Gene organization and primary structure of a ribosomal RNA operon from Escherichia coli

The kdsA gene coding for 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid 8-phosphate synthetase is part of an operon in Escherichia coli

The kdsA gene of Escherichia coli was sequenced. It consists of 284 codons and is the last gene of a larger transcription unit. The mRNA is terminated by a rho-independent termination signal with the potential to be active in both orientations. This region is followed by another termination signal which seems to be active in the opposite orientation. Upstream of the kdsA gene a second open reading frame (ORF) was found; both this and the kdsA gene are transcribed in the same mRNA molecule when coded from the chromosome. In a plasmid-carried insert transcription starts from a cryptic promoter within the ORF preceding the kdsA gene. This promoter is not active in the intact chromosome.

Characterization of Vibrio fischeri rRNA operons and subcloning of a ribosomal DNA promoter

Analysis of rRNA genes in Vibrio fischeri indicates the presence of eight rRNA gene sets in this organism. It was found that the genes for 5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA are organized in operons in the following order: 5' end 16S rRNA 23S RNA 5S rRNA 3' end. Although the operons are homologous, they are not identical with regard to cleavage sites for various restriction endonucleases. A DNA library was constructed, and three ribosomal DNA clones were obtained. One of these clones contained an entire rRNA operon and was used as a source for subcloning. The promoter region which leads to plasmid instability was successfully subcloned into pHG165. The terminator region was subcloned into pBR322.

Promoter switching during development and the termination site of the sigma 43 operon of Bacillus subtilis

Sequencing data indicated that the RNA polymerase sigma 43 operon of Bacillus subtilis consisted of three genes, P23 (function unknown), dnaE (DNA primase), and rpoD (sigma 43) (Wang and Doi 1986a). S1 nuclease mapping experiments with RNA from various stages of growth demonstrated the presence of two overlapping sigma 43 promoters that controlled the expression of the operon during growth and a sigma 37 promoter that regulated the expression of the operon during the sporulation phase. This promoter switching mechanism ensured that this important operon would be expressed during different nutritional states of the cell and also illustrated a function for the minor RNA polymerase sigma 37 holoenzyme in the expression of genes which are normally expressed during the logarithmic phase of growth. The location of the transcription termination signal confirmed that the sigma 43 operon consists of three genes.

In vivo translation of a region within the rrnB 16S rRNA gene of Escherichia coli

In this study we show that a segment of the Escherichia coli rrnB 16S gene can be translated in vivo. Other laboratories have previously reported that there are internal transcription and translation signals and open reading frames within the E. coli rrnB rRNA operon. Their studies revealed a translation start signal followed by a 252-base-pair open reading frame (ORF16) within the 16S gene and detected a promoter (p16) in the same general region by using in vitro RNA polymerase binding and transcription initiation assays. By using plasmid gene fusions of ORF16 to lacZ we showed that an ORF16'-'beta-galactosidase fusion protein was made in vivo. Transcripts encoding the fusion protein were expressed either from the rrnB p1p2 control region or from a hybrid trp-lac promoter (tacP), but the amount of expression was considerably less than for a lacZ control plasmid. We used fusions to the cat gene to show that p16 is one-half as active as lacP. Deletions were used to show that p16 is located within ORF16 and thus cannot promote a transcript encoding the ORF16 peptide. A comparison of sequences from different organisms shows that ORF16 and p16 lie in a highly conserved region of the procaryotic 16S RNA structure. The first 20 amino acids of ORF16 are conserved in most eubacterial and plant organellar sequences, and promoter activity has been detected in this region of the Caulobacter crescentus sequence by other workers.

Structural analysis of 5S rRNA, 5S rRNA-protein complexes and ribosomes employing RNase H and d(GTTCGG)

The hybridization of d(GTTCGG) to eubacterial 5S rRNAs, 5S rRNA-protein complexes, 70S ribosomes and 50S and 30S ribosomal subunits was investigated. This oligonucleotide, which may be considered to be an analogue of the T psi CG loop of tRNAs, was chosen in order to investigate a possible interaction between tRNAs with ribosomal components during protein synthesis. The hybridization was analysed by RNase H hydrolysis studies and, in the case of the ribosomes and ribosomal subunits, in addition with the radioactively labelled oligodeoxyribonucleotide in binding studies. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that nucleotides in loop c, i.e. positions 42-47, are available for oligonucleotide interaction in free Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus 5S rRNAs and not available in the corresponding 5S rRNA-protein complexes. The 70S ribosomes and ribosomal subunits did not interact with the oligonucleotide. Under the assumption that d(GTTCGG) is an analogue of the T psi CG loop of tRNAs and in view of the results obtained, we conclude that in the unprogrammed ribosomes the T psi CG loop of tRNAs does not interact via standard Watson-Crick base pairs with the ribosomal 5S, 16S or 23S RNAs.

