An efficient system for markerless gene replacement applicable in a wide variety of enterobacterial species

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
A P White ◽  
E Allen-Vercoe ◽  
B W Jones ◽  
R DeVinney ◽  
W W Kay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Exchange Method ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Allelic Exchange ◽  
Genetic Manipulations

We describe an improved allelic-exchange method for generating unmarked mutations and chromosomal DNA alterations in enterobacterial species. Initially developed for use in Salmonella enterica, we have refined the method in terms of time, simplicity, and efficiency. We have extended its use into related bacterial species that are more recalcitrant to genetic manipulations, including enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Data from over 50 experiments are presented including gene inactivations, site-directed mutagenesis, and promoter exchanges. In each case, desired mutations were identified by polymerase chain reaction screening typically from as few as 10–20 colonies up to a maximum of 300 colonies. The method does not require antibiotic nor nutritional markers in target genes and works efficiently in wild-type strains, obviating the need for specialized hosts or genetic systems. The use is simple, requiring basic laboratory materials, and represents an alternative to existing methods for gene manipulation in the Enterobacteriaceae.Key words: allelic exchange, temperature-sensitive plasmids.

scholarly journals CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Deletion of Large Genomic Fragments in Soybean

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupeng Cai ◽  
Li Chen ◽  
Shi Sun ◽  
Cunxiang Wu ◽  
Weiwei Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dna Fragments ◽  
Cleavage Sites ◽  
Chromosome Engineering ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Guide Rnas ◽  
Glycine Max L ◽  
Deletion Frequency

At present, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) has been mainly focused on knocking out target genes, and most site-directed mutagenesis has occurred at single cleavage sites and resulted in short deletions and/or insertions. However, the use of multiple guide RNAs for complex genome editing, especially the deletion of large DNA fragments in soybean, has not been systematically explored. In this study, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology to specifically induce targeted deletions of DNA fragments in GmFT2a (Glyma16g26660) and GmFT5a (Glyma16g04830) in soybean using a dual-sgRNA/Cas9 design. We achieved a deletion frequency of 15.6% for target fragments ranging from 599 to 1618 bp in GmFT2a. We also achieved deletion frequencies of 12.1% for target fragments exceeding 4.5 kb in GmFT2a and 15.8% for target fragments ranging from 1069 to 1161 bp in GmFT5a. In addition, we demonstrated that these CRISPR/Cas9-induced large fragment deletions can be inherited. The T2 ‘transgene-free’ homozygous ft2a mutants with a 1618 bp deletion exhibited the late-flowering phenotype. In this study, we developed an efficient system for deleting large fragments in soybean using CRISPR/Cas9; this system could benefit future research on gene function and improve agriculture via chromosome engineering or customized genetic breeding in soybean.

scholarly journals Construction and Synchronization of dnaA Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Streptomyces

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (4) ◽  
pp. 1214-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Fong Lee ◽  
Shun-Hua Yeh ◽  
Carton W. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Replacement ◽  
Chromosome Replication ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Temperature Sensitive Mutants

ABSTRACT Temperature-sensitive mutants of Streptomyces defective in initiation of chromosome replication were created by in vitro site-directed mutagenesis in the dnaA gene followed by gene replacement. When they were shifted to 39°C replication in the mutants ceased in about 90 min but resumed on return to 30°C. This allowed manipulations to achieve replication synchronization.

Regulation of Septum Formation in Aspergillus nidulans by a DNA Damage Checkpoint Pathway

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 1055-1067
Author(s):  
Steven D Harris ◽  
Peter R Kraus
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Dna Damage Checkpoint ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Dna Metabolism ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Checkpoint Response ◽  
Septum Formation ◽  
Checkpoint Pathway

