Kinetics of loss of a recombinant plasmid in Bacillus subtilis

Recombinant plasmid pCEDS is structurally unstable in Bacillus subtilis cultures. We have previously shown that stability can be independently increased by changing from a complex medium supporting high growth rates to a chemically-defined medium supporting a lower growth rate and removal of a 4.77-kb EcoRI fragment from pCED3 to give plasmid YS1. Further stabilization was achieved by combining the two approaches. In the present work, we show that the stabilization of the plasmid-encoded LacZ(+) phenotype can be explained solely by the effect on the growth rate ratio between cells containing modified and parental plasmids. By using modified stability experiments (where a single cell rather than a suspended colony was used to initiate growth), independent growth rate measurements, and a simple mathematical model, we can describe the kinetics of the loss of the LacZ(+) phenotype in terms of two variables, alpha and p (where alpha is the ratio of growth rates between modified and parental cells, and p is the probability of obtaining modified cells from parental cells). Under the conditions tested, the average values of alpha were 1.52 for cultures growing in complex medium, 1.28 for cultures growing in defined medium, and 1.18 for cultures containing the modified plasmid pYS1 growing in complex medium. The calculated p values ranged between 10(-8) and 10(-10) under all conditions. Plasmid (pYS137) was used to directly estimate plasmid deletion rates in B. subtilis and it showed a rate between 5 x 10(-8) and 1.1 x 10(-9) deletions/cell/generation. In contrast to B. subtilis, there were no detectable differences in growth rates between Escherichia coli strains harboring plasmid pCEDS and plasmid-free cells. These results explain the observed stability of pCEDS in E. coli cultures and indicate that readily detected instability in B. subtilis cultures can be the result of rare deletion events.     

Nucleotide sequence homology of the tetracycline-resistance determinant naturally maintained in Bacillus subtilis Marburg 168 chromosome and the tetracycline-resistance gene of B. subtilis plasmid pNS1981

The nucleotide sequence (1579 bp) of tetracycline-resistance determinant and flanking regions of the cloned 5.1 kb DNA fragment from Bacillus subtilis GSY908 chromosome (Sakaguchi, R. and Shishido, K. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 949, 49-57) were determined and compared with those of the B. subtilis tetracycline-resistance plasmid pNS1981. The tetracycline-resistance structural (tet) genes of the B. subtilis GSY908 chromosome (tetBS908) and pNS1981 (tetpNS1981) were found to be highly homologous (80% identical). Both tet genes were composed of 1374 bp and 458 amino-acid residues initiating from a GTG codon preceded by a ribosome-binding site (RBS-2). Upstream from tetBS908 there exists a short open reading frame (20 amino acids) initiating from a ATG codon preceded by its own RBS (RBS-1). This leader sequence was also highly homologous to that of tetpNS1981 except for a deletion of one bp between the RBS-1 and the ATG codon.     

Illegitimate recombination in Bacillus subtilis: nucleotide sequences at recombinant DNA junctions

Summary The illegitimate integration of plasmid pGG20 (the hybrid between Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pE194 and Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322) into the Bacillus subtilis chromosome was studied. It was found that nucleotide sequences of both parental plasmids could be involved in this process. The recombinant DNA junctions between plasmid pGG20 and the chromosome were cloned and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The site of recombination located on the pBR322 moiety carried a short region (8 bp) homologous with the site on the chromosome. The nucleotide sequences of the pE194 recombination sites did not share homology with chromosomal sequences involved in the integration process. Two different pathways of illegitimate recombination in B. subtilis are suggested.     

Exceptionally high copy numbers of a staphylococcal plasmid in Bacillus subtilis revealed by a sandwich hybridization technique

Abstract The copy number of a pUB110 derivative, pKTH10, containing the α-amylase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , was determined, using an assay based on a sandwich hybridization technique. In this method, a known gene on the plasmid is hybridized between two non-overlapping fragments of that same gene, cloned into separate vectors. One fragment is used as a radiolabelled probe and the other bound to a filter, forming a three-component, 'sandwich' hybrid when the relevant gene is present in the sample. Since the hybridization can only take place in the presence of the relevant gene, the amount of radioactivity binding to the filters will be proportional to the concentration of this gene in the sample. We utilized the α-amylase gene on the plasmid to form the sandwich hybrid. The copy number was of a totally different magnitude from what has previously been reported, and ranged from 2500 copies/viable cell in early logrithimic growth phase to about 500 in late stationary phase.     

