luxS-dependent gene regulation in Escherichia coli K-12 revealed by genomic expression profiling

The bacterial quorum-sensing autoinducer 2 (AI-2) has received intense interest because the gene for its synthase, luxS, is common among a large number of bacterial species. We have identified luxS-controlled genes in Escherichia coli under two different growth conditions using DNA microarrays. Twenty-three genes were affected by luxS deletion in the presence of glucose, and 63 genes were influenced by luxS deletion in the absence of glucose. Minimal overlap among these gene sets suggests the role of luxS is condition dependent. Under the latter condition, the metE gene, the lsrACDBFG operon, and the flanking genes of the lsr operon (lsrR, lsrK, tam, and yneE) were among the most significantly induced genes by luxS. The E. coli lsr operon includes an additional gene, tam, encoding an S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent methyltransferase. Also, lsrR and lsrK belong to the same operon, lsrRK, which is positively regulated by the cyclic AMP receptor protein and negatively regulated by LsrR. lsrK is additionally transcribed by a promoter between lsrR and lsrK. Deletion of luxS was also shown to affect genes involved in methionine biosynthesis, methyl transfer reactions, iron uptake, and utilization of carbon. It was surprising, however, that so few genes were affected by luxS deletion in this E. coli K-12 strain under these conditions. Most of the highly induced genes are related to AI-2 production and transport. These data are consistent with the function of LuxS as an important metabolic enzyme but appear not to support the role of AI-2 as a true signal molecule for E. coli W3110 under the investigated conditions.     

Cloning and expression of the ilvB gene of Escherichia coli K-12

Summary A plasmid containing theilvB operon, which codes for acetohydroxy acid synthase I ofEscherichia coli K-12, was isolated using a ligated mixture of DNA from plasmid pBR322 and F'ilvB4 treated with endonucleaseSalI. A shortened derivative of this plasmid was isolated by cloning a 3.4 kb bacterial fragment into plasmid pKEN005 to yield plasmid pTCN12. The orientation of theilvB operon relative to plasmid genes was determined by restriction enzyme mapping. Measurement of the level of the product of theilvB gene, acetohydroxy acid synthase I, indicated that plasmid pTCN12 contained a functionalilvB promoter and control region. The DNA from this plasmid was used as a probe to show that the rate of synthesis ofilvB mRNA was proportional to the levels of acetohydroxy acid synthase I.     

Cloning and expression of the Escherichia coli K-12 sad gene.

The Escherichia coli K-12 sad gene, which encodes an NAD-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, was cloned into a high-copy-number vector. Minicells carrying a sad+ plasmid produced a 55,000-dalton peptide, the probable sad gene product.     

Characterization of the gcd gene from Escherichia coli K-12 W3110 and regulation of its expression.

DNA sequence and expressional analyses of the gcd gene of Escherichia coli K-12 W3110 revealed that two promoters that were detected were regulated negatively by cyclic AMP and positively by oxygen. Sequence conservation of the gcd gene between E. coli K-12 W3110 and PPA42 suggests that glucose dehydrogenase is required for the E. coli cells, even though it ordinarily exists as an apoprotein.     

Molecular basis for modulated regulation of gene expression in the arginine regulon of Escherichia coli K-12.

We compare the nucleotide sequences of the regulatory regions of five genes or groups of genes of the arginine regulon of Escherichia coli K-12: argF, argI, argR, the bipolar argECBH operon and the carAB operon. All these regions harbour one or two copies of a conserved 18 bp sequence which appears to constitute the basic arginine operator sequence (ARG box). We discuss the influence of ARG box copy number, degree of dyad symmetry, base composition, and position relative to the cognate promoter site on the derepression-repression ratios of the genes of the regulon. A novel hypothesis, based on structural considerations, is also put forward to account for the absence ot attenuation control.     

Transcriptional regulation of katE in Escherichia coli K-12

Escherichia coli produces two distinct species of catalase, hydroperoxidases I and II, which differ in kinetic properties and regulation. To further examine catalase regulation, a lacZ fusion was placed into one of the genes that is involved in catalase synthesis. Transductional mapping revealed the fusion to be either allelic with or very close to katE, a locus which together with katF controls the synthesis of the aerobically inducible hydroperoxidase (hydroperoxidase II). katE was expressed under anaerobic conditions at levels that were approximately one-fourth of those found in aerobically grown cells and was found to be induced to higher levels in early-stationary-phase cells relative to levels of exponentially growing cells under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. katE was fully expressed in air and was not further induced when the growth medium was sparged with 100% oxygen. Expression of katE was unaffected by the addition of hydrogen peroxide or by the presence of additional lesions in oxyR or sodA, indicating that it is not part of the oxyR regulon. When katF::Tn10 was introduced into a katE::lacZ strain, beta-galactosidase synthesis was largely eliminated and was no longer inducible, suggesting that katF is a positive regulator of katE expression.     

