Cloning and sequencing of cDNA for mouse liver metallothionein-I

Metallothionein mRNA was purified from liver of mice injected with cadmium. The corresponding double-stranded cDNA was prepared and inserted into the PstI site of plasmid pBR322. The resulting recombinant DNA was used to transform the RR1 strain of $\text{Escherichia}\text{coli}$. Clones resistant to tetracycline and sensitive to ampicillin were screened for the presence of metallothionein-specific restriction fragments in their plasmids. One plasmid, called M135, contains a cDNA insert covering the entire length of the mRNA for mouse liver metallothionein-I, except for the first 18 bases at the 5′ end.     

Molecular cloning in plasmid pBR322 giving altered expression of the tetracycline resistance gene

The two HindIII fragments of polyoma virus DNA were cloned in the HindIII site of plasmid pBR322, a site located in the RNA polymerase promoter involved in the expression of tetracycline resistance. Although insertion of foreign DNA into this site did not always result in the complete loss of tetracycline resistance, Escherichia coli K12 strain chi 1776 harbouring recombinant plasmids exhibited reduced growth properties in liquid culture with tetracycline and could easily be differentiated from bacteria transformed by non-recombinant plasmids. The formation of plasmid multimers increased the resistance to tetracycline at the level of the induction period, presumably as a result of a gene dosage effect.     

Construction of restriction enzyme fragment libraries containing DNA from human adenovirus types 2 and 5

Restriction-fragment libraries containing adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) DNA have been constructed, using the pBR322 plasmid (Bolivar et al., 1977) as a vector. Clones have been isolated which contain all the HindIII fragments of Ad2 DNA except the terminal G- and K-fragments inserted into the HindIII cleavage site of the vector. All the 13 SmaI-fragments of Ad2 DNA were separately inserted into the PstI site of the pBR322 vector after addition of homopolymeric poly(dG) tails to the fragments and poly(dC) tails to the linearized plasmid. Two large fragments of adenovirus type 5 (AD5) DNA, located between map positions 17.0 and 59.5 and between map positions 59.5 and 97.3, respectively, were cloned using bacteriophage lambda as a vector. All clones, which are described in the present report, are available upon request.     

Cloning of bacteriophage T5 DNA fragments in the plasmid pBR322. Analysis of recombinant plasmids by the method of bonding with RNA-polymerase from Escherichia coli on nitrocellulose filters

DNA of bacteriophage T5 was hydrolyzed with restriction endonucleases HindIII and BamHI, and subjected to the combined hydrolysis with BamHI+EcoRI and BamHI+ +HindIII. Fragments obtained were cloned in the plasmid pBR322. About 17% of T5 genome were recovered in recombinant plasmids. Cloned fragments were localized on the physical map of the phage by restriction analysis and Southern hybridization. With the aim of direct cloning of T5 promoters, PstI/HindIII fragments were inserted into pBR322 followed by selection of recombinants on ApsTCr phenotype. Binding of BsuRI and AluI fragments of hybrid plasmids with E. coli RNA polymerase was studied by nitrocellulose filter assay. The fragments, which were capable to form heparin resistant complexes were identified.     

The specific uptake of cloned Haemophilus DNA.

During the process of transformation $\text{Haemophilus}\text{influenzae}$ cells bind its own DNA but little or no foreign DNA. This specificity for recognition of DNA was studied by cloning Haemophilus DNA in $\text{E. coli}$. Haemophilus DNA fragments were cloned using plasmid pBR322 as a vector. The fragment cH7 cloned in pBR322 was found to be homologous to Haemophilus DNA and shown to bind irreversibly to competent Haemophilus cells. The fact that cH7 isolated from $\text{E. coli}$ lacks Haemophilus modification leads to the conclusion that modification does not play a role in the uptake mechanism. Uptake specificity is a function of recognition sequences that reside in DNA itself.     

