Isolation and molecular genetic characterization of the Bacillus subtilis gene (infB) encoding protein synthesis initiation factor 2.

Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of Bacillus subtilis cell extracts detected two proteins that cross-reacted with monospecific polyclonal antibody raised against Escherichia coli initiation factor 2 alpha (IF2 alpha). Subsequent Southern blot analysis of B. subtilis genomic DNA identified a 1.3-kilobase (kb) HindIII fragment which cross-hybridized with both E. coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus IF2 gene probes. This DNA was cloned from a size-selected B. subtilis plasmid library. The cloned HindIII fragment, which was shown by DNA sequence analysis to encode the N-terminal half of the B. subtilis IF2 protein and 0.2 kb of upstream flanking sequence, was utilized as a homologous probe to clone an overlapping 2.76-kb ClaI chromosomal fragment containing the entire IF2 structural gene. The HindIII fragment was also used as a probe to obtain overlapping clones from a lambda gt11 library which contained additional upstream and downstream flanking sequences. Sequence comparisons between the B. subtilis IF2 gene and the other bacterial homologs from E. coli, B. stearothermophilus, and Streptococcus faecium displayed extensive nucleic acid and protein sequence homologies. The B. subtilis infB gene encodes two proteins, IF2 alpha (78.6 kilodaltons) and IF2 beta (68.2 kilodaltons); both were expressed in B. subtilis and E. coli. These two proteins cross-reacted with antiserum to E. coli IF2 alpha and were able to complement in vivo an E. coli infB gene disruption. Four-factor recombination analysis positioned the infB gene at 145 degrees on the B. subtilis chromosome, between the polC and spcB loci. This location is distinct from those of the other major ribosomal protein and rRNA gene clusters of B. subtilis.     

Increased production of the protein antigen of Brucella melitensis in Escherichia coli K-12 cells

The production of Brucella melitensis protein antigen with molecular weight of 38 kD in Escherichia coli K-12 cell lysates has been studied by immunoblotting with various antisera. E. coli strains differed by the vector plasmid and the size of B. melitensis 565 DNA fragment with 38 kD protein gene, cloned in this plasmid. The immunoblotting analysis detected increased production of 38 kD protein in the recombinant GSE830 strain in comparison with the B. melitensis strain 565, from which the gene was cloned, and other E. coli strains containing this protein gene. The production of 38 kD protein was determined by the size of the cloned B. melitensis 565 DNA fragment with this protein gene, but not by the conditions of culturing.     

Structure of the plasmodium knowlesi gene coding for the circumsporozoite protein

The gene that codes for the surface antigen of Plasmodium knowlesi sporozoites (CS protein) is unsplit and present in the genome in only one copy. The CS protein, as deduced from DNA sequence analysis of the structural gene, has an unusual structure with the central 40% of the polypeptide chain present as 12 tandemly repeated amino acid peptide units flanked by regions of highly charged amino acids. The protein has an amino-terminal hydrophobic amino acid signal sequence and a hydrophobic carboxy-terminal anchor sequence. The coding sequence of the gene has an AT content of 53%, compared with 70% AT in the 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences, and is contained entirely within an 11 kb Eco RI genomic DNA fragment. This genomic fragment expresses the CS protein in E. coli, indicating that the parasite promoter and ribosome binding site signals can be recognized in E. coli.     

新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌HtrA基因的克隆与序列分析

根据已发表的牛流产型布鲁氏菌(B.abrotus)HtrA(High temperature requirment A)基因的核酸序列设计引物,从新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌(B.ovis)基因组中扩增到了大约1600bp的片段。将该片段纯化后克隆到PBS-T载体上,对所得到的重组质粒进行PCR鉴定、酶切分析后,对克隆的片段进行测序表明,新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌HtrA基因与发表的牛流产型布鲁氏菌、马耳他布鲁氏菌(B.melitensis)、猪种布鲁氏菌(B.suis)的HtrA基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别为99.68%、99.81%、99.55%,推导的氨基酸序列也存在很高的同源性。     

