Enhancement of the viability of irradiated bacteria by chromosome transfer

The effect of x-irradiating recipient cells of Escherichia coli K-12 before mating on the formation of recombinants and on the distribution of parental genetic material among recombinants was investigated in both the wild-type (Rec+) and a recombination-deficient (Rec-) mutant. In crosses involving Rec- recipients, recombinants selected for a late donor marker were formed in almost normal numbers. Rec- cells exposed to otherwise lethal doses of x-rays were still able to form viable recombinants for a distal male marker. These recombinants had inherited almost all the transferred donor chromosome, as evidenced by the preponderance of male markers in the recombinants. In contrast, the recombinant-forming ability was about as x-ray-sensitive as the colony-forming ability in Rec+ cells. No preference for donor chromosomal material was observed in recombinants from crosses involving x-irradiated Rec+ cells.     

Inhibition of DNA replication by transformation in a Haemophilus influenzae mutant carrying an altered Rec-1 protein.

In the HM5 mutant of Haemophilus influenzae, which carries a mutation in the rec-1 gene region and in which the replication of donor-recipient DNA complexes formed in transformation is inhibited, the transformation frequency could be greatly enhanced by inhibition of protein synthesis during transformation, indicating that transformation in the HM5 mutant induces the synthesis of a protein that inhibits the replication of the donor-recipient DNA complexes. This induction occurred in an early step of the recombination. Synthesis of the wild-type Rec-1 protein after transformation of the HM5 mutant with wild-type DNA could diminish the inhibiting effect on DNA replication. The HM5 mutant synthesized an altered Rec-1 protein (molecular weight, 38,000) whose pI differed from that of the wild type. As a result of the mutation in the rec-1 gene, two other proteins (molecular weights, 37,500 and 43,000) are lacking in the HM5 mutant.     

Isolation of protease-proficient, recombinase-deficient recA mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

We isolated recA mutants with altered protease activity and then examined recombinase activity to determine whether the protease and recombinase functions of the RecA protein of Escherichia coli are separable. We found five mutants that had moderately strong constitutive RecA protease activity but no recombinase activity above the delta recA strain background, the first clear-cut examples of mutants of this class, designated Prtc Rec-. We also isolated 65 mutants that were protease-defective toward the LexA repressor and found that all of them were also recombinase deficient. Four of these mutants retained both partial recombinase activity and partial inducible protease activity. The recombinase-defective mutants were much more sensitive than the recA+ strain to crystal violet, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol, indicating altered membrane permeability. The recA (Prtc Rec-) mutants had a subtle alteration in protease specificity, all being defective in spontaneous induction of phages lambda imm434 and 21. They differed from Prtc Rec+ mutants of comparable or even weaker constitutive protease strength, all of which showed dramatic spontaneous induction of these prophages. However, treating a Prtc Rec- mutant with mitomycin C resulted in significant prophage induction. Thus, the RecA proteins of the Prtc Rec- mutants have constitutive protease activity toward the LexA repressor, but have only DNA damage-activable protease activity toward phage repressors. UV-induced mutagenesis from his to his+ was studied for one Prtc Rec- mutant, and induced mutation frequencies as high as those for the recA+ strain were found despite the absence of recombinase activity.     

Similarity in properties and mapping of three Rec mutants of Haemophilus influenzae.

Three Rec- mutants of Haemophilus influenzae have been studied with respect to their transformability, ultraviolet and mitomycin C sensitivities, spontaneous and ultraviolet-induced deoxyribonucleic acid breakdown, inducibility of lysogens, and the linkage of the three mutations to a streptomycin resistance marker. The data indicate that the three mutations cause the same phenotypic changes, and that they are all on the same gene. Transformability of the mutants is different when two different media are used for competence development, although transformability with the two competence methods is not different in a Rec- strain that is mutant at another gene.     

Circulating mononuclear cell numbers and function during intense exercise and recovery.

