Expression and stability of a recombinant plasmid in Zymomonas mobilis and Escherichia coli

A recombinant plasmid was constructed by ligating EcoRI digests of the plasmid cloning vector pBR325 and pZMO2, one of the natural plasmids of Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988. This vector, named pDS212 (total size 7.9 kb), which was able to transform Escherichia coli efficiently, was also transferred to Z. mobilis hosts by mobilization during conjugation using the helper plasmid pRK2013. pDS212 was inherited stably in both E. coli and Z. mobilis hosts and could be recovered intact from them. Markers of pBR325 and pRK2013 were also transferred in Z. mobilis but at very low frequencies. Neither pBR325 nor pRK2013 could be recovered intact from the Z. mobilis hosts. It is proposed that expression and stability of pDS212 in Z. mobilis is due to the origin of replication of pZMO2 that it carries, and that it may be used for developing a gene transfer system in Z. mobilis.     

Broad host range cloning vectors for gram-negative bacteria

A series of cloning vectors has been constructed based on the broad-host-range plasmid R300B. One of these vectors, pGSS33, has a size of 13.4 kb and carries four antibiotic resistance genes [ampicillin (Apr), chloramphenicol (Cmr), streptomycin (Smr) and tetracycline (Tcr)], all of which have restriction sites for insertional inactivation. The derivation, structure and uses of the plasmids are described.     

人肝金属硫蛋白-I_A基因在鱼腥藻中的克隆与表达

将人工合成的人肝金属硫蛋白（ｍｅｔａｌｏｔｈｉｏｎｅｉｎ,简称ＭＴ）－ＩＡ基因插入至中间载体ｐＲＬ－４３９上强启动子ｐｓｂＡ后,再将其与穿梭载体ｐＫＴ－２１０相连,得到大肠杆菌－蓝藻穿梭表达载体ｐＫＴ－ＭＴ,用三亲接合转移法将ｐＫＴ－ＭＴ转入丝状体蓝藻－鱼腥藻７１２０,经链霉素筛选,得到了稳定的转人肝ＭＴ－ＩＡ基因鱼腥藻．纯化单藻落,液体扩大培养．从鱼腥藻中提取的质粒经Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ印迹分析,确定人肝ＭＴ－ＩＡ基因已转入鱼腥藻７１２０中,Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹分析表明,金属硫蛋白在转人肝ＭＴ－ＩＡ基因鱼腥藻中得到了表达．经原子吸收光谱法测定表达量约为７００μｇＭＴ／ｇ鲜藻,重金属耐受性实验表明,得到了能耐受重金属－镉的转人肝ＭＴ－ＩＡ基因鱼腥藻,它将在清除水域中重金属污染和医药研究方面发挥重要作用．     

Genome sequence of the ethanol-producing Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis lectotype strain ATCC 10988

Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988 is the type strain of the Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis taxon, members of which are some of the most rigorous ethanol-producing bacteria. Isolated from Agave cactus fermentations in Mexico, ATCC 10988 is one of the first Z. mobilis strains to be described and studied. Its robustness in sucrose-substrate fermentations, physiological characteristics, large number of plasmids, and overall genomic plasticity render this strain important to the study of the species. Here we report the finishing and annotation of the ATCC 10988 chromosomal and plasmid genome.     

Transposon mutagenesis and strain construction in Zymomonas mobilis

Conjugative or mobilizable plasmids carrying the transposable elements Tn5, Tn501 or mini Mu were readily transferred from Escherichia coli donors into Zymomonas mobilis recipients with frequencies depending both on donor and recipient strain used. With the exception of pULB113 (RP4::mini Mu), all foreign plasmids exhibited high instability in Z. mobilis transconjugants under both selective and non-selective conditions. Transposition events and consequent mutagenesis occurred readily in Z. mobilis transconjugant strains, with Tn5 and Tn501 being far less successful than mini Mu. Transposon mutagenesis with the help of mini Mu resulted in the isolation of a large number of independent auxotrophs with polyauxotrophs, cysteine, methionine and isoleucine requiring-isolates being the most frequent. When chromosomal DNA from all these mutants was digested with various restriction enzymes and the resulting restriction patterns were hybridized with a mini Mu probe, the majority of these mutants appeared to have insertions at different sites of the chromosome. Thus, transposon mutagenesis by mini Mu is proven to be a simple and efficient tool for mutant production and the genetic analysis of Z. mobilis.     

Self-transmissible plasmid in Zymomonas mobilis carrying antibiotic resistance.

