Complementation of transposition of tnpA mutants of Tn3, Tn21, Tn501, and Tn1721

The transposons Tn21, Tn501, and Tn1721 are related to Tn3. Transposition-deficient mutants (tnpA) of these elements were used to test for complementation of transpostion. Transposition of tnpA mutants of Tn501 and Tn1721 was restored by the presence in trans of Tn21, Tn501, and Tn1721, but transposition of a tnpA mutant of Tn21 was restored in trans only by Tn21 itself. Tn3 did not complement transposition of Tn21, Tn501, or Tn1721, and these elements did not complement transposition of Tn3.     

A new example of physical linkage between Tn1 and Tn21: the antibiotic multiple-resistance region of plasmid pCFF04 encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamase TEM-3.

Summary The genetic environment of plasmid-borne bla _TEM mutant genes, encoding nine distinct TEM-type extended-spectrum -lactamases, was studied in transconjugants from clinical isolates of enterobacteria. Colony hybridization with probes specific for tnpA and tnpR of Tn3, tnpA and tnpI of Tn21, aacA4, and IS15, and restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA indicated that the structural genes for the enzymes were always associated with intact or deleted variants of the Tn3 family. Four of the nine bla _TEM variants, which account for 62% of 222 isolates in a molecular epidemiological study, were associated with replicons indistinguishable from the epidemic Inc7-M plasmid pCFF04 that carries the blaTEM-3 gene. This suggests that mutant genes were selected from the same prototype plasmid carrying penicillinase genes bla _TEM-1 or _–2. A 6.6 kb DNA fragment of pCFF04 containing bla _TEM-3 was characterized by amplification mapping and sequencing. The results obtained indicated that bla _TEM-3 was present on a copy of Tn1 interrupted at the start codon of the transposase by a DNA sequence reminiscent of the inverted repeats of class II transposons. This partial Tn1 copy was, in turn, inserted into the transposase gene of a Tn21-like transposon containing an integron expressing an aacA4 gene. The presence of an integron can account for the various assortments of aminoglycoside resistance genes found associated with bla _TEM-3.     

Resolution of a hybrid cointegrate between transposons Tn501 and Tn1721 defines the recombination site

Summary The related transposons Tn501 and Tn1721 have a 3.8 kb region in common that contains two genes (tnpA and tnpR) and a resolution site (res) required for transposition. Resolvase, the product of tnpR, catalyses site-specific recombination at res, a 186 base pair (bp) sequence located adjacent to tnpR at one end of the homology region. We describe here identification of the crossover site within res. It involved the construction of a plasmid containing copies of res (Tn501) and res (Tn1721) in direct orientation and tnpR-mediated intramolecular recombination between the two homologous (but non-identical) sites. The resulting hybrid contained Tn501 and Tn1721 fused at the crossover point. DNA sequence analysis of the recombinant indicates that recombination occurs in an 11 bp region of exact homology between Tn501 and Tn1721. The recombination site lies 161–172 bp upstream of tnpR at the transition from homology to non-homology between Tn501 and Tn1721 suggesting that site-specific recombination may have played a role in the evolution of these elements.     

Electron microscopic localization of hydrogenase genes on the megaplasmid pHG 1 in Alcaligenes eutrophus

Summary Plasmids carrying hydrogenase genes in Alcaligenes eutrophus wild type H 16 and in two transposon Tn5 —induced mutants have been investigated by electron microscopy. Besides the pHG1 megaplasmid (458±27 kb) carrying genes coding for structural and regulatory properties of hydrogenases, small plasmids of unknown significance have been detected. The sizes of EcoRI fragments obtained from pHG1 were measured from electron micrographs. They were significantly different from sizes determined previously by agarose gel electrophoresis.Plasmid pHG1 isolated from the wild type H 16 was shown to contain two inverted repeats (IR 16-1 and IR 16-2) with sizes similar to known transposons.From electron microscopic hybridization studies, it was deduced that the sites of insertion of Tn5 into a regulation gene on pHG1 for both soluble and membrane-bound hydrogenase, and of Tn5-Mob into the gene coding for structural properties of the soluble hydrogenase, are about 67.2 kb apart. One of the inverted repeats (IR 16-1) was localized in between these sites.     

