Transformation of Haemophilus influenzae by plasmid RSF0885 containing a cloned segment of chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid.

A plasmid containing a single cloned insertion of Haemophilus influenzae chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid that carried a novobiocin resistance marker was 2.6 times larger than the parent plasmid, RSF0885, which conferred ampicillin resistance. The most frequent type of transformation by this plasmid (designated pNov1) was the transfer of novobiocin resistance to the chromosome, with the loss of the plasmid from the recipient. In accord with this observation, after radioactively labeled pNov1 entered a competent cell, it lost acid-insoluble counts, as well as biological activity. The level of ampicillin transformation, which involved establishment of the plasmid, was almost two orders of magnitude lower than the level of novobiocin transformation. Both types of transformation were depressed profoundly in rec-1 and rec-2 mutants. Ampicillin transformants of wild-type cells always contained plasmids that were the same size as pNov1, although most of these transformants were not novobiocin resistant. Plasmid pNov1 in wild-type cells but not in rec-1 or rec-2 cells often recombined with the chromosome, causing a homologous region of the chromosome to be substituted for part of the plasmid, as shown by restriction and genetic analyses. Our data suggested that plasmid-chromosome recombination took place only around the time when the plasmid entered a cell, rather than after it became established.     

Novobiocin resistance marker in Haemophilus influenzae that is not expressed on a plasmid.

The plasmid pNov2, carrying a cloned chromosomal marker conferring resistance to at least 2.5 micrograms of novobiocin per ml, was constructed with a new Haemophilus influenzae cloning vehicle, pDM2. The novobiocin marker of pNov2 was not normally expressed, but in Rec+ cells approximately one in 10(4) cells in a culture of a transformant became novobiocin resistant, a frequency about four orders of magnitude higher than the spontaneous mutation frequency. Variants of such cells that had lost the plasmid were also novobiocin resistant. Since Rec- cultures bearing pNov2 showed novobiocin resistance only at the normal mutation frequency, we concluded that the Rec+ novobiocin-resistant transformants arose because of a rare recombination between plasmid and chromosome in which the chromosome acquired the novobiocin marker from the plasmid. Evidence is presented that novobiocin sensitivity is dominant over this particular novobiocin resistance marker.     

Modulation of gene expression by drugs affecting deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase.

Nalidixic acid (Nal), a drug which affects deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase activity, inhibits the expression of catabolite-sensitive genes: the three maltose operons, the lactose and galactose operons, and the tryptophanase gene. A correlation between the degree of sensitivity to Nal and that to catabolite repression has been observed. The expression of the threonine and tryptophan operons, insensitive to catabolite repression, is insensitive to Nal. The expression of the lacZ gene under the control of the IQ promoter is activated by Nal. Strains carrying a mutation in the nalA locus are resistant to these effects. Novobiocin, which inhibits the negative supercoiling activity of deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase, affects expression of the operons similarly to Nal. The involvement of promoters in Nal and novobiocin action, as well as a possible role of in vivo negative supercoiling in the selectivity of gene expression, are discussed.     

Effect of nalidixic acid and novobiocin on pBR322 genetic expression in Escherichia coli minicells.

The effects of two deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) gyrase inhibitors, nalidixic acid and novobiocin, on the gene expression of plasmid pBR322 in Escherichia coli minicells were studied. Quantitative estimates of the synthesis of pBR322-coded polypeptides in novobiocin-treated minicells showed that the synthesis of a polypeptide of molecular weight of 34,000 (the tetracycline resistance protein) was reduced to 11 to 20% of control levels, whereas the amount of a polypeptide of 30,500 (the beta-lactamase precursor) was increased to as much as 200%. Nalidixic acid affected the synthesis of the tetracycline resistance protein similarly to novobiocin, although to a lesser extent. The effects of nalidixic acid were not observed in a nalidixic-resistant mutant; those induced by novobiocin were only partially suppressed in a novobiocin-resistant mutant. The synthesis of one of the inducible tetracycline-resistant proteins (34,000) coded by plasmid pSC101 was also reduced in nalidixic acid- and novobiocin-treated minicells. These results suggest that the gyrase inhibitors modified the interaction of ribonucleic acid polymerase with some promoters, either by decreasing the supercoiling density of plasmid DNA or by altering the association constant of the gyrase to specific DNA sites.     

