scholarly journals NEW MAP LOCATION OF ilvO IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Genetics ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-225
Author(s):  
Bruce M Cohen ◽  
Elizabeth W Jones

ABSTRACT Mutations in ilvO, the operator site for operon A of the ilv region of E. coli K-12, are reported to cause a cis dominant derepression of the operon A gene products and to map between ilvC and ilvA. Studies reported here demonstrate that the F25 episome which does not carry the region between ilvC and ilvAbut only ilvE, ilvD and a part of ilvA, can transfer ilvO genetic material. Also, genes of operon A on the F25 episome respond normally to a derepression signal. It is proposed that ilvO is on the F25 episome. Five-point crosses demonstrate that mutations in ilvOmap nearer to ilvE than to ilvA. Considering this and other evidence, it is proposed that the gene order in the ilv region is CADEO, not COADE, with transcription and translation in operon A being from ilvE to ilvA not ilvA to ilvE. It is confirmed that mutations in ilvO cause a cis dominant derepression of the operon A gene products but it is also noted that mutations in ilvO lead to the appearance of an AHAS activity more resistant to inhibition by valine than that of the present O+ strain.

Genetics ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-77
Author(s):  
Thomas C Newman ◽  
Mark Levinthal

ABSTRACT We isolated, in E. coli K12, new alleles of the ilvB locus, the structural gene for acetolactate synthase isoenzyme I, and showed them to map at or near the ilvB619 site. The map position of the ilvB locus was redetermined because plasmids containing the ilvC-cya portion of the chromosome did not complement mutations at the ilvB locus. Furthermore, diploids for the ilvEDAC genes formed with these plasmids in an ilvHI background facilitated the isolation of the new ilvB alleles. The ilvB locus was remapped and found to be located at 81.5 minutes, between the uhp and dnaA loci. This location was determined by two- and three-point transductional crosses, deletion mapping and complementation with newly isolated plasmids. One of the new alleles of the ilvB gene is a mu-1 insertion. When present in the donor strain, this allele interferes with the linkage of genes flanking the mu-1 insertion, as well as the linkage of genes to either side of the mu-1 insertion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Mejía-Argueta ◽  
J. G. Santillán-Benítez ◽  
M. M. Canales-Martinez ◽  
A. Mendoza-Medellín

Abstract Background To test the antimicrobial potential of clove essential oil that has been less investigated on antimicrobial-resistant organisms (extended-spectrum β-lactamase-ESBL-producing Escherichia coli), we collected 135 ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains given that E. coli is the major organism increasingly isolated as a cause of complicated urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections, which remains an important cause of therapy failure with antibiotics for the medical sector. Then, in this study, we evaluated the relationship between the antibacterial potential activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil (EOSA) and the expression of antibiotic-resistant genes (SHV-2, TEM-20) in plasmidic DNA on ESBL-producing E. coli using RT-PCR technique. Results EOSA was obtained by hydrodistillation. Using Kirby-Baüer method, we found that EOSA presented a smaller media (mean = 15.59 mm) in comparison with chloramphenicol (mean = 17.73 mm). Thus, there were significant differences (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, EOSA had an antibacterial activity, particularly on ECB132 (MIC: 10.0 mg/mL and MBC: 80.0 mg/mL), and a bacteriostatic effect by bactericidal kinetic. We found that the expression of antibiotic-resistant gene blaTEM-20 was 23.52% (4/17 strains) and no expression of blaSHV-2. EOSA presented such as majority compounds (eugenol, caryophyllene) using the GC–MS technique. Conclusions Plant essential oils and their active ingredients have potentially high bioactivity against a different target (membranes, cytoplasm, genetic material). In this research, EOSA might become an important adjuvant against urinary and gastrointestinal diseases caused by ESBL-producing E. coli.


Genetics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Berg ◽  
V Stewart

Abstract Formate oxidation coupled to nitrate reduction constitutes a major anaerobic respiratory pathway in Escherichia coli. This respiratory chain consists of formate dehydrogenase-N, quinone, and nitrate reductase. We have isolated a recombinant DNA clone that likely contains the structural genes, fdnGHI, for the three subunits of formate dehydrogenase-N. The fdnGHI clone produced proteins of 110, 32 and 20 kDa which correspond to the subunit sizes of purified formate dehydrogenase-N. Our analysis indicates that fdnGHI is organized as an operon. We mapped the fdn operon to 32 min on the E. coli genetic map, close to the genes for cryptic nitrate reductase (encoded by the narZ operon). Expression of phi(fdnG-lacZ) operon fusions was induced by anaerobiosis and nitrate. This induction required fnr+ and narL+, two regulatory genes whose products are also required for the anaerobic, nitrate-inducible activation of the nitrate reductase structural gene operon, narGHJI. We conclude that regulation of fdnGHI and narGHJI expression is mediated through common pathways.


