Transposon Mutagenesis of Azospirillum brasilense and Azospirillum lipoferum: Physical Analysis of Tn5 and Tn5-Mob Insertion Mutants

Tn5-induced insertion mutants were generated in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 and A. lipoferum SpBr17 by mating with Escherichia coli strains carrying suicide plasmid vectors. The sources of Tn5 were the suicide plasmids pGS9 and pSUP2021. Kanamycin-resistant Azospirillum colonies appeared from crosses with E. coli at maximum frequencies of 10⁻⁷ per recipient cell. Transposon Tn5 also conferred streptomycin resistance on Azospirillum colonies as was observed earlier for Rhizobium sp. Eight Tn5-induced Km^r Sm^rA. brasilense Sp7 mutants with reduced nitrogen-fixing capacity were isolated. The potential use of Tn5-Mob for labeling and mobilization of Azospirillum-indigenous plasmids was demonstrated by isolating Tn5-Mob insertions in the megaplasmids of A. brasilense Sp7.     

Specificity of Transposon Tn5 Insertion

Genetic mapping studies had shown that the bacterial transposon Tn5 can insert into many sites in a gene, but that some sites are preferred. To begin understanding Tn5's insertion specificity at the molecular level, we selected transpositions of Tn5 from the Escherichia coli chromosome to the plasmid pBR322 and analyzed the resultant pBR322::Tn5 plasmids by restriction endonuclease digestion and DNA sequencing. Seventy-five insertions in the tet gene were found at 28 sites including one major hotspot (with 21 insertions) and four lesser hotspots (with four to ten insertions each). All five hotspots are within the first 300 of the 1250-base pair (bp) tet gene. In contrast, 31 independent insertions in the amp gene were found in at least 27 distinct sites.—Tn5 generates 9 bp target sequence duplications when it transposes. Such transposon-induced duplications are generally taken to indicate that cleavages of complementary target DNA strands are made 9 bp apart during transposition. DNA sequence analysis indicated that GC base pairs occupy positions 1 and 9 in the duplications at each of the five hotspots examined, suggesting a GC-cutting preference during Tn5 transposition.     

Development of a Tn10 Vehicle for Insertion Mutagenesis in Rhizobium

A transposon Tn10 vehicle was developed using a self transmissible (Tra⁺) plasmid pRK2013 having narrow host range ori of replication (ColEl). The construct pSA10-3 carrying Tn10 was useful in efficiently transferring transposon Tn10 from E. coli into various rhizobia. The ColEl replicon conferred suicidal property to vector in Rhizobium background where it falls to replicate stably. Thus this plasmid can be employed to cause independent insertion mutations in rhizobia by Tn10 transposition. The frequency of tetracycline resistant colonies of Rhizobium (Tn10 mutants) was approximately 10⁵ folds higher than the spontaneous Tet^R mutants. Reversion frequency of these mutants was less than 10^?8 indicating adequate stability of Tn10 mutations.     

Transposon Assisted Gene Insertion Technology (TAGIT): A Tool for Generating Fluorescent Fusion Proteins

We constructed a transposon (transposon assisted gene insertion technology, or TAGIT) that allows the random insertion of gfp (or other genes) into chromosomal loci without disrupting operon structure or regulation. TAGIT is a modified Tn5 transposon that uses Kan^R to select for insertions on the chromosome or plasmid, β-galactosidase to identify in-frame gene fusions, and Cre recombinase to excise the kan and lacZ genes in vivo. The resulting gfp insertions maintain target gene reading frame (to the 5′ and 3′ of gfp) and are integrated at the native chromosomal locus, thereby maintaining native expression signals. Libraries can be screened to identify GFP insertions that maintain target protein function at native expression levels, allowing more trustworthy localization studies. We here use TAGIT to generate a library of GFP insertions in the Escherichia coli lactose repressor (LacI). We identified fully functional GFP insertions and partially functional insertions that bind DNA but fail to repress the lacZ operon. Several of these latter GFP insertions localize to lacO arrays integrated in the E. coli chromosome without producing the elongated cells frequently observed when functional LacI-GFP fusions are used in chromosome tagging experiments. TAGIT thereby faciliates the isolation of fully functional insertions of fluorescent proteins into target proteins expressed from the native chromosomal locus as well as potentially useful partially functional proteins.     

