scholarly journals Cloning, sequencing and expression in Escherichia coli of the rubredoxin gene from Clostridium pasteurianum

1992 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Mathieu ◽  
J Meyer ◽  
J M Moulis

A 3.9 kb BglII-HindIII DNA fragment containing the rubredoxin gene from Clostridium pasteurianum has been cloned using oligonucleotide probes designed from the protein sequence. The 2675 bp SspI-HindIII portion of this fragment has been sequenced and found to contain three open reading frames in addition to the rubredoxin gene. The putative product of one of these open reading frames is similar to various thioredoxin reductases. The rubredoxin gene translates into a sequence that differs from the previously published protein sequence in three positions, D-14, D-22 and E-48 being replaced by the corresponding amides. These changes have been confirmed by partial resequencing of the protein. Promoter-like sequences and a transcription termination signal have been found near the sequence of the rubredoxin gene, which may therefore constitute an independent transcriptional unit. Expression of C. pasteurianum rubredoxin in Escherichia coli strain JM109 has been optimized by subcloning a 476 bp SspI-SspI fragment encompassing the rubredoxin gene. Under these conditions, the latter gene was partly under the control of the lac promoter of pUC18, and the level of rubredoxin production could be increased twofold on addition of a lactose analogue, thus reaching 2-3 mg of pure protein/l of culture. Recombinant rubredoxin was produced in E. coli cells as the holoprotein, and displayed a u.v.-visible-absorption spectrum identical with that of the rubredoxin purified from C. pasteurianum. M.s. and N-terminal sequencing showed that C. pasteurianum rubredoxin expressed in E. coli differs from its native counterpart by having an unblocked N-terminal methionine.

Genetics ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-358
Author(s):  
A Stoltzfus ◽  
J F Leslie ◽  
R Milkman

Abstract We present the sequence of a 3500-bp region of the Escherichia coli strain K12 chromosome lying between the tryptophan operon and the tonB gene. Analysis of the sequence yields six open reading frames that have properties characteristic of genes for proteins. The reading frames are closely spaced, and putative transcription units and control sites compose over 95% of the DNA. The sequences of several wild strains of E. coli have been determined for a large segment of the region described. Comparison of these sequences reveals the effects of base substitutions, DNA rearrangements, and recombination. In the regions presumably expressed as polypeptides, most of the natural variation results from synonymous substitutions. However, the DNA rearrangements identified have end points within the open reading frames and disrupt them in a variety of ways. The effects of genetic recombination between strains, recently found to be significant on a large scale in E. coli, are also apparent in the region between trp and tonB.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Te Liao ◽  
Yujie Zhang ◽  
Alexandra Salvador ◽  
Vivian C. H. Wu

Escherichia phage vB_EcoM-Sa45lw, a new member of the T4-like phages, was isolated from surface water in a produce-growing area. The phage, containing double-stranded DNA with a genome size of 167,353 bp and 282 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), is able to infect generic Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O45 and O157 strains.


mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Oron-Gottesman ◽  
Martina Sauert ◽  
Isabella Moll ◽  
Hanna Engelberg-Kulka

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli mazEF is an extensively studied stress-induced toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. The toxin MazF is an endoribonuclease that cleaves RNAs at ACA sites. Thereby, under stress, the induced MazF generates a stress-induced translation machinery (STM), composed of MazF-processed mRNAs and selective ribosomes that specifically translate the processed mRNAs. Here, we further characterized the STM system, finding that MazF cleaves only ACA sites located in the open reading frames of processed mRNAs, while out-of-frame ACAs are resistant. This in-frame ACA cleavage of MazF seems to depend on MazF binding to an extracellular-death-factor (EDF)-like element in ribosomal protein bS1 (bacterial S1), apparently causing MazF to be part of STM ribosomes. Furthermore, due to the in-frame MazF cleavage of ACAs under stress, a bias occurs in the reading of the genetic code causing the amino acid threonine to be encoded only by its synonym codon ACC, ACU, or ACG, instead of by ACA. IMPORTANCE The genetic code is a universal characteristic of all living organisms. It defines the set of rules by which nucleotide triplets specify which amino acid will be incorporated into a protein. Our results represent the first existing report on a stress-induced bias in the reading of the genetic code. We found that in E. coli , under stress, the amino acid threonine is encoded only by its synonym codon ACC, ACU, or ACG, instead of by ACA. This is because under stress, MazF generates a stress-induced translation machinery (STM) in which MazF cleaves in-frame ACA sites of the processed mRNAs.