To investigate the effect of intense exercise on immune function, 12 healthy males (26 +/- 1 yr) underwent cycle exercise to exhaustion at 80% maximum work load. One hour later, six of the subjects underwent a second identical bout. Blood was drawn preexercise (C), at exhaustion (Ex-1, Ex-2), and at 1 h of recovery (Rec-1, Rec-2). At Ex-1 and Ex-2, total leukocytes (monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes) increased significantly (P less than 0.05), and all returned to C levels by Rec-1 except lymphocytes, which were lower than at C. At Rec-2 total leukocytes remained higher (P less than 0.05) than at C, primarily because of elevated neutrophil counts. Phenotype analysis indicated a 2.5-fold increase in CD16+ (natural killer) cells at Ex-1 and a decrease primarily in CD4+ (T-helper) cells. All phenotype changes returned to C levels at Rec-1. At Ex-1 the in vitro mitogenic response to concanavalin A, phorbol myristate acetate + ionomycin, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen decreased (P less than 0.05) but returned to levels not different from C at Rec-1. Both the in vitro percent specific lysis of a target natural killer cell (K562) and the lytic activity per cell increased (P less than 0.05) in peripheral mononuclear cells at Ex-1, returning to C levels at Rec-1. The total leukocyte counts with exercise were significantly correlated with plasma epinephrine concentration, and a causal effect is thus possible. Such acute changes in numbers and function of circulating cells of the immune system may possibly have functional and clinical correlates.     

Molecular cloning of two linked loci that increase the transformability of transformation-deficient mutants of Haemophilus influenzae.

A plasmid containing a 13.3-kb insert (pER194) was isolated from an EcoRI genomic library of Haemophilus influenzae on the basis of its ability to increase the transformability of the transformation-deficient mutants Com-78 and Com-101. The plasmid failed to increase the transformability of the Rec-1 and Rec-2 mutants, indicating that the mutations producing the Com-78 and Com-101 phenotypes are distinct from those giving rise to the Rec-1 and Rec-2 phenotypes. The physical mapping of the cloned fragment on the H. influenzae chromosome was found to be consistent with the genetic mapping of the Com-101 trait. A 2.8-kb EcoRI-BglII subfragment, representing one end of the 13.3-kb clone, was found to increase the transformation frequency of the Com-78 and Com-101 mutants when supplied in trans, indicating that the subfragment carries one or more loci required for chromosomal transformation. The corresponding region of the Com-101 chromosome was determined by hybridization analysis to contain a 0.3-kb insertion, suggesting that the Com-101 strain may contain an insertion mutation at this locus. A 3.0-kb EcoRI-MluI subfragment, representing the other end of the 13.3-kb EcoRI fragment, was found to increase the transformation frequency of the Com-101 mutant but not of the Com-78 mutant, suggesting that the Com-101 phenotype results from a complex genotype involving mutations at two or more transformation-related loci. This conclusion is consistent with data indicating that the Com-101 trait can be genetically separated into at least two components.     

Receptor co-operation in retrovirus entry: recruitment of an auxiliary entry mechanism after retargeted binding.

We have constructed Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-derived envelope glycoproteins (AMO) displaying an amino-terminal Ram-1-binding domain in which a variety of different amino acid spacers have been inserted between the displayed domain and the MoMLV surface (SU) subunit. Titres of retroviruses generated with these chimeric envelopes were enhanced on cells expressing both Ram-1 and Rec-1 receptors compared with the titres on cells expressing only one or other receptor type. The absolute viral titres and the degree of titre enhancement due to receptor cooperativity were highly variable between the different chimeric envelopes and were determined primarily by the properties of the interdomain spacer. An extreme example of receptor co-operativity was encountered when testing Ram-1-targeted AMOPRO envelopes with specific proline-rich interdomain spacers. AMOPRO viruses could not enter cells expressing only Rec-1 or only Ram-1 but could efficiently infect cells co-expressing both receptors. The data are consistent with a model for receptor co-operativity in which binding to the targeted (Ram-1) receptor triggers conformational rearrangements of the envelope that lead to complete unmasking of the hidden Rec-1-binding domain, thereby facilitating its interaction with the viral (Rec-1) receptor which leads to optimal fusion triggering.     

