Heat shock protein-mediated resistance to high hydrostatic pressure in Escherichia coli

A random library of Escherichia coli MG1655 genomic fragments fused to a promoterless green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was constructed and screened by differential fluorescence induction for promoters that are induced after exposure to a sublethal high hydrostatic pressure stress. This screening yielded three promoters of genes belonging to the heat shock regulon (dnaK, lon, clpPX), suggesting a role for heat shock proteins in protection against, and/or repair of, damage caused by high pressure. Several further observations provide additional support for this hypothesis: (i). the expression of rpoH, encoding the heat shock-specific sigma factor sigma(32), was also induced by high pressure; (ii). heat shock rendered E. coli significantly more resistant to subsequent high-pressure inactivation, and this heat shock-induced pressure resistance followed the same time course as the induction of heat shock genes; (iii). basal expression levels of GFP from heat shock promoters, and expression of several heat shock proteins as determined by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins extracted from pulse-labeled cells, was increased in three previously isolated pressure-resistant mutants of E. coli compared to wild-type levels.     

Heat Shock Inhibits the Induced Expression of the SOS and SoxRS Regulons in Escherichia coli

Oxidative stress formed in Escherichia coli cells is known to bring about a complex induction of alternative DNA repair processes, including SOS, SoxRS, and heat-shock response (HSR). The modification by heat shock of the expression ofsfiA and soxS genes induced by oxidative agents H₂O₂, menadione and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) was studied for the first time. Quantitative parameters of gene expression were examined inE. coli strains with fused genes (promoters) sfiA::lacZ and soxS::lacZ.The expression of these genes induced by cell treatment with H₂O₂, but not menadione or 4NQO, was shown to decrease selectively after exposure to heat shock. Since genetic activity of menadione and 4NQO depends mainly on the formation of superoxide anion ,O^¯ ₂ it is assumed that the effect of selective inhibition by heat-shock of sfiA and soxS gene expression in experiments with H₂O₂ is connected with activity of DnaK heat shock protein, which, unlike other heat-shock proteins, cannot be induced by superoxide anion O^¯ ₂.     

Effects of disruption of heat shock genes on susceptibility of Escherichia coli to fluoroquinolones

Background

It is well known that expression of certain bacterial genes responds rapidly to such stimuli as exposure to toxic chemicals and physical agents. It is generally believed that the proteins encoded in these genes are important for successful survival of the organism under the hostile conditions. Analogously, the proteins induced in bacterial cells exposed to antibiotics are believed to affect the organisms' susceptibility to these agents.

Results

We demonstrated that Escherichia coli cells exposed to levofloxacin (LVFX), a fluoroquinolone (FQ), induce the syntheses of heat shock proteins and RecA. To examine whether the heat shock proteins affect the bactericidal action of FQs, we constructed E. coli strains with mutations in various heat shock genes and tested their susceptibility to FQs. Mutations in dnaK, groEL, and lon increased this susceptibility; the lon mutant exhibited the greatest effects. The increased susceptibility of the lon mutant was corroborated by experiments in which the gene encoding the cell division inhibitor, SulA, was subsequently disrupted. SulA is induced by the SOS response and degraded by the Lon protease. The findings suggest that the hypersusceptibility of the lon mutant to FQs could be due to abnormally high levels of SulA protein resulting from the depletion of Lon and the continuous induction of the SOS response in the presence of FQs.

Conclusion

The present results show that the bactericidal action of FQs is moderately affected by the DnaK and GroEL chaperones and strongly affected by the Lon protease. FQs have contributed successfully to the treatment of various bacterial infections, but their widespread use and often misuse, coupled with emerging resistance, have gradually compromised their utility. Our results suggest that agents capable of inhibiting the Lon protease have potential for combination therapy with FQs.     

Co-induction of DNA relaxation and synthesis of DnaK and GroEL proteins inEscherichia coli by expression of LetD (CcdB) protein,an inhibitor of DNA gyrase encoded by the F factor

We examined the influence of overexpression of LetD (CcdB) protein, an inhibitor of DNA gyrase encoded by the F factor ofEscherichia coli, on DNA supercoiling and induction of heat shock proteins. Cells were transformed with a plasmid carrying the structural gene for LetD protein under control of thetac promoter, and LetD protein was induced by adding isopropylβ-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to the culture medium. Analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis in the presence of chloroquine revealed relaxation of plasmid DNA in cells depending on the concentration of IPTG employed for induction. Protein pulse-labeling experiments with [³⁵S]methionine and cysteine revealed that synthesis of DnaK and GroEL proteins was also induced by IPTG, and concentrations necessary for DNA relaxation and induction of the heat shock proteins were much the same. Expression of mutant LetD protein lacking two amino acid residues at the C-terminus induced neither DNA relaxation nor the synthesis of DnaK and GroEL proteins. Induction of wild-type LetD protein but not mutant LetD protein markedly enhanced synthesis ofσ ³². We interpret these results to mean that DNA relaxation in cells caused by the expression of LetD protein induces heat shock proteins via increased synthesis ofσ ³².     