Metal resistance and plasmid DNA in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

The minimal inhibitory concentrations of copper and nickel were determined for each of fifteen isolates of T. ferrooxidans native to a Cu/Ni tailings environment. Ten isolates were inhibited by 160 mM Cu,²⁺ or less, and ten were inhibited by 160 mM Ni²⁺or less. The isolates were screened for plasmid DNA using an alkaline lysis method and CCC plasmid forms were confirmed using the Hintermann technique. Two isolates were found to be devoid of plasmid DNA, and only one isolate contained more than two plasmids. Variability existed in plasmid size, although the majority were larger than the standard pBR322 (4.3 kbp). One plasmid was selected for further analysis using restriction endonucleases. EcoRI, HindIII and KpnI all cleaved the plasmid in two locations, and PstI cleaved the plasmid in six locations. PstI-digested fragments of the plasmid were ligated into pBR322, and the recombinant plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli ATCC 8739. Four genetically-different transformants resulted, and each was grown in media containing 2.0 mM Cu²⁺ and compared to the growth of a control under similar conditions. There was no conferred copper resistance in E. coli, although one recombinant plasmid appeared to decrease the tolerance for E. coli ATCC 8739 to Cu²⁺.     

Interference of plasmid pCM194 with lysogeny of bacteriophage SP02 in Bacillus subtilis.

Three observations indicated that the 2-megadalton chloramphenicol resistance plasmid pCM194 interferes with SP02 lysogeny of Bacillus subtilis. SP02 plaques formed on B. subtilis(pCM194) appeared almost clear, whereas plaques produced on plasmid-free or pUB110-containing cells contained large turbid centers. The number of phages spontaneously liberated by B. subtilis(SP02) was increased 10-fold or more when pCM194 was also present in the lysogens. Lastly, growth of B. subtilis(SP02, pCM194) for approximately 20 to 25 generations resulted in essentially complete loss of the prophage. This interference was not observed with pUB110 or pE194, and the pCM194 interference was not directed against B. subtilis temperate phage phi 105, which is unrelated to SP02. Lytic replication of SP02 appeared to be unaffected by pCM194. pCM194 interference with SP02 lysogeny was demonstrable in recombination-proficient strains and a recE mutant of B. subtilis. SP02 prophage which were noninducible due to the phage ind mutation were resistant to pCM194 interference. pCM194 interference was lost when the entire pCM194 molecule was joined at its unique HpaII site or at one of the two MboI sites to pUB110 or pUB110 derivatives. pBR322 joined to pCM194 at the same MboI site or at the HindIII site produced chimeras that retained the ability to interfere with SP02 lysogeny. A three-part plasmid constructed by joining pBR322 to pCM194 (at HindIII sites) and to pE194 (at PstI sites) was compatible with the SP02 prophage and showed a temperature-sensitive replication phenotype characteristic of the pE194 replicon. One explanation for the interference involves competition for a host component between an SP02 genome attempting to establish lysogeny and plasmids whose replication is directed by the pCM194 replicon.     

Evolution of the nucleotide sequence of influenza virus RNA segment 7 during drift of the H3N2 subtype

The complete genetic information contained in the influenza virus RNA segment 7 of the A/Bangkok/ $\text{1}\text{79}$ (H3N2) strain has been cloned by in vitro synthesis of the complementary dsDNA and its insertion into plasmid pBR322. The nucleotide sequence of the viral RNA segment has been determined from the cDNA insert. It is 1027 nucleotides long, and contains two open reading frames, as shown for other influenza virus strains. When compared with the previously published sequence for the A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) strain, 15 nucleotide exchanges are observed, most of them silent mutations, and only two causing amino acid changes in each of the M1 and M2 protein sequences.     

Cloning of a cDNA complementary to rat preputial gland β-glucuronidase mRNA

Messenger RNA was isolated from rat preputial glands by guanidine HCl extraction, ethanol and salt precipitation, followed by chromatography on oligo(dT) cellulose. Double-stranded cDNA was synthesized from the mRNA and inserted into the Pst 1 site of the plasmid pBR322 by the poly(dG)·poly(dC) tailing and annealing procedure. The hybrid plasmids were used to transform $\text{E. coli}$ HB101. Recombinant clones were screened for those containing cDNA inserts complementary to β-glucuronidase mRNA by a hybridization-selection procedure. One clone, containing an insert of about 1.2 kilobases, hybridized to preputial gland mRNA which, when translated $\text{in vitro}$, gave a product that migrated with the β-glucuronidase subunit on polyacrylamide gels.     

