The cloning and characterization of the glnF (ntrA) gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae: Role of glnF (ntrA) in the regulation of nitrogen fixation (nif) and other nitrogen assimilation genes

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding RNA polymerase sigma factor sigma(54) of deep-sea piezophilic Shewanella violacea

We have recently reported that a sigma(54)-like factor recognizes a DNA element, designated as region A, upstream of a pressure-regulated operon in piezophilic Shewanella violacea strain DSS12 (Nakasone et al., FEMS Microbiology Lett. 176 (1999) 351-356). In this study, we isolated and characterized the rpoN gene of this piezophilic bacterium. The rpoN gene was found to encode a putative protein consisting of 492 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 55359 Da. Significant homology was evident comparing the rpoN sequence of S. violacea with that of Escherichia coli (62.8% identity), Vibrio anguillarum (61.7% identity) and Pseudomonas putida (57.0% identity). The DNA-binding domain at the C-terminus of sigma(54) is well conserved in the case of the S. violacea rpoN gene product and the helix-turn-helix motif and the RpoN box are also present. In addition, the conserved glutamine-rich domain is present at the N-terminus. sigma(54) in S. violacea was expressed at a relatively constant level under various growth conditions as determined by both primer extension and Western blotting analyses. By means of a recombinant plasmid, a hexahistidine-tagged derivative of the sigma(54) from strain DSS12 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to near homogeneity. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that the purified sigma(54) protein specifically recognizes region A in the above-mentioned pressure-regulated operon.

The pathogenic neisseriae contain an inactive rpoN gene and do not utilize the pilE sigma54 promoter

The sigma54 promoter (P3) upstream of the pilE gene in Neisseria gonorrhoeae was shown to be non-functional by transcriptional analysis of a PpilE::lacZ fusion containing only P3. A region on the chromosome of N. gonorrhoeae strain MS11-A was identified that potentially encodes a protein with a significant similarity to the Escherichia coli RpoN protein. However, this region (designated RLS for rpoN-like sequence) does not contain a single open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding a functional RpoN protein. It appears that RLS may have arisen from an ancestral rpoN homologue that underwent a deletion removing the sequence encoding the essential helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif, and changing the subsequent reading frame. An RLS has been identified in several strains of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. A 90-kDa gonococcal protein has previously been shown to react with a monoclonal antibody raised against the RpoN from Salmonella typhimurium. However, mutagenesis and Western blot analysis confirmed that the gene encoding this protein is not contained within RLS.

The Azospirillum brasilense rpoN gene is involved in nitrogen fixation, nitrate assimilation, ammonium uptake, and flagellar biosynthesis

The rpoN (ntrA) gene (encoding sigma 54) of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 was isolated by using conserved rpoN primers and the polymerase chain reaction, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of the RpoN protein was found to share a high degree of homology with other members of the sigma 54 family. Two additional open reading frames were found in the Azospirillum brasilense rpoN region, with significant similarity to equivalent regions surrounding the rpoN locus in other bacteria. An rpoN mutant of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 was constructed by gene replacement and found to be defective in nitrogen fixation, nitrate assimilation, and ammonium uptake. Lack of ammonium uptake was also found in previously isolated Azospirillum brasilense ntrB and ntrC mutants, further supporting the role of the ntr system in this process. In addition, the rpoN mutant was found to be nonmotile, suggesting a role of RpoN in Azospirillum brasilense flagellar biosynthesis.

Structure and expression of the alternative sigma factor, RpoN, in Rhodobacter capsulatus; physiological relevance of an autoactivated nifU2-rpoN superoperon

The alternative sigma factor, RpoN (sigma 54) is responsible for recruiting core RNA polymerase to the promoters of genes required for diverse physiological functions in a variety of eubacterial species. The RpoN protein in Rhodobacter capsulatus is a putative sigma factor specific for nitrogen fixation (nif) genes. Insertional mutagenesis was used to define regions important for the function of the R. capsulatus RpoN protein. Insertions of four amino acids in the predicted helixturn-helix or in the highly conserved C-terminal eight amino acid residues (previously termed the RpoN box), and an in-frame deletion of the glutamine-rich N-terminus completely inactivated the R. capsulatus RpoN protein. Two separate insertions in the second hydrophobic heptad repeat, a putative leucine zipper, resulted in a partially functional RpoN protein. Eight other linkers in the rpoN open reading frame (ORF) resulted in a completely or partially functional RpoN protein. The rpoN gene in R. capsulatus is downstream from the nifHDKU2 genes, in a nifU2-rpoN operon. Results of genetic experiments on the nifU2-rpoN locus show that the rpoN gene is organized in a nifU2-rpoN superoperon. A primary promoter directly upstream of the rpoN ORF is responsible for the initial expression of rpoN. Deletion analysis and insertional mutagenesis were used to define the primary promoter to 50 bp, between 37 and 87 nucleotides upstream of the predicted rpoN translational start site. This primary promoter is expressed constitutively with respect to nitrogen, and it is necessary and sufficient for growth under nitrogen-limiting conditions typically used in the laboratory. A secondary promoter upstream of nifU2 is autoactivated by RpoN and NifA to increase the expression of rpoN, which ultimately results in higher expression of RpoN-dependent genes. Moreover, rpoN expression from this secondary promoter is physiologically beneficial under certain stressful conditions, such as nitrogen-limiting environments that contain high salt (> 50 mM NaCl) or low iron (< 400 nM FeSO4).