Establishment of Tn5096-Based Transposon Mutagenesis in Gordonia polyisoprenivorans

The transposons Tn5, Tn10, Tn611, and Tn5096 were characterized regarding transposition in Gordonia polyisoprenivorans strain VH2. No insertional mutants were obtained employing Tn5 or Tn10. The thermosensitive plasmid pCG79 harboring Tn611 integrated into the chromosome of G. polyisoprenivorans; however, the insertional mutants were fairly unstable und reverted frequently to the wild-type phenotype. In contrast, various stable mutants were obtained employing Tn5096-mediated transposon mutagenesis. Auxotrophic mutants, mutants defective or deregulated in carotenoid biosynthesis, and mutants defective in utilization of rubber and/or highly branched isoprenoid hydrocarbons were obtained by integration of plasmid pMA5096 harboring Tn5096 as a whole into the genome. From about 25,000 isolated mutants, the insertion loci of pMA5096 were subsequently mapped in 20 independent mutants in genes which could be related to the above-mentioned metabolic pathways or to putative regulation proteins. Analyses of the genotypes of pMA5096-mediated mutants defective in biodegradation of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) did not reveal homologues to recently identified genes coding for enzymes catalyzing the initial cleavage of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene). One rubber-negative mutant was disrupted in mcr, encoding an α-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase. This mutant was defective in degradation of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) and also of highly branched isoprenoid hydrocarbons.     

Sequence Analysis of a Novel Insertion Site of Transposon IS10

A sacB mutant was obtained by transposon IS10 inactivation of a plasmid pXT3sacB carrying the sacB gene. Sequencing of this mutant plasmid DNA (GenBank accession No. AY580883.1) showed that the IS10 flanking the 22 bp inverted repeats were 5′-CTGAGAGATCCCCTCATAATTT-3′ and 5′-AAATCATTAGGGGATTCATCAG-3′, which were the similar to those published in reports previously. However, the target sequence adjacent to IS10 was 5′-TGCTTGGTT-3′ instead of the previously reported 5′-NGCTNAGCN-3′. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the novel insertion site of IS10. In addition, Southern blot hybridization confirmed that the mobile IS10 originated from the chromosomal DNA of the host strain Escherichia coli DH5α and that there were two copies in the DH5α genome.     

转座因子IS10一个新的插入靶位点的序列分析

转座因子在生物体内广泛存在,它在研究基因的重组机理以及生物染色体的进化方面有着重要意义。IS10是细菌中的一种转座因子,它既能单独作为插入序列,也能作为Tn10的一部分进行转座。利用含sacB基因的质粒pXT3sacB,获得了由转座因子IS10插入而导致sacB基因失活的突变体。通过对插入突变体质粒DNA的序列测定（GenBank登记号为AY580883．1）,结果表明IS10两端分别包括22bp倒置重复区CTGAGAGATCCCCTCATAATTT和AAATCATTAGGGGATTCATCAG,这与前人的报道一致;而IS10两端的插入靶位点序列为TGCTTGGTT,该9bp靶位点序列与前人报道的序列NGCTNAGCN不同。根据文献资料,本研究中的靶位点序列是首次报道。此外,通过Southern blot杂交分析,插入sacB基因中的IS10来源于宿主大肠杆菌DH5α染色体DNA,并且IS10在DH5α染色体中为两个拷贝。此外,本研究利用sacB基因捕获到转座因子IS10,该方法为研究其他插入序列提供了一个有益的体系。     

Transposon Tn5 Target Specificity: Preference for Insertion at G/C Pairs

The procaryotic transposon Tn5 inserts into many different sites within a single gene, but some sites (hotspots) are targeted repeatedly. Hotspots are not closely related in sequence, but most have G/C pairs at the ends of the nine base pairs duplicated by Tn5 insertion. In pBR322, the major hotspot coincides with the "-10 region" of the tet promoter. We mutated the G/C pairs at this hotspot and assayed for insertion into hotspot I, resistance to tetracycline, and plasmid supercoiling. We found that changing the G/C pairs to A/T pairs reduced the frequency of insertion into the hotspot by at least fivefold. The reduction in hotspot use caused by these G/C to A/T changes was not attributable to changes in plasmid supercoiling or tet promoter strength.     