游动双孢菌线型质粒pPR2的全序列测定及分析

[目的]获得游动双孢菌线型质粒pPR2的全序列,并揭示新型的端粒复制蛋白和可能的中间复制位点.[方法]用分段克隆的方法和序列拼接获得pPR2的全序列,利用软件分析端粒DNA的二级结构和可能的端粒复制蛋白,利用链霉菌原生质体转化的方法检测可能的中间复制的位点.[结果]pPR2全长为15520 bp,(G C)含量为68.1%.其端粒末端反向重复序列的长度为329 bp,不能像多数链霉菌的线型质粒那样能形成保守的"折返"的二级结构.pPR2虽然没有参与链霉菌端粒复制的保守的tap/tpg基因,但是pPR2.3c基因编码了一个双结构域蛋白,分别同链霉菌的端粒复制相关蛋白Tap和嗜血杆菌的解旋酶具有相似性.pPR2缺少典型的链霉菌重复序列-复制基因(iteron-rep)区段,将几乎覆盖全长pPR2的两段DNA进行克隆后,不能转化变铅青链霉菌.此外,pPR2基因还编码可能参与线型DNA复制的调控的单链结合蛋白(SSB)和与放线菌质粒接合转移相关的主要蛋白(Tva).[结论]pPR2是链霉菌之外的放线菌中最小的线型质粒,其序列在游动双孢菌属的线型质粒中是首次报道.pPR2可能具有新型的端粒复制的机制,其中pPR2.2c和pPR2.3c编码可能的端粒复制蛋白.     

Characterization of a small cryptic plasmid isolated from a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus

The nucleotide sequence of a small (1613 bp) plasmid, pOX2000, isolated from a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus has been determined. The sequence contains only one large ORF and the predicted amino acid sequence shows homology to the REP proteins of some other small staphylococcal plasmids. In addition there are two palindromic sequences, palA and palJ, that are similar to but not identical with the palindromes known from other staphylococcal plasmids to be involved in lagging strand initiation and possibly leading strand termination, respectively. Preliminary functional analysis of pOX2000 has been carried out by assessing the effect of interrupting the sequence at three unique restriction endonuclease sites. The plasmid pOX2000, and its relationship to other small staphylococcal plasmids, is discussed.     

Improvements in the transformation of Bacillus subtilis protoplasts with plasmid DNA

Abstract The transformation system currently used for Bacillus subtilis protoplasts has been improved. Special emphasis was made on three parameters of practical importance:
(a) conditions for direct selection of transformants, (b) optimization of the transformation system for Rec⁻ mutants, and (c) conservation of protoplast suspensions for further use.
Selective regeneration was efficiently achieved for kanamycin or neomycin. Chloramphenicol, tetracycline and erythromycin were only expressed when low concentrations of the antibiotics were used to select transformants during regeneration.     

Bacillus subtilis NX-2聚谷氨酸合成酶基因pgsBCA的克隆及生物信息学分析

克隆Bacillus subtilis NX-2中的聚谷氨酸合成酶基因pgsBCA并进行测序。应用生物信息学分析方法和工具对PgsB、PgsC、PgsA蛋白质的理化性质、跨膜区域、信号肽、细胞定位等进行分析和预测,并探讨它们的作用方式。结果表明:PgsB蛋白不含有跨膜区,它与ATP结合并催化ATP的水解,为PGA合成提供能量;PgsC蛋白保守性最高,其含有4个跨膜区域,是疏水性膜结合蛋白;PgsA为亲水性稳定蛋白,在N端存在1个跨膜区域。     

Regulation of tetracycline accumulation in Bacillus subtilis bearing B. subtilis plasmid pNS1981

