Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the Enterobacter aerogenes signal peptidase II (lsp) gene.

In Escherichia coli, prolipoprotein signal peptidase is encoded by the lsp gene, which is organized into an operon consisting of ileS, lsp, and three open reading frames, designated genes x, orf-149, and orf-316. The Enterobacter aerogenes lsp gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The nucleotide sequence of the Enterobacter aerogenes lsp gene and a part of its flanking sequences were determined. A high degree of homology was found between the E. coli ileS-lsp operon and the corresponding genes in Enterobacter aerogenes. Furthermore, the same five genes which constitute an operon in E. coli were found in Enterobacter aerogenes in the same order.     

Characterization of the molybdate transport system ModABC of Staphylococcus carnosus

Transposon mutagenesis of Staphylococcus carnosus led to the identification of three genes, modABC, which encode an ABC transporter that is involved in molybdate transport. It was shown by [¹⁴C]palmitate labeling that ModA represents a lipoprotein that in gram-positive bacteria is the counterpart of the periplasmic binding proteins of gram-negative organisms. The sequence characteristics identify ModB as the integral-membrane, channel-forming protein and ModC as the ATP-binding energizer for the transport system. Mutants defective in modABC had only 0.4% of the wild-type nitrate reductase activity. Molybdate at a non-physiologically high concentration (100 μM) fully restored nitrate reductase activity, suggesting that at least one other system is able to transport molybdate, but with lower affinity. The expression of modA (and most likely of modBC) was independent of oxygen and nitrate. To date, there are no indications for molybdate-specific regulation of modABC expression since in a modB mutant, modA expression was unchanged in comparison to the wild-type. Received: 5 February 1999 / Accepted: 31 May 1999     

Cloning and sequence analysis of a signal peptidase I from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum

Type I signal peptidases are a widespread family of enzymes which remove the presequences from proteins translocated across cell membranes, including thylakoid and cytoplasmic membranes of cyanobacteria and thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. We have cloned and sequenced a signal peptidase gene from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum which is believed to encode an enzyme common to both membrane systems. The deduced amino acid sequence is 203 residues long and although the overall similarity among signal peptidases is rather low there are a number of identifiable conserved regions present. The P. laminosum enzyme is predicted to have a single transmembrane domain, in contrast to other Gram-negative bacterial sequences, but similar to other type I signal peptidases.     

Nucleotide sequence of the Pseudomonas fluorescens signal peptidase II gene (lsp) and flanking genes.

The lsp gene encoding prolipoprotein signal peptidase (signal peptidase II) is organized into an operon consisting of ileS and three open reading frames, designated genes x, orf149, and orf316 in both Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. A plasmid, pBROC128, containing a 5.8-kb fragment of Pseudomonas fluorescens DNA was found to confer pseudomonic acid resistance on E. coli host cells and to contain the structural gene of ileS from P. fluorescens. In addition, E. coli strains carrying pBROC128 exhibited increased globomycin resistance. This indicated that the P. fluorescens lsp gene was present on the plasmid. The nucleotide sequences of the P. fluorescens lsp gene and of its flanking regions were determined. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the lsp genes in E. coli and P. fluorescens revealed two highly conserved domains in this enzyme. Furthermore, the five genes which constitute an operon in E. coli and Enterobacter aerogenes were found in P. fluorescens in the same order as in the first two species.     

Using fusions with luxAB from Vibrio harveyi MAV to quantify induction and catabolite repression of the xyl operon in Staphylococcus carnosus TM300

Abstract The luxA,B genes from the Gram-negative marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi MAV were used in Staphylococcus carnosus TM300 as a reporter system for regulated expression of xylose utilization. The luciferase genes were fused to the xyl operon from Staphylococcus xylosus C2a. Expression of bioluminescence was induced through addition of xylose and repressed in the presence of glucose. A method to quantitate bioluminescence directly from the culture is described.     

