N-terminal methionine in recombinant proteins expressed in two different Escherichia coli strains

Two genes coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and human interferon gamma, respectively, were overexpressed constitutively in two different strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli LE392 and E. coli XL1). The N-terminal amino acid analysis of the purified proteins showed that: (a) the N-terminal methionine is processed more efficiently in E. coli LE392 rather than in E. coli XL1 cells; (b) the N-terminal methionine is removed better from the heterologous human interferon gamma in comparison with the homologous chloramphenicol acetyltransferase protein: and (c) there is no strong correlation between the efficiency of N-terminal procession and the yield of recombinant protein.     

Dr fimbriae coding region associated hemolytic activity of Escherichia coli

Abstract Escherichia coli LE392 (pAL28) was previously isolated as a positive clone harboring the alginate lyase gene ( aly ) from an alginate-degrading strain, Pseudomonas sp. OS-ALG-9. The plasmid pAL205, one of the constructs obtained after successive subcloning of pAL28, gave the highest expression of aly in E. coli cells. A 8-fold increase in the alginate lyase (Aly) activity in E. coli JM109 (pAL205) was induced with isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactoside, which was 210 times higher than that in E. coli LE392 (pAL28). The highly significant increase in the expression of the Aly enzyme with pAL205 was investigated through the nucleotide sequence around the 5' region of aly as well as the N -terminal sequence of the purified enzyme. It was found that the Aly expressed in E. coli (pAL205) was a fused protein containing 7 residues from the N -terminus of β-galactosidase α-peptide and the mature protein found in the Pseudomonas sp. except for three residues in the N -terminal.     

Mass-spectral analysis of human interferon-gamma and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase I produced in two Escherichia coli strains

Recombinant human interferon-gamma and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase I were isolated from two Escherichia coli strains, E. coli LE329 and E. coli XL1-blue and characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The ESI-MS analysis showed higher masses in comparison with the theoretically calculated for both proteins as well as unexpected molecular heterogeneity. The ESI-MS spectral patterns of the proteins depended on the host strain used and were more heterogenous for the proteins isolated from E. coli LE392. One of the proteins (human interferon-gamma obtained from E. coli XL1-blue) was further subjected to BrCN cleavage. The ESI-MS analysis of the polypeptide mixture revealed shift in the molecular mass for two peptides including the last 26 amino acids of the human interferon-gamma molecule.     

Constitutive expression of a native human interferon-alpha 1 gene in Escherichia coli

1. A plasmid for constitutive expression of the human interferon-alpha 1 (hIFN-alpha 1) gene in Escherichia coli is constructed on the basis of the cloning plasmid pBR322 using a strong synthetic promoter, synthetic ribosome binding site and a native hIFN-alpha 1 gene excised from a chromosomal clone. 2. The yield of recombinant hIFN-alpha 1 from E. coli LE392 cells transformed with the expression plasmid pJP1R9-hIFN-alpha 1 is evaluated to be 2-6 x 10(7) U/l bacterial culture for metabolic shaker and 6-8 x 10(7) U/l for fermentor.     

Cloning of chromosomal genes of Lactococcus by heterologous complementation: Partial characterisation of a putative lactose transport gene

A cosmid gene library of the genome of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 712 has been constructed in the broad host range plasmid pLAFR1 in Escherichia coli LE392. Three lactococcal genes from the bank were identified by heterologous complementation of specific mutations in strains of E. coli. A cosmid clone encoding a putative lactose transport gene was identified by complementing an E. coli lacY mutant. The complemented clone supported the uptake of 14C lactose in transport assays. The DNA fragment responsible was subcloned and localised to a 1.28 kb fragment of the lactococcal chromosome.     

Properties of genetically overproducedE. coli xylose isomerase

Summary Xylose isomerase was purified from a transformedE. coli strain (LE392-pRK248/pTXI-1) (Lastick et al., 1986) that overproduces the enzyme by induction of the strong lambda P_L promotor. Kinetic data, N-terminal sequence analysis, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography and immunodiffusion were used to compare the overproduced enzyme with xylose isomerase purified from xylose induced, non-transformedE. coli LE392 cells; no differences between these purified enzyme preparations were found.     