Competence Mutant of Haemophilus influenzae with Abnormal Ratios of Marker Efficiencies in Transformation

In studies of competence-deficient mutants of Haemophilus influenzae which absorb deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) but fail to produce transformants, it was observed that in some mutants the residual transforming activity for different markers varied widely, i.e., produced a ratio effect. One of these mutants, com⁻⁵⁶, was studied intensively to determine the cause of the residual efficiency of transformation and the reason for the ratio effect. The residual frequency of transformation was higher for markers considered single-site mutations (like naladixic acid resistance), whereas the least efficient markers tested were those conferring resistance to high levels of streptomycin or novobiocin which are more complex than single-site mutations. Measurement of frequencies of cotransformation indicated that overall genetic linkage was reduced. Transfection was fairly efficient with phage S2 DNA, but not prophage DNA. Donor marker activity could be detected in transformed cell lysates, but not linked to recipient markers in recombinant molecules. Sucrose gradient analysis of such lysates revealed that donor material was associated with recipient DNA in at least normal quantities, but lacked detectable genetic activity. Material from donor DNA labeled with heavy isotopes was incorporated into recipient chromosomal fragments having a density indistinguishable from normal density, unlike the hybrid density recombinant material found in normal cells. No excessive solubilization or nicking of unincorporated donor was detected. It is postulated that this strain contains a hyperactive nuclease, which reduces the effective size of the input DNA during the integration process.     

Reversions of two proline-requiring auxotrophs of Haemophilus influenzae by n-methyl-n'-nitro-n-nitrosoguanidine and hydrazine.

New mutation detection systems are described for Haemophilus influenzae. They involve two independently isolated proline auxotrophs which appear to be mutants at different sites in a proline locus (proB) that is very closely linked to a locus (thd) for thymidine requirement. One of the mutants, proB1, appears to revert to prototrophy only by mutations at the locus. The other, proB2, reverts both by mutation at the locus and by unlinked suppressors. The latter account for about 90% of the reversions induced by MNNG and by HZ. The close linkage of proB to thd was used to distinguish between true revertants and suppressors by a transformation test. A comparison was made between the mutation induction kinetics of the different classes of revertants and mutations to novobiocin resistance with MNNG and HZ. The very different induction kinetics for these two mutagens previously reported for the novobiocin resistance system were also found for the proline systems. There were some differences between the detection systems, however, in the frequency of induced mutation relative to the spontaneous frequency and, in one case, in the form of the induction curve. It is concluded that the major features of the induction curves reflect the amount of damage done to DNA and so are general for all systems, but that there are some features which are locus-or site-specific.     

The acrAB homolog of Haemophilus influenzae codes for a functional multidrug efflux pump.

Disruption of gene HI0894 or HI0895 in Haemophilus influenzae Rd, homologs of Escherichia coli acrAB multidrug efflux genes, caused hypersusceptibility to erythromycin, rifampin, novobiocin, and dyes such as ethidium bromide and crystal violet and increased accumulation of radioactive erythromycin, showing that these genes are expressed and contribute to the baseline level resistance of this organism through active drug efflux. The gene disruption did not produce detectable changes in susceptibility to several other antibiotics, possibly because rapid influx of small antibiotic molecules through the large H. influenzae porin channels counterbalances their efflux.     

Similarity in properties and mapping of three Rec mutants of Haemophilus influenzae.

Three Rec- mutants of Haemophilus influenzae have been studied with respect to their transformability, ultraviolet and mitomycin C sensitivities, spontaneous and ultraviolet-induced deoxyribonucleic acid breakdown, inducibility of lysogens, and the linkage of the three mutations to a streptomycin resistance marker. The data indicate that the three mutations cause the same phenotypic changes, and that they are all on the same gene. Transformability of the mutants is different when two different media are used for competence development, although transformability with the two competence methods is not different in a Rec- strain that is mutant at another gene.     

Homology Between the Deoxyribonucleic Acids of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae

To determine the degree of homology between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Haemophilus influenzae and that from Haemophilus parainfluenzae, the two DNAs were hybridized by the membrane-filter technique. It was found that 44% of the DNA from each species was sufficiently homologous to allow hybrid formation.     

Loss of plasmids containing cloned inserts coding for novobiocin resistance or novobiocin sensitivity in Haemophilus influenzae.

Plasmids pNov1 and pNov1s , coding for resistance and sensitivity to novobiocin, respectively, were readily lost from wild-type Haemophilus influenzae but retained in a strain lacking an inducible defective prophage. The plasmid loss could be partly or wholly eliminated by a low-copy-number mutation in the plasmid or by the presence of certain antibiotic resistance markers in the host chromosome. Release of both phage HP1c1 , measured by plaque assay, and defective phage, measured by electron microscopy, was increased when the plasmids were present. The frequency of recombination between pNov1 and the chromosome, causing the plasmid to be converted to pNov1s , could under some circumstances be decreased from the normal 60 to 70% to below 10% by the presence of a kanamycin resistance marker in the chromosome. This suggested that a gene product coded for by the plasmid, the expression of which was affected by the kanamycin resistance marker, was responsible for the high recombination frequency. Evidence was obtained from in vitro experiments that the gene product was a gyrase.     