Cloning, Characterization, and Possible Origin of the Prevotella loescheii dnaK Homolog

Heat shock proteins play an important role in bacterial survival and response to environmental stress. We cloned the Prevotella loescheii HSP70 homolog (dnaK) and characterized the coding sequence, regulatory regions, and evolutionary relationships to other bacteria. Predicted proteins encoded by the P. loescheii dnaK homolog (open reading frame ORF-1) and two downstream coding regions, ORF-2 and ORF-3, are highly homologous to the proteins encoded by ORF-4 (dnaK), ORF-5, and ORF-6 from the dnaK region of Porphyromonas gingivalis. The dnaK promoter resembles other HSP (heat shock protein) promoters. Alignment of the predicted protein encoded by ORF-2 showed significant homology to the Bacteroides fragilis tnpA gene from the transposon Tn4555, whereas the ORF-3 protein showed homology to B. fragilis transposase (Tn5220) and integrase (Tn4555) proteins. This suggests a transposition-like event may be responsible for transfer of these genes between Porphyromonas and Prevotella. Received: 8 June 2000 / Accepted: 11 August 2000     

Transposon-facilitated recombination in Vibrio cholerae

Summary Improved Vibrio cholerae donors were constructed by introducing the ampicillin transposon, Tn1, into both the conjugative plasmid, P, and the bacterial chromosome to provide portable regions of homology. The resulting Tfr (Transposon-facilitated recombination) donors transferred genes at high frequency from origins specified by the chromosomally inserted Tn1 copies. Tn1 was transposed into the chromosome from a deleted P::Tn1 vector, which was eliminated from the cells by superinfection with a thermosensitive P::Tn9 (chloramphenicol) mutant plasmid. After eliminating the thermosensitive plasmid, the chromosomally resistant isolates were converted into donors with a P::Tn1 conjugative plasmid. Tfr donors were also obtained by isolating Tn1 insertion mutations in a gene for thymine biosynthesis. Chromosomal sites of Tn1 relative to bacterial genes were determined by measuring gene transfer frequencies and genetic linkage. In one case, linkage of the amp gene to the chromosomal genes that defined its location was demonstrated. Chromosomal transfer by Tfr donors was reversed by isolating P:Tn1 plasmids that contained Tn1 inserted in the opposite orientation.     

蓝细菌6803中糖基转移酶Sll1466对胁迫响应及其对糖基化、磷酸化反应的调控作用

糖基转移酶存在于原核和真核生物中,参与低聚糖和多糖的生物合成,在生物转化过程中起着重要的作用．本研究中我们去除了Synechocystis PCC 6803中的糖基转移酶基因sll1466．在不同培养基的光合自养条件下,Sll1466缺失突变体较野生型的细胞内部结构变化明显(超薄电镜观察),突变体在缺碳培养基条件下羧酶体含量比野生型高,并且在0.5 mol/L NaCl条件下的肝醣含量也明显高于野生型．突变体在不同光密度生长条件下的吸收光谱与野生型差异明显．分子水平上,突变体较野生型显现出如下3个方面的差异：a．2个碳水化合物选择性OprB孔蛋白在类囊体膜上发生糖基化;b．核杆连接蛋白CpcG1(Slr2051)在类囊体膜的上清中发生磷酸化;c．与上述表型差异相关的基因的转录水平亦呈现相同的变化趋势．这些结果预示着Sll1466在调控蓝细菌6803生理、代谢及能量转化等方面有着重要作用．     

Characterization of the ntrBC genes of Azospirillam brasilense Sp7: Their involvement in the regulation of nitrogenase synthesis and activity

A 7.1 kb EcoRI fragment from Azospirillum brasilense, that hybridized with a probe carrying the ntrBC genes from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, was cloned. The nucleotide sequence of a 3.8 kb subfragment was established. This led to the identification of two open reading frames, encoding polypeptides of 401 and 481 amino acids, that were similar to NtrB and NtrC, respectively. A broad host range plasmid containing the putative Azospirillum ntrC gene was shown to restore nitrogen fixation under free-living conditions to a ntrC-Tn5 mutant of Azorhizobium caulinodans. Several Tn5 insertion mutants were isolated in the ntrBC coding region in A. brasilense. These mutants were prototrophic and Nif⁺. However, their nitrogenase activity was slightly lower than in the wild type and they were unable to grow on nitrate as sole nitrogen source. Under microaerobiosis and in the absence of ammonia, a nifA-lacZ fusion was expressed in the mutants at about 60% of the level in the wild type. In the presence of ammonia, the fusion was similarly expressed (60% of the maximum) both in the wild type and mutants. Addition of ammonia to a nitrogen-fixing culture of ntrBC mutants did not abolish nitrogenase activity, in contrast with the wild type. It thus appears that in Azospirillum the ntrBC genes are not essential for nitrogen fixation, although NtrC controls nifA expression to some extent. They are, however, required for the switch-off of nitrogenase activity.     