Abstract In Aspergillus nidulans, germinating conidia undergo multiple rounds of nuclear division before the formation of the first septum. Previous characterization of temperature-sensitive sepB and sepJ mutations showed that although they block septation, they also cause moderate defects in chromosomal DNA metabolism. Results presented here demonstrate that a variety of other perturbations of chromosomal DNA metabolism also delay septum formation, suggesting that this is a general cellular response to the presence of sublethal DNA damage. Genetic evidence is provided that suggests that high levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activity are required for septation in A. nidulans. Consistent with this notion, the inhibition of septum formation triggered by defects in chromosomal DNA metabolism depends upon Tyr-15 phosphorylation of the mitotic cdk p34nimX. Moreover, this response also requires elements of the DNA damage checkpoint pathway. A model is proposed that suggests that the DNA damage checkpoint response represents one of multiple sensory inputs that modulates p34nimX activity to control the timing of septum formation.

A variant octamer motif in a Xenopus H2B histone gene promoter is not required for transcription in frog oocytes

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 641-654
Author(s):  
C Hinkley ◽  
M Perry
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Histone Gene ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Octamer Motif

Xenopus oocytes, arrested in G2 before the first meiotic division, accumulate histone mRNA and protein in the absence of chromosomal DNA replication and therefore represent an attractive biological system in which to examine histone gene expression uncoupled from the cell cycle. Previous studies have shown that sequences necessary for maximal levels of transcription in oocytes are present within 200 bp at the 5' end of the transcription initiation site for genes encoding each of the five major Xenopus histone classes. We have defined by site-directed mutagenesis individual regulatory sequences and characterized DNA-binding proteins required for histone H2B gene transcription in injected oocytes. The Xenopus H2B gene has a relatively simple promoter containing several transcriptional regulatory elements, including TFIID, CBP, and ATF/CREB binding sites, required for maximal transcription. A sequence (CTTTACAT) in the H2B promoter resembling the conserved octamer motif (ATTTGCAT), the target for cell-cycle regulation of a human H2B gene, is not required for transcription in oocytes. Nonetheless, substitution of a consensus octamer motif for the variant octamer element activates H2B transcription. Oocyte factors, presumably including the ubiquitous Oct-1 factor, specifically bind to the consensus octamer motif but not to the variant sequence. Our results demonstrate that a transcriptional regulatory element involved in lymphoid-specific expression of immunoglobulin genes and in S-phase-specific activation of mammalian H2B histone genes can activate transcription in nondividing amphibian oocytes.

scholarly journals Intramolecular Interactions between the Protease and Structural Domains Are Important for the Functions of Serine Protease Autotransporters

2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 3335-3345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Tsang ◽  
Huma Malik ◽  
Deana Nassman ◽  
Antony Huang ◽  
Fayha Tariq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serine Protease ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Catalytic Triad ◽  
Intramolecular Interactions ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Molecular Graphics ◽  
Passenger Domain ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Functional Roles

ABSTRACT Autotransporter (AT) is a protein secretion pathway found in Gram-negative bacteria featuring a multidomain polypeptide with a signal sequence, a passenger domain, and a translocator domain. An AT subfamily named serine protease ATs of the family Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs) is characterized by the presence of a conserved serine protease motif in the passenger domain which contributes to bacterial pathogenesis. The goal of the current study is to determine the importance of the passenger domain conserved residues in the SPATE proteolytic and adhesive functions using the temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (Tsh) protein as our model. To begin, mutations of 21 fully conserved residues in the four passenger domain conserved motifs were constructed by PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis. Seventeen mutants exhibited a wild-type secretion level; among these mutants, eight displayed reduced proteolytic activities in Tsh-specific oligopeptide and mucin cleavage assays. These eight mutants also demonstrated lower affinities to extracellular matrix proteins, collagen IV, and fibronectin. These eight conserved residues were analyzed by molecular graphics modeling to demonstrate their intramolecular interactions with the catalytic triad and other key residues. Additional mutations were made to confirm the above interactions in order to demonstrate their significance to the SPATE functions. Altogether our data suggest that certain conserved residues in the SPATE passenger domain are important for both the proteolytic and adhesive activities of SPATE by maintaining the proper protein structure via intramolecular interactions between the protease and β-helical domains. Here, we provide new insight into the structure-function relationship of the SPATEs and the functional roles of their conserved residues.

