scholarly journals iciA, an Escherichia coli gene encoding a specific inhibitor of chromosomal initiation of replication in vitro.

1991 ◽  
Vol 88 (10) ◽  
pp. 4066-4070 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Thony ◽  
D. S. Hwang ◽  
L. Fradkin ◽  
A. Kornberg
Microbiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 166 (9) ◽  
pp. 880-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Ogasawara ◽  
Toshiyuki Ishizuka ◽  
Shuhei Hotta ◽  
Michiko Aoki ◽  
Tomohiro Shimada ◽  
...  

Under stressful conditions, Escherichia coli forms biofilm for survival by sensing a variety of environmental conditions. CsgD, the master regulator of biofilm formation, controls cell aggregation by directly regulating the synthesis of Curli fimbriae. In agreement of its regulatory role, as many as 14 transcription factors (TFs) have so far been identified to participate in regulation of the csgD promoter, each monitoring a specific environmental condition or factor. In order to identify the whole set of TFs involved in this typical multi-factor promoter, we performed in this study ‘promoter-specific transcription-factor’ (PS-TF) screening in vitro using a set of 198 purified TFs (145 TFs with known functions and 53 hitherto uncharacterized TFs). A total of 48 TFs with strong binding to the csgD promoter probe were identified, including 35 known TFs and 13 uncharacterized TFs, referred to as Y-TFs. As an attempt to search for novel regulators, in this study we first analysed a total of seven Y-TFs, including YbiH, YdcI, YhjC, YiaJ, YiaU, YjgJ and YjiR. After analysis of curli fimbriae formation, LacZ-reporter assay, Northern-blot analysis and biofilm formation assay, we identified at least two novel regulators, repressor YiaJ (renamed PlaR) and activator YhjC (renamed RcdB), of the csgD promoter.


2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (9) ◽  
pp. 3635-3638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Chenoweth ◽  
Nancy Trun ◽  
Sue Wickner

ABSTRACT CbpA, an Escherichia coli DnaJ homolog, can function as a cochaperone for the DnaK/Hsp70 chaperone system, and its in vitro activity can be modulated by CbpM. We discovered that CbpM specifically inhibits the in vivo activity of CbpA, preventing it from functioning in cell growth and division. Furthermore, we have shown that CbpM interacts with CbpA in vivo during stationary phase, suggesting that the inhibition of activity is a result of the interaction. These results reveal that the activity of the E. coli DnaK system can be regulated in vivo by a specific inhibitor.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (17) ◽  
pp. 5198-5202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pongpan Laksanalamai ◽  
Dennis L. Maeder ◽  
Frank T. Robb

ABSTRACT The small heat shock protein (sHSP) from the hyperthermophilePyrococcus furiosus was specifically induced at the level of transcription by heat shock at 105°C. The gene encoding this protein was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant sHSP prevented the majority of E. coli proteins from aggregating in vitro for up to 40 min at 105°C. The sHSP also prevented bovine glutamate dehydrogenase from aggregating at 56°C. Survivability of E. colioverexpressing the sHSP was enhanced approximately sixfold during exposure to 50°C for 2 h compared with the control culture, which did not express the sHSP. Apparently, the sHSP confers a survival advantage on mesophilic bacteria by preventing protein aggregation at supraoptimal temperatures.


1993 ◽  
Vol 289 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Quinn ◽  
A G Diamond ◽  
A K Masters ◽  
D E Brookfield ◽  
N G Wallis ◽  
...  

The dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase subunit (E2p) of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has two highly conserved lipoyl domains each modified with a lipoyl cofactor bound in amide linkage to a specific lysine residue. A sub-gene encoding the inner lipoyl domain of human E2p has been over-expressed in Escherichia coli. Two forms of the domain have been purified, corresponding to lipoylated and non-lipoylated species. The apo-domain can be lipoylated in vitro with partially purified E. coli lipoate protein ligase, and the lipoylated domain can be reductively acetylated by human E1p (pyruvate dehydrogenase). Availability of the two forms will now allow detailed biochemical and structural studies of the human lipoyl domains.


Parasitology ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. WANG

The enzymes and receptors in parasites that can be qualified as targets for antiparasite chemotherapy should perform essential functions in the parasites and demonstrate some feasibility for selective inhibition. They can be tentatively identified through detailed analysis of various aspects of metabolisms in the parasites or elucidation of the mechanisms of action among proven antiparasitic agents. Preliminary verifications of these putative targets can be indicated by in vitro antiparasite activity of an inhibitor of the target. However, before a major long-term effort to pursue in-depth structure-activity analysis of the target is to be committed for specific inhibitor design, further validations of the target are essential to insure that future studies are not misguided. One old-fashioned approach to validate a target in the pharmaceutical industry is by correlating target inhibitions with antiparasitic activities among large numbers of drug derivatives. The results are often indicative but hardly ever conclusive. Another method is by comparing the putative drug targets between the drug-sensitive and the drug-resistant parasites for potential discrepancies. Unfortunately, the latter often result from indirect causes, such as reduced drug transport, instead of an alteration of the drug target itself. The third experimental approach is by disrupting the gene encoding the putative target in parasite, which can provide the most conclusive evidence on whether the target plays an indispensible role in the parasite. But special conditions are needed for the gene knockout mutants to survive to exhibit their phenotypes and to allow genetic complementation studies for further verifications. Furthermore, gene knockout experiments are often difficult to perform on cells of multiple ploidy or genes of multiple copies, and are currently applicable only to a limited number of protozoan parasites. In the current article I have tried to take a cursory look at some eleven putative drug targets among various parasites, each supported by well-established antiparasitic agents identified as its inhibitors. I have also considered the evidence for validity of each of them and the potential means of further verifying their validity.


1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 2414-2422
Author(s):  
E Meyer ◽  
F Caron ◽  
A Baroin

The gene encoding the G surface antigen of Paramecium primaurelia was cloned from a macronuclear DNA library by a screening procedure involving differential hybridization with cDNA probes synthesized from polyadenylated RNAs of cells expressing one of two alternate antigens. S1 mapping experiments and sequencing of the cloned DNA and the mRNA showed that the cloned gene corresponded to the high-molecular-weight mRNA that had been indirectly identified as that of the G surface antigen. Because the genetic code of Paramecium spp. is different from the "universal" code, this mRNA cannot be correctly translated in vitro; direct proof that it encoded the antigenic determinants of this protein was therefore obtained through expression of fragments of the coding sequence in Escherichia coli by using the expression vector lambda gt11. Studies on the structure of this gene revealed that the central part of the coding sequence contained at least five tandem repeats of 222 base pairs, encoding immunogenic domains of the protein. We also showed that, like other surface antigen genes of trypanosomes and paramecia, this gene lay next to a chromosome end and that no rearrangement of its immediate genomic environment was associated with its expression.


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