All of these results show that the underlined A in the sequence 5'-TATATATAAAGGGAC (RNA-like strand) coincides with the 5' nucleotide of the primary transcript. This identification is compatible with in vitro transcription experiments mapping the promoter for this transcription unit. The initiation sequences of rRNA genes from 14 species are compared, and a weak consensus for the initiator derived: [Formula; see text].

Acanthamoeba

Structural organization of the gene for the alpha 1 chain of human type IV collagen.

The complete exon size and distribution pattern in the gene for the alpha 1 chain of human type IV collagen was determined. Clones covering 145 kilobases (kb) of genomic DNA including 100 kb of the gene itself as well as 25 kb upstream and 20 kb downstream of the gene sequences, respectively, were isolated from lambda phage and cosmid libraries. The overall gene structure was determined by endonuclease restriction mapping and R-loop analyses and all exon sizes by nucleotide sequencing. The characterized clones contained all the coding sequences except for exon 2 whose sequence was determined after its amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. There were four gaps in the intron sequences; the exact size of the gene is unknown. The entire gene is at least 100 kb in size and contains 52 exons whose size distribution is completely different from that of the genes for fibrillar collagens. In the -Gly-X-Y- coding region there are three exons of 99, 90, and 45 base pairs (bp) each and two exons of 27, 36, 42, 51, 54, 63, and 84 bp each. The rest of the exons have sizes between 71 and 192 bp in the collagenous region. About one-half of the -Gly-X-Y- repeat coding exons start with the second base for the codon of glycine, whereas the other half starts (with two exceptions) with a complete glycine codon. The distribution of split versus unsplit codons is uneven in that the first 19 exons of the gene start with a complete codon. The gene contains repetitive sequences in several regions. A 185-nucleotide segment containing 40 copies of CCT flanked by poly(C) and poly(T) sequences was shown to be located adjacent to an exon. The gene has previously been shown to be located head-to-head to the alpha 2(IV) collagen gene at the distal end of the long arm of chromosome 13, such that the first exons of the two genes are separated by as little as 42 bp (Pöschl, E., Pollner, R., and Kühn, K. (1988) EMBOJ. 7,2687-2695; Soininen, R., Huotari, M., Hostikka, S. L., Prockop, D. J., and Tryggvason, K. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 17217-17220). The results demonstrate that the human alpha 1(IV) collagen gene has a structure distinctly different from the genes for fibrillar collagens and also that it is considerably larger than any collagen gene characterized to date.

Amino Acid Sequence

Structure of the promoter of the rat type II procollagen gene.

We have isolated several overlapping genomic clones which contain the 5' terminal portion of the rat pro-alpha 1 (II) chain gene. These clones span about 20 kilobases (kb) of contiguous DNA containing 15 kb of the gene and 5 kb of the 5' flanking sequence. Electron microscopic analysis of mRNA-DNA hybrids by R-looping shows that collectively these clones contain 16 exons which code for approximately one-third of the pro-alpha 1 (II) chain. The sizes of the exons are small, except for the first exon which is relatively large. The nucleotide sequence of the first exon and the 1000 base pairs (bp) preceding it was determined. The first exon contains a 150-bp untranslated segment and an 85-bp sequence coding for the signal peptide and a part of the NH2-terminal propeptide of type II collagen. The segment preceding the transcription initiation site contains the "TATA" box and several G + C-rich stretches, whereas the "CAT" box is not evident between -70 and -120. The hexanucleotide sequence 5'-GGGCGG-3' is found in three different places between -200 and the TATA box. The inverted complement sequence of this hexanucleotide, 5'-CCGCCC-3', is located around both -220 and -450. The hexanucleotide and its inverted sequence have been found previously in the promoter region of the tk gene of herpes virus. These sequences are known to function in a mutually dependent manner as transcription signals for the tk gene; thus, they may play a role in determining the level of transcription of this cartilage gene. The hexanucleotide, 5'-CCGCCC-3', is also found in the 21-base pair repeats of the SV40 promoter and the promoter region of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase gene. The sequence 5'-GTGGTTAGA-3' located around -280 is identical to the "core" sequence that has been reported as enhancer element in both viral and cellular genes. These unusual structures may be related to the tissue-specific expression of this gene.

Animals

Rat hepatic cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP). Structures of the protein, messenger RNA, and gene.

