tRNA genes in mycobacteria: organization and molecular cloning.

DNAs from nine mycobacteria cleaved with restriction endonucleases were hybridized with cDNA probes synthesized to tRNAs from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis. The tRNA genes are conserved, but their gross genomic organization has diverged in six of the nine species examined. Organisms of the M. tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv-M. bovis BCG complex appeared to have identical tRNA gene organization and were indistinguishable from each other. M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis tRNA-derived cDNA probes hybridized differentially to tRNA-coding DNA segments in five of the species examined, suggesting the existence of qualitatively different tRNA pools in these slow- and fast-growing species. Mycobacterial DNAs hybridized with cDNA synthesized to 23S plus 16S rRNAs from Escherichia coli, and the data suggested that the tRNA genes map close to the rRNA genes. A gene bank of M. tuberculosis H37Rv DNA was constructed, and a recombinant plasmid, pSB2, coding for tRNA(s) and rRNA(s) was partially characterized. Plasmid pSB2 recognized a SalI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in M. tuberculosis H37Rv and H37Ra; however, the RFLP is not linked to the tRNA-coding region. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an RFLP which distinguishes the pathogenic strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv from its avirulent derivative H37Ra.     

Inactivation of the mycobacterial rhamnosyltransferase, which is needed for the formation of the arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan linker, leads to irreversible loss of viability

Temperature-sensitive mutant 2-20/32 of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 was isolated and genetically complemented with a Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv DNA fragment that contained a single open reading frame. This open reading frame is designated Rv3265c in the M. tuberculosis H37Rv genome. Rv3265c shows homology to the Escherichia coli gene wbbL, which encodes a dTDP-Rha:alpha-D-GlcNAc-pyrophosphate polyprenol, alpha-3-L-rhamnosyltransferase. In E. coli this enzyme is involved in O-antigen synthesis, but in mycobacteria it is required for the rhamnosyl-containing linker unit responsible for the attachment of the cell wall polymer mycolyl-arabinogalactan to the peptidoglycan. The M. tuberculosis wbbL homologue, encoded by Rv3265c, was shown to be capable of restoring an E. coli K12 strain containing an insertionally inactivated wbbL to O-antigen positive. Likewise, the E. coli wbbL gene allowed 2-20/32 to grow at higher non-permissive temperatures. The rhamnosyltransferase activity of M. tuberculosis WbbL was demonstrated in 2-20/32 as was the loss of this transferase activity in 2-20/32 at elevated temperatures. The wbbL of the temperature-sensitive mutant contained a single-base change that converted what was a proline in mc(2)155 to a serine residue. Exposure of 2-20/32 to higher non-permissive temperatures resulted in bacteria that could not be recovered at the lower permissive temperatures.     

结核分枝杆菌持续感染期抗原Rv1733c 的表达、纯化和鉴定

目的:克隆结核分枝杆菌持续感染期抗原Rv1733c基因,构建其原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌中进行表达和纯化。方法:采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法从结核分枝杆菌H37Rv基因组中扩增出Rv1733c基因片段,克隆入pMD18-T载体,序列测定正确后将其亚克隆入原核表达载体pPro-EXHTb,并在大肠杆菌DH5α中进行表达,表达蛋白经SDS-PAGE及Western-blot分析后,以Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化蛋白。结果:成功克隆了Rv1733c基因片段并构建了其原核表达载体pPro-EXHTb-1733c,转化E.ColiDH5α后能表达大小约30 KD的蛋白,Western-blot分析表明表达产物正确。通过亲和层析获得纯化蛋白。结论:成功构建结核分枝杆菌持续感染期抗原Rv1733c原核表达载体pPro-EXHTb-1733c,并获得纯化蛋白,为研究新型结核疫苗的靶抗原奠定了基础。     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis FurA autoregulates its own expression

The furA-katG region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, encoding a Fur-like protein and the catalase-peroxidase, is highly conserved among mycobacteria. Both genes are induced upon oxidative stress. In this work we analyzed the M. tuberculosis furA promoter region. DNA fragments were cloned upstream of the luciferase reporter gene, and promoter activity in Mycobacterium smegmatis was measured in both the presence and absence of oxidative stress. The shortest fragment containing an inducible promoter extends 45 bp upstream of furA. In this region, -35 and -10 promoter consensus sequences can be identified, as well as a 23-bp AT-rich sequence that is conserved in the nonpathogenic but closely related M. smegmatis. M. tuberculosis FurA was purified and found to bind upstream of furA by gel shift analysis. A ca. 30-bp DNA sequence, centered on the AT-rich region, was essential for FurA binding and protected by FurA in footprinting analysis. Peroxide treatment of FurA abolished DNA binding. Three different AT-rich sequences mutagenized by site-directed mutagenesis were constructed. In each mutant, both M. tuberculosis FurA binding in vitro and pfurA regulation upon oxidative-stress in M. smegmatis were abolished. Thus, pfurA is an oxidative stress-responsive promoter controlled by the FurA protein.     