Tn5转座突变技术在革兰氏阴性细菌分子遗传研究中的应用

随着广宿主载体系统的发展,Tn5及其衍生载体已经广泛应用于革兰氏阴性细菌的分子遗传学研究。主要综述了Tn5转座突变技术在生防细菌生防机理研究、细菌必需基因的鉴定、病原细菌毒力相关基因研究、代谢调控基因研究和菌株的遗传改良方面的应用研究进展。     

Identification of Flagellar Motility Genes in Yersinia ruckeri by Transposon Mutagenesis

Here we demonstrate that flagellar secretion is required for production of secreted lipase activity in the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri and that neither of these activities is necessary for virulence in rainbow trout. Our results suggest a possible mechanism for the emergence of nonmotile biotype 2 Y. ruckeri through the mutational loss of flagellar secretion.Yersinia ruckeri is the etiologic agent of enteric redmouth disease, a disease of salmonid fish species that is found worldwide in areas where salmonid fish species are farmed (3, 6, 18, 20). Vaccines for enteric redmouth disease have been used successfully for nearly 3 decades and consist of immersion-applied, killed whole-cell preparations of motile serovar 1 Y. ruckeri strains (22). Recently though, outbreaks have been reported in vaccinated fish at trout farms in the United Kingdom (2), Spain (9), and the United States (1). The Y. ruckeri strains isolated from these outbreaks are uniformly atypical serovar 1 isolates lacking both flagellar motility and secreted lipase activity. These variants have been classified as Y. ruckeri biotype 2 (BT2) and are believed to have a reduced sensitivity to immersion vaccination (2). The objective of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the emergence of BT2 Y. ruckeri by identifying genetic elements necessary for expression of the Y. ruckeri flagellum and determining the role that the flagellum plays in virulence by using a rainbow trout infection model.     

在胡杨NHX基因内发现细菌转座子IS10-L的存在

采用RT-PCR扩增的方法,从新疆不同地区的野生植物胡杨中分别克隆获得lkb和2．3kb的cDNA片段,测序和序列分析表明这两个基因片段均包含NHX基因的部分读码框架,分别命名为PtNHX和PwNHX。PtNHX序列同源性分析结果显示胡杨NHX基因与滨藜NHX基因同源性高达98％,与碱蓬同源性达到86%,与拟南芥同源性为84％,与水稻同源性为80％,表明它是植物中高度保守的一种基因,同时说明野生植物胡杨中也存在与拟南芥相似的植物耐盐相关基因。PwNHX序列分析表明,该基因内部含有一种转座酶的读码框,大小约1350bp,与已发表的Shigella flexneri．转座子Th10基因序列(AF162223)同源性为99％。NHX基因的蛋白产物在植物的耐盐性方面起着重要的作用。推测PwNHX。由于插入转座酶读码框可能会导致该基因的功能丧失。胡杨生存于盐碱地,其体内可能存在另一些机制使胡杨具有抗盐碱的能力。对于这些机制的研究可能有助于进一步了解植物的抗盐机制。利用PwNHX基因内的转座子作基因标签,可进一步研究胡杨的其它基因,从而有可能揭示胡杨叶子发育的变态过程、耐盐碱等性状．     

Transposon Tn951 (TnLac) is defective and related to Tn3

Summary Tn951 is flanked by two perfect inverted repeats of 41 bp which include the 38 bp sequence of the IR of Tn3. Tn951 also contains the last 100 bp of the tnpA gene but with at least two mutations. However, beyond nucleotide 137 the sequences diverge and hybridization experiments show that Tn951 lacks at least the first two thirds of the tnpA gene.In agreement with these observations Tn951 does not transpose by itself at a detectable frequency but can be complemented by the tnpA gene of Tn801 or Tn3. Tn501, Tn1721 and gamma delta do not complement Tn951 transposition.Transposition of Tn951 duplicates 5 bp of target DNA sequence.     

