Expression of cloned bacteriophage T4 uvsW and uvsY genes in rec+ and rec- Escherichia coli

Chimeric plasmids containing the uvsY uvsW region of the T4 genome were examined for the expression of these genes. Certain of these plasmids were shown to express the uvsY or the uvsW gene products by their ability to complement the UV sensitivity of infecting uvsW or uvsY mutant phage. Also, a chimeric plasmid containing both the uvsW and uvsY genes increases the survival of UV-irradiated, methyl methane sulfonate- or ethyl methane sulfonate-treated recA hosts.     

Tertiary initiation of replication in bacteriophage T4. Deletion of the overlapping uvsY promoter/replication origin from the phage genome

Tertiary initiation of bacteriophage T4 DNA replication is resistant to the RNA polymerase inhibitor rifampicin and apparently involved in the activity of recombination hot spots in the T4 genome (Kreuzer, K. N., and Alberts, B. M. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 82, 3345-3349). One of the origins that function by the tertiary mechanism maps at the promoter for gene uvs Y. A deletion and a linker-insertion mutation in the uvsY promoter/origin region were generated by in vitro manipulations and then placed into the T4 genome using the insertion/substitution system (Selick, H. E., Kreuzer, K. N., and Alberts, B. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 11336-11347). Both resulting phage strains are uvsY- mutants, but they differ in that one has a deletion of the minimal tertiary origin and the other does not. The effects of the uvsY mutations on tertiary origin activity were assayed by infecting tertiary origin plasmid-bearing Escherichia coli with the two phage mutants. The tertiary origin plasmids replicated extensively after infection by either uvsY- phage mutant, demonstrating that the uvsY protein is not required for tertiary initiation. The extent of plasmid replication was increased dramatically as a result of either mutation, indicating that the uvsY protein plays some negative role in either the initiation or subsequent processing of plasmid replicative intermediates. The phage strain with an origin deletion induced the replication of a tertiary origin plasmid with which it shared no homology. Therefore, plasmid-phage recombination is not required for the replication of tertiary origin plasmids. The replication of a tertiary origin plasmid is also shown to be independent of the phage genes uvsX, 59, and 46, but markedly reduced by mutations in the T4-induced topoisomerase.     

Integration of Plasmids into the Bacteriophage T4 Genome

We have analyzed the integration of plasmids into the bacteriophage T4 genome via homologous recombination. As judged by genetic selection for a plasmid-borne marker, a mutation in phage gene uvsX or uvsY essentially blocked the integration of a plasmid with homology to the T4 genome but no phage replication origin (non-origin plasmid). The strict requirement for these two proteins suggests that plasmid integration can proceed via a strand-invasion reaction similar to that catalyzed in vitro by the T4-encoded strand-exchange protein (UvsX) in concert with UvsY and gp32. In contrast to the results with the non-origin plasmid, a mutation in uvsX or uvsY reduced the integration of a T4 replication origin-containing plasmid by only 3-10-fold. These results suggest that the origin-containing plasmid integrates by both the UvsXY-dependent pathway used by the non-origin plasmid and by a UvsXY-independent pathway. The origin-containing plasmid integrated into the phage genome during a uvsX-or uvsY-mutant infection of a recA-mutant host, and therefore origin-dependent integration can occur in the absence of both phage- and host-encoded strand-exchange proteins (UvsX and RecA, respectively).     

Recombination-dependent replication of plasmids during bacteriophage T4 infection

The replication of plasmids containing fragments of the T4 genome, but no phage replication origins, was analyzed as a possible model for phage secondary (recombination-dependent) replication initiation. The replication of such plasmids after T4 infection was reduced or eliminated by mutations in several phage genes (uvsY, uvsX, 46, 59, 39, and 52) that have previously been shown to be involved in secondary initiation. A series of plasmids that collectively contain about 60 kilobase pairs of the T4 genome were tested for replication after T4 infection. With the exception of those known to contain tertiary origins, every plasmid replicated in a uvsY-dependent fashion. Thus, there is no apparent requirement for an extensive nucleotide sequence in the uvsY-dependent plasmid replication. However, homology with the phage genome is required since the plasmid vector alone did not replicate after phage infection. The products of plasmid replication included long concatemeric molecules with as many as 35 tandem copies of plasmid sequence. The production of concatemers indicates that plasmid replication is an active process and not simply the result of passive replication after the integration of plasmids into the phage genome. We conclude that plasmids with homology to the T4 genome utilize the secondary initiation mechanism of the phage. This simple model system should be useful in elucidating the molecular mechanism of recombination-dependent DNA synthesis in phage T4.     

