scholarly journals Extended Region of Nodulation Genes in Rhizobium meliloti 1021. I. Phenotypes of Tn5 Insertion Mutants

Genetics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
Jean A Swanson ◽  
Janice K Tu ◽  
Joy Ogawa ◽  
Raghu Sanga ◽  
Robert F Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Large Deletion ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Gene Region ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Host Range Determination ◽  
Range Determination ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes ◽  
Insertion Mutants

ABSTRACT Rhizobium meliloti Nod- mutant WL131, a derivative of wild-type strain 102F51, was complemented by a clone bank of wild-type R. meliloti 1021 DNA, and clone pRmJT5 was recovered. Transfer of pRmJT5 conferred alfalfa nodulation on other Rhizobium species, indicating a role in host range determination for pRmJT5. Mutagenesis of pRmJT5 revealed several segments in which transposon insertion causes delay in nodulation, and/or marked reduction of the number of nodules formed on host alfalfa plants. The set of mutants indicated five regions in which nod genes are located; one mutant, nod-216, is located in a region not previously reported to encode a nodulation gene. Other mutant phenotypes correlated with the positions of open reading frames for nodH, nodF and nodE, and with a 2.2-kb Eco RI fragment. A mutant in nodG had no altered phenotype in this strain. One nodulation mutant was shown to be a large deletion of the common nod gene region. We present a discussion comparing the various studies made on this extended nod gene region.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of a Gene on Rhizobium meliloti pSyma, syrB, That Negatively Affects syrM Expression

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 550-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie J. Barnett ◽  
Sharon R. Long
Keyword(s):  
Rhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Large Deletion ◽  
Physical Analysis ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Gusa Gene ◽  
Dna Fragment ◽  
Identification And Characterization ◽  
Insertion Mutants

The Rhizobium meliloti SyrM protein activates transcription of nodD3 and syrA. Regulation of syrM is complex and may involve as yet undiscovered genes. Here we report the isolation of insertion mutants showing increased expression of a syrM-gusA gene fusion. Characterization of one mutant strain, designated SYR-B, revealed a mutation consisting of a transposon insertion linked to a large deletion. The corresponding wild-type DNA was cloned as a 5.3-kb BamHI fragment. Genetic and physical analysis of this DNA demonstrated that an open reading frame (ORF) near one end of the fragment, encoding the 16.5-kDa SyrB protein, is responsible for the repression of syrM activity. Results of complementation experiments with the 5.3-kb BamHI DNA led us to hypothesize that other genes within this DNA fragment interfere with the expression or activity of SyrB. Our analysis showed that the region upstream of syrB contains three ORFs. One ORF is similar to the Ros repressor of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the MucR repressor of R. meliloti.

scholarly journals AcrAB Multidrug Efflux Pump Is Associated with Reduced Levels of Susceptibility to Tigecycline (GAR-936) in Proteus mirabilis

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 665-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Visalli ◽  
Ellen Murphy ◽  
Steven J. Projan ◽  
Patricia A. Bradford
Keyword(s):  
Proteus Mirabilis ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Multidrug Efflux ◽  
Multidrug Efflux Pump ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Spectrum Activity ◽  
Insertion Mutants ◽  
Broad Spectrum Activity ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

ABSTRACT Tigecycline has good broad-spectrum activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens with the notable exception of the Proteeae. A study was performed to identify the mechanism responsible for the reduced susceptibility to tigecycline in Proteus mirabilis. Two independent transposon insertion mutants of P. mirabilis that had 16-fold-increased susceptibility to tigecycline were mapped to the acrB gene homolog of the Escherichia coli AcrRAB efflux system. Wild-type levels of decreased susceptibility to tigecycline were restored to the insertion mutants by complementation with a clone containing a PCR-derived fragment from the parental wild-type acrRAB efflux gene cluster. The AcrAB transport system appears to be associated with the intrinsic reduced susceptibility to tigecycline in P. mirabilis.

scholarly journals Multiple Elements Controlling Adherence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 to HeLa Cells

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 4985-4995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo G. Torres ◽  
James B. Kaper
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Reduced Adherence ◽  
Insertion Mutants