插入诱变在拟南芥基因克隆中的应用

随着各种基因克隆方法的建立 ,克隆的拟南芥基因越来越多 ,其中转座子标签和T DNA插入诱变克隆的拟南芥基因的数目最多 ,插入诱变已成为克隆和鉴定很多重要植物基因的方法。     

Transposon Tn10: genetic organization, regulation, and insertion specificity

Transposon Tn10 is a composite element in which two individual insertion sequence (IS)-like sequences cooperate to mediate transposition of the intervening material. The two flanking IS10 elements are not identical; IS10-right is responsible for functions required to promote transposition, and IS10-left is defective in transposition functions. We suggest that the two IS10 elements were originally identical in sequence and have subsequently diverged. IS10-right is compactly organized with structural gene(s), promoters, and sites important for transposition and (presumably) its regulation all closely linked and, in some cases, overlapping. IS10 has a single major coding region that almost certainly encodes an essential transposition function. A pair of opposing promoters flank the start of this coding region. One of these promoters is responsible for expression in vivo of transposon-encoded transposition functions. We propose that the second promoter is involved in modulation of Tn10 transposition. Genetic analysis suggests that transposon-encoded function(s) may be preferentially cis-acting. Insertion of Tn10 into particular preferred target sites is due primarily to the occurrence of a particular six-base pair target DNA sequence. The properties of this sequence suggest that symmetrically disposed subunits of a single protein may be responsible for both recognition and cleavage of target DNA during insertion.     

荧光假单胞菌Tn5转座诱变及对青枯病生防特性

目的：利用Tn5转座诱变荧光假单胞菌PF20001,研究所获得的突变株对青枯病的生防效果。方法：利用三亲本杂交方式,将带有转座子Tn5的Tn5-102（含luxAB）的质粒pTR102成功地转入PF20001,利用平板相互拮抗法分析突变株对青枯病致病菌的拮抗作用。结果：通过诱导Tn5转座,得到荧光假单胞菌PF20001的Tn5插入突变库。经平板相互拮抗实验发现,菌株PF20001-lux-48拮抗圈明显大于野生型（半径达0.35cm）。用Tn5-lux特异引物进行PCR扩增,结果显示只有以该突变株的DNA为模板才能得到300bp的扩增产物,证实该菌株基因组中有Tn5插入。结论：Tn5的插入使菌株PF20001对青枯病生物防治能力增强。     

Characteristics of Transposon Insertion Mutants of Mandelic Acid-utilizing Pseudomonas putida Strain A10L

A soil isolate, Pseudomonas putida strain A10L that utilizes mandelate via the mandelate pathway was mutagenized by transposon Tn5-Mob insertion and a mutant 168 lacking mandelate racemase (MR) and a mutant 254 lacking benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFDC) were obtained. Expression of (S)-mandelate dehydrogenase (MDH), BFDC, NAD⁺ -dependent benzaldehyde dehydrogenase (BDH) and NADP⁺ -dependent BDH in the MR-lacking mutant was not affected by the insertion, and it was inducible similarly to the wild type strain. On the other hand, expression of MR and MDH in the BFDC-lacking mutant was low and constitutive, and NAD⁺ - and NADP⁺ -dependent BDHs were produced at a rather high level under non-induced conditions by the mutant. Genes for MR (mdlA), MDH (mdlB), and BFDC (mdlC) were indicated to be organized in an operon in the order of mdlCBA. Optical resolution to obtain (R)-mandelate, a useful synthon for pharmaceuticals, was shown to be performed with the MR-lacking mutant.