The cryptic plasmid pRUT41 from Zymomonas mobilis was examined for its biological properties. This plasmid was found to be conjugally transferred from Z. mobilis CP4 to Escherichia coli BM21 and to carry genes for antibiotic resistance (gentamicin, kanamycin, and streptomycin). Covalently closed circular plasmid DNA was isolated from eight transconjugants of E. coli BM21. These plasmids were identical in mobility on agarose gels and exhibited the same restriction patterns as the native pRUT41 plasmid isolated from Z. mobilis. The plasmid location of the antibiotic resistance genes was further confirmed by transforming E. coli BM21 with isolated pRUT41 plasmid from strain CP4 and with plasmids from the transconjugants of BM21. Resistance to streptomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin was tightly linked and transferred together in all cases.     

Self-transmissible plasmid in Zymomonas mobilis carrying antibiotic resistance

The cryptic plasmid pRUT41 from Zymomonas mobilis was examined for its biological properties. This plasmid was found to be conjugally transferred from Z. mobilis CP4 to Escherichia coli BM21 and to carry genes for antibiotic resistance (gentamicin, kanamycin, and streptomycin). Covalently closed circular plasmid DNA was isolated from eight transconjugants of E. coli BM21. These plasmids were identical in mobility on agarose gels and exhibited the same restriction patterns as the native pRUT41 plasmid isolated from Z. mobilis. The plasmid location of the antibiotic resistance genes was further confirmed by transforming E. coli BM21 with isolated pRUT41 plasmid from strain CP4 and with plasmids from the transconjugants of BM21. Resistance to streptomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin was tightly linked and transferred together in all cases.     

Genetic transfer by conjugation in the thermophilic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum.

The broad-host-range IncQ group plasmids pDSK519 and pGSS33 were transferred by conjugation from Escherichia coli into the thermophilic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum. C. tepidum exconjugants expressed the kanamycin and ampicillin-chloramphenicol resistances encoded by pDSK519 and pGSS33, respectively. Ampicillin resistance was a particularly good marker for selection in C. tepidum. Both pDSK519 and pGSS33 were stably maintained in C. tepidum at temperatures below 42 degrees C and could be transferred between C. tepidum and E. coli without modifications. Conjugation frequencies ranged from 10(-1) to 10(-4) exconjugants per donor cell, and frequencies of 10(-2) to 10(-3) were consistently obtained when ampicillin resistance was used as a selectable marker. Methods for growth of C. tepidum on agar, isolation of plating strains and antibiotic-resistant mutants of wild-type C. tepidum cells, and optimum conditions for conjugation were also investigated.     

Plasmid transformation of Azotobacter vinelandii OP

Azotobacter vinelandii OP which had been naturally induced to competence by growth in iron- and molybdenum-limited medium was transformed with the broad-host-range cloning vector pKT210. However, the transformation frequency at nearly saturating levels of DNA was 1000-fold lower for pKT210 than for a single chromosomal DNA marker (nif+). Plasmid- and chromosomal-DNA-mediated transformation events were competitive, magnesium-dependent, 42 degrees C-sensitive processes specific to double-stranded DNA, suggesting a common mechanism of DNA binding and uptake. The low frequency of plasmid transformation was not related to restriction of transforming DNA or to the growth period allowed for phenotypic expression. Covalently-closed-circular and open-circular forms of pKT210 transformed cells equally well whereas EcoRI- or HindIII-linearized pKT210 transformed cells with two to three times greater efficiency. Genetic transformation was enhanced 10- to 50-fold when pKT210 contained an insert fragment of A. vinelandii nif DNA, indicating that A. vinelandii possessed a homology-facilitated transformation system. However, all transformants failed to maintain the plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance determinants, and extrachromosomal plasmid DNA was not recovered from these cells. Flush-ended pKT210 was not active in transformation; however, competent cells were transformed to Nif+ by HincII-digested plasmid DNA containing the cloned A. vinelandii nif-10 marker.     

Kinetics of batch fermentations for ethanol production with Zymomonas mobilis growing on Jerusalem Artichoke juice

A flocculent strain of Zymomonas mobilis was used for ethanol production from Jerusalem Artichoke juice containing 113-245 g/L sugar in batch fermentation. The kinetic and yields parameters are calculated using a new method based on polynomial equations for the variation of biomass, ethanol, and sugar concentrations with time. The results show that. Z. mobilis can convert rapidly and efficiently Jerusalem Artichoke juice to ethanol. When a sugar concentration of 248 gL was used, 100 g/L ethanol was formed with an ethanol yield based on sugar utilized of 0.47 g/g (92% of theoretical LP).     

