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Localization of transposon insertions in pathogenicity mutants of Erwinia amylovora and their biochemical characterization.

Transposon Tn5, on a mobilizable ColE1 plasmid, on a Ti plasmid derepressed for bacterial transfer, and on the bacteriophage fd genome, was used to construct pathogenicity mutants of the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. Eleven nonpathogenic mutants were isolated from 1600 independent mutants screened. These mutants were divided into three types: auxotrophs, exopolysaccharide (EPS)-deficient mutants and a mutant of the dsp phenotype. According to their insertion sites the Tn5 mutants were mapped into several classes. Some of the mutants could be complemented with cosmid clones from a genomic library of the parent strain for EPS production on minimal agar. EPS-deficient mutants and the dsp mutant could complement each other to produce virulence symptoms on pear slices.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Gene transfer in magnetic bacteria: transposon mutagenesis and cloning of genomic DNA fragments required for magnetosome synthesis.

Broad-host-range IncP and IncQ plasmids have been transferred to the aerobic magnetic bacterium Aquaspirillum sp. strain AMB-1. Conjugal matings with Escherichia coli S17-1 allowed high-frequency transfer of the RK2 derivative pRK415 (4.5 x 10(-3) transconjugant per recipient cell) and the RSF1010 derivative pKT230 (3.0 x 10(-3) transconjugant per recipient). These plasmids successfully formed autonomous replicons in transconjugants and could be isolated and transformed back into E. coli, illustrating their potential as shuttle vectors. A mobilizable plasmid containing transposon Tn5 was transferred to Aquaspirillum sp. strain AMB-1 and also to the obligately microaerophilic magnetic bacterium Aquaspirillum magnetotacticum MS-1. Five nonmagnetic kanamycin-resistant mutants of Aquaspirillum sp. strain AMB-1 in which Tn5 was shown to be integrated into the chromosome were obtained. Different genomic fragments containing the mutagenized regions were cloned into E. coli. Two genomic fragments were restriction mapped, and the site of Tn5 insertion was determined. They were shown to be identical, although derived from independent transposon insertions. One of these clones was found to hybridize strongly to regions of the A. magnetotacticum MS-1 chromosome. This is the first report of gene transfer in a magnetic bacterium.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Cloning of the fliI gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides WS8 by analysis of a transposon mutant with impaired motility.

A transposon mutant of Rhodobacter sphaeroides WS8 was isolated that showed reduced swarming on soft agar plates. Liquid cultures of this mutant (M18) showed a low percentage of motile swimming cells in mid-exponential phase and a low level of extracellular flagellin protein by Western blotting. M18 was complemented by a clone from a library of R. sphaeroides WS8 DNA, and restriction mapping of the site of TnphoA insertion in the mutant, coupled with DNA sequencing, showed that it had a defect in the fliI gene. To determine if a partly functional fliI gene was giving the low-motility phenotype of M18, a drug resistance omega cartridge was inserted into the gene to give a complete null mutant. This null strain also produced a low percentage of motile cells. Possible reasons for this apparent fliI-independent flagellar formation are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping human chromosomes by walking with sequence-tagged sites from end fragments of yeast artificial chromosome inserts.

Sequence-tagged sites (STSs) derived from end fragments of chromosome-specific yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) can facilitate the assembly of an overlapping YAC/STS map. Contigs form rapidly by iteratively screening YAC collections with end-fragment STSs from YACs that have not yet been detected by any previous STS. The map is rendered rapidly useful during its assembly by incorporating supplementary STSs from genes and genetic linkage probes with known locations. Methods for the systematic development and testing of the end-fragments STSs are given here, and a group of 100 STSs is presented for the X chromosome. The mapping strategy is shown to be successful in simulations with portions of the X chromosome already largely mapped into overlapping YACs by other means.

Base Sequence↗

Use of a gene encoding a suppressor tRNA as a reporter of transcription: analyzing the action of the Nun protein of bacteriophage HK022.