Identification of a nitrogen-regulated promoter controlling expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae urease genes

Synthesis of urease by Klebsiella species is known to be induced when the nitrogen source of the growth medium is limiting, suggesting that urease gene expression is controlled by the nitrogen regulatory (ntr) system. This study showed that K. pneumoniae with mutations in either ntrA or ntrC, two integral components of the ntr system, were phenotypically urease-negative. These mutants could be complemented back to a urease positive phenotype with recombinant plasmids encoding the corresponding ntr gene. A series of ure-lacZYA transcriptional fusions, in conjunction with primer extension analysis, identified a DNA region that encoded a nitrogen-regulated promoter. This promoter region controlled transcription of ureD, the first gene in the Klebsiella pneumoniae urease gene cluster, and ureA, a gene that resides immediately downstream of ureD. A high level of transcription from the ureD promoter required NAC, a recently characterized member of the nitrogen regulatory cascade. NAC is a Lys R-like transcriptional regulator that can act at sigma 70 promoters; expression from nac itself is dependent upon NTRA. Therefore, expression of K. pneumoniae urease was dependent upon the nitrogen regulatory cascade, and transcription of at least two urease genes was from a promoter that was positively regulated by NAC.

Nucleotide sequence of the rpoN (hno) gene region of Alcaligenes eutrophus: evidence for a conserved gene cluster

The nucleotide sequence of the rpoN gene, formerly designated hno, and flanking DNA regions of the aerobic hydrogen bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus has been determined; rpoN codes for the RNA polymerase sigma factor sigma 54 involved in nitrogen regulation and diverse physiological functions of gram-negative bacteria. In A. eutrophus hydrogen metabolism is under control of rpoN. The Tn5-Mob insertion in a previously isolated pleiotropic mutant was mapped within the rpoN gene. The derived amino acid sequence of the A. eutrophus RpoN protein shows extensive homology to the RpoN proteins of other organisms. Sequencing revealed four other open reading frames: one upstream (ORF280) and three downstream (ORF130, ORF99 and ORF greater than 54) of the rpoN gene. A similar arrangement of homologous ORFs is found in the rpoN regions of other bacteria and is indicative of a conserved gene cluster.

Isolation and characterization of the nifUSVW-rpoN gene cluster from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The rpoN gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides was isolated from a genomic library via complementation of a Rhodobacter capsulatus rpoN mutant. The rpoN gene was located on a 7.5-kb HindIII-EcoRI fragment. A Tn5 insertion analysis of this DNA fragment showed that a minimal DNA fragment of 5.3 kb was required for complementation. Nucleotide sequencing of the complementing region revealed the presence of nifUSVW genes upstream from rpoN. The rpoN gene was mutagenized via insertion of a gene encoding kanamycin resistance. The resulting rpoN mutant was not impaired in diazotrophic growth and was in all respects indistinguishable from the wild-type strain. Southern hybridizations using the cloned rpoN gene as a probe indicated the presence of a second rpoN gene. Deletion of the nifUS genes resulted in strongly reduced diazotrophic growth. Two conserved regions were identified in a NifV LeuA amino acid sequence alignment. Similar regions were found in pyruvate carboxylase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase. It is proposed that these conserved regions represent keto acid-binding sites.