Studies on transfer RNA from mycobacteria.

Active preparations of tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have been isolated from exponentially growing cells of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Though the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases of older cells retain their activity, the tRNAs seem to undergo modification and show poorer activity. The mycobacterial enzyme preparations catalyse homologous and heterologous aminoacylation between tRNA from the two species (M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis H37Rv) or from Escherichia coli, with equal efficiency; tRNA samples from eukaryotic cells (yeast and rat liver) do not serve as substrates for the mycobacterial synthetases. The analytical separation of the different amino acid specific tRNAs from M. smegmatis resembles the pattern found in other bacteria. Purification of valine- (three species) and methionine-specific tRNA (two species) to 70-80% purity has been accomplished by using column-chromatographic techniques. Of the two species of tRNAMet, one can be formylated in the presence of formyl tetrahydrofolate and the transformylase from mycobacteria.     

The significance and effect of tandem repeats within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis leuA gene on alpha-isopropylmalate synthase

The 57-bp tandem repeats located in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis leuA gene code for the alpha-isopropylmalate synthase (alpha-IPMS). It is unique to this pathogen. It was previously demonstrated that the leuA-coding sequence Rv3710, containing the tandem repeats, can be translated to an active alpha-IPMS. The objective of the present study was to investigate the significance and effect of the two 57-bp tandem repeats upon gene expression and the general properties of alpha-IPMS. The putative M. tuberculosis H37Rv leuA gene with and without the tandem repeats was cloned by PCR and expressed in an Escherichia coli host. The enzyme product was studied for general properties, comparing that from a native leuA gene containing two repeats and that from the 57-bp tandem repeats deletion mutant. Upon deletion of the two 57-bp tandem repeats, the expression level of leuA from M. tuberculosis H37Rv was comparable with that of the native form. The general properties of the two types of enzymes were similar. They were both functional with the same range of optimal temperature and optimal pH for activity and with similar enzyme stability. Deletion of the repeats had no detectable effect on leuA expression level or the general properties of the enzyme product.     

The significance and effect of tandem repeats within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis leuA gene on α-isopropylmalate synthase

The 57-bp tandem repeats located in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis leuA gene code for the α-isopropylmalate synthase (α-IPMS). It is unique to this pathogen. It was previously demonstrated that the leuA -coding sequence Rv3710, containing the tandem repeats, can be translated to an active α-IPMS. The objective of the present study was to investigate the significance and effect of the two 57-bp tandem repeats upon gene expression and the general properties of α-IPMS. The putative M. tuberculosis H37Rv leuA gene with and without the tandem repeats was cloned by PCR and expressed in an Escherichia coli host. The enzyme product was studied for general properties, comparing that from a native leuA gene containing two repeats and that from the 57-bp tandem repeats deletion mutant. Upon deletion of the two 57-bp tandem repeats, the expression level of leuA from M. tuberculosis H37Rv was comparable with that of the native form. The general properties of the two types of enzymes were similar. They were both functional with the same range of optimal temperature and optimal pH for activity and with similar enzyme stability. Deletion of the repeats had no detectable effect on leuA expression level or the general properties of the enzyme product.     

Expression, essentiality, and a microtiter plate assay for mycobacterial GlmU, the bifunctional glucosamine-1-phosphate acetyltransferase and N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase

UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is an essential precursor of peptidoglycan and the rhamnose-GlcNAc linker region of mycobacterial cell wall. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genome, Rv1018c shows strong homology to the GlmU protein involved in the formation of UDP-GlcNAc from other bacteria. GlmU is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes two sequential steps in UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis. Glucosamine-1-phosphate acetyl transferase catalyzes the formation of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate, and N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase catalyzes the formation of UDP-GlcNAc. Since inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis often results in cell lysis, M. tuberculosis GlmU is a potential anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug target. In this study we cloned M. tuberculosis Rv1018c (glmU gene) and expressed soluble GlmU protein in E. coli BL21(DE3). Enzymatic assays showed that M. tuberculosis GlmU protein exhibits both glucosamine-1-phosphate acetyltransferase and N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase activities. We also investigated the effect on Mycobacterium smegmatis when the activity of GlmU is fully removed or reduced via a genetic approach. The results showed that activity of GlmU is required for growth of M. smegmatis as the bacteria did not grow in the absence of active GlmU enzyme. As the amount of functional GlmU enzyme was gradually reduced in a temperature shift experiment, the M. smegmatis cells became non-viable and their morphology changed from a normal rod shape to stubby-rounded morphology and in some cases they lysed. Finally a microtiter plate based assay for GlmU activity with an OD340 read out was developed. These studies therefore support the further development of M. tuberculosis GlmU enzyme as a target for new anti-tuberculosis drugs.     

利用抑制消减杂交技术研究结核分支杆菌强毒株H37Rv和弱毒株H37Ra的基因差异

为了解结核病的致病分子机理和筛选结核病致病菌的毒力基因,利用抑制消减杂交（SSH）技术分析了结核分支杆菌强毒株H37Rv和弱毒株H37Ra间的基因组DNA间差异。通过Southern杂交验证及序列分析得到仅在强毒株H37Rv基因组中有的DNA片段8个,其中一个编码已知的毒力因子mce蛋白,1个编码PE家族蛋白,1个编码purC合成酶,和4个潜在蛋白,另一个为非编码区片段。其中有2个基因经PCR方法已证实在强毒株H37Rv和临床分离的强毒株中存在,而在H37Ra和临床弱毒株中无;仅在弱毒株H37Ra基因组中的DNA片段3个,其中2个为新基因片段,已被GenBank收录。     

Identification of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene that enhances mycobacterial survival in macrophages

Intracellular survival plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To identify M. tuberculosis genes required for intracellular survival within macrophages, an M. tuberculosis H37Rv plasmid library was constructed by using the shuttle vector pOLYG. This plasmid library was electroporated into Mycobacterium smegmatis 1-2c, and the transformants were used to infect the human macrophage-like cell line U-937. Because M. smegmatis does not readily survive within macrophages, any increased intracellular survival is likely due to cloned M. tuberculosis H37Rv DNA. After six sequential passages of M. smegmatis transformants through U-937 cells, one clone (p69) was enriched more than 70% as determined by both restriction enzyme and PCR analyses. p69 demonstrated significantly enhanced survival compared to that of the vector control, ranging from 2.4- to 5.3-fold at both 24 and 48 h after infection. DNA sequence analysis revealed three open reading frames (ORFs) in the insert of p69. ORF2 (1.2 kb) was the only one which contained a putative promoter region and a ribosome-binding site. Deletion analysis of the p69 insert DNA showed that disruption of ORF2 resulted in complete loss of the enhanced intracellular survival phenotype. This gene was named the enhanced intracellular survival (eis) gene. By using an internal region of eis as a probe for Southern analysis, eis was found in the genomic DNA of various M. tuberculosis strains and of Mycobacterium bovis BCG but not in that of M. smegmatis or 10 other nonpathogenic mycobacterial species. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis showed that all M. smegmatis eis-containing constructs expressed a unique protein of 42 kDa, the predicted size of Eis. The expression of this 42-kDa protein directly correlated to the enhanced survival of M. smegmatis p69 in U-937 cells. These results suggest a possible role for eis and its protein product in the intracellular survival of M. tuberculosis.     

Variations in the pathways of malate oxidation and phosphorylation in different species of Mycobacteria.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, the slow-growing human pathogenic strain of tubercle bacilli and Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium phlei, the fast-growing saprophytes, have shown variations regarding the type of dehydrogenase that initiates malate oxidation in the respiratory chain. M. tuberculosis H37Rv is characterized by having a malate oxidase system (designated MALNAD pathway) in which malate oxidation is mediated by the NAD+-dependent malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) but not by FAD-dependent malate-vitamin K reductase. M. smegmatis possesses a different malate oxidase system (designated MALFAD pathway) in which malate oxidation is exclusively carried out by the FAD-dependent malate-vitamin K reductase because NAD+-dependent malate dehydrogenase is absent in this organism. M. phlei has a mixed system of malate oxidase (designated MALNAD+FAD pathways) in which both the NAD+-and FAD-dependent dehydrogenases take part. In all the three systems, the rest of the electron transport chain is common.