Donor DNA processing is blocked by a mutation in the com101A locus of Haemophilus influenzae.

Evidence is presented indicating that a donor DNA processing step of the Haemophilus influenzae transformation pathway is blocked in the Com-101 mutant. Additional data are presented suggesting that, as in the Rec-2 strain, the donor DNA remains associated with the H. influenzae envelope.     

Expression of human proacrosin in Escherichia coli and binding to zona pellucida

Proacrosin is a multifunctional protein present in the sperm acrosome. This study characterizes the expression of human proacrosin in bacteria and assesses zona pellucida binding activity. The cDNA encoding human proacrosin was subcloned in pGEX-3X and pET-22b vectors. In the pGEX system, expression of the full-length fusion protein was not detected. In the pET system, an expression product with an apparent molecular size similar to that expected for the proenzyme (Rec-40, 42-44 kDa) was recognized by a monoclonal antibody to human acrosin, AcrC5F10. A 32-34-kDa protein (Rec-30), not recognized by AcrC5F10 on Western blots, was the major expression product. Proteins of 21 (Rec-20) and 18 (Rec-10) kDa were recovered as insoluble expression products as were Rec-40 and Rec-30, and truncated products from the C terminus were detected in the soluble fraction. Rec-40 and Rec-30 coexisted at any culture time tested. Immune serum raised against Rec-30 (AntiRec-30) stained the acrosomal region of permeabilized human spermatozoa and recognized the recombinant proteins and proacrosin from human sperm extracts. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that Rec-30, Rec-20, and Rec-10 are N-terminal fragments of proacrosin. The recombinant proteins Rec-40, -30, -20, and -10 were found to interact with homologous (125)I-zona pellucida glycoproteins.     

Lethal zygosis in recombination-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli.

Use of nonselective medium for plating cells following mating has revealed that Rec recipient strains of E. coli may be killed as a result of conjugation. Sensitivity of RecA-, RecB-, and RecC- recipients increases with ratio of donor: recipient cells in mating mixtures and with time of mating. A Rec+ recipient shows no lethal zygosis in these experiments performed without aeration. Cell contact does not seem to be responsible for the sensitivity of Rec- strains, since lethality is prevented when cell contact is permitted but DNA transfer is not. Thus, an event(s) occuring subsequent to entry of donor DNA appears to cause lethality in Rec- recipients.     

Localization of the human gene allowing infection by gibbon ape leukemia virus to human chromosome region 2q11-q14 and to the homologous region on mouse chromosome 2.

Retrovirus receptors remain a largely unexplored group of proteins. Of the receptors which allow infection of human and murine cells by various retroviruses, only three have been identified at the molecular level. These receptors include CD4 for human immunodeficiency virus, Rec-1 for murine ecotropic virus, and GLVR1 for gibbon ape leukemia virus. These three proteins show no homology to one another at the DNA or protein level. Therefore, work to date has not shown any general relationship or structural theme shared by retroviral receptors. Genes for two of these receptors (CD4 and Rec-1) and several others which have not yet been cloned have been localized to specific chromosomes. In order to assess the relationship between GLVR1 and other retroviral receptors, we mapped the chromosome location of GLVR1 in human and mouse. GLVR1 was found to map to human chromosome 2q11-q14 by in situ hybridization and somatic-cell hybrid analysis. This location is distinct from those known for receptors for retroviruses infecting human cells. Glvr-1 was then mapped in the mouse by interspecies backcrosses and found to map to chromosome 2 in a region of linkage conservation with human chromosome 2. This mouse chromosome carries Rec-2, the likely receptor for M813, a retrovirus derived from a feral Asian mouse. These data raise the interesting possibility that Rec-2 and Glvr-1 are structurally related.     

RecBC promoted repair of bleomycin damage in Escherichia coli.