The Nun protein of phage HK022 blocks the expression of genes that lie downstream of the nut sites of phage lambda. Nun is believed to act by promoting premature termination of transcription at or near these sites. To test this hypothesis and to facilitate mapping the sites of termination, we inserted a gene encoding a suppressor tRNA immediately downstream of the lambda nutL site and determined the effect of Nun on tRNA level. We found that Nun severely reduced the accumulation of mature, biologically active tRNA and promoted the accumulation of short, promoter-proximal transcripts whose 3' ends were dispersed over a 100-nucleotide region downstream of nutL. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Nun terminates transcription within the region immediately downstream of nutL and are inconsistent with the hypothesis that the only action of Nun is to prevent translation of genes located downstream of the nut site. The stability, small size, and easily assayable biological function of suppressor tRNA recommend it as a reporter of transcription in other systems.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Integrated genomic map from uropathogenic Escherichia coli J96.

Escherichia coli J96 is a uropathogen having both broad similarities to and striking differences from nonpathogenic, laboratory E. coli K-12. Strain J96 contains three large (>100-kb) unique genomic segments integrated on the chromosome; two are recognized as pathogenicity islands containing urovirulence genes. Additionally, the strain possesses a fourth smaller accessory segment of 28 kb and two deletions relative to strain K-12. We report an integrated physical and genetic map of the 5,120-kb J96 genome. The chromosome contains 26 NotI, 13 BlnI, and 7 I-CeuI macrorestriction sites. Macrorestriction mapping was rapidly accomplished by a novel transposon-based procedure: analysis of modified minitransposon insertions served to align the overlapping macrorestriction fragments generated by three different enzymes (each sharing a common cleavage site within the insert), thus integrating the three different digestion patterns and ordering the fragments. The resulting map, generated from a total of 54 mini-Tn10 insertions, was supplemented with auxanography and Southern analysis to indicate the positions of insertionally disrupted aminosynthetic genes and cloned virulence genes, respectively. Thus, it contains not only physical, macrorestriction landmarks but also the loci for eight housekeeping genes shared with strain K-12 and eight acknowledged urovirulence genes; the latter confirmed clustering of virulence genes at the large unique accessory chromosomal segments. The 115-kb J96 plasmid was resolved by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in NotI digests. However, because the plasmid lacks restriction sites for the enzymes BlnI and I-CeuI, it was visualized in BlnI and I-CeuI digests only of derivatives carrying plasmid inserts artificially introducing these sites. Owing to an I-SceI site on the transposon, the plasmid could also be visualized and sized from plasmid insertion mutants after digestion with this enzyme. The insertional strains generated in construction of the integrated genomic map provide useful physical and genetic markers for further characterization of the J96 genome.

Blotting, Southern↗

A modular, positive selection bacterial artificial chromosome vector with multiple cloning sites.

To construct large-insert libraries for the sequencing, mapping, and functional studies of complex genomes, we have constructed a new modular bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector, pBACe3.6 (GenBank Accession No. U80929). This vector contains multiple cloning sites located within the sacB gene, allowing positive selection for recombinant clones on sucrose-containing medium. A recognition site for the PI-SceI nuclease has also been included, which permits linearization of recombinant DNA irrespective of the characteristics of the insert sequences. An attTn7 sequence present in pBACe3.6 permits retrofitting of BAC clones by Tn7-mediated insertion of desirable sequence elements into the vector portion. The ability to retrofit BAC clones will be useful for functional analysis of genes carried on the cloned inserts. The pBACe3.6 vector has been used for the construction of many genomic libraries currently serving as resources for large-scale mapping and sequencing.

Binding Sites↗

Physical and functional characterization of the ColS8 plasmid.

The restriction map of the 5.1-kb colicinogenic plasmid ColS8 is reported. Transposon-insertion mutagenesis has been carried out to investigate the location of the various functional regions of this plasmid. Twenty-six independent ColS8::Tn1 insertions and six different deletion mutant plasmids were isolated, and the locations of the insertions and deletions were determined. The mapping of the transposon-insertion sites, together with characterization of the phenotypes of these mutants, permitted the localization of the regions of DNA involved in colicin production, colicin S8 immunity and mobilization by other plasmids. There is a polar effect in some mutants in which single insertions result in the non-expression of all three functions. In minicell preparations, the ColS8 plasmid directed the synthesis of colicin S8 (60 kDa) and a 14-kDa immunity protein. One deletion mutant with a colicin-less phenotype can synthesize colicin S8 in minicells, which placed the DNA region involved in colicin release between the colicin production and immunity regions. Both the 60-kDa and 14-kDa proteins are expressed from pColS8 in maxicell preparations.

