Mutations in polI but not mutSLH destabilize Haemophilus influenzae tetranucleotide repeats

Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), an obligate upper respiratory tract commensal/pathogen, uses phase variation (PV) to adapt to host environment changes. Switching occurs by slippage of nucleotide repeats (microsatellites) within genes coding for virulence molecules. Most such microsatellites in Hi are tetranucleotide repeats, but an exception is the dinucleotide repeats in the pilin locus. To investigate the effects on PV rates of mutations in genes for mismatch repair (MMR), insertion/deletion mutations of mutS, mutL, mutH, dam, polI, uvrD, mfd and recA were constructed in Hi strain Rd. Only inactivation of polI destabilized tetranucleotide (5'AGTC) repeat tracts of chromosomally located reporter constructs, whereas inactivation of mutS, but not polI, destabilized dinucleotide (5'AT) repeats. Deletions of repeats were predominant in polI mutants, which we propose are due to end-joining occurring without DNA polymerization during polI-deficient Okazaki fragment processing. The high prevalence of tetranucleotides mediating PV is an exceptional feature of the Hi genome. The refractoriness to MMR of hypermutation in Hi tetranucleotides facilitates adaptive switching without the deleterious increase in global mutation rates that accompanies a mutator genotype.     

Purification and cloning of nicosulfuron-degrading enzymes from Bacillus subtilis YB1

The nicosulfuron-degrading enzymes from Bacillus subtilis strain YB1 were purified and their genes were cloned. The proteins of bacterial culture filtrate were precipitated with ammonium sulfate or acetone. The extracellular proteins concentrated by acetone were purified from DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow chromatography. The four protein peaks eluted from DEAE-column were separated and purified by native PAGE. Three components (P1-1, P3-2, P4-3) had nicosulfuron-degrading activity, and component P4-3 degradated 57.5% of this compound. The molecular weights of the components were 33.5, 54.8 and 37.0 kDa, respectively. The amino acid sequences of nicosulfuron-degrading enzymes from B. subtilis YB1 were determined by MALDI-TOF-MS, indicating these enzymes as manganese ABC transporter, vegetative catalase 1 and acetoin dehydrogenase E1, respectively. Using PCR amplification, genes 918, 1428, 1026 bp in size were detected for the enzymes studied.     

The role of a groundwater bacterial community in the degradation of the herbicide terbuthylazine

A bacterial community in an aquifer contaminated by s- triazines was studied. Groundwater microcosms were treated with terbuthylazine at a concentration of 100 μg L⁻¹ and degradation of the herbicide was assessed. The bacterial community structure (abundance and phylogenetic composition) and function (carbon production and cell viability) were analysed. The bacterial community was able to degrade the terbuthylazine; in particular, Betaproteobacteria were involved in the herbicide biotransformation. Identification of some bacterial isolates by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the presence of two Betaproteobacteria species able to degrade the herbicide: Advenella incenata and Janthinobacterium lividum . PCR detection of the genes encoding s -triazine-degrading enzymes indicated the presence of the atz A and atz B genes in A. incenata and the atz B and atz C genes in J. lividum . The nucleotide sequences of the PCR fragments of the atz genes from these strains were 100% identical to the homologous genes of the Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP. In conclusion, the results show the potential for the use of a natural attenuation strategy in the treatment of aquifers polluted with the terbuthylazine. The two bacteria isolated could facilitate the implementation of effective bioremediation protocols, especially in the case of the significant amounts of herbicide that can be found in groundwater as a result of accidental spills.     

Rapid detection and isolation of known and putative alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase genes using degenerate PCR primers

alpha-L-Arabinofuranosidases (AFases; EC 3.2.1.55) are exo-type enzymes, which hydrolyze terminal nonreducing arabinose residues from various polysaccharides such as arabinan and arabinoxylan. Genome-wide BLAST search showed that various bacterial strains possess the putative AFase genes with well-conserved motif sequences at the nucleotide and amino acid sequence levels. In this study, two sets of degenerate PCR primers were designed and tested to detect putative AFase genes, based on their three highly conserved amino acid blocks (PGGNFV, GNEMDG, and DEWNVW). Among 20 Bacillus-associated species, 13 species were revealed to have putative AFase genes in their genome and they share over 67% of amino acid identities with each other. Based on the partial sequence obtained from an isolate, an AFase from Geobacillus sp. was cloned and expressed in E. coli. Enzymatic characterization has verified that the resulting enzyme corresponds to a typical AFase. Accordingly, degenerate PCR primers developed in this work can be used for fast, easy, and specific detection and isolation of putative AFase genes from bacterial cells.     

Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of mutanase-like genes from Paenibacillus isolates: proposal of a new family of glycoside hydrolases

Three mutanase (alpha-1,3-glucanase)-producing microorganisms isolated from soil samples were identified as a relatives of Paenibacillus. A mutanase was purified to homogeneity from cultures of each, and the molecular masses of the purified enzymes were approximately 132, 141, and 141kDa, respectively. The corresponding three genes for mutanases were cloned by PCR using primers designed from each N-terminal amino acid sequence. Another mutanase-like gene from one strain was also cloned by PCR using primers designed from conserved amino acid sequences among known mutanases. Consequently, four mutanase-like genes were sequenced. The genes contained long open reading frames of 3411 to 3915bp encoding 1136 to 1304 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequences of the mutanases showed relatively high similarity to those of a mutanase (E16590) from Bacillus sp. RM1 with 46.9% to 73.2% identity and an alpha-1,3-glucanase (AB248056) from Bacillus circulans KA-304 with 46.7% to 70.4% identity. Phylogenetic analysis based on the amino acid sequences of the enzymes showed bacterial mutanases form a new family between fungal mutanases (GH family 71) and Streptomycetes mycodextranases (GH family 87).     

New enzymes from environmental cassette arrays: functional attributes of a phosphotransferase and an RNA-methyltransferase

By targeting gene cassettes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) directly from environmentally derived DNA, we are able to amplify entire open reading frames (ORFs) independently of prior sequence knowledge. Approximately 10% of the mobile genes recovered by these means can be attributed to known protein families. Here we describe the characterization of two ORFs which show moderate homology to known proteins: (1) an aminoglycoside phosphotransferase displaying 25% sequence identity with APH(7") from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, and (2) an RNA methyltransferase sharing 25%-28% identity with a group of recently defined bacterial RNA methyltransferases distinct from the SpoU enzyme family. Our novel genes were expressed as recombinant products and assayed for appropriate enzyme activity. The aminoglycoside phosphotransferase displayed ATPase activity, consistent with the presence of characteristic Mg(2+)-binding residues. Unlike related APH(4) or APH(7") enzymes, however, this activity was not enhanced by hygromycin B or kanamycin, suggesting the normal substrate to be a different aminoglycoside. The RNA methyltransferase contains sequence motifs of the RNA methyltransferase superfamily, and our recombinant version showed methyltransferase activity with RNA. Our data confirm that gene cassettes present in the environment encode folded enzymes with novel sequence variation and demonstrable catalytic activity. Our PCR approach (cassette PCR) may be used to identify a diverse range of ORFs from any environmental sample, as well as to directly access the gene pool found in mobile gene cassettes commonly associated with integrons. This gene pool can be accessed from both cultured and uncultured microbial samples as a source of new enzymes and proteins.     

西藏扎布耶盐湖细菌多样性的免培养技术分析

【目的】利用免培养技术,获得有关西藏高原高盐度、高海拔盐湖的细菌多样性认识。【方法】从西藏扎布耶盐湖沉积样品中提取微生物总DNA,利用细菌引物f530/r1492扩增16S rRNA基因,然后构建16S rRNA基因质粒文库。采用HaeⅢ和HhaⅠ两种内切酶对阳性克隆质粒DNA进行ARDRA分型分析,根据分型结果挑选克隆进行测序。得到它们的16SrRNA基因部分序列,根据获得的序列构建构建系统发育树。【结果】在系统发育树上,部分克隆(占总克隆数的57.14%)与已知细菌属归于同一分支,主要分布在γ-变形菌纲、α-变形菌纲、δ-变形菌纲、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)的23个嗜盐细菌属之中。其余的克隆为未培养序列,与前者差异很大,在进化树上形成了独立的分支。【结论】研究结果显示出扎布耶茶卡湖中的细菌组成具有极其丰富的多样性。     

