scholarly journals Analysis of the Essential Cell Division Gene ftsL ofBacillus subtilis by Mutagenesis and Heterologous Complementation

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (19) ◽  
pp. 5572-5579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Sievers ◽  
Jeff Errington
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Random Mutagenesis ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Induced Mutations ◽  
Phenotypic Effect

ABSTRACT The ftsL gene is required for the initiation of cell division in a broad range of bacteria. Bacillus subtilis ftsL encodes a 13-kDa protein with a membrane-spanning domain near its N terminus. The external C-terminal domain has features of an α-helical leucine zipper, which is likely to be involved in the heterodimerization with another division protein, DivIC. To determine what residues are important for FtsL function, we used both random and site-directed mutagenesis. Unexpectedly, all chemically induced mutations fell into two clear classes, those either weakening the ribosome-binding site or producing a stop codon. It appears that the random mutagenesis was efficient, so many missense mutations must have been generated but with no phenotypic effect. Substitutions affecting hydrophobic residues in the putative coiled-coil domain, introduced by site-directed mutagenesis, also gave no observable phenotype except for insertion of a helix-breaking proline residue, which destroyed FtsL function. ftsL homologues cloned from three diverseBacillus species, Bacillus licheniformis,Bacillus badius, and Bacillus circulans, could complement an ftsL null mutation in B. subtilis, even though up to 66% of the amino acid residues of the predicted proteins were different from B. subtilisFtsL. However, the ftsL gene from Staphylococcus aureus (whose product has 73% of its amino acids different from those of the B. subtilis ftsL product) was not functional. We conclude that FtsL is a highly malleable protein that can accommodate a large number of sequence changes without loss of function.

scholarly journals The Molecular Physiology of Sodium- and Proton-Coupled Solute Transporters

Physiology ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Steel ◽  
Matthias A. Hediger
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Molecular Physiology ◽  
Inherited Diseases ◽  
Biophysical Analysis ◽  
Solute Transporters

The expression of cloned Na+- and H+-coupled solute transporters in Xenopus laevis oocytes has permitted detailed molecular and biophysical analysis and illuminated unique mechanistic features. The identification of missense mutations in inherited diseases and site-directed mutagenesis studies have enhanced our understanding of their roles in physiological and pathological processes.

scholarly journals The Methionine 549 and Leucine 552 Residues of Friedelin Synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia Are Important for Substrate Binding Specificity

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (22) ◽  
pp. 6806
Author(s):  
Bruna F. Mazzeu ◽  
Tatiana M. Souza-Moreira ◽  
Andrew A. Oliveira ◽  
Melissa Remlinger ◽  
Lidiane G. Felippe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Enzyme Specificity ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Pentacyclic Triterpene ◽  
Oxidosqualene Cyclases ◽  
Maytenus Ilicifolia

Friedelin, a pentacyclic triterpene found in the leaves of the Celastraceae species, demonstrates numerous biological activities and is a precursor of quinonemethide triterpenes, which are promising antitumoral agents. Friedelin is biosynthesized from the cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene, involving a series of rearrangements to form a ketone by deprotonation of the hydroxylated intermediate, without the aid of an oxidoreductase enzyme. Mutagenesis studies among oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) have demonstrated the influence of amino acid residues on rearrangements during substrate cyclization: loss of catalytic activity, stabilization, rearrangement control or specificity changing. In the present study, friedelin synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) was expressed heterologously in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Site-directed mutagenesis studies were performed by replacing phenylalanine with tryptophan at position 473 (Phe473Trp), methionine with serine at position 549 (Met549Ser) and leucine with phenylalanine at position 552 (Leu552Phe). Mutation Phe473Trp led to a total loss of function; mutants Met549Ser and Leu552Phe interfered with the enzyme specificity leading to enhanced friedelin production, in addition to α-amyrin and β-amyrin. Hence, these data showed that methionine 549 and leucine 552 are important residues for the function of this synthase.

scholarly journals Translationskopplung via Termination-Reinitiation in Archaea und Bacteria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Madeleine Huber
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Haloferax Volcanii ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Ribosome Display ◽  
E Coli