Immunoprotective extracellular polysaccharides of Klebsiella aerogenes capsular type K1, expressed in Escherichia coli

A gene library of genomic DNA Klebsiella aerogenes of capsular serotype K1 was constructed in E. coli LE392 using the cosmid pMMB33. Culture filtrates of E. coli recombinants were screened by ELISA for extracellular polysaccharides specific for K. aerogenes K1. Extracellular polysaccharide extracts from K. aerogenes K1 and 3% of the E. coli recombinants contained immunoprotective extracellular polysaccharides (IEP) with similar chemical and immunological properties as shown by gel filtration through Sephacryl 1000, double immunodiffusion and mouse protection tests. IEPs contained no detectable protein, had molecular weights of several hundred million and protected mice against lethal autologous K. aerogenes K1 challenge at a dosage of 10 nanograms per mouse.     

Immunoprotective extracellular polysaccharides of Klebsiella aerogenes capsular type K1, expressed in Escherichia coli

Abstract A gene library of genomic DNA Klebsiella aerogenes of capsular serotype K1 was constructed in E. coli LE392 using the cosmid pMMB33. Culture filtrates of E. coli recombinants were screened by ELISA for extracellular polysaccharides specific for K. aerogenes K1. Extracellular polysaccharide extracts from K. aerogenes K1 and 3% of the E. coli recombinants contained immunoprotective extracellular polysaccharides (IEP) with similar chemical and immunological properties as shown by gel filtration through Sephacryl 1000, double immunodiffusion and mouse protection tests. IEPs contained no detectable protein, had molecular weights of several hundred million and protected mice against lethal autologous K. aerogenes K1 challenge at a dosage of 10 nanograms per mouse.     

Molecular cloning and analysis of genes for production of K5, K7, K12, and K92 capsular polysaccharides in Escherichia coli.

With a DNA fragment from within the region encoding the transport functions for K1 production as a hybridization probe in Southern blot experiments, homologous DNA sequences were detected in the DNA from Escherichia coli strains producing K5, K7, K92, and K100 capsular polysaccharides. No homology with the laboratory strain LE392 was detected. The same DNA probe was used to prescreen cosmid libraries in LE392 by colony hybridization, as a rapid method to isolate clones encoding the genes for K5, K7, K12, and K92 antigen production. Clones carrying sequences homologous to the probe that also produced capsular material were identified by using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised against the K antigen in question and K antigen-specific phages. By restriction enzyme mapping of the appropriate cosmid clones it was possible to align the genes for the production of different K antigens in terms of common restriction endonuclease cleavage sites. A DNA fragment encoding the postulated transport functions for K7 antigen production could complement deletion mutations in the transport functions for K1 antigen production. Thus the transport to the cell surface of chemically distinct polysaccharides may be by a common process. Analysis in E. coli of the proteins produced by plasmids carrying the likely transport functions for K1, K5, and K7 antigen production revealed that each region coded for a similar polypeptide.     

Antibiotic resistant mutants of Escherichia coli K12 show increases in heterologous gene expression

Using a variety of antibiotics, it was found that nine separate isolates of spontaneous antibiotic resistant mutants of Escherichia coli K12 pPSX-vioABCDE overproduce the anti-tumour antibiotic violacein. Subsequent analysis showed that seven of these mutations occurred on the plasmid pPSX-vioABCDE. The other two overproducing strains carried spontaneous chromosomal mutations to lincomycin and kanamycin. The kanamycin resistant mutant of E. coli K12 DH10B (AA23) and a lincomycin resistant mutant of E. coli K12 LE392 (AA24) increased the synthesis of violacein. The plasmid pPSX-vioABCDE opv-1 contains a violacein over-production (opv-1) mutation which when introduced into either E. coli K12 AA23 or AA24, resulted in a hyper-production of violacein. Remarkably, E. coli K12 AA23 pPSX-vioABCDE opv-1 produced 41 times the normal level of violacein. In addition, both E. coli K12 AA23 and E. coli K12 AA24 demonstrated an increase in expression of an alpha amylase gene from Streptomyces lividans and the urease gene cluster from Klebsiella oxytoca. These results suggest that selection of antibiotic resistant mutants can increase heterologous gene expression in E. coli K12. Additionally, the increased expression is a general effect applicable to genes and gene clusters cloned into E. coli K12 from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.     

Comparison of the flagellins from different flagellar morphotypes of Escherichia coli.