Control of the bifunctional O2-sensor kinase NreB of Staphylococcus carnosus by the nitrate sensor NreA: Switching from kinase to phosphatase state

The NreB–NreC two-component system of Staphylococcus carnosus for O₂ sensing cooperates with the accessory nitrate sensor NreA in the NreA–NreB–NreC system for coordinated sensing and regulation of nitrate respiration by O₂ and nitrate. ApoNreA (NreA in the absence of nitrate) interacts with NreB and inhibits NreB autophosphorylation (and activation). NreB contains the phosphatase motif DxxxQ. The present study shows that NreB on its own was inactive for the dephosphorylation of the phosphorylated response regulator NreC (NreC-P), but co-incubation with NreB and NreA stimulated NreC-P dephosphorylation. Either the presence of instead of apoNreA or mutation of the phosphatase motif (D160 or Q164) of NreB abrogated phosphatase activity of NreB. Phosphatase activity was observed for anoxic (active) NreB as well as oxic NreB, therefore the functional state of NreB is not relevant for phosphatase activity. Thus, NreB is a bifunctional sensor kinase with an integral cryptic phosphatase activity. Activation of phosphatase activity and dephosphorylation of NreC-P requires NreA as a cofactor. Accordingly, NreA and nitrate have major and dual roles in NreA–NreB–NreC regulation by (i) inhibiting NreB phosphorylation and (ii) triggering a kinase/phosphatase switch of NreB when present as apoNreA.     

Cloning and overexpression of a thermostable signal peptide peptidase (SppA) from Thermoplasma volcanium GSS1 in E. coli

In this study, a gene coding for thermophilic serine protease of the ClpP class from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Thermoplasma volcanium (Tpv) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The primary sequence and domain analysis of this enzyme showed similarities (50–60% similarity) to signal peptide peptidases (SppA) of bacteria and other archaea. An increase of about tenfold in the activity was achieved by overexpression of Tpv SppA in E. coli, as detected by enzyme assays conducted using Ala-Ala-Phe-pNa and N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA as substrates. The recombinant enzyme, purified using an anion exchange column chromatography, displayed an apparent molecular mass of 26 kDa on SDS-PAGE analysis. Purified Tpv SppA was active in a broad range of pH and temperature with maximal activity at 60°C and between pH 7.5 and pH 8.0. The activity of the enzyme was strongly inhibited by inhibitors typical for serine proteases, i.e., chymostatin and PMSF. The activity of the Tpv SppA and the stability at high temperature were significantly enhanced in the presence of 5 mM Ca²⁺ ions. Our multiple sequence alignment data revealed a conserved Ser/Lys catalytic dyad in Tpv SppA that comprised Ser76 (nucleophile) and Lys128 (general base) residues. A search for a transmembrane domain using automated programs did not predict any signal peptide associated with the Tpv SppA and, therefore, suggested a cytoplasmic location for this enzyme.     

Cloning and expression of a gene coding for the prolipoprotein signal peptidase of Escherichia coli

An Escherichia coli mutant, Y815, has a temperature-sensitive prolipoprotein signal peptidase. IPTG-induced synthesis of the major outer membrane prolipoprotein (PLP) results in the inhibition of cell growth because of accumulation of PLP in its envelope [J. Bacteriol. (1982) 152, 1163-1168]. The 2000 E. coli strains of Clarke and Carbon's collection were screened for the presence of a plasmid complementing the IPTG-sensitivity of the growth of Y815. One plasmid, pLC3-13, complemented the IPTG-sensitivity. The envelope fraction prepared from Y815 transformed by pLC3-13 showed high activity of the PLP signal peptidase in vitro at high temperature. A 4 kb AccI fragment subcloned onto plasmid pHY001 was shown to carry the gene for the PLP signal peptidase.     