Operons wurden zuerst im Jahre 1961 beschrieben. Bis heute ist bekannt, dass die prokaryotischen Domänen Bacteria und Archaea Gene sowohl in monocistronischen als auch in bi- oder polycistronischen Transkripten exprimieren können. Häufig überlappen Gene sogar in ihren Sequenzen. Diese überlappenden Genpaare stehen nicht in Korrelation mit der Kompaktheit ihres Genoms. Das führt zu der Annahme, dass eine Art der Regulation vorliegt, welche weitere Proteine oder Gene nicht benötigt. Diese könnte eine gekoppelte Translation sein. Das bedeutet die Translation des stromabwärts-liegenden Gens ist abhängig von der Translation eines stromaufwärts-liegenden Gens. Diese Abhängigkeit kann zum Beispiel durch lang reichende Sekundärstrukturen entstehen, bei welchen Ribosomenbindestellen (RBS) des stromabwärts-liegenden Gens blockiert sind. Die de novo-Initiation am stromabwärts-liegenden Gen kann nur stattfinden, wenn das erste Gen translatiert wird und dabei die Sekundärstruktur an der RBS aufgeschmolzen wird. Für Genpaare in E. coli ist dieser Mechanismus gut untersucht. Ein anderes Beispiel für die Translationskopplung ist die Termination-Reinitiation, bei welcher ein Ribosom das erste Gen translatiert bis zum Stop-Codon, dort terminiert und direkt am stromabwärts-liegenden Start-Codon reinitiiert. Der Mechanismus via Termination-Reinitiation ist bis jetzt nur für eukaryontische Viren beschrieben worden. Im Gegensatz zu einer Kopplung über Sekundärstrukturen kommt es bei der Termination-Reinitiation am stromabwärts-liegenden Gen nicht zu einer de novo-Initiation sondern eine Reinitiation des Ribosoms findet statt. Diese Arbeit analysiert jene Art der Translationskopplung an Genen polycistronischer mRNAs in jeweils einem Modellorganismus als Vertreter der Archaea (Haloferax volcanii) und Bacteria (Escherichia coli). Hierfür wurden Reportergenvektoren erstellt, welche die überlappenden Genpaare an Reportergene fusionierten. Für diese Reportergene ist es möglich die Transkriptmenge zu quantifizieren sowie für die exprimierten Proteine Enzymassays durchgeführt werden können. Aus beiden Werten können Translationseffizienzen berechnet werden indem jeweils die Enzymaktivität pro Transkriptmenge ermittelt wird. Durch ein prämatures Stop-Codon in diesen Konstrukten ist es möglich zu unterscheiden ob es für die Translation des zweiten Gens essentiell ist, dass das Ribosom den Überlapp erreicht. Hiermit konnte für neun Genpaare in H. volcanii und vier Genpaare in E. coli gezeigt werden, dass eine Art der Kopplung stattfindet bei der es sich um eine Termination-Reinitiation handelt. Des Weiteren wurde analysiert, welche Auswirkungen intragene Shine-Dalgarno Sequenzen bei dem Event der Translationskopplung besitzen. Durch die Mutation solcher Motive und dem Vergleich der Translationseffizienzen der Konstrukte, mit und ohne einer SD Sequenz, wird für alle analysierten Genpaare beider Modellorganismen gezeigt, dass die SD Sequenz einen Einfluss auf diese Art der Kopplung hat. Zwischen den Genpaaren ist dieser Einfluss jedoch stark variabel. Weiterhin wurde der maximale Abstand zwischen zwei bicistronischen Genen untersucht, für welchen Translationskopplung via Termination-Reinitiation noch stattfinden kann. Hierfür wird durch site-directed mutagenesis jeweils ein prämatures Stop-Codon im stromaufwärts-liegenden Gen eingebracht, welches den intergenen Abstand zwischen den Genen in den jeweiligen Konstrukten vergrößert. Der Vergleich aller Konstrukte eines Genpaars zeigt in beiden Modellorganismen, dass die Termination-Reinitiation vom intergenen Abstand abhängig ist und die Translationseffizienz des stromabwärts-liegenden Reporters bereits ab 15 Nukleotiden Abstand abnimmt. Eine weitere Fragestellung dieser Arbeit war es, den genauen Mechanismus der Termination-Reinitiation zu analysieren. Für Ribosomen gibt es an der mRNA nach der Termination der Translation zwei Möglichkeiten: Entweder als 70S Ribosom bestehen zu bleiben und ein weiteres Start-Codon auf der mRNA zu suchen oder in seine beiden Untereinheiten zu dissoziieren, während die 50S Untereinheit die mRNA verlässt und die 30S Untereinheit über Wechselwirkungen an der mRNA verbleiben kann. Um diesen Mechanismus auf molekularer Ebene zu untersuchen, wird ein Versuchsablauf vorgestellt. Dieser ermöglicht das Event bei der Termination-Reinitiation in vitro zu analysieren. Eine Unterscheidung von 30S oder 70S Ribosomen bei der Reinitiation der Translation des stromabwärts-liegenden Gens wird ermöglicht. Die Idee dabei basiert auf einem ribosome display, bei welchem Translationskomplexe am Ende der Translation nicht in ihre Bestandteile zerfallen können, da die eingesetzte mRNA kein Stop-Codon enthält Der genaue Versuchsablauf, die benötigten Bestandteile sowie proof-of-principal Versuche sind in der Arbeit dargestellt und mögliche Optimierungen werden diskutiert.