A cell-free recombination system for site-specific integration of multigenic shuttle plasmids into the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome.

This report describes a novel method for complementation studies of defective herpes simplex virus (HSV) genes. Viral test gene and nonviral reporter gene cassettes were rapidly integrated into the HSV genome in a site-specific and reversible manner by using the P1 phage-based Cre-lox recombination system. Shuttle plasmids contained a functional loxP recombination site, an expressible form of the bacterial lacZ gene, and a copy of the wild-type glycoprotein B (gB) gene or double mutant gB allele containing both a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutation and a syncytium (syn)-forming mutation. A recipient viral genome, K delta T::lox1, was constructed from the HSV type 1 (syn) gB-deficient mutant virus, K delta T, by marker transfer of the loxP recombination site into the viral thymidine kinase locus. Shuttle plasmids of up to 12.9 kb in length were recombined with high efficiency (11 to 20%) into the K delta T::lox1 genome in cell-free, Cre-mediated recombination reactions. Expression of a functional wild-type or double mutant gB polypeptide complemented the nonfunctional polypeptide expressed from the deleted, normal gB locus and allowed production of either wild-type or Syn- plaques on Vero cells. The latter recombinant virus was also ts for growth. The ability to express viral genes from plasmids which can be shuttled into and out of the HSV genome in cell-free recombination reactions makes this a powerful method for performing genetic studies of the biologic properties of viral gene products.     

Genetic complementation by cloned bacteriophage T4 late genes.

Bacteriophage T4 containing nonsense mutations in late genes was found to be genetically complemented by four conjugate T4 genes (7, 11, 23, or 24) located on plasmid or phage vectors. Complementation was at a very low level unless the infecting phage carried a denB mutation (which abolishes T4 DNA endonuclease IV activity). In most experiments, the infecting phage also had a denA mutation, which abolishes T4 DNA endonuclease II activity. Mutations in the alc/unf gene (which allow dCMP-containing T4 late genes to be expressed) further increased complementation efficiency. Most of the alc/unf mutant phage strains used for these experiments were constructed to incorporate a gene 56 mutation, which blocks dCTP breakdown and allows replication to generate dCMP-containing T4 DNA. Effects of the alc/unf:56 mutant combination on complementation efficiency varied among the different T4 late genes. Despite regions of homology, ranging from 2 to 14 kilobase pairs, between cloned T4 genes and infecting genomes, the rate of formation of recombinants after T4 den:alc phage infection was generally low (higher for two mutants in gene 23, lower for mutants in gene 7 and 11). More significantly, when gene 23 complementation had to be preceded by recombination, the complementation efficiency was drastically reduced. We conclude that high complementation efficiency of cloned T4 late genes need not depend on prior complete breakage-reunion events which transpose those genes from the resident plasmid to a late promoter on the infecting T4 genome. The presence of the intact gene 23 on plasmids reduced the yield of T4 phage. The magnitude of this negative complementation effect varied in different plasmids; in the extreme case (plasmid pLA3), an almost 10-fold reduction of yield was observed. The cells can thus be said to have been made partly nonpermissive for this lytic virus by incorporating a part of the viral genome.     

Directed genomic integration, gene replacement, and integrative gene expression in Streptococcus thermophilus.

Several pGEM5- and pUC19-derived plasmids containing a selectable erythromycin resistance marker were integrated into the chromosome of Streptococcus thermophilus at the loci of the lactose-metabolizing genes. Integration occurred via homologous recombination and resulted in cointegrates between plasmid and genome, flanked by the homologous DNA used for integration. Selective pressure on the plasmid-located erythromycin resistance gene resulted in multiple amplifications of the integrated plasmid. Release of this selective pressure, however, gave way to homologous resolution of the cointegrate structures. By integration and subsequent resolution, we were able to replace the chromosomal lacZ gene with a modified copy carrying an in vitro-generated deletion. In the same way, we integrated a promoterless chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene between the chromosomal lacS and lacZ genes of the lactose operon. The inserted cat gene became a functional part of the operon and was expressed and regulated accordingly. Selective pressure on the essential lacS and lacZ genes under normal growth conditions in milk ensures the maintenance and expression of the integrated gene. As there are only minimal repeated DNA sequences (an NdeI site) flanking the inserted cat gene, it was stably maintained even in the absence of lactose, i.e., when grown on sucrose or glucose. The methodology represents a stable system in which to express and regulate foreign genes in S. thermophilus, which could qualify in the future for an application with food.     

