A combined in vitro / in vivo selection for polymerases with novel promoter specificities

Background  

The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from T7 bacteriophage (T7 RNAP) has been extensively characterized, and like other phage RNA polymerases it is highly specific for its promoter. A combined in vitro / in vivo selection method has been developed for the evolution of T7 RNA polymerases with altered promoter specificities. Large (10³ – 10⁶) polymerase libraries were made and cloned downstream of variant promoters. Those polymerase variants that can recognize variant promoters self-amplify both themselves and their attendent mRNAs in vivo. Following RT / PCR amplification in vitro, the most numerous polymerase genes are preferentially cloned and carried into subsequent rounds of selection.     

T7 RNA polymerase functions in vitro without clustering

Many nucleic acid polymerases function in clusters known as factories. We investigate whether the RNA polymerase (RNAP) of phage T7 also clusters when active. Using 'pulldowns' and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy we find that elongation complexes do not interact in vitro with a K(d)<1 μM. Chromosome conformation capture also reveals that genes located 100 kb apart on the E. coli chromosome do not associate more frequently when transcribed by T7 RNAP. We conclude that if clustering does occur in vivo, it must be driven by weak interactions, or mediated by a phage-encoded protein.     

Soluble expression of cloned phage K11 RNA polymerase gene in Escherichia coli at a low temperature.

The gene 1 of the Klebsiella phage K11 encoding the phage RNA polymerase was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction of the Pfu DNA polymerase, cloned and expressed under the control of tac promoter in Escherichia coli. Although the gene was efficiently expressed in E. coli BL21 cells at 37 degrees C, most of the K11 RNA polymerase produced was insoluble, in contrast to soluble expression of the cloned T7 RNA polymerase gene. Coexpression of the bacterial chaperone GroES and GroEL genes together did not help solubilize the K11 RNA polymerase. When the temperature of cell growth was lowered, however, solubility of the K11 RNA polymerase was increased substantially. It was found much more soluble when expressed at 25 degrees C than at 30 and 37 degrees C. Thus, the cloned K11 RNA polymerase gene was expressed in E. coli mostly to the soluble form at 25 degrees C. The protein was purified to homogeneity by chromatography using DEAE-Sephacel and Affigel-blue columns and was found to be active in vitro with the K11 genome or a K11 promoter. The purified K11 RNA polymerase showed highly stringent specificity for the K11 promoter. Low-level cross-reactivity was shown with the SP6 and T7 consensus promoters, while no activity shown with the T3 consensus promoter at all.     

A T7 RNA polymerase-dependent gene expression system for Bacillus megaterium

Gene expression systems based on the RNA polymerase of the bacteriophage T7 are often the ultimate choice for the high level production of recombinant proteins. During the last decade, the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium was established as a useful host for the intra- and extracellular production of heterologous proteins. In this paper, we report on the development of a T7 RNA polymerase-dependent expression system for B. megaterium. The system was evaluated for cytosolic and secretory protein production with green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequoria victoria as intracellular and Lactobacillus reuteri levansucrase as extracellular model protein. GFP accumulated rapidly at high levels up to 50 mg/l shake flask culture intracellularly after induction of T7 RNA polymerase gene expression. The addition of rifampicin for the inhibition of B. megaterium RNA polymerase led to an increased stability of GFP. L. reuteri levansucrase was also successfully produced and secreted (up to 20 U/l) into the culture supernatant. However, parallel intracellular accumulation of the protein indicated limitations affiliated with the Sec-dependent protein translocation process.     

Dependence of M1 RNA substrate specificity on magnesium ion concentration.

We have constructed a plasmid expressing E. coli M1 RNA, the catalytic RNA subunit of ribonuclease P, under the control of a phage T7 promoter. The active M1 RNA species synthesized in vitro by T7 RNA polymerase from this vector was reacted with the tRNA(Gln) - tRNA(Leu) precursor RNA (Band K) encoded by phage T4. Only the tRNA(Leu) moiety of this dimeric precursor RNA contains the 3' terminal C-C-A sequence common to all tRNAs. We observed that protein-free M1 RNA was capable of processing the precursor RNA at the 5' ends of both tRNA tRNA sequences. The rate of cleavage of the tRNA(Gln) sequence was more strongly dependent on [Mg2+] than that of tRNA(Leu), increasing severalfold between 100 and 500 mM Mg2+, conditions under which the rate of cleavage at the tRNA(Leu) sequence was constant.     