Bacillus licheniformis6816碱性蛋白酶基因在E.coli中的克隆和表达

用PCR方法从地衣芽孢杆菌6816中扩增了碱性蛋白酶基因（apr),扩增的1.14kb的DNA片段插入到大肠杆菌载体pET-20b中,构建成重组分泌型表达载体pAPR1。pAPR1中碱性蛋白酶基因在大肠杆菌宿主JM109（DE3）中得到表达,SDS-PAGE分析显示融合表达产物的分子量为30kD,同核酸序列测定所推导的值相符,表达产物占细胞总蛋白的7.5%,重组菌的酶活比出发菌株提高了3.3倍,研究发现,重组的碱性蛋白酶在进入大肠杆菌周质空间时存在前肽自动脱落的现象。     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of a pectinesterase gene from Pseudomonas solanacearum

Two pectinesterase-positive Escherichia coli clones, differing in expression levels, were isolated from a genomic library of Pseudomonas solanacearum. Both clones contained a common DNA fragment which included the pectinesterase-encoding region. The different expression levels found with the two clones could be ascribed to different positioning of the pectinesterase gene with respect to a vector promoter. Restriction analysis, subcloning, and further exonuclease deletion mapping revealed that the genetic information for pectinesterase was located within a 1.3 kb fragment. A protein of 41 to 42 kDa was expressed from this fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the respective region disclosed an open reading frame of 1188 bp. The deduced polypeptide had a calculated molecular mass of 41,004 Da, which is consistent with the determined size of the pectinesterase protein. The predicted amino acid sequence showed significant homology to pectinesterases from Erwinia chrysanthemi and tomato. In cultures of E. coli clones up to 30% of total pectinesterase activity was transported into the medium. However, no significant pectinesterase activity could be detected in the periplasm.     

Cloning, expression, sequence analysis and biochemical characterization of an autolytic amidase of Bacillus subtilis 168 trpC2.

By use of a functional assay for activity, an autolysin structural gene was cloned on a 3 kb EcoRI DNA fragment from a lambda gt11 expression library of Bacillus subtilis 168 trpC2 genomic DNA. Sequencing of the fragment showed five open reading frames, the central one of which encoded the lytic enzyme as found by subclone activity mapping and its homology to a recently sequenced autolysin gene. The protein had a deduced sequence of 272 amino acids and a molecular mass of 29957 Da. When expressed in Escherichia coli DH5 alpha, the protein was processed to a 21 kDa form, as estimated by renaturing SDS-PAGE. The autolysin was an N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase and its activity was MgCl2-dependent (20 mM optimum) and LiCl-sensitive. The enzyme could bind to and hydrolyse a wide range of peptidoglycan substrates isolated from Gram-positive bacteria; the binding was also MgCl2-dependent. Initial mapping experiments located the autolysin gene near aroD on the B. subtilis 168 chromosome.     

Cloning, sequencing and expression of a sialidase gene from Clostridium sordellii G12

A 4.3 kb XbaI restriction fragment of DNA from Clostridium sordellii G12 hybridized with a synthetic oligonucleotide representing the N-terminus of the sialidase protein secreted by C. sordellii. This cloned fragment was shown to encode only part of the sialidase protein. The sialidase gene of C. sordellii was completed by a 0.7 kb RsaI restriction fragment overlapping one end of the XbaI fragment. After combining the two fragments and transformation of Escherichia coli, a clone that expressed sialidase was obtained. The nucleotide sequence of the sialidase gene of C. sordellii G12 was determined. The sequence of the 18 N-terminal amino acids of the purified extracellular enzyme perfectly matched the predicted amino acid sequence near the beginning of the structural gene. The amino acid sequence derived from the complete gene corresponds to a protein with a molecular mass of 44,735 Da. Upstream from the putative ATG initiation codon, ribosomal-binding site and promoter-like consensus sequences were found. The encoded protein has a leader sequence of 27 amino acids. The enzyme expressed in E. coli has similar properties to the enzyme isolated from C. sordellii, except for small differences in size and isoelectric point. Significant homology (70%) was found with a sialidase gene from C. perfringens.     

PHB synthase from Streptomyces aureofaciens NRRL 2209

An approximately 4.9 kb Sau3A I genomic DNA fragment from the Streptomyces aureofaciens NRRL 2209 aiding in the biosynthesis of PHB in recombinant Escherichia coli has been sequenced and analysed for phaC gene. The putative phaC(Sa) gene of 2 kb is 79.1% GC rich and encodes a 63.5 kDa protein. It expressed under its own promoter and significant PHA synthase activity was detected in the recombinant E. coli. This is the first putative PHA synthase gene reported from a Streptomyces sp. with serine as the active nucleophile in the conserved lipase box. The phaC(Sa) was found in close proximity to a regulatory gene, which apparently regulated the phaC expression.     