Nitrate regulation of anaerobic respiratory gene expression in narX deletion mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

Previous studies have shown that narL+ is required for nitrate regulation of anaerobic respiratory enzyme synthesis, including formate dehydrogenase-N, nitrate reductase, and fumarate reductase. Insertions in the closely linked narX gene decrease, but do not abolish, nitrate regulation of anaerobic enzyme synthesis. Analysis of sequence similarities suggests that NarX and NarL comprise a two-component regulatory pair. We constructed lacZ operon and gene fusions to investigate the operon structure of narXL. We found evidence for a complex operon with at least two promoters; PXL-narX-PL-narL. We also investigated the role of NarX in nitrate regulation of anaerobic respiratory enzyme synthesis by constructing nonpolar loss of function narX alleles. These deletions were studied on narL+ lambda specialized transducing bacteriophage. The narX deletions had no effect on nitrate regulation in delta (narXL) strains. This finding suggest that the subtle effects of previously studied narX insertions are due to decreased expression of narL and that narX+ is not essential for normal nitrate regulation. The role of NarX in nitrate regulation remains to be determined.     

Identification of the phoM gene product and its regulation in Escherichia coli K-12.

Plasmids containing the chromosome region of Escherichia coli encoding phoM, whose product is a positive regulator of alkaline phosphatase expression, were isolated from the Clarke and Carbon plasmid bank. A 9.9-kilobase EcoRI fragment of plasmid pLC17-39 (subcloned into pBR322) was able to complement both phoM and thrB mutations. Restriction endonuclease analysis and in vitro mutagenesis of the hybird plasmids enabled the localization of the phoM gene locus to 3 kilobases of the cloned chromosomal fragment. The phoM gene product was identified, with maxicell techniques, as a protein with an approximate molecular weight of 55,000. A phoM-lacZ protein fusion was constructed by using a plasmid carrying the phoM gene and a derivative of phage lambda, lambda plac Mu2. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the plasmid carrying the fusion indicated that phoM is transcribed in a clockwise direction on the circular E. coli chromosome. Analysis of strains bearing the fusion on a multiple-copy plasmid or integrated at the lambda attachment site of the chromosome indicated that the synthesis of the phoM gene product was unaffected by phosphate limitation of growth. The expression of the phoM gene was studied in strains with mutations in genes encoding effectors of the pho regulon. A threefold increase in phoM expression was seen in a phoU strain in comparison with the wild-type strain.     

大肠杆菌苯丙氨酸合成途径关键酶基因pheA的克隆与表达

为了通过基因工程手段来增加苯丙氨酸的生物产量,利用ＰＣＲ方法从大肠杆菌中克隆了抗反馈抑制突变型及野生型的ｐｈｅＡ基因,进行了核苷酸序列分析,并利用高效的原核表达载体ＰＢＶ２２０对ｐｈｅＡ基因编码的突变型及野生型分支酸变位酶／预苯酸脱水酶（ＣＭ／ＰＤ）进行了表达。序列分析表明突变型基因碱基第５８０位由Ｔ变为Ｃ,相应氨基酸由Ｖａｌ变为Ａｌａ,ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ图谱扫描分析表明目的蛋白ＣＭ／ＰＤ的表达量占全菌体蛋白的４３％,占上清总蛋白的５７％。酶活性测定表明其ＣＭ和 ＰＤ活性分别提高了 １５．５和６．７倍,产酸量也有了一定的提高,为构建产苯丙氨酸的生物工程菌奠定了基础。     

Cloning of the Escherichia coli K-12 hemB gene.

An Escherichia coli heme-requiring, heme-permeable mutant had no detectable 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase or porphobilinogen deaminase activities. The gene which complemented this mutation was cloned to a high-copy-number plasmid, and porphobilinogen deaminase activity was restored to normal levels, but the synthesis of 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase increased 20- to 30-fold. A maxicell procedure confirmed that the gene cloned was hemB.