Regulation of isocitrate lyase in a mutant of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata adapted to growth on acetate

Studies on acetate utilization by Rhodopseudomonas capsulata strain St. Louis indicated that the wild type grew poorly on acetate and made little if any of the glyoxylate cycle enzyme isocitrate lyase. A spontaneous mutant, Ac-l, capable of vigorous and immediate growth on acetate and exhibiting high levels of isocitrate lyase activity, was isolated in the course of those studies.Isocitrate lyase was not formed when the mutant was grown on malate. Addition of malate to cultures of Ac-l growing on acetate resulted in loss of the enzyme by dilution through growth.Starvation of acetate-grown Ac-l for acetate resulted in a rapid and complete loss of isocitrate lyase activity which was shown to be energy dependent. Readdition of acetate to a starved culture previously grown on acetate resulted in a rapid recovery of enzyme activity. The recovery required energy and was sensitive to chloramphenicol inhibition at any time during the recovery phase.     

Isolation and characterization of two new negative regulatory mutants for nitrate assimilation inChlamydomonas reinhardtii obtained by insertional mutagenesis

Plasmid DNA carrying either the nitrate reductase (NR) gene or the argininosuccinate lyase gene as selectable markers and the correspondingChlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants as recipient strains have been used to isolate regulatory mutants for nitrate assimilation by insertional mutagenesis. Identification of putative regulatory mutants was based on their chlorate sensitivity in the presence of ammonium. Among 8975 transformants, two mutants, N1 and T1, were obtained. Genetic characterization of these mutants indicated that they carry recessive mutations at two different loci, namedNrg1 andNrg2. The mutation in N1 was shown to be linked to the plasmid insertion. Two copies of the nitrate reductase plasmid, one of them truncated, were inserted in the N1 genome in inverse orientation. In addition to the chlorate sensitivity phenotype in the presence of ammonium, these mutants expressed NR, nitrite reductase and nitrate transport activities in ammonium-nitrate media. Kinetic constants for ammonium (¹⁴C-methylammonium) transport, as well as enzymatic activities related to the ammonium-regulated metabolic pathway for xanthine utilization, were not affected in these strains. The data strongly suggest thatNrg1 andNrg2 are regulatory genes which specifically mediate the negative control exerted by ammonium on the nitrate assimilation pathway inC. reinhardtii.     

Biochemical characterization of N-methyl N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced cadmium resistant mutants ofAspergillus niger

Two cadmium resistant mutants (Cd₁ and Cd₂) ofAspergillus niger, among the six isolated by mutagenization with N-methyl N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) at pH 6.4 were selected for the study. Analysis of lipid composition of the mutants and the wildtype indicated that total lipid as well as individual lipids of the cadmium resistant mutants were changed as compared with that of the wildtype. The increased activities of metal-lothionein and reduced activities of D-xylose isomerase and L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase in cell free extract of the cadmium resistant mutants suggested that mutants could allow high concentration of cadmium salt as compared with that of the wildtype. The respiratory activity and intracellular as well as extracellular Cd²⁺ concentration of the mutants reflected the high tolerance of the Cd mutants to cadmium ion.     

Chilling-sensitive mutants of arabidopsis

Twenty-one mutants ofArabidopsis thaliana were isolated that developed chlorosis or necrosis upon incubation at low temperature (10°C to 15°C). Crosses among mutants in different phenotypic classes showed that mutants in three of four classes were found in a small number of loci. This article is reproduced fromWeeds World, vol. 1. For electronic access toWeeds World, see PMBR 12(4):302–303.     

Regulatory mutations affecting the synthesis of cellulase in Bacillus pumilus

A wild strain of Bacillus pumilus was investigated for cellulase production, and putative mutants of this strain were screened for catabolite repression insensitivity after chemical mutagenesis using ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) as a mutagenic agent. Out of four classes of mutants studied and classified according to their cellulase induction rate and level of cellulase production in the presence of high concentrations of glucose (2.6%[w/v]), classes III and IV exhibited cellulase production up to 6.2 mg cellulase and 11.4 mg cellulase per gram of dry cell mass respectively. These mutants were referred to as catabolite repression-insensitive when compared to the wild strain which exhibited a total repression of cellulase synthesis under the same conditions. How EMS triggered the catabolite repression insensitivity in these mutants was not established. However this mutation brought out new strains of cellulase hyperproducers (mutants 6 and 11) in the presence of glucose when compared to other cellulase producers such as Aspergillus terreus, A. nidulans and Trichoderma reesei, which exhibited catabolite repression of cellulase synthesis. These mutants were selected as the most promising candidates for cellulase synthesis even at high glucose concentration.     