Role of multiple environmental stimuli in control of transcription from a nitrogen-regulated promoter in Escherichia coli with weak or no activator-binding sites

Nitrogen regulator I (NRI [or NtrC])-phosphate stimulates transcription from the glnAp2 promoter of the glnALG operon in enteric bacteria. Unlike most activators, NRI-phosphate can stimulate transcription without apparent activator binding sites. We observed that when lacZ was controlled by a minimal glnAp2 promoter (without NRI binding sites) in Escherichia coli, lacZ expression was regulated by two different stimuli, the nitrogen status of the medium and the particular amino acid used as a nitrogen source. The latter stimulus did not affect the activity of the wild-type glnAp2 promoter, which has two high-affinity NRI binding sites. We present several lines of evidence that suggest that the concentration of NRI-phosphate limits the activity of the minimal glnAp2 promoter in vivo. Our results also suggest that nitrogen regulator II-dependent phosphorylation of NRI cannot account for the proposed variations in the concentration of NRI-phosphate. Therefore, to account for the regulation of the minimal glnAp2 promoter by two environmental stimuli, we propose that at least two protein kinases phosphorylate NRI during nitrogen-limited growth. We isolated and characterized mutants in which NRI could not stimulate transcription from the minimal glnAp2 promoter but could activate transcription from the wild-type glnAp2 promoter. These mutants could not utilize arginine or proline as a nitrogen source, suggesting that degradation of some nitrogen sources may require transcription from promoters similar to the minimal glnAp2 promoter.

Bradyrhizobium japonicum has two differentially regulated, functional homologs of the sigma 54 gene (rpoN)

Recognition of -24/-12-type promoters by RNA polymerase requires a special sigma factor, sigma 54 (RpoN NtrA GlnF). In the nitrogen-fixing soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum, two functional, highly conserved rpoN genes (rpoN1 and rpoN2) were identified and sequenced. The two predicted B. japonicum RpoN protein sequences were 87% identical, and both showed different levels of homology to the RpoN proteins of other bacteria. Downstream of rpoN2 (but not of rpoN1), two additional open reading frames were identified that corresponded to open reading frames located at similar positions in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas putida. Both B. japonicum rpoN genes complemented the succinate- and nitrate-negative phenotypes of a Rhizobium meliloti rpoN mutant. B. japonicum strains carrying single or double rpoN mutations were still able to utilize C4-dicarboxylates as a carbon source and histidine, proline, or arginine as a nitrogen source, whereas the ability to assimilate nitrate required expression of at least one of the two rpN genes. In symbiosis both rpoN genes could replace each other functionally. The rpoN1/2 double mutant induced about twice as many nodules on soybeans as did the wild type, and these nodules lacked nitrogen fixation activity completely. Transcription of a nifH'-'lacZ fusion was not activated in the rpoN1/2 mutant background, whereas expression of a fixR'-'lacZ fusion in this mutant was affected only marginally. By using rpoN'-'lacZ fusions, rpoN1 expression was shown to be activated at least sevenfold in microaerobiosis as compared with that in aerobiosis, and this type of regulation involved fixLJ. Expression of rpoN2 was observed under all conditions tested and was increased fivefold in an rpoN2 mutant. The data suggested that the rpoN1 gene was regulated in response to oxygen, whereas the rpoN2 gene was negatively autoregulated.

Regulation of spo0H, a gene coding for the Bacillus subtilis sigma H factor

The Bacillus spo0H gene codes for sigma H, which, as part of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme E sigma H, is responsible for the transcription of several genes which are expressed at the beginning of the sporulation process. In this communication, we examined the regulation of the spo0H gene of Bacillus subtilis by using lacZ reporter gene assays, quantitative RNA determinations, and Western immunoassay. The expression of the spo0H gene increases as the culture enters the mid-logarithmic stage of growth. This increased expression requires the genes spo0A, spo0B, spo0E, and spo0F, and the requirement for at least spo0A and spo0B can be bypassed when the abrB gene is mutated. The expression of the spo0H gene is constitutive in the presence of the abrB mutation, being expressed at higher levels during vegetative growth. In addition, the sof-1 mutation, in the spo0A structural gene, can bypass the need for spo0F in spo0H expression. The transcriptional start site of spo0H was determined by using RNA made in vivo as well as in vitro. These studies indicate that spo0H is transcribed by the major vegetative RNA polymerase, E sigma A. spo0H RNA and sigma H levels during growth are not identical to each other or to the pattern of expression of spoVG, a gene transcribed by E sigma H. This suggests that spo0H is regulated posttranscriptionally and also that factors in addition to sigma H levels are involved in the expression of genes of the E sigma H regulon.

