巨大芽孢杆菌分子伴侣GroES和GroEL新基因的克隆及同源性分析

巨大芽孢杆菌作为革兰氏阳性细菌的一种,是良好的重组蛋白的表达宿主.本研究利用PCR技术从巨大芽孢杆菌基因组克隆出一条1.9Kb的基因片段.核酸序列分析结果表明,该片段全长1984bp,包含2个ORF,分别与芽孢杆菌来源的GroES和GroEL基因有高度的相似性.氨基酸序列比对发现,GroES蛋白与枯草芽孢杆菌来源的GroES蛋白氨基酸序列同源性为91%,GroEL蛋白氨基酸序列同源性为90%.     

巨大芽孢杆菌分子伴侣GroES和GroEL新基因的克隆及同源性分析

巨大芽孢杆菌作为革兰氏阳性细菌的一种,是良好的重组蛋白的表达宿主.本研究利用PCR技术从巨大芽孢杆菌基因组克隆出一条1.9 Kb的基因片段.核酸序列分析结果表明,该片段全长1 984 bp,包含2个ORF,分别与芽孢杆菌来源的GroES和GroEL基因有高度的相似性.氨基酸序列比对发现,GroES蛋白与枯草芽孢杆菌来源的GroES蛋白氨基酸序列同源性为91%,GroEL蛋白氨基酸序列同源性为90%.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence and structural analysis of the Clostridium acetobutylicum dnaJ gene

Abstract The complete dnaJ gene of Clostridium acetobutylicum was isolated by chromosome walking using the previously cloned 5' end of the gene as a probe. Nucleotide sequencing of a positively reacting 2.2-kb Hin cII fragment, contained in the recombinant plasmid pKG4, revealed that the reading frame of the dnaJ gene of C. acetobutylicum consists of 1125 bp, encoding a protein of 374 amino acids with a calculated M _r of 40376 and an isoelectric points of 9.54. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high similarity to the DnaJ proteins of other bacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis ) as well as of an archaeon ( Methanosarcina mazei ) and to the corresponding proteins of eukaryotes ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Homo sapiens ). The areas of similarity included a conserved N-terminal domain of about 70 amino acids, a glycine-rich region of about 30 residues, and a central domain containing four repeats of a CXXCXGXG motif, whereas the C-terminal domain was less conserved. Northern (RNA) blot analysis indicated that dnaJ is induced by heat shock and that it is part of the dnaK operon of C. acetobutylicum . The 5' end (901 bp) of another gene ( orfB ), downstream of dnaJ and not heat-inducible, showed no significant similarity to other sequences available in EMBL and GenBank databases.     

Replication origin region of the chromosome of alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125.

An 18.5-kb DNA fragment containing the oriC region of the chromosome of the alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125 was obtained by PCR and sequenced. Sixteen open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in this region. A sequencing similarity search using the BSORF database found that ORF1 to 13 all had significant similarities to gene products of Bacillus subtilis. Three other ORFs (ORF14-16) of unknown function were positioned down-stream of gyrB instead of rrnO, which is found in the same region in the case of B. subtilis. The ORF organization from gidA to gyrA was the same as that of B. subtilis. The gene organization and the location of the DnaA-box region were also similar to those of the chromosomes of other bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida. There were two DnaA-box clusters (Box-region C and R) with a consensus sequence TTATCCACA on both sides of the dnaA gene but another DnaA box cluster (Box-region L) which is found in the region between thdF and jag in B. subtilis was not found in the corresponding region in the case of alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125.     

Nucleotide sequence of a chromosomal mercury resistance determinant from a Bacillus sp. with broad-spectrum mercury resistance.

A 13.5-kilobase HindIII fragment, bearing an intact mercury resistance (mer) operon, was isolated from chromosomal DNA of broad-spectrum mercury-resistant Bacillus sp. strain RC607 by using as a probe a clone containing the mercury reductase (merA) gene. The new clone, pYW33, expressed broad-spectrum mercury resistance both in Escherichia coli and in Bacillus subtilis, but only in B. subtilis was the mercuric reductase activity inducible. Sequencing of a 1.8-kilobase mercury hypersensitivity-producing fragment revealed four open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 may code for a regulatory protein (MerR). ORF2 and ORF4 were associated with cellular transport function and the hypersensitivity phenotype. DNA fragments encompassing the merA and the merB genes were sequenced. The predicted Bacillus sp. strain RC607 MerA (mercuric reductase) and MerB (organomercurial lyase) were similar to those predicted from Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pI258 (67 and 73% amino acid identities, respectively); however, only 40% of the amino acid residues of RC607 MerA were identical to those of the mercuric reductase from gram-negative bacteria. A 69-kilodalton polypeptide was isolated and identified as the merA gene product by examination of its amino-terminal sequence.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of an alkalophilic Bacillus sp. C125 gene homologous to Bacillus subtilis sec Y.