Bacillus subtilis rRNA promoters are growth rate regulated in Escherichia coli

rRNA promoters from the rrnB locus of Bacillus subtilis and from the rrnB locus of Escherichia coli were fused to the gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). The level of expression of CAT in E. coli showed growth rate dependence when the CAT gene was linked to either E. coli or B. subtilis tandem promoters. The downstream promoter of the tandem Bacillus pair showed growth rate regulation, while the upstream promoter did not, whereas for the E. coli tandem promoters, only the upstream promoter was growth rate regulated.

Organization of rRNA genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG

The number of rRNA genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG was examined by Southern hybridization of end-labeled 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNAs with BamHI, PstI, and SalI digests of M. bovis BCG DNA. Each RNA probe gave only one radioactive band with three kinds of DNA digest. These results suggest that M. bovis BCG chromosomes may carry only a minimum set of rRNA genes. Hybridization of randomly labeled rRNAs with BamHI, PstI, SalI, BglII, and PvuII digests of DNA from the same organism supported these conclusions. The 6.4-kilobase-pair SalI fragment containing the entire structural genes for both 16S and 23S rRNAs was cloned into pBR322. The cloned fragment was characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping, DNA-RNA hybridization analysis, and the R-loop technique. The results indicated that the fragments contained rRNA genes in the following order: 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNA genes. No tRNA gene was detected in the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes, but one was found downstream of the 23S rRNA and 5S rRNA genes.

Improved single and multicopy lac-based cloning vectors for protein and operon fusions

We describe several new vectors for the construction of operon and protein fusions to the Escherichia coli lacZ gene. In vitro constructions utilize multicopy plasmids containing suitable cloning sites located between upstream transcription terminators and downstream lac operon segments whose lacZ genes retain or lack translational start signals. Single-copy lambda prophage versions of multicopy constructs can be made genetically, without in vitro manipulation. The new vectors, both single and multicopy, are improved in that they have very low levels of background lac gene expression, which makes possible the easy detection and accurate quantitation of very weak transcriptional and translational signals. These vectors were developed for analysis of the expression of IS10's transposase gene, which is transcribed less than, once per generation, and whose transcripts are translated on average less than once each. Both single and multicopy constructs can also be used to select mutations affecting fusion expression, and mutations isolated in single-copy constructs can be crossed genetically back onto multicopy plasmids for further analysis.

Multicopy expression vectors carrying the lac repressor gene for regulated high-level expression of genes in Escherichia coli

A series of new expression vectors (the pTTQ series) has been constructed for the regulated expression of genes in Escherichia coli. Based on the pUC plasmids, the pTTQ vectors contain a polylinker/lacZ alpha region flanked by the strong hybrid trp-lac (tac) promoter and the rrnB transcription terminator. Foreign genes can be inserted into the polylinker region of this expression cassette, to give either transcriptional or translational fusions within the lacZ alpha coding region. In most commonly used strains of E. coli, multiple copies of the lac operator titrate out the lac repressor. This phenomenon leads to significant expression from tac or lac promoters present on multicopy plasmids, even in the absence of inducers such as IPTG. To ensure maximal repression of the tac promoter on the pTTQ vectors in any host strain, the lacIQ allele of the lac repressor gene was added to the vectors. This makes them particularly useful for cloning genes when expression at high level is desired but is detrimental to cell growth.

Construction and characterization of plasmid and lambda phage vector systems for study of transcriptional control in Escherichia coli

We constructed a family of lambda phage and plasmid vectors which facilitate cloning and quantitative analysis of transcriptional regulator in both single and multiple copies. Their expression system was modified from the ara-trp-lac fusion operon of plasmid pMC81 [Casadaban and Cohen, J. Mol. Biol. 138 (1980) 179-207], which is designed to assay both promoters and terminators with a single vehicle. To eliminate transcriptional and translational polar effects liable to occur in the original fusion operon upon insertion of a foreign nucleotide sequence, intracistronic Rho-dependent terminators, that are present within the trpB gene and distal to the cloning site were deleted, and DNA spacers containing stop codons were introduced immediately before and after the cloning site. In analysis of the cloned trp regulatory region, the lambda phage system faithfully reproduced the tight regulation by tryptophan characteristic to the natural trp operon on the E. coli chromosome, whereas the plasmid counterpart exhibited a substantially relaxed response. Comparative studies on the relative strengths of various promoters and terminators have further demonstrated that the lambda phage vector system permits accurate assays of exceptionally strong promoters like Ptrp and lambda pL without disturbing the bacterial growth, while being sensitive enough for detecting low-level transcription under the control of weak promoters or potent terminators. Cloning with the lambda phage vector can be greatly facilitated by transferring the target regulatory site precloned with the plasmid onto the phage genome through in vivo recombination.