The molecular weights of the flagellins of 13 strains of Escherichia coli, each with a different H antigen, were estimated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In each case only one major polypeptide was demonstrated, although some strains possessed apparently sheathed flagella. Considerable differences in the molecular weight of flagellin accompanied the previously described structural differences between flagella from strains with different H antigens. The relationship between flagellar diameter and the molecular weight of the corresponding flagellins was similar for both unsheathed and apparently sheathed flagella. Crosss-polymerization occurred between seed consisting of fragment of unsheathed flagella and flagellin solution from apparently sheathed flagella and vice versa. Co-polymerization of flagellin from unsheathed flagella and flagellin from apparently sheathed flagella was also demonstrated. These polymerization experiments indicate that the assembly pattern of flagellin molecules is probably the same in all E. coli flagella. The above and other evidence suggests that there is no true sheath, but that the differences in flagellar surface structure between different E. coli flagella are the result of differences in the superficial parts of the flagellin molecules.     

Low cost device for electrotransformation and its application to the highly efficient transformation of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.

A simple, low cost device for electrotransformation has been designed and constructed. The cost of the circuit was only $150. Maximum field strength of 12,000 V/cm with an actual time constant up to 11 msec was obtained with a newly designed circuitry and a 0.1-cm electrode gap cuvette. Eschericia coli strains DH1, DH5 alpha, and LE392 were transformed at an efficiency of 10(9)/micrograms DNA with plasmids pUC18 and pBR322. E. faecalis strain OG1X was transformed at an efficiency of 0.9 x 10(5)/micrograms DNA without treatment with glycine.     

High efficiency transformation of E. coli by high voltage electroporation.

E. coli can be transformed to extremely high efficiencies by subjecting a mixture of cells and DNA to brief but intense electrical fields of exponential decay waveform (electroporation). We have obtained 10(9) to 10(10) transformants/micrograms with strains LE392 and DH5 alpha, and plasmids pUC18 and pBR329. The process is highly dependent on two characteristics of the electrical pulse: the electric field strength and the pulse length (RC time constant). The frequency of transformation is a linear function of the DNA concentration over at least six orders of magnitude; and the efficiency of transformation is a function of the cell concentration. Most of the surviving cells are competent with up to 80% transformed at high DNA concentration. The mechanism does not appear to include binding of the DNA to the cells prior to entry. Possible mechanisms are discussed and a simple procedure for the practical use of this technique is presented.     

抗鞘翅目δ－内毒素 及毒素基因文库的构建

研究了对鞘翅目昆虫有毒效的5个苏云金芽孢杆菌新菌株YM-03、Sph04-04、YK14-01、SH11-05、Sph16-01伴孢晶体的蛋白质组成,以柳蓝叶甲为供试虫测定了它们的LC_(50)值,其中YM-03毒力最高。测定了YM-03晶体蛋白N-末端部分氨基酸序列。用琼脂糖凝胶电泳快速检测了5株菌的质粒组成,证明其质粒图型各不相同。以广谱的cosmid质粒pLAFRI为载体,通过限制酶EcoRI部分酶解获得“目的”DNA片段,构建了菌株YM-03的总DNA文库,对17个抗性克隆的质粒进行酶切分析表明,其中含有外源片段的克隆占总数的76％,超过要求的理论值。以人工合成的杀鞘翅目基因的18bp保守序列片段为探针,筛选了近1200个抗性克隆,获得了3个阳性克隆,LE392(PBYM2)、LE392(pBYM3)和LE392(pBYM4),毒力测定试验表明LE392(pBYM3)和LE392(pBYM4)有一定表达,表明其携带有δ-内毒素基因。     

Identification of carotenoids in Erwinia herbicola and in a transformed Escherichia coli strain

The yellow pigments of Erwinia herbicola Eho 10 and of a transformed Escherichia coli LE392 pPL376 have been identified as carotenoids. HPLC separation, spectra and in some cases mass spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of phytoene (15-cis isomer), beta-carotene (all-trans, 9-cis and 15-cis), beta-cryptoxanthin ( = 3-hydroxy beta-carotene), zeaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy beta-carotene) and corresponding carotene glycosides. In addition, lycopene and gamma-carotene accumulated in the presence of the inhibitor 2-(4-chlorophenylthio)-triethylamine.HCl. Carotenoid content in the transformed E. coli was two-fold higher than in E. herbicola. The pattern of the carotenoids was similar in the two organisms. Inactivation of the katF gene in E. coli resulted in an 85% lowering of carotenoid formation, as did the addition of 0.5% glucose to the medium. Suppression of carotenoid formation by inactivation of the katF gene lowered, but did not abolish, the protection offered by carotenoids against inactivation by alpha-terthienyl plus near-ultraviolet light (320-400 nm).     