Abstract Accumulation of tetracycline (Tc) into Bacillus subtilis was studied by two methods, one involving a fluorescence assay and the other an absolute determination of accumulated drug. B. subtilis GSY908 harboring B. subtilis plasmid pNS1981 and the plasmidless host strain accumulated equivalent amounts of Tc. Prior exposure of the plasmid-harboring cells to subinhibitory concentration of Tc resulted in marked decrease in accumulation of the drug, indicating that pNS1981-determined Tc resistance is inducible. Of interest was the fact that the amount of Tc accumulated by the Tc-induced plasmid-harboring cells is increased somewhat by the addition of carboxylcyanide- m -chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), an uncoupling reagent. This seems to show that energy-dependent accelerated Tc efflux is involved in decreased Tc accumulation.     

A multimer resolution system contributes to segregational stability of the prototypical staphylococcal conjugative multiresistance plasmid pSK41

The 46-kb plasmid pSK41 is the prototype of a family of staphylococcal conjugative multiresistance plasmids. Sequence analyses have revealed the presence of a putative resolvase gene, res, on pSK41, and identical or related genes carried by other staphylococcal multiresistance plasmids. Carriage of the res region was found to ameliorate the accumulation of multimeric plasmid forms, and recombinant plasmids encoding a wild-type res gene exhibited greater plasmid segregational stability than counterparts carrying a nonfunctional mutant, irrespective of whether the cognate or a heterologous replication system and host was utilized. In vitro DNA-binding studies demonstrated that purified Res protein binds within the intergenic region upstream of the res coding sequence. Six copies of an imperfect 11-bp repeat sequence were identified within DNA sequences protected by Res in DNAseI footprinting studies, in an arrangement that suggests a typical resolution site organization consisting of three subsites.     

Nucleotide sequence homology of the tetracycline-resistance determinant naturally maintained in Bacillus subtilis Marburg 168 chromosome and the tetracycline-resistance gene of B. subtilis plasmid pNS1981

The nucleotide sequence (1579 bp) of tetracycline-resistance determinant and flanking regions of the cloned 5.1 kb DNA fragment from Bacillus subtilis GSY908 chromosome (Sakaguchi, R. and Shishido, K. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 949, 49–57) were determined and compared with those of the B. subtilis tetracycline-resistance plasmid pNS1981. The tetracycline-resistance structural (tet) genes of the B. subtilis GSY908 chromosome (tet BS908) and pNS1981 (tet pNS1981) were found to be highly homologous (80% identical). Both tet genes were composed of 1374 bp and 458 amino-acid residues initiating from a GTG codon preceded by a ribosome-binding site (RBS-2). Upstream from tet BS908 there exists a short open reading frame (20 amino acids) initiating from a ATG codon preceded by its own RBS (RBS-1). This leader sequence was also highly homologous to that of tet pNS1981 except for a deletion of one bp between the RBS-1 and the ATG codon.     

The first high frequency of recombination-like conjugal transfer from an integrated origin of transfer sequence in Bacillus subtilis 168

Bacillus subtilis 168 was developed as a genome vector to manipulate large DNA fragments. The system is based on the inherent natural transformation (TF) activity. However, DNA size transferred by TF is limited up to approximately 100 kb. A conjugal transfer system capable of transferring DNA fragments considerably larger than those transferred by TF was developed. A well-defined oriT¹¹⁰ sequence and a cognate relaxase gene from the pUB110 plasmid were inserted into the xkdE gene of the B. subtilis genome. Transfer of antibiotic resistance markers distant from the oriT¹¹⁰ locus to the recipient B. subtilis occurred only in the presence of pLS20, a helper plasmid that provides a type IV secretion system. Marker transmission was consistent with the orientation of oriT¹¹⁰ and required a recA-proficient recipient. The first conjugal transfer system of genomic DNA should provide a valuable alternative genetic tool for editing the B. subtilis genome.     