Measurement of cat expression from growth-rate-regulated promoters employing beta-lactamase activity as an indicator of plasmid copy number

Many promoter-fusion vectors contain an intact beta-lactamase (BLA) gene (bla) to allow measurement of BLA activity as an internal control for plasmid copy number. This approach rests on the assumption that bla is constitutively expressed. To use such vectors for comparison of promoter activity at different growth rates it was necessary to confirm that this is the case under all physiological conditions. The relationship between plasmid copy number and BLA activity at different steady-state growth rates in Escherichia coli HB101 transformed with a ColE1-type plasmid (pBR325) was examined. Both BLA activity and plasmid copy number decreased in a parallel fashion as growth rate increased. This finding was tested further by measuring the growth-rate-regulated expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene under the control of the rrnB P1 promoter in a plasmid pKK231-1 fusion. The results indicate that BLA activity is a reliable indicator of copy number at a wide range of growth rates and that CAT/BLA ratios can be employed as a valid measure of promoter-specific activity in such plasmid fusions under these different physiological conditions.

Nucleotide sequence of the insecticidal protein gene of Bacillus thuringiensis strain aizawai IPL7 and its high-level expression in Escherichia coli

A DNA fragment carrying the insecticidal protein gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai IPL7 was cloned from a 78-kb plasmid. The nucleotide sequence revealed that the cloned DNA fragment contained a 3465-bp protein-coding region with 156-bp 5'-flanking, and 168-bp 3'-flanking regions. The open reading frame encoded a 130,690 Da protein consisting of 1155 amino acid residues. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the aizawai gene with the published berliner 1715 gene showed only 8 nt changes in the coding regions. It was found that 72 bp of the 5'-flanking sequence of the cloned aizawai gene was responsible for constitutive expression of the 130-kDa protein gene in Escherichia coli. The expression was greatly enhanced by introducing the tac promoter upstream from the 72-bp 5'-flanking region of the aizawai gene. Under optimal conditions, the 130-kDa insecticidal protein amounted to 38% of the total cellular protein.

Analysis of transcription and processing signals of the 16S-23S rRNA operon of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

The 16S and 23S rRNA genes of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae are closely spaced in one operon. The two genes are separated by a spacer region of 500 bp which shows no sequence homology to bacterial tRNA genes. Within this operon seven 5' and five 3' ends of various rRNA species were mapped and the corresponding DNA was sequenced. The results are consistent with the following model for synthesis of rRNAs: Transcription of the operon is initiated from either of two tandemly arranged promoters leading to a large precursor RNA consisting of both 16S and 23S rRNAs. This primary transcript is first cleaved within stem structures surrounding the two rRNAs to yield premature 16S and 23S rRNAs. By further processing events the mature 5' and 3' ends are generated. The promoter sequences of this operon differ from those of other eubacterial promoters in lacking the typical -35 region. The putative termination site at the 3' end of the operon is reminiscent of rho-independent terminators in Escherichia coli.

Regulation of expression of the gene for vitamin B12 receptor cloned on a multicopy plasmid in Escherichia coli

The btuB gene of Escherichia coli codes for a protein (BtuB) located in the outer membrane. BtuB is the receptor for vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). We have cloned the btuB gene into pUC8 using transposon Tn5 as the marker to first isolate several parts of the relevant DNA fragment from the specialized transducing phage lambda darg13. After reconstitution of the gene, Tn5 was removed by selecting for spontaneous excision. The partial nucleotide sequence and transcriptional start of the btuB gene were determined. The BtuB+ plasmid allowed a large amplification of the synthesis of BtuB, resulting in a 65-fold increased level of vitamin B12 binding. The level of vitamin B12 binding was reduced by a factor of 22 when cells were grown in the presence of high concentrations of vitamin B12. The regulation of the gene was studied in more detail by the use of a protein fusion between the extreme amino-terminus of BtuB and beta-galactosidase of E. coli. The kinetics of repression and derepression were consistent with the presence in the cells of a large amount of a regulatory molecule exhibiting an apparent Km for vitamin B12 of 3 microM.