Colicins↗

Characterization of the transposition pattern of the Ac element in Arabidopsis thaliana using endonuclease I-SceI.

We have investigated physical distances and directions of transposition of the maize transposable element Ac in Arabidopsis thaliana. We prepared a transferred DNA (T-DNA) construct that carried a non-autonomous derivative of Ac with a site for cleavage by endonuclease I-SceI (designated dAc-I-RS element). Another cleavage site was also introduced into the T-DNA region outside dAc-I-RS. Three transgenic Arabidopsis plants were generated, each of which had a single copy of the T-DNA at a different chromosomal location. These transgenic plants were crossed with the Arabidopsis that carried the gene for Ac transposase and progeny in which dAc-I-RS had been transposed were isolated. After digestion of the genomic DNA of these progeny with endonuclease I-SceI, sizes of segment of DNA were determined by pulse-field gel electrophoresis. We also performed linkage analysis for the transposed elements and sites of mutations near the elements. Our results showed that 50% of all transposition events had occurred within 1,700 kb on the same chromosome, with 35% within 200 kb, and that the elements transposed in both directions on the chromosome with roughly equal probability. The data thus indicate that the Ac-Ds system is most useful for tagging of genes that are present within 200 kb of the chromosomal site of Ac in Arabidopsis. In addition, determination of the precise localization of the transposed dAc-I-RS element should definitely assist in map-based cloning of genes around insertion sites.

Journal Article↗

Chromosomal insertion and excision of a 30 kb unstable genetic element is responsible for phase variation of lipopolysaccharide and other virulence determinants in Legionella pneumophila.

We recently described the phase-variable expression of a virulence-associated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) epitope in Legionella pneumophila. In this study, the molecular mechanism for phase variation was investigated. We identified a 30 kb unstable genetic element as the molecular origin for LPS phase variation. Thirty putative genes were encoded on the 30 kb sequence, organized in two putative opposite transcription units. Some of the open reading frames (ORFs) shared homologies with bacteriophage genes, suggesting that the 30 kb element was of phage origin. In the virulent wild-type strain, the 30 kb element was located on the chromosome, whereas excision from the chromosome and replication as a high-copy plasmid resulted in the mutant phenotype, which is characterized by alteration of an LPS epitope and loss of virulence. Mapping and sequencing of the insertion site in the genome revealed that the chromosomal attachment site was located in an intergenic region flanked by genes of unknown function. As phage release could not be induced by mitomycin C, it is conceivable that the 30 kb element is a non-functional phage remnant. The protein encoded by ORF T on the 30 kb plasmid could be isolated by an outer membrane preparation, indicating that the genes encoded on the 30 kb element are expressed in the mutant phenotype. Therefore, it is conceivable that the phenotypic alterations seen in the mutant depend on high-copy replication of the 30 kb element and expression of the encoded genes. Excision of the 30 kb element from the chromosome was found to occur in a RecA-independent pathway, presumably by the involvement of RecE, RecT and RusA homologues that are encoded on the 30 kb element.

Blotting, Southern↗

Mapping of insertion mutations in gnd of Escherichia coli with deletions defining the ends of the gene.

A genetic map was prepared for gnd, the gene of Escherichia coli which encodes the metabolically regulated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Direct selection methods were used for the isolation of mutants with deletions that define the respective ends of gnd. These selections depended on the availability of a defective lysogen in which gnd was present on a lambda h80 dgnd his prophage located at the att phi 80 region of the chromosome. Mutants with deletions entering gnd from the his-distal end were selected as Gnd- TonB- mutants. Mutants with his-proximal gnd deletions were selected as Gnd-, temperature-resistant mutants of a specially prepared stable lysogen. Gnd- mutants were also isolated after mutagenesis with bacteriophage Mu cts61, and genetic tests were used to determine which mutants carry a Mu cts61 prophage in gnd. The deletion mutations were mapped against each other and against the insertion mutations through the use of F' merodiploid strains. The insertion mutations mapped at seven distinct sites in gnd; three mapped under the deletions defining the his-proximal portion of the gene and three mapped with the his-distal deletions.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

The zebrafish spiel-ohne-grenzen (spg) gene encodes the POU domain protein Pou2 related to mammalian Oct4 and is essential for formation of the midbrain and hindbrain, and for pre-gastrula morphogenesis.

