Secretion of Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase by mammalian cells

We show here that expression of the Escherichia coli cat gene in mammalian cells results in accumulation of enzymatically active CAT in the culture media as well as in the cytoplasm. We call the extracellular product secreted CAT (sCAT). Three to four days after introduction of cat-expressing plasmids into mouse L cells by transient transfection, total extracellular sCAT activity exceeds total cytoplasmic CAT activity. As sCAT levels increase, substantially more CAT is found outside the cells than inside at later times. Comparison of different populations of cat-expressing cells shows that, at any given time, the level of sCAT is proportional to the level of intracellular CAT. Thus, assay of sCAT provides a convenient, non-invasive alternative to assay of intracellular CAT. The molecular sizes of sCAT and intracellular CAT are indistinguishable, suggesting that the protein is not cleaved or glycosylated during secretion. Several observations, including a lack of sensitivity to drugs which inhibit Golgi activity, suggest that CAT may be secreted via an unusual pathway.     

Pseudosecretion of Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase by Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis harboring the vector 25RBSII secrets an Escherichia coli-derived chloramphenicol acetyltransferase into culture supernatants. The secreted enzyme lacks 18 amino acids; these are removed externally rather than during secretion.     

Molecular cloning of the ecotin gene in Escherichia coli

The nucleotide sequence of a 876 bp region in E. coli chromosome that encodes Ecotin was determined. The proposed coding sequence for Ecotin is 486 nucleotides long, which would encode a protein consisting of 162 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 18,192 Da. The deduced primary sequence of Ecotin includes a 20-residue signal sequence, cleavage of which would give rise to a mature protein with a molecular weight of 16,099 Da. Ecotin does not contain any consensus reactive site sequences of known serine protease inhibitor families, suggesting that Ecotin is a novel inhibitor.     

High pressure conditions stimulate expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase regulated by the lac promoter in Escherichia coli

Abstract Recombinant plasmids with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) structural gene behind several kinds of promoters were tested for expression in Escherichia coli during growth at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and at high pressure (30 MPa). Expression of the CAT gene from the lac promoter was remarkably activated (approx. 78-fold) by high pressure in the absence of the inducer isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The stimulation of the CAT activity by the lac promoter at high pressure did not simply result from an increased plasmid copy number, because the CAT activities from the other promoters and β-lactamase activities were unaffected at high pressure.     

Transient expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in cultured mosquito cells

A recombinant plasmid in which the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene is under the control of the Drosophila heat-shock protein (hsp) 70 promoter has been introduced into cultured mosquito (Aedes albopictus) cells using 1,5-dimethyl-1,5-diazaundecamethylene polymethobromide (polybrene) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). CAT activity was induced by incubating transfected cells at 37 degrees C, and high levels of enzyme activity were maintained for more than 24 h after the temperature shock. Transfected DNA was maintained in the cells for at least 4 days. These experiments document an effective method for introducing purified DNA into cultured mosquito cells.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the xylanase gene from Chainia in Escherichia coli

A complete genomic library of Chainia was constructed in coliphage lambda vector gt10 and was screened for the xylanase gene using an 18-mer mixed oligonucleotide probe corresponding to a six-amino acid sequence of low molecular mass Chainia xylanase. Inserts from 11 putative clones, showing hybridization with the oligonucleotide probe at medium stringency, were subcloned in pUC8 and screened for xylanase gene expression using anti-xylanase antibodies. The restriction map of the insert (1.4 kb) from one of the four immunopositive clones (PVX8) showing detectable xylanase activity was constructed. The xylanase activity of PVX8 was not induced by IPTG or xylan. Reorientation of the insert by directional cloning into pUC9 had no effect on the xylanase activity suggesting that an indigenous promoter from Chainia is responsible for the xylanase activity.     