2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 4068-4076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Hwang ◽  
Lisa M. Mattei ◽  
Laura G. VanArendonk ◽  
Philip M. Meneely ◽  
Iruka N. Okeke

ABSTRACT Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains are important diarrheal pathogens. EAEC strains are defined by their characteristic stacked-brick pattern of adherence to epithelial cells but show heterogeneous virulence and have different combinations of adhesin and toxin genes. Pathoadaptive deletions in the lysine decarboxylase (cad) genes have been noted among hypervirulent E. coli subtypes of Shigella and enterohemorrhagic E. coli. To test the hypothesis that cad deletions might account for heterogeneity in EAEC virulence, we developed a Caenorhabditis elegans pathogenesis model. Well-characterized EAEC strains were shown to colonize and kill C. elegans, and differences in virulence could be measured quantitatively. Of 49 EAEC strains screened for lysine decarboxylase activity, 3 tested negative. Most notable is isolate 101-1, which was recovered in Japan, from the largest documented EAEC outbreak. EAEC strain 101-1 was unable to decarboxylate lysine in vitro due to deletions in cadA and cadC, which, respectively, encode lysine decarboxylase and a transcriptional activator of the cadAB genes. Strain 101-1 was significantly more lethal to C. elegans than control strain OP50. Lethality was attenuated when the lysine decarboxylase defect was complemented from a multicopy plasmid and in single copy. In addition, restoring lysine decarboxylase function produced derivatives of 101-1 deficient in aggregative adherence to cultured human epithelial cells. Lysine decarboxylase inactivation is pathoadapative in an important EAEC outbreak strain, and deletion of cad genes could produce hypervirulent EAEC lineages in the future. These results suggest that loss, as well as gain, of genetic material can account for heterogeneous virulence among EAEC strains.


1982 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88
Author(s):  
E H Berglin ◽  
M B Edlund ◽  
G K Nyberg ◽  
J Carlsson

Under anaerobic conditions an exponentially growing culture of Escherichia coli K-12 was exposed to hydrogen peroxide in the presence of various compounds. Hydrogen peroxide (0.1 mM) together with 0.1 mM L-cysteine or L-cystine killed the organisms more rapidly than 10 mM hydrogen peroxide alone. The exposure of E. coli to hydrogen peroxide in the presence of L-cysteine inhibited some of the catalase. This inhibition, however, could not fully explain the 100-fold increase in hydrogen peroxide sensitivity of the organism in the presence of L-cysteine. Of other compounds tested only some thiols potentiated the bactericidal effect of hydrogen peroxide. These thiols were effective, however, only at concentrations significantly higher than 0.1 mM. The effect of L-cysteine and L-cystine could be annihilated by the metal ion chelating agent 2,2'-bipyridyl. DNA breakage in E. coli K-12 was demonstrated under conditions where the organisms were killed by hydrogen peroxide.


2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Yohannes ◽  
D. Michael Barnhart ◽  
Joan L. Slonczewski

ABSTRACT During aerobic growth of Escherichia coli, expression of catabolic enzymes and envelope and periplasmic proteins is regulated by pH. Additional modes of pH regulation were revealed under anaerobiosis. E. coli K-12 strain W3110 was cultured anaerobically in broth medium buffered at pH 5.5 or 8.5 for protein identification on proteomic two-dimensional gels. A total of 32 proteins from anaerobic cultures show pH-dependent expression, and only four of these proteins (DsbA, TnaA, GatY, and HdeA) showed pH regulation in aerated cultures. The levels of 19 proteins were elevated at the high pH; these proteins included metabolic enzymes (DhaKLM, GapA, TnaA, HisC, and HisD), periplasmic proteins (ProX, OppA, DegQ, MalB, and MglB), and stress proteins (DsbA, Tig, and UspA). High-pH induction of the glycolytic enzymes DhaKLM and GapA suggested that there was increased fermentation to acids, which helped neutralize alkalinity. Reporter lac fusion constructs showed base induction of sdaA encoding serine deaminase under anaerobiosis; in addition, the glutamate decarboxylase genes gadA and gadB were induced at the high pH anaerobically but not with aeration. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that there is a connection between the gad system and GabT metabolism of 4-aminobutanoate. On the other hand, 13 other proteins were induced by acid; these proteins included metabolic enzymes (GatY and AckA), periplasmic proteins (TolC, HdeA, and OmpA), and redox enzymes (GuaB, HmpA, and Lpd). The acid induction of NikA (nickel transporter) is of interest because E. coli requires nickel for anaerobic fermentation. The position of the NikA spot coincided with the position of a small unidentified spot whose induction in aerobic cultures was reported previously; thus, NikA appeared to be induced slightly by acid during aeration but showed stronger induction under anaerobic conditions. Overall, anaerobic growth revealed several more pH-regulated proteins; in particular, anaerobiosis enabled induction of several additional catabolic enzymes and sugar transporters at the high pH, at which production of fermentation acids may be advantageous for the cell.