The repair response of Escherichia coli K-12 to bleomycin was examined in Rec- mutants showing differential sensitivity to this agent. Sedimentation analysis of the cellular DNA showed incision after bleomycin treatment. The subsequent reformation of the DNA, found in the wild-type and the recD mutant, was abolished in the recB and delayed in the recF and recBC sbcB mutants. The bleomycin-induced SOS response was reduced in strains containing recB or recBC sbsB mutations. It is suggested that the RecBCD pathway has the main role in the efficient repair of bleomycin-induced DNA damage.     

Plaque color method for rapid isolation of novel recA mutants of Escherichia coli K-12: new classes of protease-constitutive recA mutants

As a prerequisite to mutational analysis of functional sites on the RecA protein of Escherichia coli, a method was developed for rapid isolation of recA mutants with altered RecA protease function. The method involves plating mutagenized lambda recA+ cI ind on strains deleted for recA and containing, as indicators of RecA protease activity, Mu d(Ap lac) fusions in RecA-inducible genes. The lambda recA phages were recognized by their altered plaque colors, and the RecA protease activity of the lambda recA mutant lysogens was measured by expression of beta-galactosidase from dinD::lac. One class of recA mutants had constitutive protease activity and was designated Prtc; in these cells the RecA protein was always in the protease form without the usual need for DNA damage to activate it. Some Prtc mutants were recombinase negative and were designated Prtc Rec-. Another class of 65 recA mutants isolated as being protease defective were all also recombinase defective. Unlike the original temperature-dependent Prtc Rec+ mutant (recA441), the new Prtc Rec+ mutants showed constitutive protease activity at any growth temperature, with some having considerably greater activity than the recA441 strain. Study of these strong Prtc Rec+ mutants revealed a new SOS phenomenon, increased permeability to drugs. Use of this new SOS phenomenon as an index of protease strength clearly distinguished 5 Prtc mutants as the strongest among 150. These five strongest Prtc mutants showed the greatest increase in spontaneous mutation frequency and were not inhibited by cytidine plus guanosine, which inhibited the constitutive protease activity of the recA441 strain and of all the other new Prtc mutants. Strong Prtc Rec+ mutants were more UV resistant than recA+ strains and showed indications of having RecA proteins whose specific activity of recombinase function was higher than that of wild-type RecA. A Prt+ Rec- mutant with an anomalous response to effectors is described.     

Cloning of the rec-2 locus of Haemophilus influenzae

A collection of transposon mutants of Haemophilus influenzae was constructed by additive transformation with mutagenized chromosomal DNA. A rec-2::miniTn10 km mutation was cloned from a transformation-defective member of the mutant collection, followed by the reconstruction of the wild-type rec-2 locus by recombination to create pDM62. Southern blots showed that the commonly studied Rec-2 mutant, Rd(DB117)rec-, contained either a large deletion or a substitution that removed part of rec-2 locus. A collection of transposon mutations in pDM62 was used to characterize the rec-2 locus by complementation. A corresponding collection of mutants was also constructed. A single segment was required to complement the transformation defect in Rd(DB117)rec-. All of the transformation-defective transposon mutants failed to translocate donor DNA into then cell, in agreement with previous studies of Rd(DB117)rec-.     

Characterization of the rec-1 gene of Haemophilus influenzae and behavior of the gene in Escherichia coli.

The rec-1 gene of Haemophilus influenzae was cloned into a shuttle vector that replicates in Escherichia coli as well as in H. influenzae. The plasmid, called pRec1, complemented the defects of a rec-1 mutant in repair of UV damage, transformation, and ability of prophage to be induced by UV radiation. Although UV resistance and recombination were caused by pRec1 in E. coli recA mutants, UV induction of lambda and UV mutagenesis were not. We suggest that the ability of the H. influenzae Rec-1 protein to cause cleavage of repressors but not the recombinase function differs from that of the E. coli RecA protein.     