Developmentally regulated cytokeratin gene in Xenopus laevis

We have determined the sequence of cloned cDNAs derived from a 1,665-nucleotide mRNA which transiently accumulates during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. Computer analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that this mRNA encodes a 47-kilodalton type I intermediate filament subunit, i.e., a cytokeratin. As is common to all intermediate filament subunits so far examined, the predicted polypeptide, named XK70, contains N- and C-terminal domains flanking a central alpha-helical rod domain. The overall amino acid homology between XK70 and a human 50-kilodalton type I keratin is 47%; homology within the alpha-helical domain is 57%. The N-terminal domain, which is not completely contained in our cDNAs, is basic, contains 42% serine plus alanine, and includes five copies of a six-amino-acid repeating unit. The C-terminal domain has a high alpha-helical content and contains a region with sequence homology to the C-terminal domains of other type I and type III intermediate filament proteins. We suggest that different keratin filament subtypes may have different functional roles during amphibian oogenesis and embryogenesis.

Sequence organization of the chloroplast ribosomal spacer of Chlamydomonas reinhardii: uninterrupted tRNAile and tRNAala genes and extensive secondary structure

The 1805 bp spacer between the chloroplast ribosomal 16S and 7S RNA genes of Chlamydomonas reinhardii has been sequenced. It contains the genes of tRNA ala and tRNA ile which are both uninterrupted. The spacer includes several short direct and inverted repeats and a large palindromic structure which maps in the region where DNA rearrangements have occurred in other Chlamydomonas species.

Use of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase to direct selective high-level expression of cloned genes

A gene expression system based on bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase has been developed. T7 RNA polymerase is highly selective for its own promoters, which do not occur naturally in Escherichia coli. A relatively small amount of T7 RNA polymerase provided from a cloned copy of T7 gene 1 is sufficient to direct high-level transcription from a T7 promoter in a multicopy plasmid. Such transcription can proceed several times around the plasmid without terminating, and can be so active that transcription by E. coli RNA polymerase is greatly decreased. When a cleavage site for RNase III is introduced, discrete RNAs of plasmid length can accumulate. The natural transcription terminator from T7 DNA also works effectively in the plasmid. Both the rate of synthesis and the accumulation of RNA directed by T7 RNA polymerase can reach levels comparable with those for ribosomal RNAs in a normal cell. These high levels of accumulation suggest that the RNAs are relatively stable, perhaps in part because their great length and/or stem-and-loop structures at their 3' ends help to protect them against exonucleolytic degradation. It seems likely that a specific mRNA produced by T7 RNA polymerase can rapidly saturate the translational machinery of E. coli, so that the rate of protein synthesis from such an mRNA will depend primarily on the efficiency of its translation. When the mRNA is efficiently translated, a target protein can accumulate to greater than 50% of the total cell protein in three hours or less. We have used two ways to deliver active T7 RNA polymerase to the cell; infection by a lambda derivative that carries gene 1, or induction of a chromosomal copy of gene 1 under control of the lacUV5 promoter. When gene 1 is delivered by infection, very toxic target genes can be maintained silent in the cell until T7 RNA polymerase is introduced, when they rapidly become expressed at high levels. When gene 1 is resident in the chromosome, even the very low basal levels of T7 RNA polymerase present in the uninduced cell can prevent the establishment of plasmids carrying toxic target genes, or make the plasmid unstable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Characterization of a collection of deletion mutants at the 3'-end of 16S ribosomal RNA of Escherichia coli

Deletions were constructed in plasmid pKK3535 in the coding region for the 3'-end of E. coli 16S rRNA. The plasmid was cleaved with restriction endonuclease Hae2 under conditions favoring the production of single cut linear plasmid DNA and deletions were produced by digestion with exonuclease Bal31. Seven different deletions were isolated ranging in size from 90 to about 200 base pairs. Transcription of ribosomal DNA, processing of ribosomal RNA and incorporation of mutant rRNA into mutant particles was studied in UV-sensitive cells using a modified maxicell labeling procedure. The different mutants were missing defined features in the secondary structure of 16S rRNA and were characterized according to their stability, ability to be processed, sensitivity to colicin E3, and ability to bind ribosomal protein S1 and to interact with 50S subunits. These analyses show that the small stem and loop structure at positions 1350 to 1372 is necessary for the stability of rRNA. The deletion of the long terminal stem structure (1409-1491) in all mutant rRNAs does not block processing of the mutant rRNAs or S1 binding, although processing of the mutant rRNAs or S1 binding, although it does prevent the association of particles containing the mutant rRNA with 50S subunits.