ABSTRACT Adherence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to the intestinal epithelium is essential for initiation of infection. Intimin is the only factor demonstrated to play a role in intestinal colonization by EHEC O157:H7. Other attempts to identify additional adhesion factors in vitro have been unsuccessful, suggesting that expression of these factors is under tight regulation. We sought to identify genes involved in the control of adherence of EHEC O157:H7 to cultured epithelial cells. A total of 5,000 independent transposon insertion mutants were screened for their ability to adhere to HeLa cells, and 7 mutants were isolated with a markedly enhanced adherence. The mutants adhered at levels 113 to 170% that of the wild-type strain, and analysis of the protein profiles of these mutants revealed several proteins differentially expressed under in vitro culture conditions. We determined the sequence of the differentially expressed proteins and further investigated the function of OmpA, whose expression was increased in a mutant with an insertionally inactivated tcdA gene. An isogenic ompA mutant showed reduced adherence compared to the parent strain. Disruption of the ompA gene in the tdcA mutant strain abolished the hyperadherent phenotype, and anti-OmpA serum inhibited adhesion of wild-type and tdcA mutant strains to HeLa cells. Enhanced adhesion mediated by OmpA was also observed with Caco-2 cells, and anti-OmpA serum blocked adherence to HeLa cells of other EHEC O157:H7 strains. Our results indicate that multiple elements control adherence and OmpA acts as an adhesin in EHEC O157:H7.

scholarly journals Listeria monocytogenes 6-Phosphogluconolactonase Mutants Induce Increased Activation of a Host Cytosolic Surveillance Pathway

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 3014-3022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory T. Crimmins ◽  
Michael W. Schelle ◽  
Anat A. Herskovits ◽  
Peggy P. Ni ◽  
Benjamin C. Kline ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Pentose Phosphate Pathway ◽  
Deletion Mutant ◽  
Minimal Medium ◽  
Pentose Phosphate ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Excess Glucose ◽  
Insertion Mutants

ABSTRACT Infection with wild-type Listeria monocytogenes activates a host cytosolic surveillance response characterized by the expression of beta interferon (IFN-β). We performed a genetic screen to identify L. monocytogenes transposon insertion mutants that induced altered levels of host IFN-β expression. One mutant from this screen induced elevated levels of IFN-β and harbored a Tn917 insertion upstream of lmo0558. This study identified lmo0558 as the 6-phosphogluconolactonase gene (pgl), which encodes the second enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway. pgl mutant L. monocytogenes accumulated and secreted large amounts of gluconate, likely derived from labile 6-phosphogluconolactone, the substrate of Pgl. The pgl deletion mutant had decreased growth in glucose-limiting minimal medium but grew normally when excess glucose was added. Microarray analysis revealed that the pgl deletion mutant had increased expression of several β-glucosidases, consistent with known inhibition of β-glucosidases by 6-phosphogluconolactone. While growth in macrophages was indistinguishable from that of wild-type bacteria, pgl mutant L. monocytogenes exhibited a 15- to 30-fold defect in growth in vivo. In addition, L. monocytogenes harboring an in-frame deletion of pgl was more sensitive to oxidative stress. This study identified L. monocytogenes pgl and provided the first link between the bacterial pentose phosphate pathway and activation of host IFN-β expression.

scholarly journals The ExsA Protein of Bacillus cereus Is Required for Assembly of Coat and Exosporium onto the Spore Surface

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (11) ◽  
pp. 3800-3806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bailey-Smith ◽  
Sarah J. Todd ◽  
Thomas W. Southworth ◽  
John Proctor ◽  
Anne Moir
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Protein Profile ◽  
Spore Coat ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Associated Functions ◽  
Ca 50 ◽  
Late Stages ◽  
Insertion Mutants

ABSTRACT The outermost layer of spores of the Bacillus cereus family is a loose structure known as the exosporium. Spores of a library of Tn917-LTV1 transposon insertion mutants of B. cereus ATCC 10876 were partitioned into hexadecane; a less hydrophobic mutant that was isolated contained an insertion in the exsA promoter region. ExsA is the equivalent of SafA (YrbA) of Bacillus subtilis, which is also implicated in spore coat assembly; the gene organizations around both are identical, and both proteins contain a very conserved N-terminal cortex-binding domain of ca. 50 residues, although the rest of the sequence is much less conserved. In particular, unlike SafA, the ExsA protein contains multiple tandem oligopeptide repeats and is therefore likely to have an extended structure. The exsA gene is expressed in the mother cell during sporulation. Spores of an exsA mutant are extremely permeable to lysozyme and are blocked in late stages of germination, which require coat-associated functions. Two mutants expressing differently truncated versions of ExsA were constructed, and they showed the same gross defects in the attachment of exosporium and spore coat layers. The protein profile of the residual exosporium harvested from spores of the three mutants—two expressing truncated proteins and the mutant with the original transposon insertion in the promoter region—showed some differences from the wild type and from each other, but the major exosporium glycoproteins were retained. The exsA gene is extremely important for the normal assembly and anchoring of both the spore coat and exosporium layers in spores of B. cereus.