Gene cloning in Aspergillus nidulans: isolation of the isocitrate lyase gene (acuD)

Summary An Aspergillus nidulans gene library was constructed in a high-frequency transformation vector, pDJB3, based on the Neurospora crassa pyr4 gene. This gene library was used to isolate the structural gene for isocitrate lyase (acuD) by complementation of a deficiency mutation following transformation of A. nidulans. Plasmids rescued in Escherichia coli were able to transform five different A. nidulans acuD mutants. Transformation using plasmids containing the cloned fragment resulted in integration at the acuD locus in six of nine transformants.     

Cloning of genes involved in negative regulation of production of extracellular enzymes and polysaccharide of Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris

Summary A recombinant plasmid pIJ3079 contains DNA sequences from Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris involved in coordinate negative regulation of production of the extracellular enzymes protease, endoglucanase, amylase and polygalacturonate lyase, and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). Wild-type bacteria harbouring pIJ3079 and therefore carrying extra copies of the gene(s) therein showed reduced enzyme and EPS production and reduced aggresiveness to plants. Localised Tn5 mutagenesis of the corresponding region of the genome gave mutants producing higher levels of enzymes and EPS than the wild type, suggesting that the gene(s) may negatively regulate production in the normal cell. Enzyme and EPS production in the mutants was still dependent on previously characterised positive regulatory genes.     

Exchange of colicin receptor capacity between strains of Escherichia coli sensitive or resistant to colicin K-K235

Phage and colicin-resistant mutants were derived from Escherichia coli K-12P678. Two classes of phage T6 and colicin K-resistant mutants (genotype tsx) were isolated. Tsx-2 mutants, which demonstrated mucoid growth and increased sensitivities to many antibiotics, became sensitive to colicin K when pretreated with ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), whereas Tsx-1 mutants did not. Reassociation of EDTA-released material partially restored resistance to colicin K for Tsx-2 mutants. When EDTA-released material from strain P678 was associated with either class of K-resistant mutant, an increase in colicin K sensitivity resulted. Observations suggest that colicin K can act on its target site once it penetrates the cell surface. In addition, results suggest that functional colicin K receptors can be transferred from sensitive to resistant strains, thus conferring colicin sensitivity.Non-standard Abbreviations SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Purification and characterization of pectin lyase secreted by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium citrinum</Emphasis>

The importance of various parameters such as sugarcane juice concentration, pH of the medium, and effects of different solid supports for maximum secretion of pectin lyase from Penicillium citrinum MTCC 8897 has been studied. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The molecular mass determined by SDS-PAGE was 31 kDa. The K _m and k _cat values were found to be 1 mg/ml and 76 sec⁻¹, respectively. The optimum pH of the purified pectin lyase was 9.0, though it retains activity in the pH 9.0–12.0 range when exposed for 24 h. The optimum temperature was 50°C, and the pectin lyase was found to be completely stable up to 40°C when exposed for 1 h. The purified pectin lyase was found efficient in retting of Linum usitatissimum, Cannabis sativa, and Crotalaria juncea. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 7, pp. 985–992.     

Genetic analysis of the parB+ locus of plasmid R1

Summary Megaplasmid DNA from mutants has been analysed physically for deletions and insertions in order to identify the location of hydrogenase (hox) genes in Alcaligenes eutrophus. Four classes of mutants have been examined: mutants defective in genes coding for soluble NAD-dependent hydrogenase (hoxS), mutants impaired in the membrane-bound hydrogenase (hoxP), mutants altered in the regulation of hox gene expression (hoxC) and mutants with lesions in the carbon dioxide fixing enzyme system (cfx). A comparison of the restriction patterns with EcoRI, BamHI and HindIII, complementation studies with cloned DNA and DNA - DNA hybridization experiments showed that genes coding for hox and cfx are clustered on a 100-kb region of the 450-kb plasmid pHG1.     

