Jonathan Kuhn

pHG165: A pBR322 copy number derivative of pUC8 for cloning and expression

During the construction of the Messing pUC plasmid series, the rop(rom) gene of pBR322 which mediates the activity of RNAI was deleted. This has resulted in an elevated copy number for the pUC plasmids which makes the expression of beta-galactosidase activity constitutive in a host containing the Iqtss lac repressor. We describe the construction of a new series of vectors which retain the pUC multiple cloning site (MCS) but in which copy number control has been recovered. In addition, the lac alpha/lac promoter expression region has been inserted into a HpaI cassette. This facilitates the movement of recombinant DNA clones within the MCS. It also increases the complementation activity of the lac alpha peptide by an order of magnitude, allowing selection of recombinants by their Lac- phenotype on MacConkey agar.

Identification of Residues Important Both for Primary Receptor Binding and Specificity in Fibroblast Growth Factor-7*

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) mediate a multitude of physiological and pathological processes by activating a family of tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs). Each FGFR binds to a unique subset of FGFs and ligand binding specificity is essential in regulating FGF activity. FGF-7 recognizes one FGFR isoform known as the FGFR2 IIIb isoform or keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR), whereas FGF-2 binds well to FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR4 but interacts poorly with KGFR. Previously, mutations in FGF-2 identified a set of residues that are important for high affinity receptor binding, known as the primary receptor-binding site. FGF-7 contains this primary site as well as a region that restricts interaction with FGFR1. The sequences that confer on FGF-7 its specific binding to KGFR have not been identified. By utilizing domain swapping and site-directed mutagenesis we have found that the loop connecting the β4-β5 strands of FGF-7 contributes to high affinity receptor binding and is critical for KGFR recognition. Replacement of this loop with the homologous loop from FGF-2 dramatically reduced both the affinity of FGF-7 for KGFR and its biological potency but did not result in the ability to bind FGFR1. Point mutations in residues comprising this loop of FGF-7 reduced both binding affinity and biological potency. The reciprocal loop replacement mutant (FGF2-L4/7) retained FGF-2 like affinity for FGFR1 and for KGFR. Our results show that topologically similar regions in these two FGFs have different roles in regulating receptor binding specificity and suggest that specificity may require the concerted action of distinct regions of an FGF.

Synthesis and degradation of lac mRNA in E. coli depleted of 30S ribosomal subunits

SummaryEscherichia coli was depleted of active ribosomes by a thermal shock at 47°C which quantitatively destroyed the 30S ribosomal subunits. During recovery, RNA is synthesized while protein synthesis resumes only after about 90 minutes. It is shown that lac mRNA is synthesized in the complete absence of ribosomal activity and hence RNA synthesis is not coupled to protein synthesis. Transcription time and average transcript length were slightly less than in untreated cells. lac mRNA was degraded much more slowly in bacteria depleted of ribosomes. In E. coli W both functional half life (T1/2=28 min vs. 2.25 in untreated cells) and chemical stability (T1/2=32 min vs. 7 in untreated cells) was increased. The analysis of rna and pnp mutants showed that polynucleotide phosphorylase is involved in lac mRNA degradation in heat treated cells but that RNase I is not. The functional T1/2 was increased in pnp mutants and was 95 min during the recovery period. The rate of chemical decay is so slow that the half-life cannot be accurately determined.

pHG276: A multiple cloning site pBR322 copy number vector expressing a functional lacα peptide from the bacteriophage lambda PR promoter

The bacteriophage lambda early promoter PR has been used to direct the synthesis of lac alpha in a plasmid containing the multiple cloning site of pUC8. The copy number of the plasmid is controlled by the rop(rom) gene and the plasmid incorporates the cI857 gene for temperature regulation of lac alpha expression. Isolation of recombinant derivatives with DNA inserts in the multiple cloning region can be identified by insertional inactivation of lac alpha and consequently, a Lac- phenotype in a host carrying the M15 deletion of lac. The potential of pHG276 as a fully regulated expression vector is examined.

Determination of the activity of 16 hydrazine derivatives in the bioluminescence test for genotoxic agents.

