Klebsiella pneumoniae nif-lac fusions are expressed in Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58

Summary Plasmids containing hybrid genes, in which different Klebsiella pneumoniae nif (nitrogen-fixation) promoters were fused with the structural part of the Escherichia coli lac operon, were introduced into a double auxotrophic derivative of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58. A study of their expression in the new host was made simple by the inherent inability of A. tumefaciens C58 to produce -galactosidase unless provided with the wild-type lac operon of E. coli. As shown by quantitative measurements of the enzyme, all K. pneumoniae promoters were expressed well in A. tumefaciens C58, even under conditions known to repress them. It also has been shown that the activity of K. pneumoniae nif A is essential for the expression of nifHDK even when introduced into A. tumefaciens. After entering the new host the plasmids, the nif genes and the fusion alleles contained in them, remained stable. Possible mechanisms responsible for the constitutive behaviour of nif promoters in A. tumefaciens are discussed.     

Cloning and characterisation of the recA gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58

Summary A gene library of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 has been constructed in the plasmid vector pACYC184. A recombinant plasmid was isolated from the library by interspecific complementation in E. coli, which contained the A. tumefaciens recA gene. Heterologous Southern blotting and DNA sequence analysis have demonstrated the existence of considerable homology between the recA genes of A. tumefaciens, E. coli and R. meliloti.Abbreviations MMS methyl methanesulfonate - UV ultraviolet light - bp base pairs - kbp kilo base pairs - dATP deoxyadenosine 5-triphosphate - dNTP deoxynucleoside triphosphate - Ap ampicillin - Cm chloramphenicol - Km kanamycin - Tet tetracycline     

35S-β-glucuronidase gene blocks biological effects of cotransferred iaa genes

The iaaM and iaaH genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes play an important role in crown gall and hairy root disease. The iaaM gene codes for tryptophan monooxygenase which converts tryptophan into indole-3-acetamide (IAM). IAM is converted into the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by indoleacetamide hydrolase, encoded by the iaaH gene. In functional studies on the activity of the iaa genes of the TB region of the A. tumefaciens biotype III strain Tm4, the frequently used 35S--glucuronidase (35S-UidA or GUS) marker gene was found to inhibit IAA synthesis and root induction encoded by the TB iaa genes. To exert this inhibition, the 35S-UidA gene must be cotransferred with the iaaH gene. The 35S promoter alone is sufficient to cause the inhibitory effect.     

The promoter of TL-DNA gene 5 controls the tissue-specific expression of chimaeric genes carried by a novel type of Agrobacterium binary vector

Summary A plant gene vector cassette to be used in combination with various Escherichia coli gene-cloning vectors was constructed. This cassette contains a replication and mobilization unit which allows it to be maintained and to be transferred back and forth between E. coli and Agrobacterium tumefaciens hosts provided these hosts contain plasmid RK2 replication and mobilization helper functions. The cassette also harbors a transferable DNA unit with plant selectable marker genes and cloning sites which can be combined with different bacterial replicons, thus facilitating the reisolation of transferred DNA from transformed plants in E. coli. The vector cassette contains two different promoters derived from the T-DNA-encoded genes 5 and nopaline synthase (NOS). By comparing the levels of expression of the marker enzymes linked to each of these promoter sequences, it was found that the gene 5 promoter is active in a tissue-specific fashion whereas this is not the case for the NOS promoter. This observation provides the first documented instance of a gene derived from a procaryotic host the expression of which is apparently regulated by plant growth factors.Abbreviations OCS octopine synthase (gene) - NOS nopaline synthase (gene) - NPT-II neomycin phosphotransferase (gene) of transposon Tn5 - vir Ti-plasmid region encoding virulence functions - Cb carbenicillin - Gm gentamycin - Km kanamycin - Cm chloramphenicol - Sm streptomycin - Sp spectinomycin - Rif rifampicin - Ery erythromycin - bom basis of mobilization - ori _r origin of conjugational plasmid transfer - Tra, Mob functions required for conjugational transfer of plasmids - BAP N⁶-benzylaminopurine - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - CTAB N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethyl-ammonium bromide     