Terminators of transcription with RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli: what they look like and how to find them

We present here a compilation of prokaryotic transcription terminator sequences (ref. 1-152). The compilation includes 49 independent terminators, 52 speculated independent terminators, 27 sites shown to function in vivo, and some 20 proven or speculated rho-dependent terminators. In addition to the well-known features of independent terminators (dyad symmetry and T-run), two consensus are found: CGGG(C/G) upstream and TCTG downstream of the termination point. A subset of the collection of sequence has been used to construct a computer algorithm to locate independent terminators by sequence analysis.

DNA determinants of rRNA synthesis in E. coli: growth rate dependent regulation, feedback inhibition, upstream activation, antitermination

We have examined the DNA regions required for rRNA synthesis in E. coli using promoter-lacZ and lambda PL-rrnB operon fusions. Sequences between -51 and -20 with respect to the P1 promoter transcription initiation site contain the critical information for growth rate dependent control. The region essential for growth rate regulation is the same as that necessary for feedback inhibition. A separate upstream region, between -51 and -88, increases rRNA transcription at least 15-fold and appears to have an abnormal conformation. The box A sequence downstream of promoter P2, but not DNA between P2 and box A, is required for efficient rRNA chain elongation. These results indicate that neither upstream activation nor antitermination determines growth rate dependence. Rather, growth rate regulation takes place at the target site for the negative feedback system, the P1 promoter itself. We propose that negative feedback regulation is responsible for the growth rate dependence of rRNA synthesis in E. coli.

Transcription initiation in vitro and in vivo at a highly conserved promoter within a 16 S ribosomal RNA gene

Transcription initiation has been shown to occur in vitro at several sites within a cloned Caulobacter crescentus ribosomal RNA gene cluster that lacks the major promoter region 5' to the 16 S rRNA gene. The predominant transcription start site in vitro was located near the 3' end of the 16 S rRNA gene. Transcription initiation from this region was also detected in vivo, when the cloned rRNA gene cluster was present on a multi-copy plasmid. The transcription start sites in vitro and in vivo were shown to be identical by S1 nuclease mapping and were found to be located approximately 300 nucleotides upstream from the 3' end of the 16 S rRNA gene. The transcript synthesized in vitro was shown to be cleaved by C. crescentus RNase III and to release the transfer RNA genes from the downstream 16 S/23 S intergenic spacer region. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence near the internal 16 S rRNA transcription start site revealed the presence of a consensus promoter sequence followed by the beginning of an open reading frame approximately 90 nucleotides downstream. Examination of the 16 S rRNA genes from other bacterial species and chloroplasts and 18 S rRNA genes from Xenopus and yeast revealed that the nucleotide sequence of this internal 16 S rRNA promoter region was highly conserved. Although the length of these 16 S and 18 S rRNA genes is slightly variable, the distance of the conserved promoter sequence from the 3' end of these genes has been conserved.

Molecular cloning of the plasmid RP4 primase region in a multi-host-range tacP expression vector

Plasmid RP4 primase was overproduced by utilizing autoregulated high-level expression vector systems in Escherichia coli and in four other Gram-negative bacterial species. Analysis of the products in E. coli revealed that in addition to the two primase polypeptides of 118 and 80 kDa the pri region of RP4 encodes two smaller proteins of 16.5 and 8.6 kDa. The transcript for the four RP4-specified products is polycistronic. The vector system used in E. coli is based on the plasmid pKK223-3 (Brosius and Holy, 1984), a ColE1-type replicon which contains a polylinker sequence flanked on one side by the controllable tac promoter and on the other side by two strong transcriptional terminators. The gene for the lac repressor (lacIQ) was inserted to render the use of the plasmid independent from repressor-overproducing strains. The gene cartridge essential for high-level expression and selection was combined with the RSF1010 replicon to generate a vector plasmid functioning in a wide variety of Gram-negative hosts. The versatility of the vector family was extended by constructing derivatives that contain the polylinker in inverted orientation relative to the tac promoter. Therefore, the orientation of the cloned fragment can be chosen by 'forced cloning' into the appropriately selected vector.

Cloning and expression of Bacillus subtilis phage DNA methyltransferase genes in Escherichia coli and B. subtilis

The DNA methyltransferase (Mtase) genes of the temperate Bacillus subtilis phages SPR (wild type and various mutants), phi 3T, rho 11 and SP beta have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and B. subtilis host-plasmid vector systems. Mtase activity has been quantitated in these clones by performing in vitro methylation assays of cell-free extracts. The four-phage Mtase genes differ in the amount of Mtase synthesized when transcribed from their genuine promoters. In B. subtilis as well as in E. coli the SPR Mtase is always produced in smaller amounts than the other phage Mtases. Expression levels of the SPR Mtase are dependent on the strength of the upstream vector promoter sequences. Overproduction of the SPR wild-type and mutant enzymes was achieved in E. coli (inducible expression) by fusions to the lambda pL or the tac promoter and in B. subtilis (constitutive expression) by means of the phage SP02 promoter.