人脑源性神经营养因子基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达

人脑源性神经营养因子基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达何晓龙,路长林,王成海（第二军医大学神经生物学教研室,上海２００４３３）关键词神经营养因子;基因克隆脑源性神经营养因子（ｂｒａｉｎ－ｄｅｒｉｖｅｄｎｅｕｒｏｔｉｃ…ｉ。血。ｔｏｒ,ＢＤ贾助是Ｂａｄｅ等人...     

用富集文库克隆人胰岛素基因组基因

通过构建可富集人胰岛素基因的λ噬菌体文库,克隆了人胰岛素基因组基因．首先从中国人血液白细胞中提取到人基因组ＤＮＡ,用ＥｃｏＲⅠ和ＢｇｌⅡ对基因组ＤＮＡ进行全酶切,经０．４％琼脂糖凝胶电泳,特异回收９．５ｋｂ左右的ＤＮＡ片段．将该片段与λＥＭＢＬ３／ＢａｍＨⅠ臂连接,构建成一个特殊的人基因组λ噬菌体文库（富集文库）,效价为２×１０４．同时采用ＰＣＲ方法及用引物Ⅰ：５′ＧＧＡＣＡＧＧＣＴＡＣＡＴＣＡＧＧＡＡＧＡＧＧ３′,引物Ⅱ：５′ＣＴＧＣＧＴＣＴＡＡＴＴＧＣＡＧＴＡＧＴＴＣ３′,从人基因组ＤＮＡ中扩增出一段含胰岛素基因的１．３６ｋｂＤＮＡ片段,做为放射性标记探针,对文库进行了噬菌斑原位杂交筛选,从１×１０４个噬菌斑中筛选到一个含人胰岛素基因组基因的阳性克隆,并进一步完成了亚克隆和该基因１７３２ｂｐＤＮＡ序列的测定．结果该基因的１７３２ｂｐＤＮＡ序列包括部分５′端和３′端与国外发表的人胰岛素α型等位基因的序列相同     

A single human keratin 18 gene is expressed in diverse epithelial cells of transgenic mice

The expression of keratin 18 (K18) is restricted in humans primarily to a variety of single layered or simple epithelia. However, direct introduction of a cloned K18 gene into cultured, somatic cells by DNA transfection has been shown to result in the promiscuous expression of K18 even while the endogenous mouse form of K18 (Endo B) remains silent. To determine if the cloned K18 genomic DNA fragment contains sufficient information to be regulated appropriately when subjected to a normal developmental environment, and to determine if the cloned gene is expressed in diverse epithelia, the K18 gene, including 2.5 kb of 5' flanking sequence and 3.5 kb of 3' flanking sequence, has been introduced into the germ line of mice. Mice from all three resulting K18 transgenic lines express the gene in an appropriate tissue-specific pattern that includes hepatocytes, simple epithelia of the intestinal tract, ductal cells of several glands and epithelial cells of the thymus. No expression of K18 was found in muscle, heart, or in most of the brain even in mice carrying 18 copies of the K18 gene. In most tissues, the level of K18 RNA was directly proportional to copy number and was as efficiently expressed as the endogenous Endo B gene. The K18 protein was identified by both protein blotting methods and indirect immunofluorescence staining. No pathological consequences of overexpression of the K18 gene were observed. The cloned K18 gene appears to contain all cis-acting DNA sequences necessary for appropriate expression. In addition, diverse epithelial cell types are able to express this single human gene.     

Hyperexpression of a Bacillus circulans xylanase gene in Escherichia coli and characterization of the gene product

A 4.0-kilobase (kb) fragment of Bacillus circulans genomic DNA inserted into pUC19 and encoding endoxylanase activity was subjected to a series of subclonings. A 1.0-kb HindIII-HincII subfragment was found to code for xylanase activity. Maximum expression levels were observed with a subclone that contained an additional 0.3-kb sequence upstream from the coding region. Enhancer sequences in the upstream region are thought to be responsible for these high expression levels. Southern hybridization analyses revealed that the cloned gene hybridized with genomic DNA from Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus polymyxa. Xylanase activity expressed by Escherichia coli harboring the cloned gene was located primarily in the intracellular fraction. Levels of up to 7 U/ml or 35 mg/liter were obtained. The protein product was purified by ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. The xylanase had a molecular weight of 20,500 and an isoelectric point of 9.0.     