脂肪酶基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中的表达及表达产物性质的研究

从环境中筛选到了脂肪酶高产菌株金黄色葡萄球菌JH,依据NCBI上发表的原核微生物脂肪酶基因序列的多序列比对,发现它具有很强的序列保守性。利用PCR从金黄色葡萄球菌JH基因组中扩增得到了脂肪酶基因,利用基因重组技术将其整合到质粒pC194中,并导入到枯草芽孢杆菌中进行表达。应用选择抗药性筛选重组子,利用硫酸铵沉淀法和离子交换层析分离纯化重组脂肪酶,并用DS-PAGE进行纯度鉴定,确定其相对分子量约为32000Da。通过对其酶学特性的研究发现,重组脂肪酶在反应温度为41℃, pH为8.0时具有最大活性,其Km和Vm各自为0.34mM和308μmol•mg-1min-1,Ca2+、K+、Mg2+能激活这种酶的活性鳩e2+、Cu2+、Co2+则抑制它的活性。     

Enrichment of plasmid DNA in cell membranes of Bacillus subtilis

Abstract The discrepancy between previously reported copy numbers for the plasmid pUB110 in Bacillus subtilis and the copy number determined by nucleic acid sandwich hybridization of a pUB110-derivative, pKTH10, was studied. The bulk of plasmid DNA was found to be enriched in the cell membranes in a non-covalently closed circular (ccc) form. The binding was strong enough to resist standard solubilization procedures. The conventional methods for copy number determination fail to detect plasmid DNA in this form, which explains the discrepancy we encountered. The copy number of the parental plasmid, pUB110, was also determined by the sandwich hybridization method and found to be of the same order of magnitude as that of pKTH10.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of pTZ12, a chloramphenicol-resistance plasmid of Bacillus subtilis

The complete nucleotide sequence of pTZ12, a chloramphenicol-resistance (CmR) plasmid (2517 bp) derived from Corynebacterium xerosis plasmid pTZ10, has been determined after propagation in Bacillus subtilis. The nucleotide sequence of pTZ12 suggests that a recombination event may have occurred naturally within the open reading frames for the Rep protein of pT181 (or a pT181-like plasmid) and pC221 (or a pC221-like plasmid).     

Characterization of a keratinolytic serine protease from Bacillus subtilis KS-1

A keratinolytic enzyme produced by Bacillus subtilis KS-1 isolated from poultry waste was purified and characterized using ultrfiltration, DEAE-Sephadex, and Sephadex G-100 chromatographies. The specific activity of the purified protease was 538.2 units/mg. The enzyme was shown to have a relative molecular mass of 25.4 kDa. The enzyme was made completely inactive by PMSF, which indicates a serine-protease. Dithiothreitol enhanced keratinolytic activity by 1.6 times at a concentration of 5.0 mM. These results suggest that the cleavage of the disulfide bonds with reducing agents can occur directly or by excretion of sulfite, which causes the sulfitolysis of the disulfide bonds. The first 10 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence are Ala-Gin-Pro-Val-Glu-Trp-Gly-Ile-Ser-Gln. The enzyme hydrolyzed casein and feather, but hydrolyzed casein more effectively than it did feather.     

Cry1Ac基因载体构建及其在枯草芽孢杆菌中的杀虫活性表达

根据苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis HD-73基因Cry1Ac和枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis木糖诱导型启动子PxylR序列, 分别设计2对特异引物Cry1Ac F/R和Pxy F/R,扩增获得了完整的启动子PxylR和Cry1Ac基因序列,进一步以上述产物混合物为模板,以Pxy F/Cry1Ac R作引物进行重迭PCR,获得了载体PxylR-Cry1Ac,经SphⅠ和BamHⅠ完全酶切后,将PxylR-Cry1Ac插入大肠杆菌-苏云金芽孢杆菌穿梭载体pHT315,重组表达质粒pCry1Ac315转化枯草芽孢杆菌感受态细胞。工程菌株质粒酶切电泳分析、SDS-PAGE电泳分析和杀虫生物活性测定结果证实了Cry1Ac基因的导入及其在枯草芽孢杆菌JAAS01D中的有效表达。