Molecular detection of bacterial and streptomycete chitinases in the environment

Sets of PCR primers were designed to amplify bacterial chitinases at different levels of specificity. The bacterial chitinase group primers were successful in targeting enzymes classified within the group A glycosyl hydrolases of family 18. The widespread occurrence of group A bacterial chitinases in actinomycetes was demonstrated. Streptomycete chitinase specific primers were designed and a collection of type strains of species changed in the genes Streptomyces were screened and shown to have at least one and usually multiple chitinase genes. The presence of the gene for the chitin binding protein was also demonstrated within the streptomycete type strains. These data indicate that streptomycetes are well equipped to degrade chitin. The detection of group A chitinases in total community DNA is described and a sandy soil shown to contain more than 10 different genes using DGGE to indicate genetic diversity.     

Cloning and characterization of beta-lactam biosynthetic genes

Seven genes coding for two different enzymes of the penicillin/cephalosporin biosynthetic pathway have been cloned from fungal and bacterial sources. Using amino acid sequences derived from the purified enzymes, oligonucleotide probes were designed to hybridize to their cognate genes in a genomic library. The high degree of similarity (57%) between enzymes of bacterial and fungal origin suggests a horizontal transfer of a primordial beta-lactam pathway, probably from a bacterial cell to a fungal cell. Overproduction of the proteins in Escherichia coli has allowed further study of the mechanism of action of these important enzymes.     

Bioinformatic analysis reveals high diversity of bacterial genes for laccase-like enzymes

Fungal laccases have been used in various fields ranging from processes in wood and paper industries to environmental applications. Although a few bacterial laccases have been characterized in recent years, prokaryotes have largely been neglected as a source of novel enzymes, in part due to the lack of knowledge about the diversity and distribution of laccases within Bacteria. In this work genes for laccase-like enzymes were searched for in over 2,200 complete and draft bacterial genomes and four metagenomic datasets, using the custom profile Hidden Markov Models for two- and three-domain laccases. More than 1,200 putative genes for laccase-like enzymes were retrieved from chromosomes and plasmids of diverse bacteria. In 76% of the genes, signal peptides were predicted, indicating that these bacterial laccases may be exported from the cytoplasm, which contrasts with the current belief. Moreover, several examples of putatively horizontally transferred bacterial laccase genes were described. Many metagenomic sequences encoding fragments of laccase-like enzymes could not be phylogenetically assigned, indicating considerable novelty. Laccase-like genes were also found in anaerobic bacteria, autotrophs and alkaliphiles, thus opening new hypotheses regarding their ecological functions. Bacteria identified as carrying laccase genes represent potential sources for future biotechnological applications.     

双启动子对重组溶源性枯草杆菌中外源蛋白表达的增强作用

探讨了双启动子对基于溶源性噬菌体构建的重组枯草杆菌中外源蛋白表达的影响。分别将不含或含有本身启动子的α-淀粉酶基因(来源于Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)和青霉素酰化酶基因(来源于Bacillus megaterium)克隆到溶源性枯草杆菌中,得到重组菌B.subtilisAMY1,B.subtilisAMY2,B.subtilisPA1以及B.subtilisPA2。由于同源重组,所克隆的片段整合到溶源性枯草杆菌中的噬菌体基因组上,并处于噬菌体强启动子的下游。在重组菌AMY1和PA1中,在热诱导的情况下外源基因的转录只受到噬菌体启动子的作用,而在重组菌AMY2和PA2中,在热诱导下外源基因的转录同时受到噬菌体启动子和基因本身所带启动子的作用。双启动子的应用使重组α-淀粉酶的表达量提高了133%,使重组青霉素酰化酶的表达量提高了113%。     

Role of hydrogen peroxide and ascorbate-glutathione pathway in host resistance to bacterial wilt of eggplant