2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 5087-5096 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. R. Parreira ◽  
C. L. Gyles

ABSTRACT We report the complete nucleotide sequence and genetic organization of the Vat-encoding pathogenicity island (PAI) of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strain Ec222. The 22,139-bp PAI is situated adjacent to the 3′ terminus of the thrW tRNA gene, has a G+C content of 41.2%, and includes a bacteriophage SfII integrase gene, mobile genetic elements, two open reading frames with products exhibiting sequence similarity to known proteins, and several other open reading frames of unknown function. The PAI encodes an autotransporter protein, Vat (vacuolating autotransporter toxin), which induces the formation of intracellular vacuoles resulting in cytotoxic effects similar to those caused by the VacA toxin from Helicobacter pylori. The predicted 148.3-kDa protein product possesses the three domains that are typical of serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae: an N-terminal signal sequence of 55 amino acids, a 111.8-kDa passenger domain containing a modified serine protease site (ATSGSG), and a C-terminal outer membrane translocator of 30.5 kDa. Vat has 75% protein homology with the hemagglutinin Tsh, an autotransporter of avian pathogenic E. coli. A vat deletion mutant of Ec222 showed no virulence in respiratory and cellulitis infection models of disease in broiler chickens. We conclude that the newly described PAI and Vat may be involved in the pathogenicity of avian septicemic E. coli strain Ec222 and other avian pathogenic E. coli strains.


2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 6365-6372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Dobrindt ◽  
Gabriele Blum-Oehler ◽  
Gabor Nagy ◽  
György Schneider ◽  
André Johann ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT For the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain 536 (O6:K15:H31), the DNA sequences of three pathogenicity islands (PAIs) (PAI I536 to PAI III536) and their flanking regions (about 270 kb) were determined to further characterize the virulence potential of this strain. PAI I536 to PAI III536 exhibit features typical of PAIs, such as (i) association with tRNA-encoding genes; (ii) G+C content differing from that of the host genome; (iii) flanking repeat structures; (iv) a mosaic-like structure comprising a multitude of functional, truncated, and nonfunctional putative open reading frames (ORFs) with known or unknown functions; and (v) the presence of many fragments of mobile genetic elements. PAI I536 to PAI III536 range between 68 and 102 kb in size. Although these islands contain several ORFs and known virulence determinants described for PAIs of other extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) isolates, they also consist of as-yet-unidentified ORFs encoding putative virulence factors. The genetic structure of PAI IV536, which represents the core element of the so-called high-pathogenicity island encoding a siderophore system initially identified in pathogenic yersiniae, was further characterized by sample sequencing. For the first time, multiple PAI sequences (PAI I536 to PAI IV536) in uropathogenic E. coli were studied and their presence in several wild-type E. coli isolates was extensively investigated. The results obtained suggest that these PAIs or at least large fragments thereof are detectable in other pathogenic E. coli isolates. These results support our view that the acquisition of large DNA regions, such as PAIs, by horizontal gene transfer is an important factor for the evolution of bacterial pathogens.


2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 2272-2284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Peigne ◽  
Philippe Bidet ◽  
Farah Mahjoub-Messai ◽  
Céline Plainvert ◽  
Valérie Barbe ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A new Escherichia coli virulent clonal group, O45:K1, belonging to the highly virulent subgroup B21 was recently identified in France, where it accounts for one-third of E. coli neonatal meningitis cases. Here we describe the sequence, epidemiology and function of the large plasmid harbored by strain S88, which is representative of the O45:K1 clonal group. Plasmid pS88 is 133,853 bp long and contains 144 protein-coding genes. It harbors three different iron uptake systems (aerobactin, salmochelin, and the sitABCD genes) and other putative virulence genes (iss, etsABC, ompT P, and hlyF). The pS88 sequence is composed of several gene blocks homologous to avian pathogenic E. coli plasmids pAPEC-O2-ColV and pAPEC-O1-ColBM. PCR amplification of 11 open reading frames scattered throughout the plasmid was used to investigate the distribution of pS88 and showed that a pS88-like plasmid is present in other meningitis clonal groups such as O18:K1, O1:K1, and O83:K1. A pS88-like plasmid was also found in avian pathogenic strains and human urosepsis strains belonging to subgroup B21. A variant of S88 cured of its plasmid displayed a marked loss of virulence relative to the wild-type strain in a neonatal rat model, with bacteremia more than 2 log CFU/ml lower. The salmochelin siderophore, a known meningovirulence factor, could not alone explain the plasmid's contribution to virulence, as a salmochelin mutant displayed only a minor fall in bacteremia (0.9 log CFU/ml). Thus, pS88 is a major virulence determinant related to avian pathogenic plasmids that has spread not only through meningitis clonal groups but also human urosepsis and avian pathogenic strains.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (13) ◽  
pp. 3958-3966 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Šmajs ◽  
George M. Weinstock