Functional complementation between the two homologous genes, ops and tps, during differentiation of Myxococcus xanthus

Summary Protein S is a development-specific protein of Myxococcus xanthus encoded by the tps gene. It has been shown that there are two extensively homologous genes (ops and tps) tandemly repeated in the same direction with a 1.4 kb spacer fragment between them (Inouye et al. 1983). Seven deletion mutants were constructed by removing the ops gene, the tps gene, segments of the spacer sequence or combinations of these regions. The deleted regions were replaced with DNA fragments carrying the Tn5 gene for kanamycin resistance.The effects of deleting different regions on morphological changes and on patterns of protein synthesis during fruiting body formation were examined. The process of fruiting body formation was severely delayed when both the ops and the tps genes were deleted. However, this delay could be suppressed by either the ops gene or the tps gene, individually, although in the latter case, a slight delay was still observed. These results indicate that the ops gene is expressed during fruiting body formation and plays a role in the normal program of M. xanthus differentiation. Furthermore, the role of the ops gene can be complemented by the tps gene. The deletion of the ops and/or tps genes had no effect on glycerol-spore formation.     

Negative effects of agrocin 84-encoding Agrobacterium plasmids on symbiotic properties of Rhizobium meliloti

Two plasmids, pAgK84::Tn5-Mob from Agrobacterium radiobacter carrying genes for the production of agrocin 84, and RP4-4 from E. coli were inserted either separately or together into a strain of Rhizobium meliloti. Each of these plasmid-containing R. meliloti transconjugants was less effective than the wild type strain in their ability to fix nitrogen in Medicago tornata. The pAgK84::Tn5-Mob-containing transconjugant was significantly less effective than that containing RP4-4. The transconjugant strains were inferior to the wild type strain in their ability to nodulate seedlings and to compete for nodulation.     

Tn5037, a Tn21-like Mercury Resistance transposon from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

The 6645-bp mercury resistance transposon of the chemolithotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidanswas cloned and sequenced. This transposon, named Tn5037, belongs to the Tn21branch of the Tn21subgroup, many members of which have been isolated from clinical sources. Having the minimum set of the genes (merRTPA), the mercury resistance operon of Tn5037is organized similarly to most of the Gram-negative bacteria meroperons and is closest to that of ThiobacillusT3.2. The operator-promoter region of the meroperon of Tn5037also has the common (Tn21/Tn501-like) structure. However, its inverted, presumably MerR protein binding repeats in the operator/promoter element are two base pairs shorter than in Tn21/Tn501. In the merA region, this transposon shares 77.4, 79.1, 83.2 and 87.8% identical bases with Tn21, Tn501, T. ferrooxidansE-15, and ThiobacillusT3.2, respectively. No inducibility of the Tn5037 meroperon was detected in the in vivo experiments. The transposition system (terminal repeats plus gene tnpA) of Tn5037was inactive in Escherichia coliK12, in contrast to its resolution system (ressite plus gene tnpR). However, transposition of Tn5037in this host was provided by the tnpAgene of Tn5036, a member of the Tn21subgroup. Sequence analysis of the Tn5037 ressite suggested its recombinant nature.     

Genetic transformation of Brassica campestris var. rapa protoplasts with an engineered cauliflower mosaic virus genome

Summary A hybrid Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) genome containing a selectable marker gene was constructed by replacing the gene VI coding region with the aminoglycoside (neomycin) phosphotransferase type II [APH(3)II] gene from Tn5. This modified viral genome was tested for its infectivity both in planta and in a protoplast transformation system of Brassica campestris var. rapa. Stable, genetically transformed cell lines of B. campestris var. rapa were obtained after transformation. DNA of the hybrid CaMV genome was found to be integrated into high molecular weight plant genomic DNA. Transformation was achieved only when the hybrid genome was supplied together with wild type viral DNA. A possible complementation of the modified CaMV genome with the wild type viral DNA as a helper molecule in planta and in the protoplast system is discussed.     