Cloning of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene of Streptomyces acrimycini and its expression in Streptomyces and Escherichia coli

A gene (cat) for chloramphenicol (Cm) acetyltransferase (CAT) was cloned from Streptomyces acrimycini into S. lividans 66 on the plasmid vector pIJ61. The cat gene was localized on a 1.7-kb BclI fragment, which probably also carries the cat promoter. This DNA fragment conferred Cm resistance, through CAT activity, on S. lividans, S. coelicolor and S. parvulus, but not on Escherichia coli when inserted in the BamHI site of the tetracycline-resistance(TcR) gene of pBR322. However, when inserted in a particular orientation in this site, spontaneous deletions of 0.7 kb led to CAT activity and Cm resistance. DNA homologous to the 1.7-kb BclI cat fragment was found in most, but not all, of a series of other streptomycetes that have CAT activity. The cat provides a potentially useful screening marker for Streptomyces cloning vectors.     

Molecular cloning of the Escherichia coli B L-fucose-D-arabinose gene cluster.

To metabolize the uncommon pentose D-arabinose, enteric bacteria often recruit the enzymes of the L-fucose pathway by a regulatory mutation. However, Escherichia coli B can grow on D-arabinose without the requirement of a mutation, using some of the L-fucose enzymes and a D-ribulokinase that is distinct from the L-fuculokinase of the L-fucose pathway. To study this naturally occurring D-arabinose pathway, we cloned and partially characterized the E. coli B L-fucose-D-arabinose gene cluster and compared it with the L-fucose gene cluster of E. coli K-12. The order of the fucA, -P, -I, and -K genes was the same in the two E. coli strains. However, the E. coli B gene cluster contained a 5.2-kb segment located between the fucA and fucP genes that was not present in E. coli K-12. This segment carried the darK gene, which encodes the D-ribulokinase needed for growth on D-arabinose by E. coli B. The darK gene was not homologous with any of the L-fucose genes or with chromosomal DNA from other D-arabinose-utilizing bacteria. D-Ribulokinase and L-fuculokinase were purified to apparent homogeneity and partially characterized. The molecular weights, substrate specificities, and kinetic parameters of these two enzymes were very dissimilar, which together with DNA hybridization analysis, suggested that these enzymes are not related. D-Arabinose metabolism by E. coli B appears to be the result of acquisitive evolution, but the source of the darK gene has not been determined.     

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the Bacillus licheniformis bacitracin synthetase 2 gene.

The structural genes for the entire bacitracin synthetase 2 (component II) and for a part of the putative bacitracin synthetase 3 (component III) from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. A cosmid library of B. licheniformis DNA was constructed. The library was screened for the ability to produce bacitracin synthetase by in situ immunoassay using anti-bacitracin synthetase antiserum. A positive clone designated B-15, which has a recombinant plasmid carrying about a 32-kilobase insert of B. licheniformis DNA, was further characterized. Analysis of crude cell extract from B-15 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting (immunoblotting) showed that the extract contains two immunoreactant proteins with high molecular weight. One band with a molecular weight of about 240,000 comigrates with bacitracin synthetase 2; the other band is a protein with a molecular weight of about 300,000. Partial purification of the gene products encoded by the recombinant plasmid by gel filtration and hydroxyapatite column chromatography revealed that one gene product catalyzes L-lysine- and L-ornithine-dependent ATP-PPi exchange reactions which are characteristic of bacitracin synthetase 2, and the other product catalyzes L-isoleucine-, L-leucine, L-valine-, and L-histidine-dependent ATP-PPi exchange activities, suggesting the activities of a part of bacitracin synthetase 3. Subcloning experiments indicated that the structural gene for bacitracin synthetase 2 is located near the middle of the insert.     

