Essential structure in the cloned transforming DNA that induces gene amplification of the Bacillus subtilis amyE-tmrB region.

Bacillus subtilis B7, a mutant which acquired gene amplification of the amyE-tmrB region, showed, as a result, hyperproductivity (about a 5- to 10-fold increase) of alpha-amylase and tunicamycin resistance. The mutational character was transferred to recipient cells by competence transformation. A 14-kilobase (kb) EcoRI chromosomal DNA fragment of strain B7 was found to have the transforming activity. We cloned a 6.4-kb EcoRI fragment on a phage vector lambda Charon 4A through a spontaneous deletion of 7.6 kb from the 14-kb fragment and subcloned a 1.6-kb HindIII fragment on pGR71. The cloned 6.4-kb EcoRI and 1.6-kb HindIII fragments retained the transforming activity of inducing gene amplification of the amyE-tmrB region. At the junction point (J) of the repeating units (16 kb), the tmrB gene was linked to a DNA region (M) located 4 kb upstream of amyE. The essential structure of the cloned, transforming (gene amplification-inducing) DNA was deduced to be that around J. The subcloned 1.6-kb HindIII fragment that retained the transforming activity was shown to be almost solely composed of the tmrB-J-M region. In addition, the DNA sequence around J was determined.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌以色列亚种130kd杀蚊蛋白基因的...

The location of 130kd mosquitocidal protein gene of Bti 4Q5 strain on its 75Md plasmid was confirmed by southern hybridization using a 18-base oligonucleotide probe. The crystal protein containing the component of 130kd toxic protein was purified. The crystal protein exhibiting the mosquitocidal activity against larvae of Aedes aegypti was shown by bioassay. The purified 75Md plasmid DNA of Bti 4Q5 strain was completely digested with HindIII restriction enzyme, ligated with the vector pUC18 and transformed into the recipient cells of E. coli TG1. From Apr transformants, four clones with HindIII restriction fragment inserts highly homologous to the 18-base oligonucleotide probe were obtained by in situ hybridization and southern hybridization. The 5.2kb HindIII restriction fragment insert was obtained in clone pFH2 and clone pFH4, and 2.3kb HindIII restriction fragment insert in clone pFH1 and pFH3. For pFH2 and pFH4, the 5.2kb fragment was inserted in pUC18 in opposite orientation. It contained 130kd mosquitocidal protein gene (type I) identified by restriction enzyme map analysis. The 2.3kb HindIII fragment insert in other two clones (pFH1 and pFH3) harbored a part of the type II mosquitocidal protein gene which can be used as a probe for cloning of the type II mosquitocidal protein gene.     

Involvement of the ftsA gene product in late stages of the Escherichia coli cell cycle.

The erythromycin resistance determinant of plasmid pDB102, a derivative of plasmid pSM19035, was cloned into the single HindIII site of the 3.6-megadalton cryptic Streptococcus mutans plasmid pVA318 and introduced into Streptococcus sanguis strain Challis by transformation. Plasmid pDB201, which was isolated from one of the transformants, consisted of the vector plasmid and the 1.15-megadalton HindIII fragment D of pSM19035. HindIII fragment D contained within it one of the two unique "spacer" sequences of pSM19035. Electron micrographs of self-annealed molecules of the recombinant plasmid revealed classical stem-loop structures, and the resistance determinant of pSM19035 appeared as a transposon-like structure. No differences were observed in either the type or the level of erythromycin resistance by pSM19035 or pDB201. The availability of a cloned erythromycin resistance determinant should be useful for future comparative studies of macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B resistance plasmids in streptococci.     

Physical and genetic analyses of the Inc-I alpha plasmid R64

A 126-kilobase (kb) physical and genetic map of the Inc-I alpha plasmid R64 was constructed by using the restriction enzymes, BamHI, SalI, XhoI, HindIII, and EcoRI. The replication (Rep) and incompatability (Inc) functions of this plasmid were located in a 1.75-kb segment of an EcoRI fragment, E10 (3.3 kb). In addition, the genes determining growth inhibition of phage BF23 (Ibf), suppression of dnaG ( Sog ), resistance to tetracycline (Tetr), and resistance to streptomycin ( Strr ) were located on the 5.5-kb HindIII-XhoI fragment, the 8.1-kb EcoRI fragment (E5), the 4.6-kb HindIII fragment (H8), and the 4.1-kb HindIII fragment (H10), respectively. The map of R64 was compared with that of ColIb, which belongs to the Inc-I alpha group.     