New nalidixic acid resistance mutations related to deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase activity.

In Escherichia coli K-12 mutants which had a new nalidixic acid resistance mutation at about 82 min on the chromosome map, cell growth was resistant to or hypersusceptible to nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, piromidic acid, pipemidic acid, and novobiocin. Deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase activity as tested by supercoiling of lambda phage deoxyribonucleic acid inside the mutants was similarly resistant or hypersusceptible to the compounds. The drug concentrations required for gyrase inhibition were much higher than those for cell growth inhibition but similar to those for inhibition of lambda phage multiplication. Transduction analysis with lambda phages carrying the chromosomal fragment of the tnaA-gyrB region suggested that one of the mutations, nal-31, was located on the gyrB gene.     

Specific inhibition of outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis spores by novobiocin.

Spores of a Bacillus subtilis mutant temperature sensitive in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication proceeded through outgrowth at the nonpermissive temperature to the same extent as the wild-type parent spores. In contrast, the DNA synthesis inhibitor novobiocin completely prevented spore outgrowth while displaying a marginal effect on logarithmic growth during one generation time. Inhibition of outgrowth by novobiocin occurred in the absence of DNA replication, as demonstrated in an experiment with spores of the temperature-sensitive DNA synthesis mutant at the restrictive temperature. Novobiocin inhibited the initial rate of ribonucleic acid synthesis to the same extent in germinated spores and in exponentially growing cells. A novobiocin-resistant mutant underwent normal outgrowth in the presence of novobiocin. Therefore, novobiocin inhibition was independent of its effect on chromosome replication per se.     

Physiological factors affecting transformation of Azotobacter vinelandii.

Cells of Azotobacter vinelandii (ATCC 12837) can be transformed by exogenous deoxyribonucleic acid towards the end of exponential growth. Transformation occurs at very low frequencies when the deoxyribonucleic acid is purified or when the transformation is carried out in liquid medium. Optimal transformation occurs on plates of Burk nitrogen-free glucose medium containing either high phosphate (10 mM) or low calcium (0 to 0.29 mM) content. Higher levels of calcium are inhibitory, whereas magnesium ions are essential for transformation and growth. Extracellular polymer and capsule are increasingly inhibitory to transformation and are most abundant when the calcium content of the medium is high. Transformation is optimal at pH 7.0 to 7.1 and at 30 C, conditions which also coincide with minimal extracellular polymer production. Nonencapsulated strains are excellent transformation recipients. Glycine-induced pleomorphism reduces the transformation frequency and the degree of inhibition is dependent on the phosphate concentration of the medium. Rifampin resistance and shifts from adenine, hypoxanthine, uracil, and nitrogenase auxotrophy to prototrophy can be achieved. Although single marker transfer is always greater than double marker transfer, the data suggest that rifampin resistance is linked to hypoxanthine, adenine and uracil protorophy at intervals of increasing distance. Rifampin resistance did not appear to be linked to nitrogenase.     

Restriction enzymes do not play a significant role in Haemophilus homospecific or heterospecific transformation.

Competent Haemophilus influenzae Rd recipients, either as phage HP1 restricting (r+) or nonrestricting (r-) nonlysogens or defective lysogens, were exposed to deoxyribonucleic acids from various wild-type phage HP1 lysogenic H. influenzae serotype strains (non-encapsulated derivatives of serotypes a,b, c, d, and e), to DNA from lysogenic Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, and to DNA from modified and nonmodified phage HP1. Transformation of antibiotic resistance markers and of prophage markers in homospecific crosses was observed to be unaffected by the recipient restriction phenotype, whereas the transfection response was much reduced in r+ recipients. Heterospecific transformation of prophage markers was reduced by only 80 to 90%, whereas antibiotic resistance marker transformation was 1,000 to 10,000 times lower. Heterspecific transfection was at least 100 times lower than homospecific transfection in both r+ and r- recipients. The general conclusion is that neither class I nor class II restriction enzymes affect significantly the transformation efficiency in homospecific and heterospecific crosses. The efficiency of heterospecific transformation may depend mainly on the deoxyribonucleic acid homology in the genetic marker region.     