Salmonella typhimurium LT2 metF operator mutations

Summary Using an Escherichia coli lac deletion strain lysogenized with lambda phage carrying a metF-lacZ gene fusion (Flac), in which -galactosidase levels are dependent on metF gene expression, cis-acting mutations were isolated that affect regulation of the Salmonella typhimurium metF gene. The mutations were located in a region previously defined as the metF operator by its similarity to the E. coli metF operator sequence. Regulation of the metF gene was examined by measuring -galactosidase levels in E. coli strains lysogenized with the wild-type Flac phage and mutant Flac phage. The results suggest that the mutations disrupt the methionine control system mediated by the metJ gene product, but not the vitamin B₁₂ control system mediated by the metH gene product. The results also demonstrate that negative control of the metF gene by the metH gene product and vitamin B₁₂ is dependent on a functional metJ gene product.Abbreviations Ap ampicillin - dNTP deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates - GM glucose minimal - Km kanamycin - L-agar Luria agar - LM lactose minimal - SAM s-adenosyl-L-methionine - TPEG phenylethyl -D-thiogalactoside - X-gal 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl -D-galactopyranoside - [] designates plasmid-carrier state - :: novel joint     

Agrobacterium mediated transformation and regeneration of Populus

Summary A plant transformation and regeneration system has been developed for Populus species. Leaf explants, from stabilized shoot cultures of a Populus hybrid NC-5339 (Populus alba x grandidentata), were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens on a tobacco nurse culture. Both oncogenic and disarmed strains of A. tumefaciens harboring a binary vector which contained two neomycin phophotransferase II (NPT II) and one bacterial 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase (aroA) chimeric gene fusions were used. Shoots did not develop when leaf explants were co-cultivated with the binary disarmed strain of A. tumefaciens. However, transformed plants with and without the wild type T-DNA were obtained using an oncogenic binary strain of A. tumefaciens. Successful genetic transformation was confirmed by NPT II enzyme activity assays, Southern blot analysis and immunological detection of bacterial EPSP synthase by Western blotting. This is the first report of a successful recovery of transformed plants of a forest tree and also the first record of insertion and expression of a foreign gene of agronomic importance into a woody plant species.     

A mating-type factors of Coprinus cinereus have variable numbers of specificity genes encoding two classes of homeodomain proteins

We have identified the seven genes that constitute the A43 mating-type factor of Coprinus cinereus and compare the organisation of A43 with the previously characterised A42 factor. In both, the genes that trigger clamp cell development, the so-called specificity genes, are separated into and loci by 7 kb of noncoding sequence and are flanked by homologous genes -fg and -fg. The specificity genes are known to encode two classes of dissimilar homeodomain (HD1 and HD2) proteins and have different allelic forms which show little or no cross-hybridisation. By partial sequencing we identified a divergently transcribed HD1 (a1-2) and HD2 (a2-2) gene in the A43 locus. a2-2 failed to elicit clamp cell development in three different hosts, suggesting that it is non-functional. a1-2 elicited clamp cells in an A42 host that has only an HD2 gene (a2-1) in its locus, thus demonstrating that the compatible A mating interaction is between an HD1 and an HD2 protein. The A43 locus contains three specificity genes, the divergently transcribed HD1 and HD2 genes b1-2 and b2-2 and a third HD1 gene (d1-1) that was shown by hybridisation and transformation analyses to be functionally equivalent to d1-1 in A42. An untranscribed footprint of a third A42 HD1 gene, c1-1, was detected between the A43 b2-2 and d1-1 genes by Southern hybridisation.     

Genetic and physical characterization of putP, the proline carrier gene of Escherichia coli K12

Summary Two new mutants of E. coli K12, strains PT9 and PT32 were isolated, that were defective in proline transport. They had no high affinity proline transport activity, but their cytoplasmic membranes retained proline binding activity with altered sensitivity to inhibition by p-chloromercuribenzoate(pCMB). The lesion was mapped at the putP gene, which is located at min 23 on the revised E. coli genetic map (Bachmann 1983) as a composite gene in the proline utilization gene cluster, putP, putC, and putA, arranged in this order. The putC gene was shown to regulate the synthesis of proline dehydrogenase (putA gene product).Hybrid plasmids carrying the put region (Motojima et al. 1979; Wood et al. 1979) were used to construct the physical map of the put region. The possible location of the putP gene in the DNA segment was determined by subcloning the putP gene, genetic complementation, and recombination analyses using several proline transport mutants.Abbreviations pCMB p-chloromercuribenzoate - DM Davis and Mingioli - Ap ampicillin - NTG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine - EMS ethylmethane sulfonate - Str streptomycin - Tet tetracycline - Ac l-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid - DHP 3, 4-dehydro-d,l-proline - MTT 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide - Tris tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - Kan kanamycin - Spc spectinomycin     