Nucleotide sequence of an incompatibility region of mini-Rts1 that contains five direct repeats.

The plasmid mini-Rts1, consisting of an EcoRI/HindIII fragment of about 1.8 kilobases (kb), contains an incompatibility determinant in its EcoRI/AccI region (0.5 kb). The nucleotide sequence of this incompatibility fragment was determined. A most striking feature of the sequence is the presence of five 24-base pair direct repeats. Four out of the five repeating units, which are contained in a 0.2-kb EcoRI/HincII fragment, were cloned en bloc in pACYC184 and found to express Rts1-specific incompatibility. In addition, the copy number of the mini-Rts1 plasmid appeared to be increased threefold upon removal of the 0.2-kb incompatibility region (incI) from the plasmid. This deletion derivative of mini-Rts1, as well as mini-Rts1, was maintained stably at 37 degrees C, but was cured at a high frequency at 42 degrees C. A possible role of the repeated nucleotide sequence was discussed. By subcloning the mini-Rts1 DNA, a second inc determinant (incII) was found on the AccI fragment, which is contiguous to the 0.5-kb EcoRI/AccI fragment.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for citrate synthase from a thermotolerant Bacillus sp.

The structural gene coding for citrate synthase from the gram-positive soil isolate Bacillus sp. strain C4 (ATCC 55182) capable of secreting acetic acid at pH 5.0 to 7.0 in the presence of dolime has been cloned from a genomic library by complementation of an Escherichia coli auxotrophic mutant lacking citrate synthase. The nucleotide sequence of the entire 3.1-kb HindIII fragment has been determined, and one major open reading frame was found coding for citrate synthase (ctsA). Citrate synthase from Bacillus sp. strain C4 was found to be a dimer (Mr, 84,500) with a subunit with an Mr of 42,000. The N-terminal sequence was found to be identical with that predicted from the gene sequence. The kinetics were best fit to a bisubstrate enzyme with an ordered mechanism. Bacillus sp. strain C4 citrate synthase was not activated by potassium chloride and was not inhibited by NADH, ATP, ADP, or AMP at levels up to 1 mM. The predicted amino acid sequence was compared with that of the E. coli, Acinetobacter anitratum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rickettsia prowazekii, porcine heart, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for citrate synthase from a thermotolerant Bacillus sp.

The structural gene coding for citrate synthase from the gram-positive soil isolate Bacillus sp. strain C4 (ATCC 55182) capable of secreting acetic acid at pH 5.0 to 7.0 in the presence of dolime has been cloned from a genomic library by complementation of an Escherichia coli auxotrophic mutant lacking citrate synthase. The nucleotide sequence of the entire 3.1-kb HindIII fragment has been determined, and one major open reading frame was found coding for citrate synthase (ctsA). Citrate synthase from Bacillus sp. strain C4 was found to be a dimer (Mr, 84,500) with a subunit with an Mr of 42,000. The N-terminal sequence was found to be identical with that predicted from the gene sequence. The kinetics were best fit to a bisubstrate enzyme with an ordered mechanism. Bacillus sp. strain C4 citrate synthase was not activated by potassium chloride and was not inhibited by NADH, ATP, ADP, or AMP at levels up to 1 mM. The predicted amino acid sequence was compared with that of the E. coli, Acinetobacter anitratum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rickettsia prowazekii, porcine heart, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes.     

含质粒复制起始区ori44的苏云金芽胞杆菌解离载体的构建

将苏云金芽胞杆菌转座子Tn4430的解离酶识别位点res分别插入克隆载体pRSET B和pUC19得到质粒pBMB1201和pBMB1202。这两个质粒分别经BamHI/Hin dⅢ和EcoRI/HindⅢ双酶切回收含res位点的小DNA片段,与穿梭载体pHT3101经EcoRI/HindⅢ双酶切后加收的含大肠杆菌复制起始区、氨苄青霉素抗性基因和红霉素抗性基因的3．3kb片段连接,获得重组质粒pBMB1203。封闭pBMB1203两res位点外的BamHI和EcoRI位点后,得到解离载体pBMB1204。将来源于苏云金芽胞杆菌库斯塔克亚种YBT－1520的质粒复制起始区ori44片段插入pBMB1204的两res位点之间,得到解离穿梭载体pBMB1205。该解离载体插入壮观霉素抗性基因后电转化无晶体突变株,在辅助质粒所提供的解离酶作用下可发生解离消除抗性基因,解离频率为100％,解离后的质粒稳定性为93％。利用解离穿梭载体pBMB1205可在用抗性筛选到转化子后特定消除抗性标记基因和其它非苏云金芽胞杆菌DNA片段。     