Expression of poliovirus complementary DNA coding for viral antigenic determinants in Escherichia coli

DNA sequences coding for the immunogenic capsid protein VP1 and/or VP3 of poliovirus strain LSc-2ab (Sabin 1) were prepared by digesting the cloned complementary DNA with restriction endonuclease PstI. The DNA fragments were inserted into the unique PstI site of Escherichia coli plasmid vectors pBR322, pKT 280 and/or pKT 287 that lay in the region expressed under control of the penicillinase promoter system. In the expression vectors, poliovirus sequences were designed to be read in phase and therefore to be expressed as fusion proteins with the bacterial peptides. In addition, the Escherichia coli tryptophan operon promoter-operator system was inserted upstream of the penicillinase system to obtain stronger expression of the poliovirus sequences. Escherichia coli transformed with these plasmids appeared to produce the antigenic polypeptides, which were detected by immunoprecipitation with antibodies to capsid proteins VP1 and/or VP3 followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Small, stable shuttle vectors for use in Xanthomonas

Plasmids from three broad-host-range (bhr) incompatibility groups (Inc) were evaluated for use as cloning vectors in Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Xcm), the causal agent of bacterial blight of cotton. The IncP vectors pLAFR3 and pVK102 could not be introduced into Xcm at a significant frequency (less than 1 x 10(-10] and IncQ vectors such as pKT210 were unstable in their maintenance and tended to delete cloned inserts. IncW vectors such as pSa747 also were lost readily from Xcm in the absence of selection pressure. We constructed two plasmids, pUFR027 and a cosmid derivative, pUFR034, which have proven useful as cloning vectors in Xcm and other xanthomonads. They contain the pSa origin of DNA replication, the partition locus parA from the Agrobacterium plasmid pTAR, a neomycin-resistance selection marker, and alacZ alpha cassette with cloning sites. pUFR027 is 9.3 kb, and pUFR034 is 8.7 kb in size. They can be mobilized by conjugation into Xcm at a frequency of approx. 1 x 10(-6) per recipient and are maintained stably (greater than 95% retention over 36 generations without selection pressure) in both broth culture and in planta. The plasmids were introduced and maintained stably in X. citri, and in X. campestris pathovars campestris, citrumelo, vesicatoria and translucens, and were moderately stable in X. phaseoli. No effects of the plasmids on pathogenicity have been observed.     

利用木糖和葡萄糖合成乙醇的新型重组大肠杆菌的研究

利用PCR方法从运动发酵单孢菌染色体DNA扩增出乙醇合成途径的关键酶基因pdc、adhB,分别用tac启动子控制表达,构建了可以在Escherichia coli JM109中表达的重组质粒pKK-PA、pEtac-PA.初步的乙醇发酵结果表明,在E.coli中只引入adhB基因不能拓宽其中的产乙醇途径,引入pdc基因可以与宿主自身的ADH酶协同作用,使碳流有效导向产乙醇方向.同时引入pdc、adhB基因可以在宿主E.coli中成功建立产乙醇途径.     

Chromosomal integration of heterologous DNA in Escherichia coli with precise removal of markers and replicons used during construction

A set of vectors which facilitates the sequential integration of new functions into the Escherichia coli chromosome by homologous recombination has been developed. These vectors are based on plasmids described by Posfai et al. (J. Bacteriol. 179:4426-4428, 1997) which contain conditional replicons (pSC101 or R6K), a choice of three selectable markers (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, or kanamycin), and a single FRT site. The modified vectors contain two FRT sites which bracket a modified multiple cloning region for DNA insertion. After integration, a helper plasmid expressing the flippase (FLP) recombinase allows precise in vivo excision of the replicon and the marker used for selection. Sites are also available for temporary insertion of additional functions which can be subsequently deleted with the replicon. Only the DNA inserted into the multiple cloning sites (passenger genes and homologous fragment for targeting) and a single FRT site (68 bp) remain in the chromosome after excision. The utility of these vectors was demonstrated by integrating Zymomonas mobilis genes encoding the ethanol pathway behind the native chromosomal adhE gene in strains of E. coli K-12 and E. coli B. With these vectors, a single antibiotic selection system can be used repeatedly for the successive improvement of E. coli strains with precise deletion of extraneous genes used during construction.     

Analysis and stability of Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988 plasmid pZMO3

Plasmid pZMO3 of Zymomonas mobilis strain ATCC 10988 was found to be nonhomologous either to chromosomal DNA or to any other plasmids of the strains ATCC 10988, NCIB 11163, and CP4. It contained single sites for the restriction endonucleases SphI, BglI, and HindIII, as well as at least four sites for Sau3A. Its origin of replication is located within the 1.54-kb Sau3A fragment as it was found that only the recombinant plasmid pDS3154, which contained this fragment, showed vectorial incompatibility with the native pZMO3 plasmid. The stability of pZMO3 may be controlled by partitioning sequences located in the 0.64-kb Sau3A fragment. Z. mobilis isolates, which had lost plasmid pZMO3, were successfully isolated.     