2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (18) ◽  
pp. 6179-6185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Lease ◽  
Dorie Smith ◽  
Kathleen McDonough ◽  
Marlene Belfort

ABSTRACT DsrA RNA is a small (87-nucleotide) regulatory RNA of Escherichia coli that acts by RNA-RNA interactions to control translation and turnover of specific mRNAs. Two targets of DsrA regulation are RpoS, the stationary-phase and stress response sigma factor (σs), and H-NS, a histone-like nucleoid protein and global transcription repressor. Genes regulated globally by RpoS and H-NS include stress response proteins and virulence factors for pathogenic E. coli. Here, by using transcription profiling via DNA arrays, we have identified genes induced by DsrA. Steady-state levels of mRNAs from many genes increased with DsrA overproduction, including multiple acid resistance genes of E. coli. Quantitative primer extension analysis verified the induction of individual acid resistance genes in the hdeAB, gadAX, and gadBC operons. E. coli K-12 strains, as well as pathogenic E. coli O157:H7, exhibited compromised acid resistance in dsrA mutants. Conversely, overproduction of DsrA from a plasmid rendered the acid-sensitive dsrA mutant extremely acid resistant. Thus, DsrA RNA plays a regulatory role in acid resistance. Whether DsrA targets acid resistance genes directly by base pairing or indirectly via perturbation of RpoS and/or H-NS is not known, but in either event, our results suggest that DsrA RNA may enhance the virulence of pathogenic E. coli.


2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 937-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lila Lalioui ◽  
Chantal Le Bouguénec

ABSTRACT We recently described a new afimbrial adhesin, AfaE-VIII, produced by animal strains associated with diarrhea and septicemia and by human isolates associated with extraintestinal infections. Here, we report that the afa-8 operon, encoding AfaE-VIII adhesin, from the human blood isolate Escherichia coli AL862 is carried by a 61-kb genomic region with characteristics typical of a pathogenicity island (PAI), including a size larger than 10 kb, the presence of an integrase-encoding gene, the insertion into a tRNA locus (pheR), and the presence of a small direct repeat at each extremity. Moreover, the G+C content of the afa-8 operon (46.4%) is lower than that of the E. coli K-12/MG1655 chromosome (50.8%). Within this PAI, designated PAI IAL862, we identified open reading frames able to code for products similar to proteins involved in sugar utilization. Four probes spanning these sequences hybridized with 74.3% of pathogenicafa-8-positive E. coli strains isolated from humans and animals, 25% of human pathogenic afa-8-negativeE. coli strains, and only 8% of fecal strains (P = 0.05), indicating that these sequences are strongly associated with the afa-8 operon and that this genetic association may define a PAI widely distributed among human and animal afa-8-positive strains. One of the distinctive features of this study is that E. coli AL862 also carries another afa-8-containing PAI (PAI IIAL862), which appeared to be similar in size and genetic organization to PAI IAL862 and was inserted into the pheV gene. We investigated the insertion sites of afa-8-containing PAI in human and bovine pathogenic E. coli strains and found that this PAI preferentially inserted into the pheV gene.


1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (7) ◽  
pp. 1814-1821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Yang ◽  
Ho-Ching Tiffany Tsui ◽  
Tsz-Kwong Man ◽  
Malcolm E. Winkler

ABSTRACT pdxK encodes a pyridoxine (PN)/pyridoxal (PL)/pyridoxamine (PM) kinase thought to function in the salvage pathway of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) coenzyme biosynthesis. The observation that pdxK null mutants still contain PL kinase activity led to the hypothesis that Escherichia coli K-12 contains at least one other B6-vitamer kinase. Here we support this hypothesis by identifying the pdxY gene (formally, open reading frame f287b) at 36.92 min, which encodes a novel PL kinase. PdxY was first identified by its homology to PdxK in searches of the complete E. coli genome. Minimal clones of pdxY + overexpressed PL kinase specific activity about 10-fold. We inserted an omega cassette intopdxY and crossed the resultingpdxY::ΩKanr mutation into the bacterial chromosome of a pdxB mutant, in which de novo PLP biosynthesis is blocked. We then determined the growth characteristics and PL and PN kinase specific activities in extracts ofpdxK and pdxY single and double mutants. Significantly, the requirement of the pdxB pdxK pdxY triple mutant for PLP was not satisfied by PL and PN, and the triple mutant had negligible PL and PN kinase specific activities. Our combined results suggest that the PL kinase PdxY and the PN/PL/PM kinase PdxK are the only physiologically important B6vitamer kinases in E. coli and that their function is confined to the PLP salvage pathway. Last, we show thatpdxY is located downstream from pdxH (encoding PNP/PMP oxidase) and essential tyrS (encoding aminoacyl-tRNATyr synthetase) in a multifunctional operon.pdxY is completely cotranscribed with tyrS, but about 92% of tyrS transcripts terminate at a putative Rho-factor-dependent attenuator located in thetyrS-pdxY intercistronic region.


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