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the recA gene of Legionella pneumophila

Interspecific complementation of an Escherichia coli recA mutant with a Legionella pneumophila genomic library was used to identify a recombinant plasmid encoding the L. pneumophila recA gene. Recombinant E. coli strains harbouring the L. pneumophila recA gene were isolated by replica-plating bacterial colonies on medium containing methyl methanesulphonate (MMS). MMS-resistant clones were identified as encoding the L. pneumophila recA analogue by their ability to protect E. coli HB101 from UV exposure and promote homologous recombination. Subcloning of selected restriction fragments and Tn5 mutagenesis localized the recA gene to a 1.7 kb Bg/II-EcoRI fragment. Analysis of minicell preparations harbouring a 1.9 kb EcoRI fragment containing the recA coding segment revealed a single 37.5 kDa protein. Insertional inactivation of the cloned recA gene by Tn5 resulted in the disappearance of the 37.5 kDa protein, concomitant with the loss of RecA function. The L. pneumophila recA gene product did not promote induction of a lambda lysogen; instead, the presence of the heterologous recA gene caused a significant reduction in spontaneous and mitomycin-C-induced prophage induction in recA+ and recA E. coli backgrounds. Despite the lack of significant genetic homology between the L. pneumophila recA gene and the E. coli counterpart, the L. pneumophila RecA protein was nearly identical to that of E. coli in molecular mass, and the two proteins showed antigenic cross-reactivity. Western blot analysis of UV-treated L. pneumophila revealed a significant increase in RecA antigen in irradiated versus control cells, suggesting that the L. pneumophila recA gene is regulated in a manner similar to that of E. coli recA.     

大鼠OB基因克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

采用ＲＴＰＣＲ技术扩增大鼠ＯＢｃＤＮＡ编码区序列。ＰＣＲ产物酶切后定向克隆至ｐＵＣ１９质粒。经核苷酸序列测定表明与文献报道的大鼠ＯＢｃＤＮＡ编码区序列一致。继之构建了ｐＢＶ２２０ｒＯＢ表达质粒并获得了ＯＢ基因在大肠杆菌中的特异表达。大鼠ＯＢ基因产物的获得为研究肥胖与某些非传染性疾病（如糖尿病、高血压病）间的关系提供了条件     

Molecular cloning and expression of a gene that controls the high-temperature regulon of Escherichia coli.

The high-temperature production (HTP) regulon of Escherichia coli consists of a set of operons that are induced coordinately by a shift to a high temperature under the control of a single chromosomal gene called htpR or hin. To identify more components of this regulon, the rates of synthesis of many polypeptides resolved on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels were measured in various strains by pulse-labeling after a temperature shift-up. A total of 13 polypeptides were found to be heat inducible only in cells bearing a normal htpR gene on the chromosome or on a plasmid; on this basis these polypeptides were designated products of the HTP regulon. Several hybrid plasmids that contain segments of the E. coli chromosome in the 75-min region were found to carry the htpR gene. A restriction map of this region was constructed, and selected fragments were subcloned and tested for the ability to complement an htpR mutant. The polypeptides encoded by these fragments were detected by permitting expression in maxicells, minicells, and chloramphenicol-treated cells. Complementation was accompanied by production of a polypeptide having a molecular weight of approximately 33,000. This polypeptide, designated F33.4, was markedly reduced in amount in an htpR mutant expected to contain very little htpR gene product. Polypeptide F33.4 is postulated to be the product of htpR and to be an effector that controls heat induction of the HTP regulon.     

Molecular cloning and expression of a xylanase gene from Cellulomonas sp. into Escherichia coli

Summary The xylanase gene of Cellulomonas sp. NCIM 2353 was cloned in pUC 18 and selected by growth on xylan as the sole carbon source. The functional clone harboured the recombinant plasmid with an insert of 1.42 kbp, as determined by restriction mapping and Southern hydridization. The clone secreted a xylanase of 45 000 mol. wt. as determined by Western blot analysis using specific antixylanase antibodies. The DNA insert carried the full structural gene along with its promoter and possibly regulatory sequences, since xylanase activity in the clone Cs11 was inducible by xylan. Offprint requests to: D. N. Deobagkar