Ralstonia solanacearum, a soil-borne bacterium causes bacterial wilt, is a lethal disease of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). However, the first line of defense mechanism of R. solanacearum infection remains unclear. The present study focused on the role of induced H₂O₂, defense-related enzymes of ascorbate-glutathione pathway variations in resistant and susceptible cultivars of eggplant under biotic stress. Fifteen cultivars of eggplant were screened for bacterial wilt resistance, and the concentration of antioxidant enzymes were estimated upon infection with R. solanacearum. A quantitative real-time PCR was also carried out to study the expression of defense genes. The concentration of H₂O₂ in the pathogen inoculated seedlings was two folds higher at 12 h after pathogen inoculation compared to control. Antioxidant enzymes of ascorbate-glutathione pathway were rapidly increased in resistant cultivars followed by susceptible and highly susceptible cultivars upon pathogen inoculation. The enzyme activity of ascorbate-glutathione pathway correlates by amplification of their defense genes along with pathogenesis-related protein-1a (PR-1a). The expressions of defense genes increased 2.5?3.5 folds in resistant eggplant cultivars after pathogen inoculation. The biochemical and molecular markers provided an insight to understand the first line of defense responses in eggplant cultivars upon inoculation with the pathogen.     

Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation genes in different soil bacteria by polymerase chain reaction and DNA hybridization

Twenty different strains of Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Gordona, Sphingomonas, Rhodococcus and Xanthomonas which degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were characterized in respect to genes encoding degradation enzymes for PAH. Genomic DNA from these strains was hybridized with a fragment of ndoB, coding for the large iron sulfur protein (ISP alpha) of the naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida PaW736 (NCIB 9816). A group of seven naphthalene-degrading Pseudomonas strains showed strong hybridization with the ndoB probe, and five Gordona, Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus and Pseudomonas strains able to degrade higher molecular weight PAH showed weaker hybridization signals. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach, seven naphthalene-degrading Pseudomonas strains showed a PCR fragment of the expected size with ndoB-specific primers and additionally ten strains of Gordona, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas and Xanthomonas able to degrade higher molecular weight PAH were detected with degenerate primer-pools specific for the ISP alpha [2Fe-2S]-Rieske center of diverse aromatic hydrocarbon dioxygenases. This suggests a molecular relationship between genes coding for PAH catabolism in various PAH-degrading bacterial taxa, which could be used to evaluate the PAH-degradation potential of mixed populations.     

Nonradioactive method to study genetic profiles of natural bacterial communities by PCR-single-strand-conformation polymorphism.

We describe a new method for studying the structure and diversity of bacterial communities in the natural ecosystem. Our approach is based on single-strand-conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of PCR products of 16S rRNA genes from complex bacterial populations. A pair of eubacterial universal primers for amplification of the variable V3 region were designed from the 16S rRNA sequences of 1,262 bacterial strains. The PCR conditions were optimized by using genomic DNAs from five gram-positive and seven gram-negative strains. The SSCP analysis of the PCR products demonstrated that a bacterial strain generated its characteristic band pattern and that other strains generated other band patterns, so that the relative diversity in bacterial communities could be measured. In addition, this method was sensitive enough to detect a bacterial population that made up less than 1.5% of a bacterial community. The distinctive differences between bacterial populations were observed in an oligotrophic lake and a eutrophic pond in a field study. The method presented here, using combined PCR amplification and SSCP pattern analyses of 16S rRNA genes, provides a useful tool to study bacterial community structures in various ecosystems.     

Rapid and specific identification of nitrile hydratase (NHase)-encoding genes in soil samples by polymerase chain reaction

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed for the specific detection of genes coding nitrile hydratase (NHase). Primer design was based on the highly conserved sequences found in the coding region of the alpha-subunit gene corresponding to the metal-binding site. Purified genomic DNA from bacterial strains or directly from soil can serve as the target for the PCR, thus affording a simple and rapid method for screening NHase genes. The primer pairs, NHCo1/NHCo2 and NHFe1/NHFe2 yield PCR products corresponding to a partial coding sequence of cobalt and iron NHase genes, respectively. Using the PCR method, both types of iron- and cobalt-NHase-encoding genes were detected in DNA from pure cultures and soil samples. Furthermore consensus primers allowed rapid cloning and expression of novel NHases in Escherichia coli.     