scholarly journals SirR, a Novel Iron-Dependent Repressor inStaphylococcus epidermidis

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 4123-4129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J. Hill ◽  
Alan Cockayne ◽  
Patrick Landers ◽  
Julie A. Morrissey ◽  
Catriona M. Sims ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Blot Analysis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Iron Starvation ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Western Blots

ABSTRACT In Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, a number of cell wall- and cytoplasmic membrane-associated lipoproteins are induced in response to iron starvation. To gain insights into the molecular basis of iron-dependent gene regulation in the staphylococci, we sequenced the DNA upstream of the 3-kb S. epidermidis sitABC operon, which Northern blot analysis indicates is transcriptionally regulated by the growth medium iron content. We identified two DNA sequences which are homologous to elements of the Corynebacterium diphtheriae DtxR regulon, which controls, in response to iron stress, for example, production of diphtheria toxin, siderophore, and a heme oxygenase. Upstream of thesitABC operon and divergently transcribed lies a 645-bp open reading frame (ORF), which codes for a polypeptide of approximately 25 kDa with homology to the DtxR family of metal-dependent repressor proteins. This ORF has been designated SirR (staphylococcal iron regulator repressor). Within thesitABC promoter/operator region, we also located a region of dyad symmetry overlapping the transcriptional start ofsitABC which shows high homology to the DtxR operator consensus sequence, suggesting that this region, termed the Sir box, is the SirR-binding site. The SirR protein was overexpressed, purified, and used in DNA mobility shift assays; SirR retarded the migration of a synthetic oligonucleotide based on the Sir box in a metal (Fe2+ or Mn2+)-dependent manner, providing confirmatory evidence that this motif is the SirR-binding site. Furthermore, Southern blot analysis of staphylococcal chromosomal DNA with the synthetic Sir box as a probe confirmed that there are at least five Sir boxes in the S. epidermidis genome and at least three in the genome of S. aureus, suggesting that SirR controls the expression of multiple target genes. Using a monospecific polyclonal antibody raised against SirR to probe Western blots of whole-cell lysates of S. aureus, S. carnosus,S. epidermidis, S. hominis, S. cohnii, S. lugdunensis, and S. haemolyticus, we identified an approximately 25-kDa cross-reactive protein in each of the staphylococcal species examined. Taken together, these data suggest that SirR functions as a divalent metal cation-dependent transcriptional repressor which is widespread among the staphylococci.

scholarly journals Synonymous lysine codon usage modification in a mobile antibiotic resistance gene similarly alters protein production in bacterial species with divergent lysine codon usage biases because it removes a duplicate AAA lysine codon

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alorabi ◽  
Aisha M. AlAmri ◽  
Yuiko Takebayashi ◽  
Kate J. Heesom ◽  
Matthew B. Avison
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Resistance Gene ◽  
Codon Bias ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumanii ◽  
Highly Expressed Genes

AbstractThe mobile antibiotic resistance gene blaIMP-1 is clinically important and has a synonymous AAA:AAG lysine codon usage bias of 73:27. This bias is like that seen in experimentally determined highly expressed genes in Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumanii, but quite different from that seen in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26:74 AAA:AAG). Here we show that, paradoxically, shifting the AAA:AAG lysine codon bias to 8:92 in blaIMP-1 expressed from a natural promoter results in significantly more IMP-1 production in all three species. Sequential site directed mutagenesis revealed that increased IMP-1 production occurs following removal of an AAA,AAA double lysine codon and that otherwise, lysine codon usage had no observable impact on IMP-1 production. We conclude that ribosomal slippage at this poly-adenosine region reduces efficient translation of IMP-1 and that punctuating the region with guanine reduces ribosomal slippage and increases IMP-1 production.