scholarly journals A cancer-associated missense mutation in PP2A-Aα increases centrosome clustering during mitosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelle V. Antao ◽  
Marina Marcet-Ortega ◽  
Paolo Cifani ◽  
Alex Kentsis ◽  
Emily A. Foley
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Multipolar Spindle ◽  
Genome Doubling ◽  
Culture Cells ◽  
Whole Genome Doubling ◽  
Phosphatase 2A ◽  
A Subunit

AbstractA single incidence of whole-genome doubling (WGD) is common early in tumorigenesis. In addition to increasing ploidy, WGD doubles centrosome number. In the ensuing mitoses, excess centrosomes form a multipolar spindle, resulting in a lethal multipolar cell division. To survive, cells must cluster centrosomes into two poles to allow a bipolar cell division. Cancer cells are typically more proficient at centrosome clustering than untransformed cells, but the mechanism behind increased clustering ability is not well understood. Heterozygous missense mutations in PPP2R1A, which encodes the alpha isoform of the A-subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A-Aα), positively correlate with WGD. To understand this correlation, we introduced a heterozygous hotspot mutation, P179R, in endogenous PP2A-Aα in human tissue culture cells. We find that PP2A-AαP179R decreases PP2A assembly and targeting. Strikingly, when centrosome number is increased, either through cytokinesis failure or centrosome amplification, PP2A-Aα mutant cells are more proficient than WT cells at centrosome clustering, likely due to PP2A-Aα loss-of-function. PP2A-AαP179R appears to enhance centrosome clustering by altering the interactions between centrosomes and the cell cortex. Thus, cancer-associated mutations in PP2A-Aα may increase cellular fitness after WGD by enhancing centrosome clustering.

scholarly journals Modification of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF) expression vector by site-directed mutagenesis for therapeutic protein production

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Achmad Rodiansyah ◽  
Riyona Desvy Pratiwi ◽  
Sabighoh Zanjabila ◽  
Asrul Muhamad Fuad
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Expression Vector ◽  
Restriction Site ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Human Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Ecori Restriction

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF) has high value in therapies for h-EGF deficiency-related diseases. The expression of the h-EGF gene was designed by using the pET21b(+) vector and Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) as the expression host. In a previous study, the sequence of a 6xHis tag without any restriction sites was fused to the h-EGF gene, yet it was not possible to obtain a purified and single rh-EGF by this approach. In this study, we modified the rh-EGF expression vector using site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) to remove the sequence of the 6xHis tag. The vector modification was carried out by inserting a stop codon and the EcoRI restriction site, along with deleting the 6xHis tag sequence. The results of PCR showed non-specific bands, while 2-step cycles PCR produced one non-specific band, and 3-step cycles PCR produced two non-specific bands. After purification of the PCR products, the SDM-recombinant plasmids treated for template plasmid-free product were transformed into E. coli DH5a. Even though the transformation efficiency was low, the planned gene mutations including the deletion of the 6xHis tag and insertion of the stop codon and EcoRI restriction site in plasmid pET21b(+) were successfully carried out. When using this modified vector in expression studies, rh-EGF of a similar size to that of the rh-EGF standard and approximately 1 kDa smaller than the rh-EGF-6xHis of the previous study was obtained.

scholarly journals Loss-of-function variants of SCN8A in intellectual disability without seizures

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. e170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacy L. Wagnon ◽  
Bryan S. Barker ◽  
Matteo Ottolini ◽  
Young Park ◽  
Alicia Volkheimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Epileptic Encephalopathy ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Transmembrane Segments ◽  
Seizure Disorders ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Established Role

