Identification and characterization of the origin of conjugative transfer (oriT) and a gene (nes) encoding a single-stranded endonuclease on the staphylococcal plasmid pGO1.

The genes mediating the conjugative transfer of the 52-kb staphylococcal plasmid pGO1 are within a 14.4-kb gene cluster designated trs. However, a clone containing trs alone cannot transfer independently and no candidate oriT has been found within or contiguous to trs. In this study, we identified a 1,987-bp open reading frame (ORF) 24 kb 3' and 13 kb 5' to trs that was essential for conjugative transfer: transposon insertions into the ORF abolished transfer and a plasmid containing the ORF could complement these transposon-inactivated pGO1 mutants for transfer. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of this ORF revealed significant homology between the amino terminus of its predicted protein and those of several single-stranded endonucleases. In addition, a 12-bp DNA sequence located 100 bp 5' to the ORF's translational start site was identical to the oriT sequences of the conjugative or mobilizable plasmids RSF1010, pTF1, R1162, pSC101, and pIP501. The ability of the ORF, designated nes (for nicking enzyme of staphylococci), to generate a single-stranded nick at the oriT was demonstrated in Escherichia coli by alkaline gel and DNA sequence analysis of open circular plasmid DNA. Plasmids that could be converted to the open circular form by the presence of oriT and nes could also be mobilized at high frequency into Staphylococcus aureus recipients with a second plasmid containing only trs. We propose that the 14.4 kb of trs and the approximately 2.2 kb of the oriT-nes region, coupled with an origin of replication, make up the minimal staphylococcal conjugative replicon.     

An 'elaborated' pseudoknot is required for high frequency frameshifting during translation of HCV 229E polymerase mRNA.

The RNA polymerase gene (gene 1) of the human coronavirus 229E is approximately 20 kb in length and is located at the 5' end of the positive-strand genomic RNA. The coding sequence of gene 1 is divided into two large open reading frames, ORF1a and ORF1b, that overlap by 43 nucleotides. In the region of the ORF1a/ORF1b overlap, the genomic RNA displays two elements that are known to mediate (-1) ribosomal frameshifting. These are the slippery sequence, UUUAAAC, and a 3' pseudoknot structure. By introducing site-specific mutations into synthetic mRNAs, we have analysed the predicted structure of the HCV 229E pseudoknot and shown that besides the well-known stem structures, S1 and S2, a third stem structure, S3, is required for a high frequency of frameshifting. The requirement for an S3 stem is independent of the length of loop 2.     

Identification of polypeptides encoded in open reading frame 1b of the putative polymerase gene of the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus A59.

The polypeptides encoded in open reading frame (ORF) 1b of the mouse hepatitis virus A59 putative polymerase gene of RNA 1 were identified in the products of in vitro translation of genome RNA. Two antisera directed against fusion proteins containing sequences encoded in portions of the 3'-terminal 2.0 kb of ORF 1b were used to immunoprecipitate p90, p74, p53, p44, and p32 polypeptides. These polypeptides were clearly different in electrophoretic mobility, antiserum reactivity, and partial protease digestion pattern from viral structural proteins and from polypeptides encoded in the 5' end of ORF 1a, previously identified by in vitro translation. The largest of these polypeptides had partial protease digestion patterns similar to those of polypeptides generated by in vitro translation of a synthetic mRNA derived from the 3' end of ORF 1b. The polypeptides encoded in ORF 1b accumulated more slowly during in vitro translation than polypeptides encoded in ORF 1a. This is consistent with the hypothesis that translation of gene A initiates at the 5' end of ORF 1a and that translation of ORF 1b occurs following a frameshift at the ORF 1a-ORF 1b junction. The use of in vitro translation of genome RNA and immunoprecipitation with antisera directed against various regions of the polypeptides encoded in gene A should make it possible to study synthesis and processing of the putative coronavirus polymerase.     

家蚕浓核病毒 Bm DNV-3(中国株)VD1基因组结构与转录分析

为了进一步认识家蚕浓核病毒BmDNV-3(中国株)VD1基因组的结构和功能,VD1被分离、纯化、克隆到pUC119载体上,完成了基因组全序列的测定。序列分析显示VD1基因组全长为6543个核苷酸,末端拥有224个核苷酸反向重复序列(ITRs)。VD1基因组正链含有3个大的开放阅读框(ORF1-3),负链含有1个大的开放阅读框(ORF4)。比较BmDNV-3的VD1和BmDNV-2(Yamanashiisolate)的VD1基因组全序列,两者同源性为98.4%,并且有107个碱基的替代和1个碱基插入,氨基酸突变集中在VD1ORF3和VD1ORF4。Northern杂交结果显示VD1的左边正链上有1.1kb和1.5kb两个转录本,右边的负链上有一个3.3kb转录本。3′和5′-RACE结果显示1.1kb转录本开始于nt290,结束于nt1437;1.5kb转录本开始于nt1423,结束于nt2931;3.3kb转录本开始于nt6287,结束于nt2922。正链上1.5kb转录本和负链上3.3kb转录本拥有10个核苷酸的3′端的共同序列。研究结果显示该病毒基因转录与已报道的其它浓核病毒存在较大的差异性。     