Cloning and template activity of the origins of replication of phage phi 29 DNA

A 73-bp fragment from the left end of phi 29 DNA and a 269-bp fragment from the right end have been cloned in plasmids pPLc28 and pKK223-3, respectively, after removal of the terminal protein p3 by treatment with piperidine. In addition, the 73- and 269-bp fragments were cloned together in plasmid pKK223-3 in such a way that the two termini of phi 29 DNA were joined. Treatment of the latter recombinant plasmid with AhaIII releases several fragments, two of which contain the phi 29 DNA terminal sequences at the DNA end. These two fragments initiated replication specifically at the ends of the DNA giving rise to the formation of the p3-dAMP complex. The activity was about 15% of that obtained with phi 29 DNA-protein p3. All remaining recombinant plasmids were essentially inactive when tested as templates either in circular form or after cutting in such a way that placed the origin of phi 29 DNA replication close but not at the DNA end.

Efficient utilization of Escherichia coli transcriptional signals in Bacillus subtilis

Using purified sigma 55 RNA polymerase from Bacillus subtilis in an in vitro transcription system, we have shown that both promoters and terminators of Gram negative origin are recognized by this enzyme. Furthermore, when B. subtilis is transformed with a shuttle vector containing certain of these promoters, synthesis of the Staphylococcus aureus CAT protein is achieved, and levels up to 25% of the total cellular protein can be obtained. These findings indicate a closer evolutionary relationship of the expression machinery of these two bacterial species than has been assumed so far. On the basis of these results, the construction of new expression vectors for B. subtilis is likely to be facilitated, since a variety of well-characterized signal elements from Escherichia coli are available.

Growth rate-dependent regulation of RNA polymerase synthesis in Escherichia coli

The rate of synthesis of the beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase relative to the rate of synthesis of total protein was found to remain constant with increasing steady state growth rate. This is in contrast to the relative synthesis rates of ribosomal proteins which are known to increase with growth rate. Yet the ratio of the rate of transcription of the ribosomal protein (rplJL) and RNA polymerase (rpoBC) domains of the rplKAJLrpoBC gene cluster was found to be invariant. Fusions to lacZ were used to relate the rate of transcription of the rplKAJL genes to the rate of synthesis of total protein. No change was seen at growth rates above 0.8 doublings per hour. This indicates that the growth rate-dependent expression of these ribosomal proteins is regulated at the post-transcriptional level. However because both the relative rate of transcription of rpoBC and rate of synthesis of beta and beta' were found to remain invariant over this growth range it suggests the expression of these RNA polymerase subunits is regulated at the transcriptional level.

Human apolipoprotein E expression in Escherichia coli: structural and functional identity of the bacterially produced protein with plasma apolipoprotein E

Human apolipoprotein E (apoE) was produced in Escherichia coli by transforming cells with an expression vector containing a reconstructed apoE cDNA, a lambda PL promoter regulated by the thermolabile cI repressor, and a ribosomal binding site derived from the lambda cII or the E. coli beta-lactamase gene. Transformed cells induced at 42 degrees C for short periods of time (less than 20 min) produced apoE, which accumulated in the cells at levels of approximately equal to 1% of the total soluble cellular protein. Longer induction periods resulted in cell lysis and the proteolytic destruction of apoE. The bacterially produced apoE was purified by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration, and preparative Immobiline isoelectric focusing. The final yield was approximately equal to 20% of the initial apoE present in the cells. Except for an additional methionine at the amino terminus, the bacterially produced apoE was indistinguishable from authentic human plasma apoE as determined by NaDodSO4 and isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis, amino acid composition of the total protein as well as its cyanogen bromide fragments, and partial amino acid sequence analysis (residues 1-17 and 109-164). Both the bacterially produced and authentic plasma apoE bound similarly to apolipoprotein B,E(low density lipoprotein) receptors of human fibroblasts and to hepatic apoE receptors. Intravenous injection resulted in similar rates of clearance for both the bacterially produced and authentic apoE from rabbit and rat plasma (approximately equal to 50% removed in 20 min). The ability to synthesize a bacterially produced human apolipoprotein with biological properties indistinguishable from those of the native protein will allow the production of large quantities of apoE for use in further investigations of the biological and physiological properties of this apolipoprotein.