In early embryonic development, the brain is divided into three main regions along the anteroposterior axis: the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. Through retroviral insertional mutagenesis and chemical mutagenesis experiments in zebrafish, we have isolated mutations that cause abnormal hindbrain organization and a failure of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) to form, a region that acts as an organizer for the adjacent brain regions. The mutations fail to complement the spiel-ohne-grenzen (spg) mutation, which causes a similar phenotype, but for which the affected gene is unknown. We show through genetic mapping, cloning of the proviral insertion site and allele sequencing that spg mutations disrupt pou2, a gene encoding the Pou2 transcription factor. Based on chromosomal synteny, phylogenetic sequence comparison, and expression and functional data, we suggest that pou2 is the zebrafish ortholog of mouse Oct3/Oct4 and human POU5F1. For the mammalian genes, a function in brain development has so far not been described. In the absence of functional pou2, expression of markers for the midbrain, MHB and the hindbrain primordium (pax2.1, wnt1, krox20) are severely reduced, correlating with the neuroectoderm-specific expression phase of pou2. Injection of pou2 mRNA restores these defects in spg mutant embryos, but does not activate these markers ectopically, demonstrating a permissive role for pou2. Injections of pou2-morpholinos phenocopy the spg phenotype at low concentration, further proving that spg encodes pou2. Two observations suggest that pou2 has an additional earlier function: higher pou2-morpholino concentrations specifically cause a pre-gastrula arrest of cell division and morphogenesis, and expression of pou2 mRNA itself is reduced in spg-homozygous embryos at this stage. These experiments suggest two roles for pou2. Initially, Pou2 functions during early proliferation and morphogenesis of the blastomeres, similar to Oct3/4 in mammals during formation of the inner cell mass. During zebrafish brain formation, Pou2 then functions a second time to activate gene expression in the midbrain and hindbrain primordium, which is reflected at later stages in the specific lack in spg embryos of the MHB and associated defects in the mid- and hindbrain.

Alleles↗

[Physical mapping of Streptomyces coelicolar A3(3) actinophages. III. Restriction analysis].

It has been shown that endonucleases HindII, HindIII, SalI and BsuI treatment of phiC62, or phiC43 and phiC31 DNAs forms more than 20 fragments. EcoRI cleaves phiC62, phiC31, phiC31c5 and phiC31c28 into seven fragments, but phiC311yg33 into six fragments. Comparison of molecular weights of DNA restricts obtained after hydrolysis of phage DNAs containing deletions by endonuclease EcoRI made it possible to determine the location of four fragments on restriction map and to orientate this map in relation to the molecule's ends. BamHI cleaves phiC43 DNA into two fragments. By heteroduplexing BamHi site was mapped within the phiC43 insertion sequence.

Bacteriophages↗

Identification of genes that synergize with Cbfb-MYH11 in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia subtype M4 with eosinophilia is associated with a chromosome 16 inversion that creates a fusion gene CBFB-MYH11. We have previously shown that CBFB-MYH11 is necessary but not sufficient for leukemogenesis. Here, we report the identification of genes that specifically cooperate with CBFB-MYH11 in leukemogenesis. Neonatal injection of Cbfb-MYH11 knock-in chimeric mice with retrovirus 4070A led to the development of acute myeloid leukemia in 2-5 months. Each leukemia sample contained one or a few viral insertions, suggesting that alteration of one gene could be sufficient to synergize with Cbfb-MYH11. The chromosomal position of 67 independent retroviral insertion sites (RISs) was determined, and 90% of the RISs mapped within 10 kb of a flanking gene. In total, 54 candidate genes were identified; six of them were common insertion sites (CISs). CIS genes included members of a zinc finger transcription factors family, Plag1 and Plagl2, with eight and two independent insertions, respectively. CIS genes also included Runx2, Myb, H2T24, and D6Mm5e. Comparison of the remaining 48 genes with single insertion sites with known leukemia-associated RISs indicated that 18 coincide with known RISs. To our knowledge, this retroviral genetic screen is the first to identify genes that cooperate with a fusion gene important for human myeloid leukemia.