Genetic transformation of selected mature cork oak (Quercus suber L.) trees

A transformation system for selected mature cork oak (Quercus suber L.) trees using Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been established. Embryos obtained from recurrent proliferating embryogenic masses were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strains EHA105, LBA4404 or AGL1 harbouring the plasmid pBINUbiGUSint [carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) and -glucuronidase (uidA) genes]. The highest transformation efficiency (4%) was obtained when freshly isolated explants were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strain AGL1. Evidence of stable transgene integration was obtained by PCR for the nptII and uidA genes, Southern blotting and expression of the uidA gene. The transgenic embryos were germinated and successfully transferred to soil.Abbreviations BA N⁶-Benzyladenine - GUS -Glucuronidase - MSSH Expression-proliferation medium - NAA -Naphthaleneacetic acid - nptII Neomycin phosphotransferase gene - uidA -Glucuronidase gene     

Enlarged map ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens C58 and the location of chromosomal regions which affect tumorigenicity

Summary A revised and enlarged genetic map of theAgrobacterium tumefaciens C58 chromosome has been produced with the help of plasmid R68.45. Apart from the location of several auxotrophic markers, the map also shows the position of two independent genes,ctu1 andctu2, which, when mutated, block the tumorigenesis of the bacterium. Of these two, onlyctu1 is complemented by the C58 chromosomalvir region cloned by Douglas et al. (1985). The same mutant was complemented by a chromosomal gene or genes located nearleu ofRhizobium meliloti and known to affect the nodulation properties of that bacterium. It has also been observed that C58 tryptophan auxotrophs invariably lose tumorigenicity. Prototrophic revertants and mutants supplied with extra tryptophan for about two weeks after infection produce normal tumours. These investigations suggest that for successful tumorigenesis a continuous supply of tryptophan is needed (to be converted into auxin IAA?) at least during the early stages.     

Escherichia coli parA is an allele of the gyrB gene

Summary A thermosensitive (ts) parA mutant, MFT110, of Escherichia coli carried at least two ts mutations. The major ts defect, resulting from a mutation mapped originally at 95 min and complemented by pLC8-47, was most probably due to psd. A plasmid carrying the 1.6 kb BamHI-PvuII fragment recloned from pLC8-47 complemented the major ts mutation in MFT110 and psd(ts) in two mutants, but did not correct the Par phenotype of MFT110. The second ts mutation was salt-repairable and mapped at 83 min close to recF and tnaA. This mutation was linked with the Par phenotype as shown unambiguously by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stained nucleoids in parA mutant cells with the W3110 genetic background. Both salt-repairable ts and Par traits were corrected concomitantly by a plasmid carrying the chromosomal region solely for the gyrB gene. This strongly suggests that parA is an allele of gyrB.     

Translational coupling in a penP-lacZ gene fusion in Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli: Use of AUA as a restart codon

Summary An out-of-frame fusion between the penicillinase gene (penP) of Bacillus licheniformis and the -galactosidase gene (lacZ) of Escherichia coli was shown to direct the synthesis of an active -galactosidase with the same electrophoretic mobility as the wild-type protein, both in B. subtilis and E. coli. This synthesis was dependent on translation of the truncated penP gene and appeared to result from translational coupling. The fusion point between penP and lacZ contained the sequence AUAG, in which the UAG and AUA codons were in-frame with the penP and lacZ reading units, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the -galactosidase protein suggested that, both in B. subtilis and E. coli, reinitiation of translation occurred at the AUA codon present at the gene fusion point.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA gene 6b stimulates rol-induced root formation, permits growth at high auxin concentrations and increases root size

Summary All Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains studied up to now transfer an active 6b gene to plant cells. However, the role of this gene in natural tumour induction is unknown. Various effects of 6b on plant cell growth have been described, but the precise mechanism by which 6b causes these effects has not been elucidated. Earlier experiments indicated that the 6b gene might increase auxin sensitivity as do the A. rhizogenes rol genes. The 6b gene from Tm4 (T-6b) was therefore compared with the rolB and rolABC genes. Although T-6b was unable to induce root formation, it strongly interfered with root induction and root elongation. In rolABC/T-6b coinfection experiments on carrots, T-6b-transformed cells stimulated root outgrowth of rolABC-transformed cells, indicating that the biologically active T-6b product is diffusible. Carrot rolABC roots containing the T6b gene rapidly developed into unorganized calli. Nicotiana rustica roots with rolABC and T-6b continued their development, but became very large. Fragments of such roots formed callus at -naphthaleneacetic acid concentrations which inhibited growth of rolABC and normal root fragments, suggesting that the role of 6b genes in natural tumour induction may be to reduce the inhibitory effects of high auxin levels and to keep cells in an undifferentiated state.     