Molecular cloning of the structural gene for Acinetobacter citrate synthase

The structural gene for citrate synthase of Acinetobacter anitratum has been cloned in Escherichia coli in a form which expresses the enzyme. A library of EcoRI fragments of Acinetobacter genomic DNA was prepared in the vector lambda gt10, and clones were screened by hybridization with an E. coli citrate synthase clone under conditions of reduced stringency. A 6.5 kbp clone was obtained which was subcloned into pBR322, and shown to direct the formation of Acinetobacter citrate synthase in E. coli hosts. The promoter was located within a BglII fragment, and from this information the orientation of the gene was deduced.     

Cloning and endonuclease restriction analysis of argF and of the control region of the argECBH bipolar operon in Escherichia coli.

A 1.8 kb DNA fragment, liberated by endonuclease HindIII, contains the control region of the argECBH bipolar operon near one end and the weak secondary promoter of argH at the other extremity; it has been cloned in plasmid pBR322. The same plasmid vector has been used to clone the argF gene liberated from the chromosome by endonuclease BamHI. Restriction patterns for the two hybrid plasmids have been determined, using enzymes AluI, BglI, EcoRI, HaeIII, HincII, HindIII, HpaI and II, PstI and SalI. Two AluI sites situated on either side of and close to a HincII target delineate two short fragments covering the whole of the argECBH control region. The argF control elements are located in a region accessible to further dissection by BamHI, EcoRI, PstI and HindIII. Carriers of the argF plasmid produce extremely high amounts of ornithine carbamoyltransferase, a feature useful for purification of this enzyme.     

Cloning of sporulation gene spoIIG in Bacillus subtilis.

Two specialized transducing phages carrying a sporulation gene, spoIIG , of Bacillus subtilis were constructed from B. subtilis temperate phages p11 and phi 105 by the "prophage transformation" method. Restriction enzyme analysis and transformation experiments showed that the spoIIG gene was present on a 6.2 X 10(6)-dalton (6.2-Md) EcoRI fragment in both transducing phage genomes. Further analysis showed that spoIIG + transforming activity resides on a 2.25-Md EcoRI-BamHI fragment within the 6.2-Md EcoRI fragment. The 2.25-Md fragment was subcloned into the region between the EcoRI and BamHI sites of pUB110, and deletion plasmids lacking PstI or HindIII fragments within the 2.25-Md fragment were constructed. The recombinant plasmid carrying the intact spoIIG gene restored sporulation of strain HU1002 ( spoIIG41 recE4 ) to a frequency of 10(4) spores per ml and inhibited sporulation of strain 4309 ( spo + recE4 ) to a level of 10(3) spores per ml.     

Molecular cloning of the lactose-metabolizing genes from Streptococcus lactis

Restriction endonucleases and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to analyze plasmid pLM2001, which is required for lactose metabolism by Streptococcus lactis LM0232. The enzymes XhoI, SstI, BamHI, and KpnI each cleaved the plasmid into two fragments, whereas EcoRI and BglII cleaved the plasmid into seven and five fragments, respectively. Sizing of fragments and multiple digestions allowed construction of a composite restriction map. The KpnI fragments of pLM2001 were cloned into the KpnI cleavage site of the vector plasmid pDB101. A recombinant plasmid (pSH3) obtained from a lactose-fermenting, erythromycin-resistant (Lac+ Eryr) transformant of Streptococcus sanguis Challis was analyzed by enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. Plasmid pSH3 contained 7 of the 11 KpnI-HindIII fragments from pLM2001 and 5 of the 7 fragments from pDB101. It was determined that a 23-kilobase (kb) KpnI-generated fragment from pLM2001 had been cloned into pDB101 with deletion of part of the vector plasmid. The recombinant plasmid could be transformed with high frequency into several Lac- strains of S. sanguis, conferring the ability to ferment lactose and erythromycin resistance. The presence of pSH3 allowed a strain deficient in Enzyme IIlac, Factor IIIlac, and phospho-beta-galactosidase of the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system to efficiently ferment lactose. Under conditions designed to maximize curing of plasmid DNA with acriflavin, no Lac- derivatives could be isolated from cells transformed with pSH3. Seven of the 40 Lac+ colonies isolated after 10 transfers in acriflavin were shown to be sensitive to erythromycin and did not appear to harbor plasmid DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Molecular cloning of the lactose-metabolizing genes from Streptococcus lactis.