重组金黄色葡萄球菌次黄嘌呤单核苷酸脱氢酶与脂蛋白(a)的相互作用

次黄嘌呤单核苷酸脱氢酶(IMPDH)是金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)表面的纤溶酶原(Plg)受体之一,它可以通过赖氨酸结合位点(LBS)与Plg相结合。脂蛋白(a)[Lp(a)]中的载脂蛋白(a)[Apo(a)]与Plg有很高的同源性,即两者的Kringle结构域都含有LBS,其中Apo(a)的KIV10含有强的LBS。因此本实验提出了Lp(a)应该能够与S.aureus表面的Plg受体相结合,进而可能竞争性抑制S.aureus与Plg结合的假说。本研究克隆了S.aureus的IMPDH基因,酶切后将其连接到表达载体pASK-IBA37中,并在大肠杆菌BL21中表达了该重组蛋白(rIMPDH)。通过酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)、亲和色谱层析及Western blot对rIMPDH与Lp(a)的相互作用机制进行了研究。结果表明rIMPDH可以通过LBS与Lp(a)和rKIV10发生特异性结合,而且一定浓度的赖氨酸类似物6-氨基己酸(EACA)可以抑制这种结合,然而本研究并未发现Lp(a)和rKIV10对rIMPDH与Plg的相互作用有明显的抑制。     

Cloning and sequencing of a plasmid-mediated erythromycin resistance determinant from Staphylococcus xylosus

A 2.3-kb DNA fragment cloned from plasmid pCH200, the largest (52 kb) of four plasmids detected in Staphylococcus xylosus, was found to confer resistance to 14-membered ring macrolides in Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. DNA-sequence analysis of the fragment revealed the presence of an open-reading frame, the deduced product of which was identical to one of the two ATP-binding domains encoded by the macrolide/streptogramin-B-resistance gene msrA of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The observation that a polypeptide homologous to the C-terminus of MsrA is capable of mediating erythromycin resistance in the absence of the N-terminal region is of significance both to the evolution and functional activity of members of the ATP-binding transport super-gene family.     

Coexpression of the type I signal peptidase gene sipM increases recombinant protein production and export in Bacillus megaterium MS941

The removal of the signal peptide from a precursor protein is a crucial step of protein secretion. In order to improve Bacillus megaterium as protein production and secretion host, the influence of homologous type I signal peptidase SipM overproduction on recombinant Leuconostoc mesenteroides dextransucrase DsrS synthesis and export was investigated. The dsrS gene was integrated as a single copy into the chromosomal bgaM locus encoding beta-galactosidase. Desired clones were identified by blue-white selection. In this strain, the expression of sipM from a multicopy plasmid using its own promoter increased the amount of secreted DsrS 3.7-fold. This increase in protein secretion by SipM overproduction was next transferred to a high level DsrS production strain using a multicopy plasmid encoding sipM with its natural promoter and dsrS under control of a strong xylose-inducible promoter. No further increase in DsrS export were observed when this vector was carrying two sipM copies. Similarly, bicistronic sipM and dsrS high level expression did not enhance DsrS secretion, indicating the natural limitation of the approach. Interestingly, SipM-enhanced DsrS secretion also resulted in an overall increase of DsrS production.     

Analysis of the functions of the signal peptidase complex in the midgut of Tribolium castaneum

Signal peptidase complexes (SPCs) are conserved from bacteria to human beings, and are typically composed of four to five subunits. There are four genes encoding SPC proteins in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. To understand their importance to insect development, double‐stranded RNA for each SPC gene was injected into red flour beetles at the early larval and adult stages. Knockdown of all four signal peptidase genes was lethal to larvae. Moreover, larvae had difficulty with old cuticle ecdysis. Knockdown of TcSPC12 alone did not affect pupal or adult development. When TcSPC12, TcSPC18, and TcSPC25 were knocked down in larvae, the melanization of hemocytes and midguts was observed. When knocked down in larvae and adults, TcSPC18 induced severe cell apoptosis in midguts, and the adult midgut lost the ability to maintain crypts after knockdown of TcSPC18, indicating its importance to midgut cell proliferation and differentiation. Knockdown of TcSPC22 or TcSPC25 also resulted in many apoptotic cells in the midguts. However, TcSPC12 appeared to be unimportant for midgut development. We conclude that TcSPC18 is essential for maintaining the adult midgut crypts.     