原子力显微镜力谱研究大肠杆菌启动子与RNA聚合酶的相互作用

【目的】本研究通过原子力显微镜(AFM)力谱技术研究了大肠杆菌启动子与RNA聚合酶(RNAp)间的相互作用,目的是建立一种高效的体外表征启动子的新方法。【方法】优化了用于单分子AFM力谱分析的蛋白固定化策略,建立AFM力谱分析启动子的策略,以缺失识别启动子序列的σ亚基核心RNA聚合酶(RNAp-C)为对照,研究启动子/RNAp间相互作用的特异性。最后比较了序列较典型的Ls1启动子和缺失–10区的Ls2启动子的力谱。【结果】基于建立的方法,验证了Ls1与大肠杆菌RNAp结合的特异性,其相互作用力为(331.10±5.10)p N。与Ls1相比,Ls2启动子与RNAp结合显著减少。利用启动子探针质粒,以报告基因cat的表达产物氯霉素乙酰转移酶(CAT)的酶活验证Ls1、Ls2启动子强度,分别为(181.70±4.10)、(0.30±0.20)U/mg。【结论】本研究建立的基于AFM力谱技术的启动子分析技术,是一种高效的、直接定量表征启动子活性的新方法。     

trans activation of the Escherichia coliato structural genes by a regulatory protein from Bacillus megaterium : potential use in polyhydroxyalkanoate production

A Bacillus megaterium genomic fragment, which encoded an activator homologous to σ⁵⁴ regulators and which was capable of activating Escherichia coli ato genes in trans, was detected in a gene library of B.␣megaterium screened for β-ketothiolase activity. The fragment presented only one complete open reading frame (ORF1), which encoded a protein of 398 amino acids. The recombinant plasmid complemented mutations in the Escherichia coli atoC regulatory gene. The constitutive expression of the E. coli ato operon mediated by ORF1 could be useful for the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates with different flexibility properties by recombinant E. coli strains. Received: 20 October 1997 / Received revision: 18 February 1998 / Accepted: 23 February 1998     

Nucleotide sequence of a promoter recognized by Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase

Summary We report the nucleotide sequence of a promoter recognized by RNA polymerase from the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. This promoter, which was isolated from B. subtilis phage SP01 DNA, is homologous to promoters for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase; the sequences of the -35 region and the Pribnow box were 5TTGACT and 5CATAAT, respectively (T is the thymine analog 5-hydroxymethyluracil in SP01 DNA). These sequences each differed by only a single base pair from the preferred sequences for E. coli promoters. Not surprisingly, the SP01 promoter was actively transcribed in vitro by E. coli RNA polymerase as well as by B. subtilis RNA polymerase.     

不同来源RNA聚合酶对霍乱弧菌分型噬菌体VP3启动子的作用

目的:研究不同来源的RNA聚合酶对预测的霍乱弧菌分型噬菌体VP3启动子的作用。方法:以含有预测的VP3启动子区的片段取代质粒pRL-null的T7启动子区,以海肾萤光素酶基因Rluc为报告基因,在霍乱弧菌N16961内检测霍乱弧菌RNA聚合酶对克隆的启动子区的作用;将上述重组质粒和表达VP3 RNA聚合酶的质粒共转化大肠杆菌JM109,检测大肠杆菌和VP3的RNA聚合酶对克隆的启动子区的作用。结果:N16961的RNA聚合酶不能识别并作用于启动子P1、P2、P5、P6、P10和P12,JM109的RNA聚合酶可能识别并作用于启动子P7和P11;只有P2、P7、P8、P9、P13、P16和P17在JM109内可以被克隆表达的VP3 RNA聚合酶识别转录。结论:宿主菌N16961与非宿主菌JM109的RNA聚合酶识别转录VP3启动子的能力不同,可能与噬菌体的宿主特异性有关;VP3的RNA聚合酶对大部分有活性的VP3启动子具有直接启动转录作用,但部分启动子可能需要VP3或宿主蛋白的辅助作用才能表现出更强的活性;VP3启动子对VP3 RNA聚合酶的特异性也不同,P1、P2和P12对VP3的RNA聚合酶具有高度特异性,P7和P11的特异性较弱。