Restriction endonucleases and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to analyze plasmid pLM2001, which is required for lactose metabolism by Streptococcus lactis LM0232. The enzymes XhoI, SstI, BamHI, and KpnI each cleaved the plasmid into two fragments, whereas EcoRI and BglII cleaved the plasmid into seven and five fragments, respectively. Sizing of fragments and multiple digestions allowed construction of a composite restriction map. The KpnI fragments of pLM2001 were cloned into the KpnI cleavage site of the vector plasmid pDB101. A recombinant plasmid (pSH3) obtained from a lactose-fermenting, erythromycin-resistant (Lac+ Eryr) transformant of Streptococcus sanguis Challis was analyzed by enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. Plasmid pSH3 contained 7 of the 11 KpnI-HindIII fragments from pLM2001 and 5 of the 7 fragments from pDB101. It was determined that a 23-kilobase (kb) KpnI-generated fragment from pLM2001 had been cloned into pDB101 with deletion of part of the vector plasmid. The recombinant plasmid could be transformed with high frequency into several Lac- strains of S. sanguis, conferring the ability to ferment lactose and erythromycin resistance. The presence of pSH3 allowed a strain deficient in Enzyme IIlac, Factor IIIlac, and phospho-beta-galactosidase of the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system to efficiently ferment lactose. Under conditions designed to maximize curing of plasmid DNA with acriflavin, no Lac- derivatives could be isolated from cells transformed with pSH3. Seven of the 40 Lac+ colonies isolated after 10 transfers in acriflavin were shown to be sensitive to erythromycin and did not appear to harbor plasmid DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Overproduction of glutamate racemase of Pediococcus pentosaceus in Escherichia coli clone cells and its purification

We previously isolated a 6.0-kb DNA fragment that specifies glutamate racemase activity from the chromosomal DNA of Pediococcus pentosaceus by digestion with HindIII (N. Nakajima, K. Tanizawa, H. Tanaka, and K. Soda, 1986), Agric. Biol. Chem. 50, 2823-2830). We digested it further with EcoRI to obtain a fragment of 1.8 kb, which was blunt-ended and ligated into the SmaI site of vector plasmid pKK223-3. The recombinant plasmid showed a high glutamate racemase activity upon transformation of Escherichia coli W3110 cells with it; the plasmid was named pICR223. Glutamate racemase was overproduced in the clone cells and occurred in inclusion bodies in the cells. The enzyme was solubilized with 6 M urea, renatured by dialysis to remove urea, and purified to homogeneity with an overall yield of about 70% after a single DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The amount of enzyme produced by the clone cells corresponded to about 38% of the total insoluble protein.     

Studies of propionate toxicity in Salmonella enterica identify 2-methylcitrate as a potent inhibitor of cell growth

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 showed increased sensitivity to propionate when the 2-methylcitric acid cycle was blocked. A derivative of a prpC mutant (which lacked 2-methylcitrate synthase activity) resistant to propionate was isolated, and the mutation responsible for the newly acquired resistance to propionate was mapped to the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. These results suggested that citrate synthase activity was the source of the increased sensitivity to propionate observed in the absence of the 2-methylcitric acid cycle. DNA sequencing of the wild-type and mutant gltA alleles revealed that the ATG start codon of the wild-type gene was converted to the rare GTG start codon in the revertant strain. This result suggested that lower levels of this enzyme were present in the mutant. Consistent with this change, cell-free extracts of the propionate-resistant strain contained 12-fold less citrate synthase activity. This was interpreted to mean that, in the wild-type strain, high levels of citrate synthase activity were the source of a toxic metabolite. In vitro experiments performed with homogeneous citrate synthase enzyme indicated that this enzyme was capable of synthesizing 2-methylcitrate from propionyl-CoA and oxaloacetate. This result lent further support to the in vivo data, which suggested that citrate synthase was the source of a toxic metabolite.     