Non-contiguous finished genome sequence of Staphylococcus capitis CR01 (pulsetype NRCS-A)

Staphylococcus capitis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) commonly found in the human microflora. Recently, a clonal population of Staphylococcus capitis (denominated NRCS-A) was found to be a major cause of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in several neonatal intensive care units in France. Here, we report the complete genome sequence and annotation of the prototype Staphylococcus capitis NCRS-A strain CR01. The 2,504,472 bp long genome (1 chromosome and no plasmids) exhibits a G+C content of 32.81%, and contains 2,468 protein-coding and 59 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes.     

耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌染色体盒的研究进展

耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）的产生是由甲氧西林敏感的金黄色葡萄球菌（MSSA）获得外源性的SCCmec所致。MRSA菌株可以产生一种新的青霉素结合蛋白PBP2a,PBP2a降低了与β-内酰胺类抗生素的亲合力,从而对β-内酰胺类抗生素产生耐药性。PBP2a由mecA基因编码,mecA基因存在于葡萄球菌盒式染色体（Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec,SCCmec）中,SCCmec是一种可移动的遗传元件,该元件还携带除mecA基因外的其他抗菌药物的耐药基因,造成多重耐药（Multidrug-resistance,MDR）。SCCmec目前主要分为8型,其中又分为若干亚型。SCCmec的基因型与MRSA的流行背景有关,不同地区的SCCmec基因分型分布可能不同。     

Transposition of IS1181 in the genomes of Staphylococcus and Listeria

The recombinant plasmid pIP1713 was constructed to analyse the transpositional activity of the insertion sequence IS1181 in Staphylococcus aureus RN4220, Staphylococcus carnosus TM300 and Listeria monocytogenes EGD. This 11.3-kb plasmid contains two genetically different elements: (i) a pE194ts-derived replicon, the ermC gene of which confers resistance to erythromycin in Gram-positive bacteria of several species, and (ii) a copy of IS1181, cloned from S. aureus BM3121, in which the tetracycline resistance gene, tet(T), has been inserted between the transposase-encoded gene and the downstream inverted repeat. When introduced by electroporation into the three bacterial hosts, pIP1713 delivered IS1181Ωtet(T) to various chromosomal sites. Cointegrate structures between pIP1713 and the host chromosome were occasionally detected. Transposition was associated with 8-bp repeats at the insertion sites. IS1181Ωtet(T) could be used for random mutagenesis in Gram-positive bacteria.     

酒类酒球菌苹果酸-乳酸酶基因的克隆

利用PCR方法从酒类酒球菌(Oenococcus oeni)基因组中扩增出651 bp的DNA片段,将之克隆到pUC19-T载体上并转化大肠杆菌(E.coli)JM109菌株.重组质粒的测序结果表明,克隆到了苹果酸-乳酸酶基因(mle),它含有527 bp的阅读框架,其核苷酸序列与文献报道相同.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the mono- and diacylglycerol lipase gene (mdlB) of Aspergillus oryzae

Abstract Aspergillus oryzae IFO4202 produces at least two extracellular lipolytic enzymes L1 and L2 (cutinase, and mono- and diacylglycerol lipase, respectively). Southern hybridization of restriction enzyme-digested genomic DNA fragments with 23mer oligonucleotides synthesized according to the amino acid sequence of the L2 as probe suggested the presence of the L2 gene (tentatively designated as mdlB ) and an additional weakly hybridizing region. A fragment containing the genomic mdlB gene was cloned in Escherichia coli . Nucleotide sequencing of the fragment revealed an open reading frame, comprising 1021 nucleotides, which contains two introns (51 and 52 nucleotides). Putative polyadenylation signals were found 182 and 287 bp downstream of the stop codon. The deduced amino acid sequence of the mdlB gene corresponds to 306 amino acid residues including a leader sequence of 28 amino acids and is highly similar to that of the mdlA gene of Penicillium camembertii . Three residues presumed to form the catalytic triad (serine, aspartic acid and histidine) of lipases were also conserved.