Analysis of the sequence of a new cryptic plasmid, pRJF2, from a rumen bacterium of the genus Butyrivibrio: Comparison with other Butyrivibrio plasmids and application in the development of a cloning vector

Abstract A small cryptic plasmid, pRJF2, from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens strain OB157 was isolated and sequenced. The plasmid is similar in organisation to the previously sequenced Butyrivibrio plasmid, pRJF1, with two open reading frames, ORF1 and ORF2, flanking a region tentatively identified as the replication origin, and a region of unknown function defined by terminal 79 bp invert repeats. The sequences of ORF1, ORF2, and the presumptive replication origin are highly conserved. The sequence between the 79 bp invert repeats is not, and is therefore presumed to be of lesser functional significance, although the 5' and 3' termini are still highly conserved. The functional importance for plasmid replication of these regions was tested by constructing potential shuttle vectors, each lacking one or more of the regions of interest. When the region between the invert repeats was deleted and replaced by the erythromycin resistance gene from pAM β1 together with pUC18, to produce the 7.9 kb chimaeric plasmid pYK4, the construct was successfully transformed into E. coli and B. fibrisolvens by electroporation, and was stably maintained in both hosts. Both ORF1 and ORF2 were required for successful transformation of B. fibrisolvens .     

Molecular characterization of the gyrB region of the oral spirochete, Treponema denticola

The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the Treponema denticola (Td) DNA gyrase beta-subunit gene (gyrB) has been determined. Southern blot analysis of Td chromosomal DNA indicated that gyrB is present as a single copy. Approximately 3.2kb of the nt sequence 5' and 0.7kb of nucleotide sequence 3' of gyrB were obtained. Analysis of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence revealed two complete open reading frames (ORFs) (ORF1 and ORF3) and a truncated ORF (ORF4'). ORF1 has no homology to sequences in the databases, whereas ORF3 and ORF4' have significant homology to several bacterial DnaA (replication initiator) and DnaE (DNA polymerase III) proteins respectively. RT-PCR data showed that orf1-gyrB are co-transcribed, while dnaA-dnaE are co-transcribed but in the opposite direction. These data indicated that the gene organization of the Td gyrB region is unique compared with that of other bacteria. Eighteen putative DnaA boxes with several AT-rich regions were identified in the dnaA-dnaE intergenic region, and three putative DnaA boxes were identified in the gyrB-dnaA intergenic region. Spontaneous coumermycin A(1)-resistant Td mutants were isolated and characterized. The mutants have a >20-fold higher resistance to coumermycin A(1) than wild-type Td. A single point mutation in gyrB that changed GyrB Lys(136) to Glu or Thr appears to be responsible for the coumermycin A(1) resistance.     

Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis of the cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene from Podospora anserina. A group IA intron with a putative alternative splice site

A 5 kb region of the 95 kb mitochondrial genome of Podospora anserina race s has been mapped and sequenced (1 kb = 10(3) base-pairs). This DNA region is continuous with the sequence for the ND4L and ND5 gene complex in the accompanying paper. We show that this sequence contains the gene for cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII). This gene is 4 kb in length and is interrupted by a subgroup IB intron (1267 base-pairs (bp) in length) and a subgroup IA intron (1992 bp in length). This group IA intron has a long open reading frame (ORF; 472 amino acid residues) discontinuous with the upstream exon sequence. A putative alternative splice site is present, which brings the ORF into phase with the 5' exon sequence. The 5'- and 3'-flanking regions of the COII gene contain G + C-rich palindromic sequences that resemble similar sequences flanking many Neurospora crassa mitochondrial genes.     

Gene organization in the multiple DNA inversion region min of plasmid p15B of E.coli 15T-: assemblage of a variable gene.