Acute Disease↗

Topology of the outer membrane usher PapC determined by site-directed fluorescence labeling.

In contrast to typical membrane proteins that span the lipid bilayer via transmembrane alpha-helices, bacterial outer membrane proteins adopt a beta-barrel architecture composed of antiparallel transmembrane beta-strands. The topology of outer membrane proteins is difficult to predict accurately using computer algorithms, and topology mapping protocols commonly used for alpha-helical membrane proteins do not work for beta-barrel proteins. We present here the topology of the PapC usher, an outer membrane protein required for assembly and secretion of P pili by the chaperone/usher pathway in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. An initial attempt to map PapC topology by insertion of protease cleavage sites was largely unsuccessful due to lack of cleavage at most sites and the requirement to disrupt the outer membrane to identify periplasmic sites. We therefore adapted a site-directed fluorescence labeling technique to permit topology mapping of outer membrane proteins using small molecule probes in intact bacteria. Using this method, we demonstrated that PapC has the potential to encode up to 32 transmembrane beta-strands. Based on experimental evidence, we propose that the usher consists of an N-terminal beta-barrel domain comprised of 26 beta-strands and that a distinct C-terminal domain is not inserted into the membrane but is located instead within the lumen of the N-terminal beta-barrel similar to the plug domains encoded by the outer membrane iron-siderophore uptake proteins.

Algorithms↗

mei-W68 in Drosophila melanogaster encodes a Spo11 homolog: evidence that the mechanism for initiating meiotic recombination is conserved.

Meiotic recombination requires the action of several gene products in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila melanogaster. Genetic studies in D. melanogaster have shown that the mei-W68 gene is required for all meiotic gene conversion and crossing-over. We cloned mei-W68 using a new genetic mapping method in which P elements are used to promote crossing-over at their insertion sites. This resulted in the high-resolution mapping of mei-W68 to a <18-kb region that contains a homolog of the S. cerevisiae spo11 gene. Molecular analysis of several mutants confirmed that mei-W68 encodes an spo11 homolog. Spo11 and MEI-W68 are members of a family of proteins similar to a novel type II topoisomerase. On the basis of this and other lines of evidence, Spo11 has been proposed to be the enzymatic activity that creates the double-strand breaks needed to initiate meiotic recombination. This raises the possibility that recombination in Drosophila is also initiated by double-strand breaks. Although these homologous genes are required absolutely for recombination in both species, their roles differ in other respects. In contrast to spo11, mei-W68 is not required for synaptonemal complex formation and does have a mitotic role.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Achlya mitochondrial DNA: gene localization and analysis of inverted repeats.

Mitochondrial DNA from four strains of the oomycete Achlya has been compared and nine gene loci mapped, including that of the ribosomal protein gene, var1. Examination of the restriction enzyme site maps showed the presence of four insertions relative to a map common to all four strains. All the insertions were found in close proximity to genic regions. The four strains also contained the inverted repeat first observed in A. ambisexualis (Hudspeth et al. 1983), allowing an examination by analysis of retained restriction sites of the evolutionary stability of repeated DNA sequences relative to single copy sequences. Although the inverted repeat is significantly more stable than single copy sequences, more detailed analysis indicates that this stability is limited to the portion encoding the ribosomal RNA genes. Thus, the apparent evolutionary stability of the repeat does not appear to derive from the inverted repeat structure per se.

Base Sequence↗

Oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

An efficient technique has been developed for performing in vivo site-directed mutagenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. This procedure involves directed repair of P-element-induced DNA lesions after injection of a modified DNA sequence into early embryos. An oligonucleotide of 50 base pairs, whose sequence spans the P-element insertion site, mediates base replacement in the endogenous gene. Restriction mapping, DNA sequencing, and polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrate that base substitutions present in an injected oligonucleotide are incorporated into genomic sequences flanking a P insertion site in the white gene. This analysis suggests that progeny bearing directed mutations are recovered with a frequency of about 0.5 x 10(-3). Because Drosophila remains a premier organism for the analysis of eukaryotic gene regulation, this system should find strong application in that analysis as well as in the analysis of DNA recombination, conversion, repair, and mutagenesis.

Animals↗