The primary structure of the messenger RNA coding for cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was determined by sequencing cDNA and genomic DNA and by primer extension of the mRNA. The molecule is 2624 nucleotides in length; this includes 143 nontranslated nucleotides at the 5' end and 615 nontranslated nucleotides at the 3' end. The 3' nontranslated sequence contains a 102-base pair region of alternating purine-pyrimidine nucleotides (the majority of which are UpG dinucleotides), several direct repeats and palindromic sequences, and 8 CpG dinucleotides. The corresponding segment of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene thus has characteristics which favor the formation of Z-DNA. The amino acid sequence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was deduced from the mRNA sequence and confirmed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of peptides generated with trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. The protein consists of 621 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 69,289. Charon 4A lambda bacteriophage clones containing genomic DNA coding for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were isolated from a library of partial HaeIII digests of rat liver DNA. Two clones, lambda PC112 and lambda PC103, contained the entire coding region in 15-kilobase inserts and were used to subclone the gene into pBR322 as EcoRI, BamHI, or SstI-KpnI fragments. Using these subclones, the structure of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene was determined by S1 nuclease mapping, R-loop analysis, and DNA sequencing. The gene is composed of 10 exons and 9 introns with a total length of 6.0 kilobases. The transcription initiation site of the gene was determined by a combination of in vitro transcription in a HeLa cell lysate system, primer extension of mRNAPEPCK, and S1 nuclease mapping. In vitro transcription of purified DNA templates revealed three RNA polymerase II-dependent start sites. Two sites were separated by 600 base pairs on the coding strand and the third site was on the noncoding strand. The products of S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension from a BglII site were compared in order to determine which of the coding strand initiation sites was expressed in vivo. In both cases a 69-base pair fragment was generated and the 5' end of this corresponded to a thymidine residue identified in a sequence ladder of the genomic DNA coding strand. We conclude that mRNAPEPCK synthesis initiates with an adenine residue 69 base pairs 5' of the BglII site; this corresponds to the 3' most transcription initiation site determined in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence

Alpha 1 type IV collagen gene evolved differently from fibrillar collagen genes.

Type IV collagen is a major structural component in basement membranes. It is considerably different from the fibrillar collagens, types I-III. For example, unlike fibrillar collagens, the triple helical domain of type IV collagen is frequently interrupted by nonhelical regions. In this report, we demonstrate several overlapping genomic clones which cover most of the mouse alpha 1(IV) chain. Electron microscopic analysis of R-loops revealed that there were at least 28 exons within 35 kilobases of the gene segment. The sizes of six exons were determined by DNA sequence analysis to be 81, 178, 134, 73, 129, and 213 base pairs. These sizes do not appear to be related to the 54-base pair coding unit which is characteristic of fibrillar collagen exons, suggesting that the alpha 1 type IV collagen gene evolved differently from the fibrillar collagen genes.

Actin Cytoskeleton

Characterization of the DNA of the hamster papovavirus: IV. Transcription mapping of calf-thymus DNA polymerase II.

Nascent RNA, synthesized by calf thymus RNA polymerase II on restriction endonuclease BamHI linearized hamster papovavirus (HaPV) DNA, was rehybridized to the template strand under conditions allowing transcription R-loop formation. Hybrids, visualized by electron microscopy, were plotted and mapped according to the physical map of HaPV. Two predominant regions of transcription could be localized at 0.10--0.40 and 0.50--0.82 m.u., respectively. For the start sites of transcription at map positions 0.67 and 0.75, respectively, on the HaPV genome a transcription in opposite direction were estimated. This genome region harbours the putative origin of replication of HaPV DNA. These results suggest a distinct relatedness of HaPV to the polyomavirus group.

Animals

Structure of the Pseudomonas putida alkBAC operon. Identification of transcription and translation products.

The structural genes of the Pseudomonas oleovorans alk (alkane utilization) system, which are localized on the alkBAC operon, were cloned as a 16.9-kilobase pair EcoRI fragment. We have measured the length and determined the position of the alkBAC operon on this fragment by electron microscopy of R-loops. Furthermore, the 7.3-kilobase pair long alkBAC operon was analyzed for translation products in Escherichia coli minicells. Using a spectrum of overlapping subclones, six different proteins were identified. Starting from the alkBAC promotor, these polypeptides had molecular masses of 41, 15, 49, 58, 59, and 20 kDa, respectively. The 41-kDa protein was identified as alkane hydroxylase by reaction with a specific antibody. The 15- and 49-kDa peptides are soluble components of the alkane hydroxylase complex. The 58-kDa protein is most likely involved in alkanol dehydrogenase activity.

Alkanes