大肠杆菌青霉素G酰化酶基因及其邻近区域的核苷酸全序列

Some of microorganisms have been known to possess penicillin G acylase activity. The E. coli derived penicillin G acylase (PGA) can catalyze the conversion of penicillin G into phenylacetic acid and 6-amino-penicillanic acid, the latter is used as the starting compound for the industrial formation of semi-synthetic penicillins. Apart from its industrial importance, the enzyme PGA displays a number of interesting properties. Catalytically active enzyme is localized in the periplasmic space of E. coli cells and composed of two dissimilar subunits. The two subunits are apparently produced from a precursor protein, via a processing pathway hitherto unique in its features for a prokaryotic enzyme. The studies on processing of the precursor and on the relationship between structure and function of the mature enzyme are important theoretically. Previously we cloned a 3.5 kb DNA fragment from a strain (E. coli AS 1.76), which displays PGA activity. In this paper, we report a nucleotide sequence of the 3.5 kb DNA fragment containing PGA gene. After insertion of the DNA fragment into EcoR I and Hind III sites in pWR 13, pPGA 20 had been obtained. We subcloned the Hind III and Bg1 II treated fragment of 1.6 kb in length from pPGA 20 into Hind III and BamH I sites of pWR 13 to get a pPGA 1.6, and Bg1 II and EcoR I treated fragment of 1.9 kb in length into BamH I and EcoR I sites of pWR 13 to get a pPGA 1.9. The linearized pPGA 1.9 which were digested with appropriate restriction enzymes were progressively shortened from both ends respectively by digestion with Bal 31 nuclease, followed by cleavage of shortened target DNA off vector DNA molecules with appropriate restriction enzymes. The series of the DNA fragments shortened from EcoR I end were then cloned into plasmid pWR 13 which had previously digested with Hind III and Sma I enzymes (Fig. 1). The DNA fragment cloned in pWR 13 were directly sequenced on the resulted plasmids by using primer I and primer II. Thus we have obtained the complete nucleotide sequence of the 3.5 kb DNA fragment. The 3.5 kb fragment contains an intact PGA gene which is 2.6 kb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the spaB gene of Streptococcus sobrinus

A gene of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 (serotype g) designated spaB and encoding a surface protein antigen was isolated from a cosmid gene bank. A 5.4 kb HindIII/AvaI DNA fragment containing the gene was inserted into plasmid pBR322 to yield plasmid pXI404. Analysis of plasmid-encoded gene products showed that the 5.4 kb fragment of pXI404 encoded a 195 kDa protein. Southern blot experiments revealed that the 5.4 kb chromosomal insert DNA had sequence similarity with genomic DNA of S. sobrinus 6715, S. sobrinus B13 (serotype d) and Streptococcus cricetus HS6 (serotype a). The recombinant SpaB protein (rSpaB) was purified and monospecific antiserum was prepared. With immunological techniques and the anti-rSpaB serum, we have shown: (1) that the rSpaB protein has physico-chemical and antigenic identity with the S. sobrinus SpaB protein, (2) the presence of cross-reactive proteins in the extracellular protein of serotypes a and d of the mutans group of streptococci and (3) that the SpaB protein is expressed on the surface of mutans streptococcal serotypes a, d and g.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of hydrogenase regulatory genes (hydHG) from Salmonella typhimurium.

The nucleotide sequence of the hydHG operon, comprised of chromosomal genes that regulate labile hydrogenase activity in Salmonella typhimurium, was compared with the reported hydHG sequence of Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 4.8 kb EcoRI fragment of Salmonella chromosomal DNA revealed that one of the open reading frames (ORF) encoded a protein of 441 amino acid residues. This large ORF was identified on a 2.7 kb Eco RI/HindIII fragment and coded for the complete hydG gene. The carboxy-terminus (626 bp) of the hydH gene also was present immediately upstream of hydG. Expression of the Salmonella hydG gene in a T7 promoter/polymerase system revealed the presence of a unique 45 kDa protein band. The incomplete hydH gene was not expressed. It is proposed that the labile hydrogenase activity in S. typhimurium may be regulated by the multiple component system.