Rigorous pattern-recognition methods for DNA sequences. Analysis of promoter sequences from Escherichia coli

The basic nature of the sequence features that define a promoter sequence for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase have been established by a variety of biochemical and genetic methods. We have developed rigorous analytical methods for finding unknown patterns that occur imperfectly in a set of several sequences, and have used them to examine a set of bacterial promoters. The algorithm easily discovers the "consensus" sequences for the -10 and -35 regions, which are essentially identical to the results of previous analyses, but requires no prior assumptions about the common patterns. By explicitly specifying the nature of the search for consensus sequences, we give a rigorous definition to this concept that should be widely applicable. We also have provided estimates for the statistical significance of common patterns discovered in sets of sequences. In addition to providing a rigorous basis for defining known consensus regions, we have found additional features in these promoters that may have functional significance. These added features were located on either side of the -35 region. The pattern 5', or upstream, from the -35 region was found using the standard alphabet (A, G, C and T), but the pattern between the -10 and the -35 regions was detectable only in a sub-alphabet. Recent results relating DNA sequence to helix conformation suggest that the former (upstream) pattern may have a functional significance. Possible roles in promoter function are discussed in this light, and an observation of altered promoter function involving the upstream region is reported that appears to support the suggestion of function in at least one case.

Processing enzyme ribonuclease E specifically cleaves RNA I. An inhibitor of primer formation in plasmid DNA synthesis

When the RNA processing enzyme RNAase E is inactivated in an Escherichia coli strain carrying derivatives of the colicin E1 plasmid, a small RNA, about 100 nucleotides long, accumulates. Structural analysis of this RNA showed that it is RNA I, the RNA that inhibits plasmid DNA synthesis. RNA I is a specific substrate for RNAase E and the cleavage takes place between the fifth and sixth nucleotides from the 5' end of the molecule. This is only the second natural RNA substrate that has been found, so far, for the RNA processing enzyme ribonuclease E, the other being a precursor for 5 S ribosomal RNA. It is remarkable that nine nucleotides around the cleavage sites are identical in both substrates: (Formula: see text). Therefore, we suggest that at least part of the interaction between RNAase E and its substrate is controlled by these nine nucleotides.

Developmentally regulated cytokeratin gene in Xenopus laevis

We have determined the sequence of cloned cDNAs derived from a 1,665-nucleotide mRNA which transiently accumulates during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. Computer analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that this mRNA encodes a 47-kilodalton type I intermediate filament subunit, i.e., a cytokeratin. As is common to all intermediate filament subunits so far examined, the predicted polypeptide, named XK70, contains N- and C-terminal domains flanking a central alpha-helical rod domain. The overall amino acid homology between XK70 and a human 50-kilodalton type I keratin is 47%; homology within the alpha-helical domain is 57%. The N-terminal domain, which is not completely contained in our cDNAs, is basic, contains 42% serine plus alanine, and includes five copies of a six-amino-acid repeating unit. The C-terminal domain has a high alpha-helical content and contains a region with sequence homology to the C-terminal domains of other type I and type III intermediate filament proteins. We suggest that different keratin filament subtypes may have different functional roles during amphibian oogenesis and embryogenesis.

The sequence of the distal end of the E. coli ribosomal RNA rrnE operon indicates conserved features are shared by rrn operons

The 1440 nucleotides of the distal region of the E. coli ribosomal RNA operon found on the lambda aroE transducing phage has been sequenced. We show that the lambda aroE hybrid rrn operon ends after a solitary 5S RNA gene with rrnE distal sequence. A single terminator structure of dyad symmetry followed by a run of six T's have been identified and compared to other sequenced rrn terminator hairpins. Immediately adjacent to the hairpin is a region of interrupted but conserved sequence that is shared by rrnE, rrnB and rrnD. An open reading frame of 127 amino acids abuts the terminator structure. Another open reading frame of 147 amino acids is found on the opposite strand several hundred nucleotides downstream.

Antitermination by both the promoter and the leader regions of an Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA operon

RNA polymerase initiating at Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA promoter-leader regions can efficiently read through factor rho-dependent termination signals. Dissection of the promoter-leader region reveals that the ability to read through termination signals is conferred independently by both promoter and leader regions. Events in the leader also affect the transcription rate of structural genes downstream of the leader. When cells are grown in rich medium, the rrnC leader reduces transcription by a factor of approximately 4 when downstream of the rrnC promoters and by a factor of 2 when downstream of the lac promoter.