An Efficient Site-Directed Mutagenesis Method In Vivo in Escherichia Coli

2012 ◽  
Vol 195-196 ◽  
pp. 407-411
Author(s):  
Mu Qing Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Homologous Recombination ◽  
Recombinant Plasmid ◽  
Genomic Dna ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis

In order to develop an efficient site-directed mutagenesis method in vivo, the tests were tested by the following methods. The methods that the fragment knockouted ompR gene was constructed through overlapping PCR, digested by Notand Sal, ligated to plasmid pKOV were applied. The recombination plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli WMC-001 strain, integrated into the genomic DNA through two step homologous recombination. The Escherichia coli WMC-001/ompR-mutant was obtained due to gene replacement. The fragment of the mutant ompR gene was amplified through overlapping PCR, cloned into pKOV vector. The recombinant plasmid was introduced into Escherichia coli WMC-001/ompR-mutant. The Escherichia coli WMC-001/ompR mutant was also obtained due to gene replacement. Results: The site-directed mutagenesis has been successfully constructed in the ompR gene by sequencing. Conclusion: The method is effective for construction of gene site-directed mutagenesis in vivo.

Cloning and molecular analysis of promoter-like sequences isolated from the chromosomal DNA ofLactobacillus acidophilusATCC 4356

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Djordjevic ◽  
B. Bojovic ◽  
N. Miladinov ◽  
L. Topisirovic
Keyword(s):  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Molecular Analysis ◽  
Lactobacillus Acidophilus ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Lactobacillus Reuteri ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Complementary Dna ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Dna Strand

Promoter-like sequences from the chromosomal DNA of thermophilic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 were cloned. Analysis of the three DNA fragments showing promoter activity, designated P3, P6, and P15, were performed in Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactococcus lactis, and E. coli. The reporter cat-86 gene was expressed in all three bacterial species under control of the fragments P3 and P6. Fragment P15 showed promoter activity only in Lactobacillus reuteri and E. coli but not in Lactococcus lactis. The three host-specific transcriptional start points (TSPs) were used when transcription of the cat-86 gene was controlled by fragment P3 in Lactobacillus reuteri, E. coli, and Lactococcus lactis. Similarly, fragment P15 initiated transcription of the cat-86 gene at two distinctive sites in Lactobacillus reuteri and E. coli. Only within fragment P6, a common TSP was used in Lactobacillus reuteri and E. coli, but different from that used in Lactococcus lactis. Each TSP was preceded by the putative −35 and −10 hexamers. Computer analysis of the fragment P3 sequence revealed the existence of divergent promoterlike sequence (P3rev) located on the complementary DNA strand. Fragments P6 and P15 were also functional in Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 from which chromosomal DNA they were originally cloned.Key words: Lactobacillus acidophilus, promoter-like sequences, regulation.

scholarly journals Characterization of the SOS Regulon of Caulobacter crescentus

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (4) ◽  
pp. 1209-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Paes da Rocha ◽  
Apuã César de Miranda Paquola ◽  
Marilis do Valle Marques ◽  
Carlos Frederico Martins Menck ◽  
Rodrigo S. Galhardo
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Caulobacter Crescentus ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Direct Repeat ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Potential Promoter

ABSTRACT The SOS regulon is a paradigm of bacterial responses to DNA damage. A wide variety of bacterial species possess homologs of lexA and recA, the central players in the regulation of the SOS circuit. Nevertheless, the genes actually regulated by the SOS have been determined only experimentally in a few bacterial species. In this work, we describe 37 genes regulated in a LexA-dependent manner in the alphaproteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus. In agreement with previous results, we have found that the direct repeat GTTCN7GTTC is the SOS operator of C. crescentus, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis studies of the imuA promoter. Several potential promoter regions containing the SOS operator were identified in the genome, and the expression of the corresponding genes was analyzed for both the wild type and the lexA strain, demonstrating that the vast majority of these genes are indeed SOS regulated. Interestingly, many of these genes encode proteins with unknown functions, revealing the potential of this approach for the discovery of novel genes involved in cellular responses to DNA damage in prokaryotes, and illustrating the diversity of SOS-regulated genes among different bacterial species.

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