Penetration of fimbriate enteric bacteria through basement membranes: A hypothesis

A mechanism for penetration of basement membranes by Escherichia coli is presented. The mechanism is based on the ability of the S fimbriae of meningitis-associated E. coli to bind to vascular endothelium and choroid plexuses in brain and to basement membranes. On the other hand, the S and the type 1 fimbriae of E. coli immobilize plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator; this process generates proteolytic plasmin activity on the surface of fimbriate cells. Our hypothesis is that bacterium-bound plasma activity, directed to basement membranes through fimbrial binding, promotes bacterial penetration through basement membranes.     

Identification and characterization of novel tPA- and plasminogen-binding sites within fibrin(ogen) alpha C-domains

Molecular defects in the alphaC-domains of some abnormal fibrinogens have been associated with impaired fibrin-mediated activation of plasminogen (Pg) by its activator tPA, suggesting the involvement of these domains in fibrinolysis. To test this suggestion, we expressed in E. coli the alphaC-fragment (residues Aalpha221-610) corresponding to the entire alphaC-domain as well as its NH(2)- and COOH-terminal halves (residues Aalpha221-391 and Aalpha392-610) and tested their effects on activation of Pg and their interaction with Pg and tPA. When the activation was monitored by cleavage of a chromogenic substrate with newly formed plasmin, the reaction was much more efficient in the presence of the alphaC-fragment. This stimulation was abolished upon digestion of the alphaC-fragment with plasmin. In surface plasmon resonance experiments, both tPA and Pg bound to the immobilized alphaC-fragment with K(d)s of 33 and 32 nM, respectively. Similar results were obtained by ELISA. This binding occurred via independent sites since saturating amounts of Pg did not prevent binding of tPA and vice versa. Both sites were localized in the COOH-terminal half of the alphaC-domain since the Aalpha392-610 fragment bound both tPA and Pg and was an effective stimulator whereas Aalpha221-391 was inactive. These results indicate that the fibrinogen alphaC-domains contain novel high-affinity tPA- and Pg-binding sites that play an important role in the regulation of fibrinolysis.     

Identification of a common enterobacterial flagellin epitope with a monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated 15D8, was produced from BALB/c splenocytes of mice injected with Escherichia coli flagella. ELISA of motile cells, non-motile cells and partially purified flagellin proteins showed that the mAb reacted specifically with flagella of E. coli and with other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Western immunoblot analyses of enterobacterial flagella or cell extracts demonstrated that the antibody reacted with a single protein species in the extracts which was identical in size to purified flagellin. The antigenic determinant for this antibody appears to be surface exposed and linear in configuration, since the antibody reacted with native flagella and flagella which had been denatured. This antibody was also used to demonstrate that although the flagella proteins are heterogeneous in size, at least one epitope is highly conserved.     

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli AL511 requires flagellum to enter renal collecting duct cells

Escherichia coli is the leading cause of urinary tract infections, but the mechanisms governing renal colonization by this bacterium remain poorly understood. We investigated the ability of 13 E. coli strains isolated from the urine of patients with pyelonephritis and cystitis and normal stools to invade collecting duct cells, which constitute the first epithelium encountered by bacteria ascending from the bladder. The AL511 clinical isolate adhered to mouse collecting duct mpkCCD_cl4 cells, used as a model of renal cell invasion, and was able to enter and persist within these cells. Previous studies have shown that bacterial flagella play an important role in host urinary tract colonization, but the role of flagella in the interaction of E. coli with renal epithelial cells remains unclear. An analysis of the ability of E. coli AL511 mutants to invade renal cells showed that flagellin played a key role in bacterial entry. Both flagellum filament assembly and the motor proteins MotA and MotB appeared to be required for E. coli AL511 uptake into collecting duct cells. These findings indicate that pyelonephritis-associated E. coli strains may invade renal collecting duct cells and that flagellin may act as an invasin in this process.