Pyruvate formate lyase inRhodospirillum rubrum Ha adapted to anaerobic dark conditions

The fermatation metabolism ofRhodospirillum rubrum Ha was studied after adaptation of both light-anaerobic and dark aerobic to dark anaerobic conditions.Pyruvate was metabolized to acetate, formate, CO₂ and propionate by suspensions of cells adapted to anaerobiosis. Pyruvate cleavage to formate accounted for about two-thirds of the pyruvate decomposed. This process was catalyzed by a coenzyme A dependent pyruvate formate lyase. In carboxylate- and nucleotide-free extracts, the substrate concentrations for half-maximal velocity [S]_0.5V were found to be 1.5 mM for pyruvate and 75 M for coenzyme A.Pyruvate formate lyase could practically not be demonstrated in light-anaerobic photosynthesizing cells. Lyase activity was low at a basic level in darkaerobic respiring cells. After adaptation of both types of cells under growth conditions to dark anaerobiosis lyase activity increased about 10-fold. Highest levels could be observed in cells grown aerobically in the dark on pyruvate after transition to dark anaerobic conditions. It is concluded that pyruvate formate lyase is the characteristic key enzyme of the dark-anaerobic fermentative metabolism ofR. rubrum Ha.     

Purine transport by Malpighian tubules of pteridine-deficient eye color mutants of Drosophila melanogaster

Uptakes of guanine into Malpighian tubules of wild-type Drosophila and the eye color mutants white (w), brown (bw), and pink-peach (p ^p) have been compared. Tubules for each of these mutants are unable to concentrate guanine intracellularly. The transport of xanthine and riboflavin is also deficient in w tubules. The transport of guanosine, adenine, hypoxanthine, and guanosine monophosphate is similar in wild-type and white Malpighian tubules. These data and other information about these mutants make it likely that these pteridine-deficient eye color mutants do not produce pigments because of the inability to transport a pteridine precursor. This view supports the hypothesis that mutants which lack both pteridine and ommochromes do so because precursors to both classes of pigments share a common transport system.This work was supported by Grant GM22366 from NIH.     

Overexpression of alginate lyase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>, purification,and characterization of the recombinant alginate lyase

The alyPEEC gene encoding alginate lyase from marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii IAM 14594 was subcloned into pBAD24 with arabinose promoter and sequenced, and overexpressed in TOP10 strain of E. coli after arabinose induction. Expression levels of alyPEEC gene in E. coli cells were over 39.6-fold higher than those in P. elyakovii IAM 14594 cells. The molecular mass of purified alginate lyase from the engineered E. coli cells was estimated to be 32.0 kDa. Optimum pH and temperature of the alginate lyase activity were 7.0 and 30 °C, respectively. The enzyme was unstable on heating and in acidic and alkaline solution. The enzyme activity was stimulated by the MgCl₂, NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, BaCl₂ and MnCl₂, but was inhibited by the addition of 1.0 mM of EGTA, EDTA, SDS, ZnSO₄, AgNO₃, and CoCl₂. All the alginate, polyM and polyG could be converted into oligosaccharides with more than tetrasaccharides by the purified recombinant alginate lyase, suggesting that the recombinant alginate lyase produced by the engineered E. coli has highly potential application in seaweed genetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Cloning and Characterization of Alginate Lyase from a Marine Bacterium Streptomyces sp. ALG-5

A marine bacterium was isolated from seaweeds for its ability to degrade alginate. Analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA sequence and chemotaxonomic characterizations revealed that the strain belongs to Streptomyces. The alginate lyase gene of Streptomyces sp. ALG-5 was cloned by using PCR with the specific primer designed from homologous nucleotide sequences. The consensus sequences of N-terminal YXRSELREM and C-terminal YFKAGXYXQ were conserved in the ALG-5 alginate lyase gene. The recombinant alginate lyase was purified by using Ni-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The alginate lyase appears to be poly-guluronate lyase degrading poly-G block preferentially than poly-M block. The degraded products were determined to be di-, tri-, tetra- and pentasaccharides by using BioGel P-2 gel filtration chromatography and ionization mass spectroscopy method.     

Isolation and characterisation of transposon-induced mutants of Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica exhibiting reduced virulence

Summary The blackleg pathogen Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica (Eca) causes an economically important disease of potatoes. We selected a genetically amenable Eca strain for the genetic analysis of virulence. Tn5 mutagenesis was used to generate nine mutants which exhibited reduced virulence (Rvi^-) of strain SCRI1043. Following physiological characterisation, mutants were divided into three classes: (1) auxotrophs; (2) extracellular enzyme mutants; and (3) a growth rate mutant. The isolation of these Rvi^- mutants has allowed us to consider some factors that affect Eca virulence.     