A 1.8 kb HindIII DNA fragment containing the secY gene of alkalophilic Bacillus sp. C125 has been cloned into plasmid pUC119 using the B. subtilis secY gene as a probe. The complete nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA indicated that it contained one complete ORF and parts of two other ORFs. The similarity of these ORFs to the sequences of the B. subtilis proteins indicated that they were the genes for ribosomal protein L15-SecY-adenylate kinase, in that order. The gene product of the alkalophilic Bacillus sp. C125 secY homologue was composed of 431 amino acids and its M(r) value has been calculated to be 47,100. The distribution of hydrophobic amino acids in the gene product suggested that the protein was a membrane integrated protein with ten transmembrane segments. The total amino acid sequence of alkalophilic Bacillus sp. C125 secY homologue showed 69.7% homology with that of B. subtilis secY. Regions of remarkably high homology (78% identity) were present in transmembrane regions, and cytoplasmic domains (73% identity) with less homologous regions present in extracellular domains (43% identity).     

Nucleotide sequence and characterization of the broad-host-range lactococcal plasmid pWVO1.

The nucleotide sequence of the Lactococcus lactis broad-host-range plasmid pWVO1, replicating in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, was determined. This analysis revealed four open reading frames (ORFs). ORF A appeared to encode a trans-acting 26.8-kDa protein (RepA), necessary for replication. The ORF C product was assumed to play a regulatory role in replication. Both RepA and the ORF C product showed substantial sequence similarity with the Rep proteins of the streptococcal plasmid pLS1. In addition, the plus origin of replication was identified on the basis of strong similarity with the plus origin of pLS1. Derivatives of pWVO1 produced single-stranded (ss) DNA in Bacillus subtilis and L. lactis, suggesting that this plasmid uses the rolling-circle mode of replication. In B. subtilis, but not in L. lactis, the addition of rifampicin resulted in increased levels of ssDNA, indicating that in the former organism the host-encoded RNA polymerase is involved in the conversion of the ssDNA to double-stranded plasmid DNA (dsDNA). Apparently, in L. lactis the conversion of ss to ds pWVO1 DNA occurs by a mechanism which does not require the host RNA polymerase.     

Characterization of stress-responsive genes, hrcA-grpE-dnaK-dnaJ, from phytopathogenic Xanthomonas campestris

Sequencing of a 6.4-kb DNA fragment, cloned from the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 17 revealed five ORFs whose deduced amino acid sequences show strong similarities to the bacterial HrcA, GrpE, DnaK, DnaJ, and PdxK. The four heat shock genes are organized in the order hrcA-grpE-dnaK-dnaJ, a genome organization found in many gram-positive bacteria, but only in one gram-negative species (Xylella fastidiosa). These observations suggest that the HrcA-CIRCE system, comprising at least four genes arranged in this order, already existed for the regulation of stress responses before bacteria diverged into gram-negative and gram-positive groups. Primer-extension results suggested the presence of promoters at the regions upstream of grpE and dnaK. In the presence of stress, heat or ethanol (4%), the X. campestris pv. campestris 17 grpE and dnaK promoters were induced two- to three-fold over controls. Since the grpE and dnaK promoters possess E. coli sigma(32) promoter-like sequences, they are functional in E. coli, although at levels much lower than in X. campestris pv. campestris 17. Furthermore, expression of the X. campestris pv. campestris 17 dnaK promoter in E. coli was elevated by the cloned X. campestris sigma(32) gene, indicating that the cognate sigma(32) works more efficiently for the X. campestris promoters.     

Origin of eukaryotic cell nuclei by symbiosis of Archaea in Bacteria supported by the newly clarified origin of functional genes

In the previous report, we demonstrated the origin of eukaryotic cell nuclei as the symbiosis of Archaea in Bacteria by the newly developed "Homology-Hit Analysis". In that case, we counted yeast Open Reading Frames (ORFs) showing the highest similarity to a bacterial ORF as orthologous ORFs (Orthologous ORFs were produced by speciation from a common ancestor, and have the highest similarity to each other.) by comparing whole ORFs of yeast with those of individual bacteria. However, we could not count all yeast ORFs showing the highest similarity to a bacterial ORF in functional categories of yeast. Therefore, the origin of ORFs in the functional categories of yeast could not be inferred strictly. Here, we have improved the method for detecting orthologous ORFs. In this method, we count the numbers of ORF with the highest similarity between individual yeast functional categories and individual bacteria as orthologous ORFs. By this method, it was possible to detect the correct orthologous ORFs and to infer the origins of the functional categories in eukaryotic cells. As a result, two categories, assembly of protein complexes and DNA repair were newly judged to be of Archaeal origin, while five categories, lipid (fatty-acid and isoprenoid) metabolism, protein folding and stabilization, signal transduction, organization of the plasma membrane and organization of the cytoplasm, were newly judged to be of Bacterial origin. On the other hand, the origins of two categories (meiosis and cellular import, which were determined in the previous analysis) could not be judged. It is considered that functional categories related to the nucleus have origins common to Archaea, while those related to the cytoplasm have origins common to Bacteria. From these data including the origin of plasma membrane, it was further clarified that cell nucleus originated by the symbiosis of Archaea in Bacteria.     