ABSTRACT A cosmid library of DNA from colicin Js-sensitive enteroinvasiveEscherichia coli (EIEC) strain O164 was made in colicin Js-resistant strain E. coli VCS257, and colicin Js-sensitive clones were identified. Sensitivity to colicin Js was associated with the carriage of a three-gene operon upstream of and partially overlapping senB. The open reading frames were designated cjrABC (for colicin Js receptor), coding for proteins of 291, 258, and 753 amino acids, respectively. Tn7 insertions in any of them led to complete resistance to colicin Js. A near-consensus Fur box was found upstream ofcjrA, suggesting regulation of the cjroperon by iron levels. CjrA protein was homologous to iron-regulatedPseudomonas aeruginosa protein PhuW, whose function is unknown; CjrB was homologous to the TonB protein fromPseudomonas putida; and CjrC was homologous to a putative outer membrane siderophore receptor from Campylobacter jejuni. Cloning experiments showed that the cjrBand cjrC genes are sufficient for colicin Js sensitivity. Uptake of colicin Js into sensitive bacteria was dependent on the ExbB protein but not on the E. coli K-12 TonB and TolA, -B, and -Q proteins. Sensitivity to colicin Js is positively regulated by temperature via the VirB protein and negatively controlled by the iron source through the Fur protein. Among EIEC strains, two types of colicin Js-sensitive phenotypes were identified that differed in sensitivity to colicin Js by 1 order of magnitude. The difference in sensitivity to colicin Js is not due to differences between the sequences of the CjrB and CjrC proteins.


2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 6337-6341 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Poza ◽  
M. Prieto-Alcedo ◽  
C. Sieiro ◽  
T. G. Villa

ABSTRACT The screening of a gene library of the milk-clotting strain Myxococcus xanthus 422 constructed in Escherichia coli allowed the description of eight positive clones containing 26 open reading frames. Only three of them (cltA, cltB, and cltC) encoded proteins that exhibited intracellular milk-clotting ability in E. coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Pichia pastoris expression systems.


Microbiology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 149 (6) ◽  
pp. 1387-1397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Lügering ◽  
Inga Benz ◽  
Sabine Knochenhauer ◽  
Michael Ruffing ◽  
M. Alexander Schmidt

Adhesins provide a major advantage for uropathogenic Escherichia coli in establishing urinary tract infections (UTIs). A novel gene cluster responsible for the expression of a filamentous adhesin of the pyelonephritogenic E. coli strain X2194 has been identified, molecularly cloned, and characterized. The ‘pix operon’ contains eight open reading frames which exhibit significant sequence homology to corresponding genes in the pap operon encoding P pili, the prevalent E. coli adhesins in non-obstructive acute pyelonephritis in humans. Although a pixB gene corresponding to the PapB regulator was identified, a papI homologue could not be found in the pix operon. Instead, a fragment of the R6 gene of the highly uropathogenic E. coli strain CFT073 was identified upstream of pixB. The R6 gene is located in a pathogenicity island containing several pilus-encoding sequences and shows homology to a transposase of Chelatobacter heintzii. In a pixA–lacZ fusion system it was demonstrated that the expression of Pix pili is regulated at the transcriptional level by the R6 gene sequence. A significantly reduced transcription was observed by deleting this fragment and by lowering the growth temperature from 37 to 26 °C. In contrast to other filamentous adhesin systems, Pix pili are mainly expressed in the steady state growth phase and were not repressed by the addition of glucose.


Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 2477-2486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Zalewska ◽  
Rafał Piątek ◽  
Katarzyna Bury ◽  
Alfred Samet ◽  
Bogdan Nowicki ◽  
...  

The dra gene cluster, expressed by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains, determines bacterial attachment and invasion. The Dr fimbrial structures formed at the bacterial cell surface are composed of DraE subunits. The Dr fimbriae-coding cluster contains six open reading frames – draA, draB, draC, draD, draP and draE – among which the draE gene encodes the structural fimbrial subunit DraE. Very little is known about E. coli surface expression of the draD gene product. The expression of DraD and its role in the biogenesis of Dr fimbriae were determined by constructing mutants in the dra operon and by immunoblot and immunofluorescence experiments. In this study, DraD was found to be a surface-exposed protein. The expression of DraD was independent of the DraC usher and DraE fimbrial subunits. Polymerization of DraE fimbrial subunits into fimbrial structures did not require expression of the DraD protein.


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