The bacteriophage P1-related plasmid p15B of E. coli 15T- contains a 3.5 kb long region which frequently undergoes complex rearrangements by DNA inversion. Site-specific recombination mediated by the Min DNA invertase occurs at six crossover sites and it eventually results in a population of 240 isomeric configurations of this region. We have determined 8.3-kb sequences of the invertible DNA and its flanking regions. The result explains how DNA inversion fuses variable 3' parts to a constant 5' part, thereby alternatively assembling one out of six different open reading frames (ORF). The resulting variable gene has a coding capacity of between 739 and 762 amino acids. A large portion of its constant part is composed of repeated sequences. The p15B sequences in front of the variable fusion gene encode a small ORF and a phage-specific late promoter and are highly homologous to P1 DNA. Adjacent to the DNA invertase gene min, we have found a truncated 5' region of a DNA invertase gene termed psi cin which is highly homologous to the phage P1 cin gene. Its recombinational enhancer segment is inactive, but it can be activated by the substitution of two nucleotides.     

The carboxyl-terminal part of the putative Berne virus polymerase is expressed by ribosomal frameshifting and contains sequence motifs which indicate that toro- and coronaviruses are evolutionarily related.

Sequence analysis of the 3' part (8 kb) of the polymerase gene of the torovirus prototype Berne virus (BEV) revealed that this area contains at least two open reading frames (provisionally designated ORF1a and ORF1b) which overlap by 12 nucleotides. The complete sequence of ORF1b (6873 nucleotides) was determined. Like the coronaviruses, BEV was shown to express its ORF1b by ribosomal frameshifting during translation of the genomic RNA. The predicted tertiary RNA structure (a pseudoknot) in the toro- and coronaviral frameshift-directing region is similar. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the predicted BEV ORF1b translation product revealed homology with the ORF1b product of coronaviruses. Four conserved domains were identified: the putative polymerase domain, an area containing conserved cysteine and histidine residues, a putative helicase motif, and a domain which seems to be unique for toro- and coronaviruses. The data on the 3' part of the polymerase gene of BEV supplement previously observed similarities between toro- and coronaviruses at the level of genome organization and expression. The two virus families are more closely related to each other than to other families of positive-stranded RNA viruses.     

Molecular analysis of a complex locus from Haemophilus influenzae invoked in phase-variable lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis

A chromosomal locus, lic3, one of several involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis by Haemophilus influenzae, was cloned and its DNA sequence determined. lic3 comprises four closely apposed open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 includes tandem repeats of the tetramer CAAT and two start codons out of frame with each other are found upstream of the repeats. ORF1 encodes a protein with no known homologues. ORF2 encodes the UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (galE) gene. ORF3 encodes a hydrophobic protein with no known homologues. ORF4 encodes the adenylate kinase (adk) gene. A deletion/insertion mutation lacking the 3' end of ORF1, all of galE, and the 5' end of ORF3 was constructed in the parent Hib strain (RM7004). These mutants had a galE phenotype, as evidenced by galactose sensitivity, altered LPS when grown in the absence of exogenous galactose, and reduced virulence in infant rats.     

Nucleotide sequence of the LYS2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: homology to Bacillus brevis tyrocidine synthetase 1

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS2 gene, which encodes alpha-aminoadipate reductase, an essential enzyme in the yeast lysine biosynthetic pathway, has been sequenced. A large open reading frame (ORF) has been identified which can specify a 1392-amino acid protein with a deduced Mr of 155,344. A DNA database search using the translated LYS2 ORF as a probe has revealed significant aa sequence homology to the Bacillus brevis enzyme tyrocidine synthetase 1.     

人促红细胞生成素基因组基因的克隆及全序列分析

为了克隆到全长的人促红细胞生成素基因,从而在真核系统中及转基因动物乳腺中进行表达,从一个中国人的血细胞中提取基因组ＤＮＡ,构建了不完全基因组噬菌体文库,文库效价为５×１０４．这种文库的构建方法是用ＢａｍＨⅠ对基因组ＤＮＡ进行完全酶切,回收１０．５ｋｂ左右的酶切片段,插入到λ－噬菌体ＥＭＢＬ３载体中．筛选文库所使用的探针是用ＰＣＲ方法从基因组ＤＮＡ模板中扩增的５５６ｂｐ的ＥＰＯ基因片段．从该文库中筛选到了一个含有完整ＥＰＯ基因的插入片段长度为１２．５ｋｂ的阳性克隆．经全序列分析证实,所克隆的ＥＰＯ基因编码正确,但在５′－侧翼及第一内含子处与国外发表的序列相比较,发现两处核苷酸差异,这两个核苷酸的差异改变了５′－调控区的两个小的开放阅读框——ＯＲＦ１和ＯＲＦ３,其在基因表达调探方面的作用值得进一步探讨．