Sequencing and expression of a cellodextrinase (ced1) gene from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c cloned in Escherichia coli

Summary The nucleotide sequence of a 2.314 kb DNA segment containing a gene (cedl) expressing cellodextrinase activity from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c was determined. The B. fibrisolvens H17c gene was expressed from a weak internal promoter in Escherichia coli and a putative consensus promoter sequence was identified upstream of a ribosome binding site and a GTG start codon. The complete amino acid sequence (547 residues) was deduced and homology was demonstrated with the Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase D (EGD), Pseudomonas fluorescens var. cellulose endoglucanase (EG), and a cellulase from the avocado fruit (Persea americana). The ced1 gene product Cedl showed cellodextrinase activity and rapidly hydrolysed short-chain cellodextrins to yield either cellobiose or cellobiose and glucose as end products. The Cedl enzyme released cellobiose from p-nitrophenyl--d-cellobioside and the enzyme was not inhibited by methylcellulose, an inhibitor of endoglucanase activity. Although the major activity of the Cedl enzyme was that of a cellodextrinase it also showed limited activity against endoglucanase specific substrates [carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), lichenan, laminarin and xylan]. Analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with incorporated CMC showed a major activity band with an apparent M _r of approximately 61000. The calculated M _r of the ced1 gene product was 61023.Abbreviations Ap ampicillin - ced1 gene coding for Ced1 - Ced1 cellodextrinase from B. fibrisolvens - CMC carboxymethylcellulose - LB Luria Bertani - ORF open reading frame - pNPC p-nitrophenyl--d-cellobioside - PC phosphate citrate - HCA hydrophobic cluster analysis     

Cloning of hemA from Rhizobium sp. NGR234 and symbiotic phenotype of a gene-directed mutant in diverse legume genera

Summary The hemA gene which encodes -aminolaevulinic acid synthase (ALAS), was cloned and characterized from the broad host-range Rhizobium strain NGR234. A cosmid, identified by hybridization with the cloned gene of R. meliloti and complementation of an R. meliloti hemA mutant, was subcloned to yield a 5.5 kb fragment containing the entire NGR234 gene. A physical-genetic map was made and the interposon was introduced into a single EcoRI site which bisects the gene. The mutated gene was homogenotized into NGR234 to generate a hemA mutant, with a view to evaluating the role of rhizobial bacteroid ALAS activity for a wide variety of legume symbioses. The mutant strain formed an ineffective (Fix^–) symbiosis with all tested host plants. These included tropical legumes that produce either indeterminate (Leucaena) or determinate (Desmodium, Macroptilium, Lablab, Vigna) root nodules.Abbreviations ALA -aminolaevulinic acid - ALAS aminolaevulinic acid synthase - Lb leghaemoglobin - Lb-haem haem moiety of leghaemoglobin     

Nitrobacter winogradskyi cytochrome c oxidase genes are organized in a repeated gene cluster

Cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) is one of the components of the electron transport chain by which Nitrobacter, a facultative lithoautotrophic bacterium, recovers energy from nitrite oxidation. The genes encoding the two catalytic core subunits of the enzyme were isolated from a Nitrobacter winogradskyi gene library. Sequencing of one of the 14 cloned DNA segments revealed that the subunit genes are side by side in an operon-like cluster. Remarkably the cluster appears to be present in at least two copies per genome. It extends over a 5–6 kb length including, besides the catalytic core subunit genes, other cytochrome oxidase related genes, especially a heme O synthase gene. Noteworthy is the new kind of gene order identified within the cluster. Deduced sequences for the cytochrome oxidase subunits and for the heme O synthase look closest to their counterparts in other -subdivision Proteobacteria, particularly the Rhizobiaceae. This confirms the phylogenetic relationships established only upon 16S rRNA data. Furthermore, interesting similarities exist between N. winogradskyi and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits while the heme O synthase sequence gives some new insights about the other similar published -subdivision proteobacterial sequences.Abbreviations COI cytochrome oxidase subunit I - COII cytochrome oxidase subunit II - COIII cytochrome oxidase subunit III - HOS Heme O synthase - ORF open reading frame - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Nucleotide sequence, evolutionary origin and biological role of a rearranged cytokinin gene isolated from a wide host range biotype III Agrobacterium strain