Cloning of the cellulase gene from Ruminococcus albus and its expression in Escherichia coli

The gene for cellulase from Ruminococcus albus F-40 was cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 with pBR322. A 3.4-kilobase-pair HindIII fragment encoding cellulase hybridized with the chromosomal DNA of R. albus. The Ouchterlony double-fusion test gave a single precipitation line between the cloned enzyme and the cellulase from R. albus. The size of the cloned fragment was reduced by using HindIII and EcoRI. The resulting active fragment had a size of 1.9 kilobase pairs; and the restriction sites EcoRI, BamHI, PvuII, EcoRI, PvuII, and HindIII, in that order, were ligated into pUC19 at the EcoRI and HindIII sites (pURA1). Cellulase production by E. coli JM103(pURA1) in Luria-Bertani broth was remarkably enhanced, up to approximately 80 times, by controlling the pH at 6.5 and by reducing the concentration of NaCl in the broth to 80 mM.     

Cloning of the cellulase gene from Ruminococcus albus and its expression in Escherichia coli.

The gene for cellulase from Ruminococcus albus F-40 was cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 with pBR322. A 3.4-kilobase-pair HindIII fragment encoding cellulase hybridized with the chromosomal DNA of R. albus. The Ouchterlony double-fusion test gave a single precipitation line between the cloned enzyme and the cellulase from R. albus. The size of the cloned fragment was reduced by using HindIII and EcoRI. The resulting active fragment had a size of 1.9 kilobase pairs; and the restriction sites EcoRI, BamHI, PvuII, EcoRI, PvuII, and HindIII, in that order, were ligated into pUC19 at the EcoRI and HindIII sites (pURA1). Cellulase production by E. coli JM103(pURA1) in Luria-Bertani broth was remarkably enhanced, up to approximately 80 times, by controlling the pH at 6.5 and by reducing the concentration of NaCl in the broth to 80 mM.     

麦迪霉素产生菌具有启动功能的DNA片段的克隆和分析

利用启动子探针质粒载体pIJ486从麦迪霉素产生菌总DNA中克隆得到了一段具有启动功能的DNA片段.通过限制性酶酶切分析,测定插入DNA片段大小为2.3kb.又利用载体pIJ486和pIJ487的新霉素抗性结构基因上游有多酶切点方向相反的性质,分析了插入片段在两个不同方向上的启动能力.结果表明,在两个方向上均有启动功能,但强弱相差六倍.其中在XbaI-HindIII方向上具有较强的启动能力,在变铅青链霉菌中新霉素抗性水平可达20mg/ml以上.进一步对插入片段的三个BamHI小片段进行分析的结果表明,较强启动子区域集中在BamHI-BamHI 0.79kb DNA片段上.     

Structural differences in the renin gene of Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats

Genomic libraries in lambda EMBL4 phage were constructed from both inbred Dahl salt-hypertension-sensitive (S) and inbred Dahl salt-hypertension-resistant (R) rats. Overlapping clones containing the renin genes were isolated from these libraries by screening with a renin cDNA probe. Clones were characterized by a combination of restriction mapping and Southern blot analysis. The results showed that the S-rat renin gene is remarkably different from the R-rat renin gene. The major differences are 1) a 1.2-kilobase (kb) insertion in the first intron of the S-gene which accounts for most of the restriction fragment length polymorphisms found in the renin genes between S and R strains, such as those generated with Bg/II [2.7 kb (S)/1.5 kb (R)], EcoRI [6.4 kb (S)/5.2 kb (R)], and HindIII [9.6 kb (S)/8.4 kb (R)]; 2) an additional HindIII site located at the 3' end of the R-gene which accounts for another HindIII restriction fragment length polymorphisms [25 kb (S)/22 kb, 3.4 kb (R)]; 3) two SmaI sites at the 5' flanking region of the first exon of the S-gene, whereas there is only one SmaI site in the corresponding region of the R-gene; and 4) three AvaI sites in the first intron of the S-gene in contrast to two AvaI sites in the same region of the R-gene These differences in the renin genes of Dahl rats might affect renin gene expression, which could account for the known strain differences in plasma and tissue renin activities. These structural studies provide a basis for genetic investigation into the relationship of the renin gene to blood pressure in Dahl rats.