Characterization and replication properties of the Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988 plasmids pZMO1 and pZMO2

The complete nucleotide sequences of two small cryptic Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988 plasmids (pZMO1 and pZMO2) were determined. The plasmids showed 67% homology to each other at their nucleotide level. Plasmid pZMO1 was 1651 bp long with 38% G + C content and contained an open reading frame (ORFZMO1) of 1044 nucleotides. ORFZMO1 is predicted to encode a polypeptide of 348 amino acids and shows a high degree of homology with gram-negative replication proteins of rolling circle replicating plasmids, which belong to the pC194/pUB110 family. Plasmid pZMO2 was found to be 1669 bp long, with a 38.5% G + C content, and it contained an ORF of 552 nucleotides (ORFZMO2) encoding a putative polypeptide of 184 amino acids. This polypeptide also shows a high degree of homology with the replication proteins of RCR plasmids of gram-negative bacteria, but only at their N-termini. The region necessary for replication of both plasmids was determined by stability tests under nonselective conditions, following cloning in pBR325 and introduction in Z. mobilis ATCC 10988 by pRK2013 assisted conjugation. Double- and single-strand origin regions were predicted by sequence analysis. Detection of single-stranded DNA in the extract of exponentially growing cells confirmed experimentally the rolling circle replication mode of at least pZMO2.     

Conjugative transfer and autonomous replication of a promiscuous IncQ plasmid in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803

Summary The promiscuous IncQ plasmid pKT210 (Cm^r, Sm^r) is efficiently transferred by transpecific conjugation from Escherichia coli to the facultatively heterotrophic cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 when mobilized by a helper plasmid coding for IncP transfer functions. The IncQ plasmid is stably maintained in the cyanobacterium as an autonomously replicating multicopy plasmid with no detectable structural alterations and can be recovered by transformation back to E. coli when using a mcrA mcrB host. Thus, the replicative host-range of IncQ plasmids extends beyond purple bacteria to the distinct procaryotic taxon of cyanobacteria, allowing the use of these small plasmids as convenient cloning vectors in Synechocystis PCC6803 and presumably also in cyanobacteria that are not amenable to genetic transformation. In contrast, an IncQ plasmid bearing the TRP1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae failed to replicate when transferred to that yeast by transformation.     

The Doubtful Status of the Species Zymomonas anaerobia and Z. mobilis

S ummary . During the course of an investigation of Zymomonas spp. in the brewing industry, a strain was isolated from different habitats and identified as Z. mobilis. It is the first occasion on which this species has been isolated from British beers. Closer examination of one isolate showed that it was different from the stock strain of Z. mobilis , both in vitamin requirements and serology. Strains of Z. anaerobia were also isolated and it was possible to induce these bacteria to metabolize sucrose. Since the ability to utilize this sugar is one of the major differences between Z. mobilis and Z. anaerobia , and in view of the closeness of the G + C ratios, the whole question of whether 2 species of Zymomonas are justified is thrown into doubt.     

Mathematical modeling of ethanol production by immobilized Zymomonas mobilis in a packed bed fermenter

A mathematical model which describes ethanol production in a packed bed fermenter containing. Zymomonas mobilis entrapped in small spheres of calcium alginate within a packed bed fermenter has been developed. The equations combine simultaneous diffusion and reaction as well as a complex flow pattern to calculate glucose and ethanol profiles in the column type reactor. As part of the study, diffusivity values for glucose and ethanol in cell-loaded calcium alginate were determined. Also a freecell kinetic expression for Z. mobilis at 33 degrees C and ph 6.0 was developed. Comparison of the model with actual experimental results were made showing average deviations of ca. 30-40%.     

Comparison of plasmids in strains of Zymomonas mobilis

Four strains of Zymomonas mobilis were examined for their resistance to antimicrobial agents and found to have similar resistance profiles. Plasmid DNA was extracted and purified by CsCl dye-buoyant density centrifugation; molecular weights were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. All four strains harbored a large plasmid (46 X 10(6) Da) and a smaller plasmid (16-21 X 10(6) Da) whose molecular weight was strain dependent. Two strains, Ag11 and ATCC 10988, had smaller plasmids of unique molecular weight. Homology existed between the plasmids in the four strains as shown by cross-reaction in DNA-DNA blot hybridizations. Only one plasmid appeared unique to the host from which it was isolated.