Sequence of the Bacillus subtilis glutamine synthetase gene region

The nucleotide sequence of the glutamine synthetase (GS) region of Bacillus subtilis has been determined and found to contain several unique features. An open reading frame (ORF) upstream of the GS structural gene is part of the same operon as GS and is involved in regulation. Two downstream ORFs are separated from glnA by an apparent Rho-independent termination site. One of the downstream ORFs encodes a very hydrophobic polypeptide and contains its own potential RNA polymerase and ribosome-binding sites. The derived amino acid (aa) sequence of B. subtilis GS is similar to that of several other prokaryotes, especially to the GS of Clostridium acetobutylicum. The B. subtilis and C. acetobutylicum enzymes differ from the others in the lack of a stretch of about 25 aa as well as the presence of extra cysteine residues in a region known to contain regulatory as well as catalytic mutations. The region around the tyrosine residue that is adenylylated in GS from many species is fairly similar in the B. subtilis GS despite its lack of adenylylation.     

Organization and nucleotide sequence of the glutamine synthetase (glnA) gene from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus.

A 3.3-kb BamHI fragment of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus DNA was cloned and sequenced. It complements an Escherichia coli glnA deletion strain and hybridizes strongly to a DNA containing the Bacillus subtilis glnA gene. DNA sequence analysis of the L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus DNA showed it to contain the glnA gene encoding class I glutamine synthetase, as judged by extensive homology with other prokaryotic glnA genes. The sequence suggests that the enzyme encoded in this gene is not controlled by adenylylation. Based on a comparison of glutamine synthetase sequences, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is much closer to gram-positive eubacteria, especially Clostridium acetobutylicum, than to gram-negative eubacteria and archaebacteria. The fragment contains another open reading frame encoding a protein of unknown function consisting of 306 amino acids (ORF306), which is also present upstream of glnA of Bacillus cereus. In B. cereus, a repressor gene, glnR, is found between the open reading frame and glnA. Two proteins encoded by the L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus gene were identified by the maxicell method; the sizes of these proteins are consistent with those of the open reading frames of ORF306 and glnA. The lack of a glnR gene in the L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus DNA in this position may indicate a gene rearrangement or a different mechanism of glnA gene expression.     

Cloning and characterization of a Bacillus subtilis gene encoding a homolog of the 54-kilodalton subunit of mammalian signal recognition particle and Escherichia coli Ffh.

By using a DNA fragment of Escherichia coli ffh as a probe, the Bacillus subtilis ffh gene was cloned. The complete nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA revealed that it contained three open reading frames (ORFs). Their order in the region, given by the gene product, was suggested to be ORF1-Ffh-S16, according to their similarity to the gene products of E. coli, although ORF1 exhibited no significant identity with any other known proteins. The orf1 and ffh genes are organized into an operon. Genetic mapping of the ffh locus showed that the B. subtilis ffh gene is located near the pyr locus on the chromosome. The gene product of B. subtilis ffh shared 53.9 and 32.6% amino acid identity with E. coli Ffh and the canine 54-kDa subunit of signal recognition particle, respectively. Although there was low amino acid identity with the 54-kDa subunit of mammalian signal recognition particle, three GTP-binding motifs in the NH2-terminal half and amphipathic helical cores in the COOH-terminus were conserved. The depletion of ffh in B. subtilis led to growth arrest and drastic morphological changes. Furthermore, the translocation of beta-lactamase and alpha-amylase under the depleted condition was also defective.     

Bactericidal action of nalidixic acid on Bacillus subtilis

Cook, Thomas M. (Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute, Rensselaer, N.Y.), Karen G. Brown, James V. Boyle, and William A. Goss. Bactericidal action of nalidixic acid on Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 92:1510-1514. 1966.-Nalidixic acid at moderate concentrations exerts a bactericidal action upon the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in B. subtilis is selectively inhibited by nalidixic acid at concentrations approximating the minimal growth inhibitory concentration. Higher concentrations (25 mug/ml) result in a 30 to 35% degradation of DNA. After extended exposure to nalidixic acid, protein synthesis is also depressed. Cells of B. subtilis treated with nalidixic acid exhibit characteristic morphological abnormalities including cell elongation and development of gram-negative areas. From the results presented, it can be concluded that the mode of action of nalidixic acid upon susceptible bacteria is similar for both gram-positive and gram-negative species.