scholarly journals Identification of Candidate Gammaherpesvirus 68 Genes Required for Virus Replication by Signature-Tagged Transposon Mutagenesis

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (19) ◽  
pp. 10282-10290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel J. Moorman ◽  
Chie Yu Lin ◽  
Samuel H. Speck
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Gammaherpesvirus 68 ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT Current methods for determining the role of a given gene product in the gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) life cycle require generation of a specific mutation by either homologous recombination in mammalian cells or bacterial artificial chromosome-mediated mutagenesis in Escherichia coli. The mutant virus is then compared to wild-type virus, and the role of the gene in the viral life cycle is deduced from its phenotype. This process is both time-consuming and labor intensive. Here we present the use of random, transposon-mediated signature-tagged mutagenesis for the identification of candidate viral genes involved in virus replication. Pools of viral mutants, each containing a random insertion of a transposon, were generated with a transposon donor library in which each transposon contains a unique sequence identifier. These pools were transfected into mammalian cells, and the ability of each mutant to replicate was assessed by comparing the presence of virus in the output pool to that present in the input pool of viral genomes. With this approach we could rapidly screen up to 96 individual mutants simultaneously. The location of the transposon insertion was determined by sequencing individual clones with a common primer specific for the transposon end. Here we present the characterization of 53 distinct viral mutants that correspond to insertions in 29 open reading frames within the γHV68 genome. To confirm the results of the signature-tagged mutagenesis screen, we quantitated the ability of each mutant to replicate compared to wild-type γHV68. From these analyses we identified 16 γHV68 open reading frames that, when disrupted by transposon insertions, score as essential for virus replication, and six other open reading frames whose disruption led to significant attenuation of virus replication. In addition, transposon insertion in five other γHV68 open reading frames did not affect virus replication. Notably, all but one of the candidate essential replication genes identified in this screen have been shown to be essential for the replication of at least one other herpesvirus.

scholarly journals The Mutant Phenotype Associated With P-Element Alleles of the vestigial Locus in Drosophila melanogaster May Be Caused by a Readthrough Transcript Initiated at the P-Element Promoter

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 1665-1672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross B Hodgetts ◽  
Sandra L O'Keefe
Keyword(s):  
Rna Secondary Structure ◽  
Insertion Site ◽  
Large Body ◽  
P Element ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Subtle Difference ◽  
Pronounced Difference ◽  
Internal Repeat ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes

Abstract We report here the isolation of a new P-element-induced allele of the vestigial locus vg2a33, the molecular characterization of which allows us to propose a unifying explanation of the phenotypes of the large number of vestigial P-element alleles that now exists. The first P-element allele of vestigial to be isolated was vg21, which results in a very weak mutant wing phenotype that is suppressed in the P cytotype. By destabilizing vg2a33 in a dysgenic cross, we isolated the vg2a33 allele, which exhibits a moderate mutant wing phenotype and is not suppressed by the P cytotype. The new allele is characterized by a 46-bp deletion that removes the 3′-proximal copy of the 11-bp internal repeat from the P element of vg21. To understand how this subtle difference between the two alleles leads to a rather pronounced difference in their phenotypes, we mapped both the vg and P-element transcription units present in wild type and mutants. Using both 5′-RACE and S1 protection, we found that P-element transcription is initiated 19 bp farther upstream than previously thought. Using primer extension, the start of vg transcription was determined to lie 435 bp upstream of the longest cDNA recovered to date and upstream of the P-element insertion site. Our discovery that the P element is situated within the first vg exon has prompted a reassessment of the large body of genetic data on a series of alleles derived from vg21. Our current hypothesis to explain the degree of variation in the mutant phenotypes and their response to the P repressor invokes a critical RNA secondary structure in the vg transcript, the formation of which is hindered by a readthrough transcript initiated at the P-element promoter.