T7启动子在哺乳类动物细胞中启动外源基因表达的研究

人低密度脂蛋白（LDL）受体基因cDNA和氯霉素已酞转移酶基因（CAT）及PolyA信号序列被克隆进pGEM4载体的T7噬茵体启动子下游,构建成质粒pT7LDLR和pT7CAT．两个重组质粒转化CHO细胞．PCR和CAT酶实验显示：两个基因被T7噬菌体启动子所启动．结果证实真核生物RNA聚合酶能够识别T7启动子,转录外源基因．常用的含有T7启动子的质粒可同时作为原核生物和真核生物的表达载体．     

Development of a cloning system in Mycoplasma pulmonis

A system suitable for recombinant DNA manipulation in mycoplasmas was developed using the cloned antibiotic-resistance genes of Tn4001 and Tn916. An integrative plasmid containing one of the resistance markers was inserted into the genome of Mycoplasma pulmonis to form a recipient strain. This was accomplished by transformation and homologous recombination between chromosomal DNA sequences cloned onto the integrative plasmid. A second vector, the cloning vector, containing the same plasmid replicon and alternate resistance marker, carried cloned foreign DNA. When transformed into mycoplasmal recipients, homologous recombination between plasmid sequences resulted in integration of the cloning vector and foreign DNA. A Brucella abortus gene coding for a 31-kDa protein and the P1 structural gene and operon from Mycoplasma pneumoniae were introduced to examine the feasibility of developing mycoplasma as cloning hosts. Recombinant plasmids as large as 20 kb were inserted into M. pulmonis, and the integrated foreign DNA was stably maintained. The maximum size of clonable DNA was not determined, but plasmids larger than 22 kb have not been transformed into mycoplasmas using polyethylene glycol. Also the size of genome (800-1200 kb) may affect the stability of larger inserts of foreign DNA. This system is applicable to any mycoplasma capable of transformation, homologous recombination and expression of these resistance markers. Because of their lack of a cell wall, mycoplasmas may be useful cloning hosts for membrane or excreted protein genes from other sources.     

Construction of an integration-proficient vector based on the site-specific recombination mechanism of enterococcal temperate phage phiFC1

The genome of temperate phage phiFC1 integrates into the chromosome of Enterococcus faecalis KBL 703 via site-specific recombination. In this study, an integration vector containing the attP site and putative integrase gene mj1 of phage phiFC1 was constructed. A 2,744-bp fragment which included the attP site and mj1 was inserted into a pUC19 derivative containing the cat gene to construct pEMJ1-1. E. faecalis KBL 707, which does not contain the bacteriophage but which has a putative attB site within its genome, could be transformed by pEMJ1-1. Southern hybridization, PCR amplification, and DNA sequencing revealed that pEMJ1-1 was integrated specifically at the putative attB site within the E. faecalis KBL 707 chromosome. This observation suggested that the 2,744-bp fragment carrying mj1 and the attP site of phage phiFC1 was sufficient for site-specific recombination and that pEMJ1-1 could be used as a site-specific integration vector. The transformation efficiency of pEMJ1-1 was as high as 6 x 10(3) transformants/microg of DNA. In addition, a vector (pATTB1) containing the 290-bp attB region was constructed. pATTB1 was transformed into Escherichia coli containing a derivative of the pET14b vector carrying attP and mj1. This resulted in the formation of chimeric plasmids by site-specific recombination between the cloned attB and attP sequences. The results indicate that the integration vector system based on the site-specific recombination mechanism of phage phiFC1 can be used for genetic engineering in E. faecalis and in other hosts.     

Construction and characterization of hybrids containing genes coding for proteins of the central part of bacteriophage T4 baseplate.