Objective:To determine the functional effect of SCN8A missense mutations in 2 children with intellectual disability and developmental delay but no seizures.Methods:Genomic DNA was analyzed by next-generation sequencing. SCN8A variants were introduced into the Nav1.6 complementary DNA by site-directed mutagenesis. Channel activity was measured electrophysiologically in transfected ND7/23 cells. The stability of the mutant channels was assessed by Western blot.Results:Both children were heterozygous for novel missense variants that altered conserved residues in transmembrane segments of Nav1.6, p.Gly964Arg in D2S6 and p.Glu1218Lys in D3S1. Both altered amino acids are evolutionarily conserved in vertebrate and invertebrate channels and are predicted to be deleterious. Neither was observed in the general population. Both variants completely prevented the generation of sodium currents in transfected cells. The abundance of Nav1.6 protein was reduced by the Glu1218Lys substitution.Conclusions:Haploinsufficiency of SCN8A is associated with cognitive impairment. These observations extend the phenotypic spectrum of SCN8A mutations beyond their established role in epileptic encephalopathy (OMIM#614558) and other seizure disorders. SCN8A should be considered as a candidate gene for intellectual disability, regardless of seizure status.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Interaction of Bacillus subtilis PyrR with pyr mRNA by Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Protein

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (9) ◽  
pp. 2521-2528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather K. Savacool ◽  
Robert L. Switzer
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Crystallographic Structure ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Uracil Phosphoribosyltransferase ◽  
Pyrimidine Nucleotide ◽  
Uridine Nucleotide

ABSTRACT The Bacillus subtilis PyrR protein regulates transcriptional attenuation of the pyrimidine nucleotide (pyr) operon by binding in a uridine nucleotide-dependent manner to specific sites on pyr mRNA and stabilizing a secondary structure of the downstream RNA that favors termination of transcription. The high-resolution structure of unliganded PyrR was used to guide site-directed mutagenesis of 12 amino acid residues that were thought likely to be involved in the binding of RNA. Missense mutations were constructed and evaluated for their effects on regulation of pyr genes in vivo and their uracil phosphoribosyltransferase activity, which is catalyzed by wild-type PyrR. A substantial fraction of the mutant PyrR proteins did not have native structures, but eight PyrR mutants were purified and characterized physically, for their uracil phosphoribosyltransferase activity and for their ability to bind pyr RNA in vitro. On the basis of these studies Thr-18, His-22, Arg-141, and Arg-146 were implicated in RNA binding. Arg-27 and Lys-152 were also likely to be involved in RNA binding, but Gln substitution mutations in these residues may have altered their subunit-subunit interactions slightly. Arg-19 was implicated in pyr regulation, but a specific role in RNA binding could not be demonstrated because the R19Q mutant protein could not be purified in native form. The results confirm a role in RNA binding of a positively charged face of PyrR previously identified from the crystallographic structure. The RNA binding residues lie in two sequence segments that are conserved in PyrR proteins from many species.

scholarly journals Insights into the residence in lipid rafts of adenylyl cyclase AC8 and its regulation by capacitative calcium entry

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. C607-C619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Pagano ◽  
Michael A. Clynes ◽  
Nanako Masada ◽  
Antonio Ciruela ◽  
Laura-Jo Ayling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adenylyl Cyclase ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclases ◽  
Leucine Zipper Motif ◽  
Capacitative Calcium Entry ◽  
Lipid Raft Microdomains ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase 8

Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are a family of critically important signaling molecules that are regulated by multiple pathways. Adenylyl cyclase 8 (AC8) is a Ca2+ stimulated isoform that displays a selective regulation by capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE), the process whereby the entry of Ca2+ into cells is triggered by the emptying of intracellular stores. This selectivity was believed to be achieved through the localization of AC8 in lipid raft microdomains, along with components of the CCE apparatus. In the present study, we show that an intact leucine zipper motif is required for the efficient N-linked glycosylation of AC8, and that this N-linked glycosylation is important to target AC8 into lipid rafts. Disruption of the leucine zipper by site-directed mutagenesis results in the elimination of N-glycosylated forms and their exclusion from lipid rafts. Mutants of AC8 that cannot be N-glycosylated are not demonstrably associated with rafts, although they can still be regulated by CCE; however, raft integrity is required for the regulation of these mutants. These findings suggest that raft localized proteins in addition to AC8 are needed to mediate its regulation by CCE.

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