Defective antitermination of rRNA transcription and derepression of rRNA and tRNA synthesis in the nusB5 mutant of Escherichia coli

The nusB5 mutant of Escherichia coli was originally selected for reduced ability to support the antitermination of transcription that is mediated by the gene N product of bacteriophage lambda. By analyzing pulse-labeled RNA with an RNA.DNA filter hybridization technique, we have shown that, in the nusB5 mutant, the ratio of promoter-proximal rRNA transcripts to promoter-distal transcripts is increased at least by a factor of 1.6; that is, in the absence of the functional nusB gene product, premature transcription termination takes place within rRNA operons. These results demonstrate that rRNA transcription in E. coli utilizes an antitermination mechanism that has at least one factor in common with the phage lambda system, the nusB gene product. We have also observed that the transcription initiation frequency at rRNA promoters is increased in the nusB5 strain and that this strain accumulates 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits at approximately the same rate as the parent. Thus, it appears that E. coli compensates for premature termination of rRNA transcription by derepressing rRNA operon expression. The increase in rRNA promoter activity in the nusB5 mutant is accompanied by a parallel derepression of synthesis of tRNAs that are not encoded by rRNA operons. These results are consistent with a model for negative feedback regulation of rRNA and tRNA synthesis by products of rRNA operons.

Ordered processing of Escherichia coli 23S rRNA in vitro

In an RNase III-deficient strain of E. coli 23S pre-rRNA accumulates unprocessed in 50S ribosomes and in polysomes. These ribosomes provide a substrate for the analysis of rRNA maturation in vitro. S1 nuclease protection analysis of the products obtained in in vitro processing reactions demonstrates that 23S rRNA processing is ordered. The double stranded stem of 23S rRNA is cleaved by RNase III in vitro to two intermediate RNAs at the 5' end and one at the 3' end. Mature termini are then produced by other enzyme(s) in a soluble protein fraction from wild-type cells. The nature of the reaction at the 5' end is not clear, but the reaction at the 3' end is exonucleolytic, producing three heterogeneous mature termini. The two reactions are coordinated; 3' end maturation progresses concurrently with cleavages at the 5' end. Two results suggest a possible link between final maturation and translation: in vitro, mature termini are formed efficiently in the presence of additives required for protein synthesis; and all the processing intermediates detected from in vitro reactions are also found in polysomes from wild-type cells.

Large helical conformational deviations from ideal B-DNA and prokaryotic regulatory sites

The variations in several double helical DNA angular parameters have been calculated along about 60 bacterial and phage sequences, each several hundreds nucleotides long. Regions of large geometric irregularities are found at, or in the vicinity of, regulatory protein recognition sites. Based on these extensive computations I suggest that these structurally "wrinkled" regions facilitate the first stage of the recognition process.

Transcriptional control of the S10 ribosomal protein operon of Escherichia coli after a shift to higher temperature

In the 5 to 10 min immediately following a shift from 30 to 42 degrees C, the differential synthesis rates of ribosomal proteins encoded by the 11-gene S10 operon are transiently decreased. This effect results largely from a two- to threefold decrease in the differential rate of transcription of the operon. The inhibition of mRNA synthesis is apparently due to two types of control: (i) initiation of transcription at the S10 promoter is inhibited and (ii) readthrough at the attenuator in the S10 leader is decreased. Both of these effects on transcription are independent of the heat shock regulatory gene, htpR. Furthermore, the inhibition of transcription is observed in both relA+ and relA cells, suggesting that the temperature-induced repression does not require the relA-dependent accumulation of guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp). However, recovery from the heat shock was slower in relA+ strains than in relA strains. None of the other ribosomal protein operons that we analyzed showed such a strong decrease in transcription after the heat shock.

Organization and nucleotide sequence analysis of an rRNA and tRNA gene cluster from Caulobacter crescentus

rRNA genes of Caulobacter crescentus CB13 were isolated and shown to be present in two gene clusters in the genome. The organization of each rRNA gene cluster was found to be 5'-16S-tRNA spacer-23S-5S-3'. The DNA sequence of 40% of the 16S rRNA gene, the entire 16S/23S intergenic spacer region, and portions of the 23S rRNA gene were determined. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence in the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region revealed the presence of tRNAIle and tRNAAla genes. Large invert repeat sequences were found surrounding the 16S rRNA gene. These inverted repeat sequences are analogous to the RNase III-processing sites in the E. coli rRNA precursor. Small invert repeat sequences were also found flanking the individual tRNA genes. RNA polymerase-binding studies with restriction fragments of the rRNA gene cluster revealed three regions which bound enzyme, and these regions were shown to contain transcription initiation sites. One of these sites was located within the 16S gene near its 3' end, and the other two were found at the 5' end of the 23S gene.