Power analysis for real-time PCR quantification of genes in activated sludge and analysis of the variability introduced by DNA extraction

The aims of this study were to determine the power of discrimination of the real-time PCR assay for monitoring fluctuations in microbial populations within activated sludge and to identify sample processing points where methodological changes are needed to minimize the variability in target quantification. DNA was extracted using a commercially available kit from mixed liquor samples taken from the aeration tank of four bench-scale activated-sludge reactors operating at 2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-day solid retention times, with mixed-liquor volatile suspended solid (MLVSS) values ranging from 260 to 2,610 mg/liter. Real-time PCR assays for bacterial and Nitrospira 16S rRNA genes were chosen because they represent, respectively, a highly abundant and a less-abundant bacterial target subject to clustering within the activated sludge matrix. The mean coefficient of variation in DNA yields (measured as microgram of DNA per milligram of MLVSS) in triplicate extractions of 12 different samples was 12.2%. Based on power analyses, the variability associated with DNA extraction had a small impact on the overall variability of the real-time PCR assay. Instead, a larger variability was associated with the PCR assay. The less-abundant target (Nitrospira 16S rRNA gene) had more variability than the highly abundant target (bacterial 16S rRNA gene), and samples from the lower-biomass reactors had more variability than samples from the higher-biomass reactors. Power analysis of real-time PCR assays indicated that three to five samples were necessary to detect a twofold increase in bacterial 16S rRNA genes, whereas three to five samples were required to detect a fivefold increase in Nitrospira 16S rRNA genes.     

Screening of lactic acid bacteria from Indonesia reveals glucansucrase and fructansucrase genes in two different Weissella confusa strains from soya

Homopolysaccharide (glucan and fructan) synthesis from sucrose by sucrase enzymes in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been well studied in the genera Leuconostoc, Streptococcus and Lactobacillus . This study aimed to identify and characterize genes encoding glucansucrase/glucosyltransferase (GTF) and fructansucrases/fructosyltransferase (FTF) enzymes from genomic DNA of 'rare' Indonesian exopolysaccharide-producing LAB. From a total of 63 exopolysaccharide-producing LAB isolates obtained from foods, beverages and environmental samples, 18 isolates showing the most slimy and mucoid colony morphologies on sucrose were chosen for further study. By comparing bacterial growth on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS)-sucrose with that on MRS-raffinose, and using the results of a previous PCR screening study with degenerate primer pairs targeting the conserved catalytic domain of GTFs, various strains were identified as producers of fructan (13), of glucan only (five) or as potential producers of both glucan and fructan (nine). Here, we report the characteristics of three gtf genes and one ftf gene obtained from Weissella confusa strains MBF8-1 and MBF8-2. Strain MBF8-1 harbored two putative gtf genes with high sequence similarity to GTFB of Lactobacillus reuteri 121 and GTF180 of L. reuteri 180, respectively. Strain MBF8-2 possessed single gtf and ftf genes with high sequence similarity to GTFKg3 of Lactobacillus fermentum Kg3 and DSRWC of Weissella cibaria , and FTF levansucrase of L. reuteri 121, respectively.     

Two Novel Human Members of an Emerging Mammalian Gene Family Related to Mono-ADP-Ribosylating Bacterial Toxins

Mono-ADP-ribosylation is one of the posttranslational protein modifications regulating cellular metabolism, e.g., nitrogen fixation, in prokaryotes. Several bacterial toxins mono-ADP-ribosylate and inactivate specific proteins in their animal hosts. Recently, two mammalian GPI-anchored cell surface enzymes with similar activities were cloned (designated ART1 and ART2). We have now identified six related expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in the public database and cloned the two novel human genes from which these are derived (designatedART3andART4). The deduced amino acid sequences of the predicted gene products show 28% sequence identity to one another and 32–41% identity vs the muscle and T cell enzymes. They contain signal peptide sequences characteristic of GPI anchorage. Southern Zoo blot analyses suggest the presence of related genes in other mammalian species. By PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids and byin situhybridization, we have mapped the two genes to human chromosomes 4p14–p15.1 and 12q13.2–q13.3. Northern blot analyses show that these genes are specifically expressed in testis and spleen, respectively. Comparison of genomic and cDNA sequences reveals a conserved exon/intron structure, with an unusually large exon encoding the predicted mature membrane proteins. Secondary structure prediction analyses indicate conserved motifs and amino acid residues consistent with a common ancestry of this emerging mammalian enzyme family and bacterial mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases. It is possible that the four human gene family members identified so far represent the “tip of an iceberg,” i.e., a larger family of enzymes that influences the function of target proteins via mono-ADP-ribosylation.