Loss of activity of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid after uptake by Haemophilus influenzae

Voll, Mary Jane (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), and Sol H. Goodgal. Loss of activity of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid after uptake by Haemophilus influenzae. J. Bacteriol. 90:873-883. 1965.-Transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which has been irreversibly removed from solution by competent cells undergoes a progressive loss in marker activity when tested by lysis of the cells and exposure to new recipient cells. The loss of activity is limited and marker-specific, with greater inactivation of those markers with lower efficiencies of transformation. Recipient factors or donor factors which have undergone recombination, as measured by the appearance of linked markers, do not undergo inactivation. The efficiency of transformation can be correlated with the sensitivity of a marker to inactivation after DNA uptake. A mutation which affects the efficiency of transformation is found to increase sensitivity to postuptake inactivation. The rate of inactivation is temperature-dependent. At temperatures of 20 and 45 C, marker inactivation can occur without concomitant recombination. During the uptake process, DNA is retained in an acid-insoluble form, indicating that the fate of Haemophilus influenzae DNA differs from the fate of transforming DNA in pneumococcus.     

Mutagenic and lethal action of polychromatic near-ultraviolet (325-400 nm) on Haemophilus influenzae in the presence of nitrogen

The lethal effect of polychromatic near-UV light (325-400 nm) on Haemophilus influenzae was 8 times higher under aerobic than anaerobic irradiation. This light increased the frequency of mutation to novobiocin resistance and ability to utilize protoporphyrin IX. The slope of mutagenic effect at low doses appeared greater for the aerobic than for the anaerobic group. We concluded that polychromatic near-UV mutation of H. influenzae under anaerobic irradiation was caused by direct oxygen-independent action on DNA.     

Mutation at the "exit gate" of the salmonella gyrase a subunit suppresses a defect in the gyrase B subunit

In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, an S431P substitution in the B subunit of gyrase (allele gyrB651) confers resistance to nalidixic acid and causes reduced DNA superhelicity and hypersensitivity to novobiocin. Selection for novobiocin resistance allowed isolation of a mutation in the gyrA gene (allele gyrA659), a T467S substitution, which partially suppresses the supercoiling defect of gyrB651. Modeling analysis suggests that this mutation acts by destabilizing the GyrA bottom dimer interface. This is the first example of a gyrA mutation that compensates for a gyrB defect.     

Nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for the penicillin-binding protein 2 of Staphylococcus aureus and the presence of a homologous gene in other staphylococci

Abstract During growth of Streptomyces niveus wild-type in the novobiocin production medium CDM the resistance of mycelia to novobiocin rises from about 25 μg/ml to over 200 μg/ml. ( S. lividans , a novobiocin-sensitive strain, is resistant to approx. 10 μg/ml novobiocin.) The initial period of low level resistance extends from the time of inoculation of the culture until approx. 70 h when the culture is still in the growth phase. High level resistance is initiated before the start of novobiocin production and rises rapidly to a maximum level beyond the end of the growth phase. The rise in pH of the unbuffered CDM medium which occurs during S. niveus fermentation was shown not to be the cause of the change in novobiocin resistance. However, mycelia-free CDM from S. niveus cultures expressing high level novobiocin resistance was shown to contain a factor which induced high level novobiocin resistance in germinating S. niveus spores. Kinetic studies revealed that the inducer first appears in the culture medium before the switch to high level resistance begins and reaches its highest concentration before resistance reaches its maximum level.     

tRNA synthetase mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 are resistant to the gyrase inhibitor novobiocin

In previous studies we demonstrated that mutations in the genes cysB, cysE, and cls (nov) affect resistance of Escherichia coli to novobiocin (J. Rakonjac, M. Milic, and D. J. Savic, Mol. Gen. Genet. 228:307-311, 1991; R. Ivanisevic, M. Milic, D. Ajdic, J. Rakonjac, and D. J. Savic, J. Bacteriol. 177:1766-1771, 1995). In this work we expand this list with mutations in rpoN (the gene for RNA polymerase subunit sigma54) and the tRNA synthetase genes alaS, argS, ileS, and leuS. Similarly to resistance to the penicillin antibiotic mecillinam, resistance to novobiocin of tRNA synthetase mutants appears to depend upon the RelA-mediated stringent response. However, at this point the overlapping pathways of mecillinam and novobiocin resistance diverge. Under conditions of stringent response induction, either by the presence of tRNA synthetase mutations or by constitutive production of RelA protein, inactivation of the cls gene diminishes resistance to novobiocin but not to mecillinam.