The activity of 16 hydrazine derivatives was determined in the bioluminescence test for genotoxic agents (BLT). Hydrazine compounds that were shown to exert mutagenic activity in the Ames test were also active in the BLT. Isoniazid and p-tolylhydrazine which reacted as weak mutagens in the Ames test were highly active in the BLT.

The tryptophan pathway genes of the Sargasso Sea metagenome: new operon structures and the prevalence of non-operon organization

BackgroundThe enormous database of microbial DNA generated from the Sargasso Sea metagenome provides a unique opportunity to locate genes participating in different biosynthetic pathways and to attempt to understand the relationship and evolution of those genes. In this article, an analysis of the Sargasso Sea metagenome is made with respect to the seven genes of the tryptophan pathway.ResultsAt least 5% of all the genes that are related to amino acid biosynthesis are tryptophan (trp) genes. Many contigs and scaffolds contain whole or split operons that are similar to previously analyzed trp gene organizations. Only two scaffolds discovered in this analysis possess a different operon organization of tryptophan pathway genes than those previously known. Many marine organisms lack an operon-type organization of these genes or have mini-operons containing only two trp genes. In addition, the trpB genes from this search reveal that the dichotomous division between trpB_1 and trpB_2 also occurs in organisms from the Sargasso Sea. One cluster was found to contain trpB sequences that were closely related to each other but distinct from most known trpB sequences.ConclusionThe data show that trp genes are widely dispersed within this metagenome. The novel organization of these genes and an unusual group of trpB_1 sequences that were found among some of these Sargasso Sea bacteria indicate that there is much to be discovered about both the reason for certain gene orders and the regulation of tryptophan biosynthesis in marine bacteria.

Selection and analysis of non-interactive mutants in theEscherichia coli tryptophan synthase a subunit

SummaryThe inherent infidelity of Taq DNA polymerase in the polymerase chain reaction was exploited to produce random mutations in thetrp A gene. Screening of the resulting clones allowed selection of non-interactive mutant α subunits retaining their intrinsic catalytic activity. Two single changes responsible for this phenotype were identified by DNA sequencing as: α126 valine (GTG)→glutamic acid (GAG) and α128 valine (GTT)→aspartic acid (GAT). Three single changes giving a non-interactive phenotype with an impaired intrinsic catalytic activity were identified by DNA sequencing as a66 asparagine (AAC)→aspartic acid (GAC); α109lysine (AAA) →arginine (AGA); α118 cysteine (TGC)→arginine (CGC). Where possible, we individually assessed the importance of these residues in αβ interaction in light of structural information from X-ray crystallography and by intergeneric protein sequence comparison.

Relief of polarity in E. coli depleted of 30S ribosomal subunits

SummaryEscherichia coli was depleted of ribosomes by a thermal shock at 47° C which quantitatively destroyed the 30S ribosomal subunits. During recovery in minimal medium at 30° C RNA is synthesized while protein synthesis resumes only after about 90 min. It is shown that lac mRNA is synthesized in the complete absence of ribosomal activity and hence RNA synthesis is not coupled to protein synthesis. Lac mRNA from a series of lac nonsense mutants was examined in both heated and untreated cells. It was found that the polar effect of nonsense mutation is relieved in the absence of ribosomes and that this relief is due to the synthesis of larger mRNA molecules. Since Rho remained active in thermally treated cells, premature termination at secondary signals within the lac operon must also depend on the presence of active ribosomes.

Making temporal maps using bacterial luciferase: Bacteriophage

A method for making temporal maps in bacteria, plasmids and bacteriophages is described. A cassette containing both the genes for bacterial luciferase and kanamycin resistance can be introduced at precise sites. The technique involves clonging followed by genetic recombination. The result is formation of structures that have the luciferase genes in place of the normal DNA and this allows the very precise measurement of transcription/translation of the substituted regions. Very low levels of transcription as well as the kinetics of induction can be easily ascertained. As a specific demonstration of this general method, the technique was used with bacteriophage λ, one of the best known organisms. By measuring light emission, the expression of luciferase was followed after induction for both early and late genes. The exact timing of initial expression of genes was also determined by sampling at very short intervals. The results show that the early genes express almost without delay implying that the function of the N antitermination system is not temporal regulation.