A pSC101-derived plasmid which shows no sequence homology to other commonly used cloning vectors

We have constructed a plasmid cloning vector, pGB2, which is derived from the Escherichia coli plasmid pSC101. The plasmid, which specifies resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin, contains unique restriction sites for the enzymes HindIII, PstI, SalI, BamHI, SmaI and EcoRI. pGB2 shows no sequence homology, as detected by DNA-DNA hybridization, to several widely used vectors such as pBR322, pUC8 and phage lambda L47.1. Amongst other applications, DNA fragments can be cloned into the plasmid and then radioactive plasmid DNA can be used as a probe to screen recombinant DNA libraries.     

Expression in Escherichia coli of urokinase antigenic determinants

Hybrid genes were constructed between the β-lactamase gene of plasmid pBR322 and enzymatically synthesized DNA sequences coding for urokinase-like material. The recombinant plasmids, pULB1013 and pULB1010, contain DNA inserts of 220 and 535 base pairs respectively, which appear to be in the correct reading frame. The hybrid genes are expressed in $\text{Escherichia coli}$ and their products are specifically immunoprecipitated with antiserum to urokinase. In addition injection into a rabbit of a crude extract from the clone pULB1010 leads to the production of specific antibodies against urokinase.     

Construction and characterization of new cloning vehicles. IV. Deletion derivatives of pBR322 and pBR325

In vitro recombinant DNA experiments involving restriction endonuclease fragments derived from the plasmids pBR322 and pBR325 resulted in the construction of two new cloning vehicles. One of these plasmids, designated pBR327, was obtained after an EcoRII partial digestion of pBR322. The plasmid pBR327 confers resistance to tetracycline and ampicillin, contains 3273 base pairs (bp) and therefore is 1089 bp smaller than pBR322. The other newly constructed vector, which has been designated pBR328, confers resistance to chloramphenicol as well as the two former antibiotics. This plasmid contains unique HindIII, BamHI and SalI sites in the tetracycline resistance gene, unique PvuI and PstI sites in the ampicillin resistance gene and unique EcoRI, PvuII and BalI sites in the chloramphenicol resistance gene. The pBR328 plasmid contains approx. 4900 bp.     

Construction and characterization of new cloning vehicles. III. Derivatives of plasmid pBR322 carrying unique Eco RI sites for selection of Eco RI generated recombinant DNA molecules.

In vitro recombinant DNA techniques were used to construct two new cloning vehicles, pBR324 and pBR235. These vectors, derived from plasmid pBR322, are relaxed replicating elements. Plasmid pBR324 carries the genes from pBR322 coding for resistance to the antibiotics ampicillin (Apr) and tetracycline (Tcr) and the colicin E1 structural and immunity genes derived from plasmid pMBI. Plasmid pBR325 carries the Apr and Tcr genes from pBR322 and the cloramphenicol resistance gene (Cmr) from phage P1Cm. In these plasmids the unique EcoRI restriction site present in the DNA molecule is located either in the colicin E1 structural gene (pBR324) or in the Cmr gene (pBR325). These vectors were constructed in order to have a single EcoRI site located in the middle of a structural gene which when inactivated would allow, for the easy selection of plasmid recombinant DNA molecules. These plasmids permit the molecular cloning and easy selection of EcoRI, BamHI, HindIII, PstI, HincII, SalI, (XamI), Smal, (XmaI), BglII and DpnII restriction generated DNA molecules.     

Construction of plasmid vectors that facilitate subcloning and recovery of yeast and Escherichia coli DNA fragments

We have constructed a plasmid vector (pNF2) which is a derivative of the multicopy yeast cloning vehicle YEp24. This derivative contains a single BamHI site flanked immediately on each side by SalI sites. The latter site was selected because it appears to be infrequent in yeast nuclear DNA. Thus, DNA fragments produced by partial digestion with enzymes (such as Sau3A) that cut at frequent intervals and leave single-stranded ends that have sequence homology with BamHI sites, can be conveniently subcloned into this site. Such fragments can then be excised intact by digestion with SalI enzyme. Plasmid pNF2 also contains the kanamycin-resistance (kanR) gene derived from Tn903 and confers resistance in yeast to the antibiotic G418. pNF2 was converted into an integrating vector (pNF3) by deleting a 2.2-kb EcoRI fragment containing a sequence that determines autonomous replication in yeast. Further deletion of a HindIII fragment containing the yeast URA3 gene converts the plasmid into one containing only pBR322 sequences plus the kanR gene (pNF4).