Transfer and Expression of Lithoautotrophy and Denitrification in a Host Lacking These Metabolic Activities

The conjugative 450-kilobase-pair megaplasmid pHG1 from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 was transferred to the herbicide-degrading soil bacterium A. eutrophus JMP134. This transfer was achieved by means of RP4 mobilization and a Tn5-Mob insertion provided in trans on the megaplasmid replicon. Although kanamycin-resistant transconjugants also occurred with other gram-negative species such as Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, and thiobacteria, A. eutrophus JMP134 was the only recipient which stably maintained the megaplasmid. pHG1-containing transconjugants derived from JMP134 expressed all metabolic functions associated with the plasmid: the ability to oxidize hydrogen through catalysis of two hydrogenases, to assimilate carbon dioxide via the Calvin cycle pathway, and to grow with nitrate anaerobically. All of these metabolic activities were absent in the original strain JMP134.     

Diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) is compartmentalized in nuclei of mammalian cells

The intracellular compartmentation of Ap4A in various growth and cell-cycle stages in mammalian cells was studied by applying a non-aqueous extraction procedure for cell nuclei. In both slowly and in exponentially growing Ehrlich ascites tumour cells from random cultures, more than 75% of the whole cellular Ap4A content is localized in the nuclei. In G1 and early S-phase cells of synchronized baby hamster kidney (BHK) fibroblast cultures, approx. 90% of the intracellular Ap4A pool is confined to the nuclear compartment. In contrast, Ap4A is distributed to nearly equal amounts between cytoplasm and nuclei during mid-S phase. After transition through the S-phase, increasing proportions of Ap4A (78% 18 h and 96% 22 h after serum replenishing, respectively) are again localized in the nuclear compartment.     

Protein composition of the chromosomal scaffold and interphase nuclear matrix

Residual protein structures were prepared from isolated chromosomes and interphase nuclei of in vitro cultured bovine liver cells and the protein compositions were analysed. Chromosomes with minimal cytoplasmic contamination were obtained by a simple procedure using a pH 8 isolation medium containing Triton X-100 and polyamines, and residual protein-DNA complexes were prepared by extraction with 2 M NaCl. Residual protein structures were also obtained by digesting isolated chromosomes with staphylococcal nuclease. Protein compositions of both structures as obtained by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were essentially the same. Residual protein structures were prepared from isolated nuclei by the same procedures. The major nuclear matrix proteins, i.e., the lamins A, B, and C, were not found in the chromosomes and chromosome scaffolds. On the other hand, the residual chromosome structures contained two major polypeptides of 37 and 83 kilodalton relative molecular weights that were absent from the nuclear matrix preparations. A few polypeptides with the same or very similar electrophoretic mobilities were found in the residual structures of both the nuclei and the chromosomes.     

Alcaligenes eutrophus hydrogenase genes (Hox)

Mutants of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 lacking catalytically active soluble hydrogenase (Hos-) grew very slowly lithoautotrophically with hydrogen. Mutants devoid of particulate hydrogenase activity (Hop-) were not affected in growth with hydrogen. The use of Hos- and Hop- mutants as donors of hydrogen-oxidizing ability in crosses with plasmid-free recipients impaired in both hydrogenases (Hox-) resulted in transconjugants which had inherited the plasmid and the phenotype of the donor. This indicates that the structural genes which code for the hydrogenases reside on plasmid pHG1. The Hox function of one class of Hox- mutants could not be restored by conjugation. These mutants exhibited a pleiotropic phenotype since they were unable to grow with hydrogen and also failed to grow heterotrophically with nitrate (Hox- Nit-). Nitrate was scarcely utilized as electron acceptor or as nitrogen source. Hox- Nit- mutants did not act as recipients but could act as donors of the Hox character. Transconjugants derived from those crosses were Hox+ Nit+, indicating that the mutation which leads to the Hox- Nit- phenotype maps on the chromosome. Apparently, the product of a chromosomal gene is involved in the expression of plasmid-encoded Hox genes. We observed that the elimination of plasmid pHG1 coincided with the occurrence of multiple resistances to various antibiotics. Since Hox+ transconjugate retained the antibiotic-resistant phenotype, we conclude that this property is not directly plasmid associated.     

A general method for visualizing enzymes releasing adenosine or adenosine-5′-monophosphate

Biochemical Genetics -     

Genetic analysis of clear-plaque mutations induced in bacteriophage lambda by 9-aminoacridine

Clear-plaque mutations were induced in the cI and cII genes of λ by treating lysogenic cells with 9-aminoacridine (9AA). Mapping of the mutations revealed that there were two hot spots for 9AA mutagenesis in cI, and one strong hot spot in cII. The hot spots in cI mapped close to 1 of the 3 runs of 4 G/C base-pairs and near the only run of 5 G/Cs, respectively, in this gene. Of 36 cI mutations tested, at most one mapped near a run of 6 A/T base-pairs. By analogy, the sequence responsible for the strong hot spot in cII may be the run of 6 G/Cs in this gene.     

Molecular analysis of the envelope gene and long terminal repeat of Friend mink cell focus-inducing virus: implications for the functions of these sequences.

We sequenced the envelope (env) gene and 3' long terminal repeat of a Friend mink cell focus-inducing virus (F-MCFV). We also sequenced the gp70 coding regions for two cDNA clones of another F-MCFV. The deduced amino acid sequence of the env gene products of both F-MCFVs were compared to the corresponding sequences of other MCFVs and of ecotropic viruses. The env polypeptides of the different viruses showed long stretches of homology in the carboxy-terminal half of gp70 and in p15env ("constant region"). The amino-terminal half of gp70 was very similar in all MCFVs, but showed extensive variations relative to the ecotropic viruses ("differential region"). This differential region in all MCFVs is of endogeneous origin. We show evidence that this region carries determinants for ecotropic or polytropic host range. No indication could be found that the env gene products determine the histological type of disease caused by particular MCFVs. When the long terminal repeats of F-MCFV and Friend murine leukemia virus were compared with those of other viruses causing either lymphatic leukemia or erythroleukemia, several nucleotides were localized which might determine the histological type of disease caused by these viruses.     

Hypoxia-induced alterations of norepinephrine vascular reactivity in isolated perfused cat lung

Past work in the isolated perfused cat lung has shown that acute hypoxia (H) changes the response to norepinephrine (NE) from vasoconstriction to vasodilation but has no effect on the response to serotonin (S). These results could be related to the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure or vascular resistance during the hypoxic pressor response or a direct effect of H. We addressed this question, in the same preparation, by comparing responses to NE under four conditions in each experimental animal (n = 12): 1) NE infused during normoxia; 2) NE infused after vascular resistance (Rpv) was increased with serotonin; 3) NE infused after Rpv was increased by H; 4) NE infused after lobar pressure was raised by an increase in flow (P/F). PO2 values during H were varied (27-56 Torr). S and H produced a 137 +/- 35 and 43 +/- 8% delta Rpv increase in lobar vascular resistance, respectively. P/F increased lobar pressure 91 +/- 10%. Only NE infusion during H demonstrated significant differences in lobar pressure and Rpv compared with control normoxic periods. There was no correlation between responses to NE during S, H, and P/F and degree to which each stimulus increased Rpv or lobar pressure (r = 0.003, 0.28, 0.24). A significant relationship between response to NE during H vs. PO2 during H was observed (r = 0.78; P less than 0.001). In a subset of animals, we repeated the infusion of NE during H and P/F post-beta-blockade. The decrease in vascular response to NE during H and the correlation of PO2 with NE response were abolished (n = 7).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)