Development of a Tetracycline-Inducible Gene Expression System for the Study of Helicobacter pylori Pathogenesis

Deletion mutants and animal models have been instrumental in the study of Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis. Conditional mutants, however, would enable the study of the temporal gene requirement during H. pylori colonization and chronic infection. To achieve this goal, we adapted the Escherichia coli Tn10-derived tetracycline-inducible expression system for use in H. pylori. The ureA promoter was modified by inserting one or two tet operators to generate tetracycline-responsive promoters, named uPtetO, and these promoters were then fused to the reporter gfpmut2 and inserted into different loci. The expression of the tetracycline repressor (tetR) was placed under the control of one of three promoters and inserted into the chromosome. Conditional expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in strains harboring tetR and uPtetO-GFP was characterized by measuring GFP activity and by immunoblotting. The two tet-responsive uPtetO promoters differ in strength, and induction of these promoters was inducer concentration and time dependent, with maximum expression achieved after induction for 8 to 16 h. Furthermore, the chromosomal location of the uPtetO-GFP construct and the nature of the promoter driving expression of tetR influenced the strength of the uPtetO promoters upon induction. Integration of uPtetO-GFP and tetR constructs at different genomic loci was stable in vivo and did not affect colonization. Finally, we demonstrate tetracycline-dependent induction of GFP expression in vivo during chronic infection. These results open new experimental avenues for dissecting H. pylori pathogenesis using animal models and for testing the roles of specific genes in colonization of, adaptation to, and persistence in the host.     

<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">In situ</Emphasis> real-time evaluation of radiation-responsive promoters in the extremely radioresistant microbe <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Deinococcus radiodurans</Emphasis>

A third generation promoter probe shuttle vector pKG was constructed, using the green fluorescent protein as a reporter, for in situ evaluation of Deinococcal promoter activity in Escherichia coli or Deinococcus radiodurans. The construct yielded zero background fluorescence in both the organisms, in the absence of promoter sequences. Fifteen Deinococcal promoters, either harbouring Radiation and Desiccation Response Motif (RDRM) or not, were cloned in vector pKG. Only the RDRM-promoter constructs displayed (i) gamma radiation inducible GFP expression in D. radiodurans, following gamma irradiation, (ii) DdrO-mediated repression of GFP expression in heterologous E. coli, or (iii) abolition in GFP induction following gamma irradiation, in pprI mutant of D. radiodurans. Utility of pKG vector for real-time in situ assessment of Deinococcal promoter function was, thus, successfully demonstrated.     

Characterization of three novel mechanosensitive channel activities in Escherichia coli

Mechanosensitive channels sense elevated membrane tension that arises from rapid water influx occurring when cells move from high to low osmolarity environments (hypoosmotic shock). These non-specific channels in the cytoplasmic membrane release osmotically-active solutes and ions. The two major mechanosensitive channels in Escherichia coli are MscL and MscS. Deletion of both proteins severely compromises survival of hypoosmotic shock. However, like many bacteria, E. coli cells possess other MscS-type genes (kefA, ybdG, ybiO, yjeP and ynaI). Two homologs, MscK (kefA) and YbdG, have been characterized as mechanosensitive channels that play minor roles in maintaining cell integrity. Additional channel openings are occasionally observed in patches derived from mutants lacking MscS, MscK and MscL. Due to their rare occurrence, little is known about these extra pressure-induced currents or their genetic origins. Here we complete the identification of the remaining E. coli mechanosensitive channels YnaI, YbiO and YjeP. The latter is the major component of the previously described MscM activity (~300 pS), while YnaI (~100 pS) and YbiO (~1000 pS) were previously unknown. Expression of native YbiO is NaCl-specific and RpoS-dependent. A Δ7 strain was created with all seven E. coli mechanosensitive channel genes deleted. High level expression of YnaI, YbiO or YjeP proteins from a multicopy plasmid in the Δ7 strain (MJFGH) leads to substantial protection against hypoosmotic shock. Purified homologs exhibit high molecular masses that are consistent with heptameric assemblies. This work reveals novel mechanosensitive channels and discusses the regulation of their expression in the context of possible additional functions.     

Effects of temperature shifts and oscillations on recombinant protein production expressed in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is widely used host for the intracellular expression of many proteins. However, in some cases also secretion of protein from periplasm was observed. Improvement of both intracellular and extracellular production of recombinant protein in E. coli is an attractive goal in order to reduce production cost and increase process efficiency and economics. Since heat shock proteins in E. coli were reported to be helpful for protein refolding and hindering aggregation, in this work different types of single and periodic heat shocks were tested on lab scale to enhance intracellular and extracellular protein production. A single heat shock prior to induction and different oscillatory temperature variations during the induction phase were executed. The results showed that these variations influence protein production negatively. In other words, 45 and 50 % reduction in extracellular protein production were observed for the single heat shock and oscillated temperature between 35 and 40 °C, respectively. However, the oscillatory temperature approach introduced in this study is recommended as a tool to quantitatively analyze the effects of inhomogeneous temperature on cell physiology and productivity in large-scale bioreactors.     