A cluster of cell division genes maps to the terC region of the chromosome of Escherichia coli K-12

Thirty-nine cell division mutants were isolated in Escherichia coli K-12 and were mapped in the terminus region of the chromosome, between 33.5 and 36 min. They were obtained by two different approaches involving specific mutagenesis of the terC region. The mutants could be divided into eight classes (I to VIII) based on their map position and phenotype at the restrictive temperature, and constitute a new cell division gene cluster.     

Isolation of stable aroA mutants of Salmonella typhi Ty2: properties and preliminary characterisation in mice

Summary Derivatives of the Salmonella typhi strain Ty2 carrying stable mutations in the aroA gene were isolated. The mutations were generated by transducing an aroA::Tn10 marker into Ty2 and selecting for derivatives which were tetracyline sensitive and dependent on aromatic compounds for growth. Isolates that did not revert to aromatic compound independence at a detectable frequency were obtained. An S. typhimurium derived aroA specific DNA probe was used to demonstrate the presence of DNA rearrangements in the aroA region of the chromosome of some of the S. typhi aroA mutants. Most of these isolates still expressed Vi antigen. Aromatic compound dependent mutants of S. typhi were less virulent in mice than S. typhi Ty2 following intraperitoneal challenge with bacteria suspended in mucin. Mice immunised with one of these mutants, named WBL85-1, were protected against a potentially lethal challenge of S. typhi Ty2.     

Essential Cysteine Residues in Bacillus subtilis Spore Photoproduct Lyase Identified by Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis

Endospore-forming bacteria (Bacillus and Clostridium spp.) are highly ultraviolet (UV) resistant and repair UV-induced DNA damage in part using the spore-specific DNA repair enzyme spore photoproduct (SP) lyase. SP lyase in all known sporeformers contains four conserved cysteine residues; three absolutely conserved residues are located at the “Radical SAM” consensus (C91xxxC95xxC98), which presumably participates in [4Fe-4S] cluster formation. A fourth conserved cysteine, the function of which is unknown, is located at C141 in SP lyase from all Bacillus spp. sequenced to date. To probe the function of the fourth cysteine, each conserved cysteine in the B. subtilis SP lyase was systematically altered to alanine by site-directed mutagenesis. UV-visible spectroscopy of wild-type and mutant SP lyases indicated that C141 does not participate in [4Fe-4S] formation and redox chemistry; however, in vivo SP lyase activity was abolished in all mutants, indicating an essential role for C141 in SP lyase activity.     

Fine structure of the arg-7 cistron in Chlamydomonas reinhardi

Summary In Chlamydomonas reinhardi, the arg-7 cistron is the structural gene for the enzyme argininosuccinate lyase which catalyzes the last reaction in the biosynthesis of arginine.Fourteen mutants (nine previously analyzed and five new mutants) defective in the lyase have been investigated so far: they all map within a cistron (length: 1.0–1.6 recombination units) of the linkage group I and fall within six groups of complementation. The enzyme activity found in the diploids formed by intragenic complementation was always lower than in wild-type haploid or diploid strains. The study of the denaturation curves obtained by heat treatment of the lyase indicates that in some diploids, several enzyme varieties can be present.These results and those previously obtained with diploids formed by intragenic and intergenic complementation (Matagne and Loppes, 1972; Matagne, 1976) are discussed in relation to the recent data showing that the argininosuccinate lyase is a multimeric enzyme probably composed of five identical polypeptide chains (Matagne and Schlösser, 1977)     

Characterization of citrate lyase from Clostridium sporosphaeroides

Cells of Clostridium sporosphaeroides which were grown on citrate contained citrate lyase and citrate lyase acetylating enzyme, but no detectable citrate synthase and citrate lyase deacetylase activities. Citrate lyase from C. sporosphaeroides was purified to homogeneity as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography. In contrast to the enzyme from Clostridium sphenoides, the addition of l-glutamate was not necessary for activity and stabilization of the enzyme. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 34 U/mg protein and was comparable to other citrate lyases with respect to its molecular weight and subunit composition. Electron microscopic investigations showed that similar to the lyase from C. sphenoides and in contrast to all other citrate lyases examined so far, the majority of the enzyme molecules was present in star form.