scholarly journals Analysis of maxillopedia Expression Pattern and Larval Cuticular Phenotype in Wild-Type and Mutant Tribolium

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 721-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa D Shippy ◽  
Jianhua Guo ◽  
Susan J Brown ◽  
Richard W Beeman ◽  
Robin E Denell
Keyword(s):  
Rna Interference ◽  
Expression Pattern ◽  
Tribolium Castaneum ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Homeotic Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Similar Expression ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes

Abstract The Tribolium castaneum homeotic gene maxillopedia (mxp) is the ortholog of Drosophila proboscipedia (pb). Here we describe and classify available mxp alleles. Larvae lacking all mxp function die soon after hatching, exhibiting strong transformations of maxillary and labial palps to legs. Hypomorphic mxp alleles produce less severe transformations to leg. RNA interference with maxillopedia double-stranded RNA results in phenocopies of mxp mutant phenotypes ranging from partial to complete transformations. A number of gain-of-function (GOF) mxp alleles have been isolated based on transformations of adult antennae and/or legs toward palps. Finally, we have characterized the mxp expression pattern in wild-type and mutant embryos. In normal embryos, mxp is expressed in the maxillary and labial segments, whereas ectopic expression is observed in some GOF variants. Although mxp and Pb display very similar expression patterns, pb null embryos develop normally. The mxp mutant larval phenotype in Tribolium is consistent with the hypothesis that an ancestral pb-like gene had an embryonic function that was lost in the lineage leading to Drosophila.

scholarly journals ParB deficiency in Pseudomonas aeruginosa destabilizes the partner protein ParA and affects a variety of physiological parameters

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1080-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Bartosik ◽  
J. Mierzejewska ◽  
C. M. Thomas ◽  
G. Jagura-Burdzy
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Fluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Physiological Parameters ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Partial Removal ◽  
Partner Protein ◽  
The One ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes

Deletions leading to complete or partial removal of ParB were introduced into the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosome. Fluorescence microscopy of fixed cells showed that ParB mutants lacking the C-terminal domain or HTH motif formed multiple, less intense foci scattered irregularly, in contrast to the one to four ParB foci per cell symmetrically distributed in wild-type P. aeruginosa. All parB mutations affected both bacterial growth and swarming and swimming motilities, and increased the production of anucleate cells. Similar effects were observed after inactivation of parA of P. aeruginosa. As complete loss of ParA destabilized its partner ParB it was unclear deficiency of which protein is responsible for the mutant phenotypes. Analysis of four parB mutants showed that complete loss of ParB destabilized ParA whereas three mutants that retained the N-terminal 90 aa of ParB did not. As all four parB mutants demonstrate the same defects it can be concluded that either ParB, or ParA and ParB in combination, plays an important role in nucleoid distribution, growth and motility in P. aeruginosa.

scholarly journals A Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato T1 Reveals a Type III Effector Repertoire Significantly Divergent from That of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nalvo F. Almeida ◽  
Shuangchun Yan ◽  
Magdalen Lindeberg ◽  
David J. Studholme ◽  
David J. Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
Draft Genome Sequence ◽  
Tomato Dc3000 ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Host Range Determination ◽  
Range Determination

Diverse gene products including phytotoxins, pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and type III secreted effectors influence interactions between Pseudomonas syringae strains and plants, with additional yet uncharacterized factors likely contributing as well. Of particular interest are those interactions governing pathogen-host specificity. Comparative genomics of closely related pathogens with different host specificity represents an excellent approach for identification of genes contributing to host-range determination. A draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato T1, which is pathogenic on tomato but nonpathogenic on Arabidopsis thaliana, was obtained for this purpose and compared with the genome of the closely related A. thaliana and tomato model pathogen P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Although the overall genetic content of each of the two genomes appears to be highly similar, the repertoire of effectors was found to diverge significantly. Several P. syringae pv. tomato T1 effectors absent from strain DC3000 were confirmed to be translocated into plants, with the well-studied effector AvrRpt2 representing a likely candidate for host-range determination. However, the presence of avrRpt2 was not found sufficient to explain A. thaliana resistance to P. syringae pv. tomato T1, suggesting that other effectors and possibly type III secretion system–independent factors also play a role in this interaction.

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