Summary A DNA fragment with homology to the cytokinin (ipt) gene from biotype I Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain Ach5 was cloned from the Ti plasmid of the wide host range biotype III Agrobacterium strain Tm-4 and sequenced. The fragment contains an intact ipt coding sequence. However, the 3 non-coding region of this ipt gene is rearranged due to a 0.9 kb deletion fusing it to the 3 coding region of the neighbouring gene 6a, most of which was found to be deleted. The Tm-4 ipt gene is strongly related to the partially deleted ipt gene of the limited host range biotype III strain Ag162. To test its biological activity, the Tm-4 ipt gene was inserted into a specially constructed, disarmed Ti vector lacking tzs and tested on tobacco, where the rearranged ipt gene induced shoot formation. The cloned Tm-4 ipt gene was mutated with Tn5 and the intact gene on the wild-type Tm-4 Ti plasmid was replaced by the mutated gene. The resulting strain was avirulent on tobacco but normally virulent on the natural host of the wild-type strain Tm-4, grapevine. As the biotype 1 6b gene diminishes the effect of a corresponding ipt gene, a larger Tm-4 fragment carrying both the ipt gene and an adjacent 6b-like gene was also tested on tobacco and compared with the Tm-4 ipt fragment alone and with an ipt and 6b/ipt fragment derived from Ach5. The Tm-4 6b gene diminishes the effect of the Tm-4 ipt gene, showing the Tm-4 6b gene to be active as well. The Tm-4 6b/ipt combination is less effective than the Ach5 combination. These results provide further insight into the molecular basis of the host range differences between limited host range and wide host range biotype III Agrobacterium strains and show that the WHR cytokinin gene, although active, does not significantly contribute to tumour formation on the natural host of the WHR biotype III strains, grapevine.Abbreviations LHR limited host range - WHR wide host range - onc oncogenicity genes - iaaH indoleacetamide hydrolase gene - iaaM tryptophan monooxygenase gene - ipt isopentenyl transferase gene - tzs transzeatin secretion gene - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - Km kanamycin - Neo neomycin - Cm chloramphenicol     

SCM2, a tryptophan permease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is important for cell growth

SCM2, a novel gene encoding a yeast tryptophan permease, was cloned as a high-copy-number suppressor of cse2-1. The cse2-1 mutation causes cold sensitivity, temperature sensitivity and chromosome missegregation. However, only the cold-sensitive phenotype of cse2-1 cells is suppressed by SCM2 at high copy. SCM2 is located on the left arm of yeast chromosome XV, adjacent to SUP3 and encodes a 65 kDa protein that is highly homologous to known amino acid permeases. Four out of five disrupted scm2 alleles (scm21-4) cause slow growth, whereas one disrupted allele (scm25) is lethal. Cells with both the scm21 and trp1-101 mutations exhibit a synthetic cold-sensitive phenotype and grow much more slowly at the permissive temperature than cells with a single scm21 or trp1-101 mutation. A region of the predicted SCM2 protein is identical to the partial sequence recently reported for the yeast tryptophan permease TAP2, indicating that SCM2 and TAP2 probably encode the same protein.     

Cloned truncated recA genes in E. coli

Summary Plasmids pMH1 and pDR1461, possessing the control region and 22% or 73% of the E. coli recA gene, conferred UV sensitivity to wild-type uvrA, and umuC bacteria. Sensitization was less in recA441 (tif-1) mutants and absent in lexA cells. Radiosensitization correlated with inhibition of recombinational repair, even through induced recA protein synthesis and recombination in Hfr matings were normal. Plasmids pMH1 and pDR1461 also prevented induction of some, but not all, SOS functions. Mutagenic reversion to tryptophan prototrophy and induced reactivation of UV-irradiated phage were eliminated, and the efficiency of lysogenic induction reduced. However, naladixic acid induced filamentous growth, mitomycin-C induced uvrA gene expression and post UV-irradiation DNA degradation control were little changed. Explanations of these effects are discussed which involve the presence of either truncated recA protein or multiple copies of the recA gene control sequence.A preliminary account of this work is presented in Chromosome Damage and Repair, edited by E. Seeberg and K. Klepper, to be published by Plenum Press