Microarray analysis of the Df1 mouse model of the 22q11 deletion syndrome

The 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS; DiGeorge/velo-cardio-facial syndrome) primarily affects the structures comprising the pharyngeal arches and pouches resulting in arch artery, cardiac, parathyroid, thymus, palatal and craniofacial defects. Tbx1 haploinsufficiency is thought to account for the main structural anomalies observed in the 22q11DS. The Df1 deleted mouse provides a model for 22q11DS, the deletion reflecting Tbx1 haploinsufficiency in the context of the deletion of 21 adjacent genes. We examined the expression of genes in Df1 embryos at embryonic day (E) 10.5, a stage when the arch-artery phenotype is fully penetrant. Our aims were threefold, with our primary aim to identify differentially regulated genes. Second, we asked whether any of the genes hemizygous in Df1 were dosage compensated to wild type levels, and third we investigated whether genes immediately adjacent to the deletion were dysregulated secondary to a position effect. Utilisation of oligonulceotide arrays allowed us to achieve our aims with 9 out of 12 Df1 deleted genes passing the stringent statistical filtering applied. Several genes involved in vasculogenesis and cardiogenesis were validated by real time quantitative PCR (RTQPCR), including Connexin 45, a gene required for normal vascular development, and Dnajb9 a gene implicated in microvascular differentiation. There was no evidence of any dosage compensation of deleted genes, suggesting this phenomenon is rare, and no dysregulation of genes mapping immediately adjacent to the deletion was detected. However Crkl, another gene implicated in the 22q11DS phenotype, was found to be downregulated by microarray and RTQPCR.     

The packaging initiation site of phage P22

Summary P22 lysates were grown on Salmonella strains carrying P22 prophages deleted to various extents. Transducing bacterial markers at both sides of the prophage insertion site it could be shown that: (i) transduction of markers can be enhanced by the prophage pac site; (ii) the recognition signal pac is in the area of gene 3 on the phage genome and thus close to the cutting site(s); (iii) transposon Tn10 may also act as a signal for packaging initiation; (iv) (at least) Tn10 initiates packaging sequences in both directions.     

Transposon Tn1 intra-molecular transposition

Summary A system for the direct selection of intra- and inter-molecular transposition events has been used to show that intra-molecular transposition of Tn1 generates deletions and inversions and requires the tnpA but not the tnpR gene product, as predicted by current models of transposition. Intra-molecular Tn1 transposition is much less limited by transposition immunity than inter-molecular transposition, and occurs at frequencies comparable to those for inter-molecular transposition. The selection system, which uses the bacteriophage cI-P_R region as a target can be used to select, quantify, and characterize any spontaneous or induced mutations.     

G418 resistance in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: comparison of the neomycin resistance genes from Tn5 and Tn903

Summary The neo genes of Tn5 and Tn903 (Tn601) coding for amigoglycoside phosphotransferase type II and type I, respectively, were joined to the yeast adc 1 promoter and trp1 terminator and introduced into yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells. Transformants were obtained by direct selection for G418 resistance. Plasmids containing the Tn5 neo gene induced antibiotic resistance only at low frequency, whereas colonies transformed with the Tn903 neo gene could be selected at high frequency (300–400 transformants/g plasmid DNA). The resistance threshold of transformed strains was increased to 30 mg G418/ml by both genes and high level expression of the bacterial genes in yeast could be shown using an in vitro phosphotransferase assay. The results indicate that this system can be used for high frequency transformation of wild-type strains and might in addition be used for the identification and isolation of promoter-active sequences.Abbreviations adc 1 alcoholdehydrogenase I gene - APH aminoglycoside-3-phosphotransferase - leu2 -isopropylmalate dehydrogenase gene - neo aminoglycoside-3-phosphotransferase gene - trp1 N-(5-phosphoribosyl)-anthranilate isomerase gene Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Karl Esser on the occasion of his 65th birthday