Stationary-Phase Quorum-Sensing Signals Affect Autoinducer-2 and Gene Expression in Escherichia coli

Quorum sensing via autoinducer-2 (AI-2) has been identified in different strains, including those from Escherichia, Vibrio, Streptococcus, and Bacillus species, and previous studies have suggested the existence of additional quorum-sensing signals working in the stationary phase of Escherichia coli cultures. To investigate the presence and global effect of these possible quorum-sensing signals other than AI-2, DNA microarrays were used to study the effect of stationary-phase signals on the gene expression of early exponential-phase cells of the AI-2-deficient strain E. coli DH5α. For statistically significant differential gene expression (P < 0.05), 14 genes were induced by supernatants from a stationary culture and 6 genes were repressed, suggesting the involvement of indole (induction of tnaA and tnaL) and phosphate (repression of phoA, phoB, and phoU). To study the stability of the signals, the stationary-phase supernatant was autoclaved and was used to study its effect on E. coli gene expression. Three genes were induced by autoclaved stationary-phase supernatant, and 34 genes were repressed. In total, three genes (ompC, ptsA, and btuB) were induced and five genes (nupC, phoB, phoU, argT, and ompF) were repressed by both fresh and autoclaved stationary-phase supernatants. Furthermore, supernatant from E. coli DH5α stationary culture was found to repress E. coli K-12 AI-2 concentrations by 4.8-fold ± 0.4-fold, suggesting that an additional quorum-sensing system in E. coli exists and that gene expression is controlled as a network with different signals working at different growth stages.     

Plant tissue-specific promoters can drive gene expression in Escherichia coli

Plant transgenesis often requires the use of tissue-specific promoters to drive the transgene expression exclusively in targeted tissues. Although the eukaryotic promoters are expected to stay silent in Escherichia coli, when the promoter-transgene units within the plant transformation vectors are constructed and propagated, some eukaryotic promoters have been reported to be active in prokaryotes. The potential activity of plant promoter in E. coli cells should be considered in cases of expression of proteins that are toxic for host cells, environmental risk assessment or the stability in E. coli of plant vectors for specific Cre/loxP applications. In this study, DNA fragments harbouring four embryo- and/or pollen-specific Arabidopsis thaliana promoters were investigated for their ability to drive heterologous gene expression in E. coli cells. For this, they were fused to gfp:gus reporter genes in the pCAMBIA1304 vector. Although BPROM, bacterial sigma70 promoter recognition program identified several sequences with characteristics similar to bacterial promoters including -10 and -35 sequences in each of tested fragments, the experimental approach showed that only one promoter fragment was able to drive relatively strong- and one promoter fragment relatively weak-GUS expression in E. coli cells. Remaining two tested promoters did not drive any transgene expression in bacteria. Our results also showed that cloning of a shorter plant promoter sequence into vectors containing lacZ α-complementation system can increase the probability of gene expression driven by upstream located lac promoter. This should be considered when cloning of plant expression units, the expression of which is unwanted in E. coli.     

Inducible Suppression of Global Translation by Overuse of Rare Codons

Recently, artificial gene networks have been developed in synthetic biology to control gene expression and make organisms as controllable as robots. Here, I present an artificial posttranslational gene-silencing system based on the codon usage bias and low tRNA content corresponding to minor codons. I engineered the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene to inhibit translation indirectly with the lowest-usage codons to monopolize various minor tRNAs (lgfp). The expression of lgfp interfered nonspecifically with the growth of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, human HeLa cervical cancer cells, MCF7 breast cancer cells, and HEK293 kidney cells, as well as phage and adenovirus expansion. Furthermore, insertion of lgfp downstream of a phage response promoter conferred phage resistance on E. coli. Such engineered gene silencers could act as components of biological networks capable of functioning with suitable promoters in E. coli, S. cerevisiae, and human cells to control gene expression. The results presented here show general suppressor artificial genes for live cells and viruses. This robust system provides a gene expression or cell growth control device for artificially synthesized gene networks.     

Expression of the Major Heat Shock Proteins DnaK and GroEL in Streptococcus pyogenes: A Comparison to Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus

One of the outstanding problems in the field of heat shock response has been to elucidate the mechanism underlying the induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs). In this work, we initiate an analysis of the expression of heat shock groEL and dnaK genes and their promoters in S. pyogenes. The synthesis of total cellular proteins was studied upon transfer of a log-phase culture from 37°C to 42°C by performing 5-min pulse-labeling experiments with ³⁵S-Met. The heat shock responses in the pathogenic Gram-positive cocci, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus, were also analyzed. Received: 12 July 2000 / Accepted: 27 August 2000