Characterization of recombination-deficient mutants of Bacillus subtilis

An isogenic set of "prophage-free," DNA repair-proficient and -deficient strains of Bacillus subtilis were characterized phenotypically. The mutant strains were provisionally classified into four categories on the basis of their sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, their ability to release phage after lysogenization followed by damage to chromosomal DNA, and their impairment in genetic exchange. The properties of double Rec- mutants showed that recF and addA belong to different epistatic groups, whereas recF, recL, and recH fall into the same group. More than one pathway for genetic exchange might be operative in B. subtilis.     

Double helicase II (uvrD)-helicase IV (helD) deletion mutants are defective in the recombination pathways of Escherichia coli.

The Escherichia coli helD (encoding helicase IV) and uvrD (encoding helicase II) genes have been deleted, independently and in combination, from the chromosome and replaced with genes encoding antibiotic resistance. Each deletion was verified by Southern blots, and the location of each deletion was confirmed by P1-mediated transduction. Cell strains containing the single and double deletions were viable, indicating that helicases II and IV are not essential for viability. Cell strains lacking helicase IV (delta helD) exhibited no increase in sensitivity to UV irradiation but were slightly more resistant to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) than the isogenic wild-type cell strain. As expected, cell strains containing the helicase II deletion (delta uvrD) were sensitive to both UV irradiation and MMS. The introduction of the helicase IV deletion into a delta uvrD background had essentially no effect on the UV and MMS sensitivity of the cell strains analyzed. The double deletions, however, conferred a Rec- mutant phenotype for conjugational and transductional recombination in both recBC sbcB(C) and recBC sbcA backgrounds. The Rec- mutant phenotype was more profound in the recBC sbcB(C) background than in the recBC sbcA background. The recombination-deficient phenotype indicates the direct involvement of helicase II and/or helicase IV in the RecF pathway [recBC sbcB(C) background] and RecE pathway (recBC sbcA background) of recombination. The modest decrease in the recombination frequency observed in single-deletion mutants in the recBC sbcB(C) background suggests that either helicase is sufficient. In addition, helicase IV has been overexpressed in a tightly regulated system. The data suggest that even modest overexpression of helicase IV is lethal to the cell.     

Recombinationless meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have utilized the single equational meiotic division conferred by the spo13-1 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. Klapholtz and R. E. Esposito, Genetics 96:589-611, 1980) as a technique to study the genetic control of meiotic recombination and to analyze the meiotic effects of several radiation-sensitive mutations (rad6-1, rad50-1, and rad52-1) which have been reported to reduce meiotic recombination (Game et al., Genetics 94:51-68, 1980); Prakash et al., Genetics 94:31-50, 1980). The spo13-1 mutation eliminates the meiosis I reductional segregation, but does not significantly affect other meiotic events (including recombination). Because of the unique meiosis it confers, the spo13-1 mutation provides an opportunity to recover viable meiotic products in a Rec- background. In contrast to the single rad50-1 mutant, we found that the double rad50-1 spo13-1 mutant produced viable ascospores after meiosis and sporulation. These spores were nonrecombinant: meiotic crossing-over was reduced at least 150-fold, and no increase in meiotic gene conversion was observed over mitotic background levels. The rad50-1 mutation did not, however, confer a Rec- phenotype in mitosis; rather, it increased both spontaneous crossing-over and gene conversion. The spore inviability conferred by the single rad6-1 and rad52-1 mutations was not eliminated by the presence of the spo13-1 mutation. Thus, only the rad50 gene has been unambiguously identified by analysis of viable meiotic ascospores as a component of the meiotic recombination system.     

Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants deficient in the establishment of lysogeny.

Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with impaired ability to establish a lysogenic relationship with temperate bacteriophage (Les-) have been isolated. These les mutations map to two areas of the P. aeruginosa chromosomal map as determined by conjugational and transductional analyses. Two phenotypic classes of Les- mutants were identified. One class of mutations has pleiotropic effects on DNA metabolism. These mutants are unable to recombine genetic material acquired as a result of either conjugation or transduction (Rec-). In addition, the ability of these Les- Rec- mutants to repair UV-induced damage to bacteriophage is reduced (host-cell reactivation deficient, Hcr-). Mutants of the second class are Les-, Rec+, and Hcr+.