Two Modes of In Vivo Transcription for Genes 43 and 45 of Phage T4

Sensitivities of the expression of early genes of phage T4 to UV light were determined at various stages of intracellular development of T4 wild type, a DNA-negative mutant (T4 DO), and T4 tsG1, (a mutant that exhibits delayed expression of some T4 early genes). Whereas the sensitivities of some genes in the T4 wild type and T4 DO remain constant, genes 43 and 45 exhibit greatly reduced sensitivities several minutes after the onset of phage development. Since UV sensitivities are a measure of the distance of a gene from its promotor, these observations indicate a switch from distal, "immediate early" promotors to proximal, "delayed early" promotors for genes 43 and 45. In the tsG1 mutant this decrease in UV sensitivities of genes 43 and 45 does not occur at 42 C, suggesting that at high temperature this mutant does not utilize the delayed early promotors.     

The Riia Gene of Bacteriophage T4. II. Regulation of Its Messenger RNA Synthesis

When the rII genes are first introduced into cells which had been previously infected by T4 phage deleted for these genes, the kinetics of synthesis of rIIA and rIIB RNA are rapid and identical. We show that this rapid synthesis depends on a functional motA gene for rIIB, but not for rIIA, RNA synthesis. By primer-extension mapping of T4 messenger RNA, we find three promoters close to the rIIA gene. One of them is an early promoter just before the rIIA.1 gene; it is used under all conditions tested. Another is in the coding portion of the rIIA.1 gene; it is weak, primarily because of a 19-bp spacing between the -10 and -35 elements, and its use is stimulated by T4 functions. The third is a motA-dependent (middle) promoter which has an unusual CCCGCTT box at -33. We present results which suggest that none of these promoters is likely to be the site at which the motB and motC gene products exercise their major influence on rIIA RNA synthesis.     

RNA polymerase of a rifampicin-resistant mutant of Escherichia coli has an altered selectivity to phage T7 DNA promoters

The formation of complexes of RNA polymerases from E. coli W12 and its rpoB409 rifampicin resistant mutant with A1 and D promoters of T7 delta D111 DNA was studied by an abortive RNA synthesis technique. The mutation was shown to affect RNA synthesis initiation at these two promotors differentially so that the efficiency of D promotor utilization is enhanced but the use of A1 promotor is unchanged. The mutation does not interfere with the affinity of the enzyme for both initiating substrates. The results show that the change in RNA polymerase beta-subunit structure has a differential effect on the enzyme interaction with different promotors. The necessity of a classificatory approach to structure-functional analysis of promotors was proposed.     

Intracellular DNA-protein complexes from bacteriophage T4-infected cells isolated by a rapid two-step procedure. Characterization and identification of the protein components.

A simple technique has been developed for isolating intracellular DNA and its bound proteins from uninfected and phage-infected bacteria. This technique, which utilizes aqueous salt concentrations in the physiological range, is based upon the fact that DNA exists in normal cell lysates in a stiff random coil conformation, and has an unusually large excluded volume to mass ratio. Such stiff coils display a unique combination of low sedimentation coefficient and large Stokes radius, enabling them to be separated rapidly from all other cellular components by successive centrifugal and gel permeation steps. Analysis of this purified intracellular DNA fraction from bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli reveals mainly DNA and protein, with a small amount of RNA also present. Among the major proteins obtained are the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the host and the products of T4 genes rIIA, rIIB, and 32 (DNA-"unwinding" protein). Small amounts of the proteins coded by T4 genes 43 (DNA polymerase) and 42 (dCMP hydroxymethylase) have also been identified, in addition to at least 13 other phage-coded proteins of unidentified genes. Much of the phage-coded protein in the complex, including the gene 32 protein, does not exchange readily with the same protein exogenously added in the lysate.     

Analysis in vivo of translational mutants of the rIIB cistron of bacteriophage T4

We have mapped the mutants isolated by Nelson et al. (1981) that reduce the amount of rIIB protein synthesized during bacteriophage T4 infection of Escherichia coli B and characterized their rIIB expression in vivo. These mutants fall into four distinct groups in terms of mapping and phenotype. We have located the probable site of each mutation on the DNA sequence. We have also analyzed a number of other mutations near the initiating AUG of rIIB with respect to their rIIB expression. In some of these mutants, ribosomal recognition of the wild-type initiating AUG is precluded and so initiation occurs at a different AUG, which, in some instances, we have identified.     

Effectiveness of expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene controlled by foreign regulator regions in Escherichia coli cells. II. Molecular cloning of promoters

The trpOP, lacUV5, tacOP, PR and PL-promotors were cloned in the previously obtained pML4 vector plasmid. The expression of structural gene cat was studied by the chloramphenicolacetyltransferase determination in cell extracts. The level of protein synthesis by appropriate recombinant plasmids was analysed in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that the efficiency of the gene expression is determined by both the "strength" of the promotors and mRNA translation specificity. The obtained collection of the plasmids might be used for the determination of the promotor strength by the hybridization of pulse-labeled mRNA with DNA and an effective expression of the genes by means of "hybrid protein gene" and "hybrid operon" constructions.     

鸟分枝杆菌PhoP功能分析及其基因突变株的构建

【目的】对鸟分枝杆菌PhoP的功能进行分析及构建PhoP基因突变株,为深入研究PhoP的调控机制打下基础。【方法】利用PCR扩增出鸟分枝杆菌PhoP DNA结合区(PhoPC)编码序列,与表达载体p GEX-4T-3连接后,转化入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达GST-PhoPC融合蛋白。用凝血酶去除GST标签,制备PhoPC蛋白;利用PCR扩增出鸟分枝杆菌PhoP基因及其下游基因MAV0127、PhoU和Amt的启动子片段,采用凝胶迁移率移动试验(EMSA)分别检测PhoPC与PhoP、MAV0127、PhoU和Amt的启动子结合的情况。通过PCR扩增PhoP基因上、下游片段,构建PhoP基因缺失性同源核苷酸片段,与自杀质粒p GMB151连接后,通过电转化导入鸟分枝杆菌进行同源交换,利用PCR筛选出PhoP基因缺失突变株。【结果】EMSA结果显示,鸟分枝杆菌PhoP能与PhoP、MAV0127及Amt基因启动子结合,不能与PhoU结合。通过PCR和序列分析证实基因突变株的PhoP基因缺失了309个碱基。【结论】PhoP不仅可调控其下游基因MAV0127和Amt的转录水平,还可调控其自身基因的转录,但不参与调节PhoU二元调控系统。构建了PhoP基因缺失突变株,为进一步研究其在鸟分枝杆菌的调控功能奠定了基础。