Heterogeneity in the Intergenic Spacer Region (IGS) of the Ribosomal RNA Gene Cluster Among Syrian Pyrenophora graminea Isolates

ABSTRACT A putative iron- and Fur-regulated hemin uptake gene cluster, composed of the transport genes chuABCD and a putative heme oxygenase gene (Cj1613c), has been identified in Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168. Mutation of chuA or Cj1613c leads to an inability to grow in the presence of hemin or hemoglobin as a sole source of iron. Mutation of chuB, -C, or -D only partially attenuates growth where hemin is the sole iron source, suggesting that an additional inner membrane (IM) ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transport system(s) for heme is present in C. jejuni. Genotyping experiments revealed that Cj1613c is highly conserved in 32 clinical isolates. One strain did not possess chuC, though it was still capable of using hemin/hemoglobin as a sole iron source, supporting the hypothesis that additional IM transport genes are present. In two other strains, sequence variations within the gene cluster were apparent and may account for an observed negative heme utilization phenotype. Analysis of promoter activity within the Cj1613c-chuA intergenic spacer region revealed chuABCD and Cj1613c are expressed from separate iron-repressed promoters and that this region also specifically binds purified recombinant FurCj in gel retardation studies. Absorbance spectroscopy of purified recombinant His6-Cj1613c revealed a 1:1 heme:His6-Cj1613c binding ratio. The complex was oxidatively degraded in the presence of ascorbic acid as the electron donor, indicating that the Cj1613c gene product functions as a heme oxygenase. In conclusion, we confirm the involvement of Cj1613c and ChuABCD in heme/hemoglobin utilization in C. jejuni.

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The Nor-D3 locus of Triticum tauschii: natural variation and genetic linkage to markers in chromosome 5

Genome ◽

10.1139/g91-060 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 387-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

E. S. Lagudah ◽

R. Appels ◽

D. McNeil

Keyword(s):

Ribosomal Rna ◽

Intergenic Spacer ◽

D Genome ◽

Triticum Tauschii ◽

Intergenic Spacer Region ◽

Grain Softness ◽

High Level ◽

Rna Genes ◽

Rdna Polymorphism ◽

Grain Softness Protein

Variation in the intergenic spacer region of the ribosomal RNA genes (located at the Nor locus) was assayed in a collection of 411 accessions of Triticum tauschii from Turkey, USSR, Iran, Afghanisan, Pakistan, and China. Twenty rDNA genotypes were identified and it was demonstrated that T. tauschii accessions from the USSR and Iran have the highest diversity at the Nor locus. At least four of the rDNA genotypes were demonstrated to be alleles of a single major locus, in segregating F2 progeny analyses. The TaqI restriction fragment associated with rDNA genotype 7 was shown to be the same as the Nor-D3a allele present in all bread wheats (based on chromosome location and length of the intergenic spacer region). This genotype was significantly associated with T. t. ssp. strangulata, previously argued to be the donor of the D genome to hexaploid wheat. The Nor locus showed a high level of recombination with the 5SDna-2 locus, which was also located on chromosome 5D. The Nor locus is placed distal to the 5SDna-2 locus but proximal to the grain softness protein gene (XGsp) on the short arm of chromosome 5D.Key words: D genome, Nor-D3, rDNA polymorphism, chromosomal location.

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