The central part (hub or plug) of bacteriophage T4 baseplate consist of several proteins which are present in only few copies per phage particle. The presence of these minor baseplate components was inferred from the genetic data but only some of them were identified as distinct proteins species by biochemical analysis. We have constructed a number of plasmids containing segments of bacteriophage T4 genome coding for baseplate proteins. The following genes were cloned into expression vectors: 54, 48, 29, 28, 27, 51, 26 and 25. The presence of a particular gene product was confirmed by in vivo complementation test. On the basis of these results we could more precisely localize the position of a particular gene on T4 phage genetic map. The hybrids contain sets of genes which make aggregation impossible, so bacteria harbouring these plasmids are convenient starting point for the purification of baseplate proteins.     

Unusual structure of the attB site of the site-specific recombination system of Lactobacillus delbrueckii bacteriophage mv4

The temperate phage mv4 integrates its genome into the chromosome of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus by site-specific recombination within the 3' end of a tRNA(Ser) gene. Recombination is catalyzed by the phage-encoded integrase and occurs between the phage attP site and the bacterial attB site. In this study, we show that the mv4 integrase functions in vivo in Escherichia coli and we characterize the bacterial attB site with a site-specific recombination test involving compatible plasmids carrying the recombination sites. The importance of particular nucleotides within the attB sequence was determined by site-directed mutagenesis. The structure of the attB site was found to be simple but rather unusual. A 16-bp DNA fragment was sufficient for function. Unlike most genetic elements that integrate their DNA into tRNA genes, none of the dyad symmetry elements of the tRNA(Ser) gene were present within the minimal attB site. No inverted repeats were detected within this site either, in contrast to the lambda site-specific recombination model.     

Genetic analysis of dar, uvsW, and uvsY in bacteriophage T4: dar and uvsW are alleles.

A genetic study of the T4 dar (DNA arrested synthesis restoration) mutations was performed by two- and three-factor crosses. The dar mutations restore the viability of gene 59 mutants. Mapping studies of the dar mutations indicated that the dar gene extended over 16 map units. This high recombination frequency is attributed to an increased level of recombination in the dar region. Two other mutations, uvsY and uvsW, known to be located in the vicinity of dar, were studied. These studies indicated that the uvsY and dar mutations were located in separate genes but that dar and uvsW were allelic. The genes are ordered as follows: gene 24, dar(uvsW), uvsY, and gene 25 in clockwise order.     

Construction of cloning vectors using the Vibrio harveyi luminescence genes luxA and luxB as markers

A synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide harboring four new restriction sites was inserted into the luxB gene of Vibrio harveyi. This insertion did not disrupt the reading frame. An active beta-subunit was synthesized since a plasmid with both the luxA and mutated luxB genes conferred upon Escherichia coli the bacterial luciferase (Lux) phenotype in the presence of an aldehyde. Ligation of a piece of foreign DNA at these new cloning sites in the vector extinguish the Lux phenotype of the transformed bacteria. Therefore, the plasmid was used as a cloning vector, and recombinant DNA-containing bacteria were detected by the loss of bioluminescence. To create more versatile plasmids, the intergenic region of phage f1 was inserted outside of the lux genes. The selection by loss of bioluminescence presents several advantages over the white/blue selection of the lacZ gene on indicator plates.     

The phage T4 uvs Y recombination protein stabilizes presynaptic filaments

The bacteriophage T4 uvsY protein is required for efficient recombination in T4-infected Escherichia coli cells. Previous in vitro work has shown that the purified uvsY protein is an accessory protein; it stimulates homologous pairing catalyzed by the phage uvsX protein (a RecA-like recombinase) under certain conditions. We show here that this effect can be traced, at least in part, to a UvsY-dependent stabilization of uvsX protein-single-stranded DNA complexes. These presynaptic filaments are one of the early obligatory intermediates in the strand exchange reaction between homologous single- and double-stranded DNAs. The mechanism of filament stabilization seems to involve a slower loss of UvsX subunits. A model that accounts for the data is presented in which both recombination proteins are incorporated into the presynaptic filament.     

T7噬菌体转运真核表达载体入胞表达平台的构建

[目的]构建携带锚定序列的真核表达载体,研究T7噬菌体识别、包裹和转运真核表达载体进入细胞实现蛋白表达的可行性,为DNA疫苗研发建立新的技术平台.[方法]本研究通过重叠延伸PCR方法获得候选锚定序列并插入真核表达载体;建立荧光定量PCR方法比较T7噬菌体识别、包裹真核表达载体的效率;激光共聚焦显微镜观察T7噬菌体转运真...