Sequence and analysis of the rpoN sigma factor gene of rhizobium sp. strain NGR234, a primary coregulator of symbiosis

We report the nucleotide sequence of the rpoN gene from broad-host-range Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 and analyze the encoded RPON protein, a sigma factor. Comparative analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of RPON from NGR234 with sequences from other gram-negative bacteria identified a perfectly conserved RPON box unique to RPON sigma factors. Symbiotic regulatory phenotypes were defined for a site-directed internal deletion within the coding sequence of the rpoN gene of Rhizobium strain NGR234: they included quantitative nodulation kinetics on Vigna unguiculata and microscopic analysis of the Fix- determinate nodules of V. unguiculata and Macroptilium atropurpureum. RPON was a primary coregulator of nodulation and was implicated in establishment or maintenance of the plant-synthesized peribacteroid membrane. Phenotypes of rpoN in Rhizobium strain NGR234 could be grouped as symbiosis related, rather than simply pleiotropically physiological as in free-living bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas putida.

Complementation of Escherichia coli sigma 54 (NtrA)-dependent formate hydrogenlyase activity by a cloned Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ntrA gene

The ntrA gene of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was cloned by complementation of an Escherichia coli ntrA mutant that was unable to produce gas via the sigma 54 (NtrA)-dependent formate hydrogenlyase pathway. Analysis of the DNA sequence showed that the T. ferrooxidans ntrA gene coded for a protein of 475 amino acids (calculated Mr, 52,972). The T. ferrooxidans NtrA protein had 49, 44, 33, and 18% amino acid similarity with the NtrA proteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Azotobacter vinelandii, Rhizobium meliloti, and Rhodobacter capsulatus, respectively. The ability of the T. ferrooxidans NtrA protein to direct transcription from sigma 54-dependent promoters was demonstrated in E. coli by using fdhF-lacZ and nifH-lacZ fusions. An open reading frame coding for a protein of 241 amino acids (calculated Mr, 27,023) was situated 12 base pairs upstream of the T. ferrooxidans ntrA gene. Comparison of this protein with the product of the open reading frame ORF1, located upstream of the R. meliloti ntrA gene, showed that the two proteins had 55% amino acid similarity. The cloned T. ferrooxidans ntrA gene was expressed in E. coli from a promoter located within the ORF1 coding region.

Nucleotide sequence of the regulatory nifA gene of Rhizobium leguminosarum PRE: transcriptional control sites and expression in Escherichia coli

We report the sequence of the regulatory nifA gene of Rhizobium leguminosarum PRE. The transcription initiation and termination sites of nifA were mapped and a potential promoter and a rho-independent terminator identified. The nifA gene has two possible translation start sites, both of which are used in an Escherichia coli background, resulting in proteins with apparent molecular weights of 58 kD and 57 kD; initiation at the second site is preferred over initiation at the first. The nifA-nifB intergenic region contains an rpoN-dependent promoter for the nifB gene but no consensus upstream activator sequence (UAS). A potential DNA-binding domain, consisting of two alpha-helices separated by a four-amino-acid linker, is located at the C-terminal end of the NifA amino acid sequence.

Activation of glnA transcription by nitrogen regulator I (NRI)-phosphate in Escherichia coli: evidence for a long-range physical interaction between NRI-phosphate and RNA polymerase

Growth of cells of Escherichia coli in nitrogen-limited medium induces the formation of glutamine synthetase, product of the glnA gene, and of other proteins that facilitate the assimilation of nitrogen-containing compounds. Transcription from the glnAp2 promoter of the glnALG operon requires the phosphorylation of nitrogen regulator I (NRI) and, for optimal transcription, the binding of NRI-phosphate to two sites that can be over 1,000 base pairs from the binding site for RNA polymerase. In other procaryotic genes, placement of an activator-binding site further upstream from the start site of transcription diminishes expression. To determine how NRI-phosphate activates transcription and why NRI-dependent transcription differs from activation in other systems, we constructed recombinant plasmids with small alterations between the binding sites for NRI-phosphate and RNA polymerase and between the two high-affinity NRI-binding sites. We demonstrate that tightly bound NRI-phosphate activated transcription from either side of the DNA helix when at least 30 base pairs separated NRI-phosphate from RNA polymerase. In contrast, activation from a partial NRI-binding site was effective only from one side of the DNA. We also observed that glnA expression was optimal when the two high-affinity NRI-binding sites were on the same side of the DNA helix. We explain these results on the basis of a hypothesis that a contact between RNA polymerase and NRI-phosphate bound to an upstream site determines the rate of glnA transcription.

Rhizobium meliloti 1021 has three differentially regulated loci involved in glutamine biosynthesis, none of which is essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation

We have cloned and characterized three distinct Rhizobium meliloti loci involved in glutamine biosynthesis (glnA, glnII, and glnT). The glnA locus shares DNA homology with the glnA gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae, encodes a 55,000-dalton monomer subunit of the heat-stable glutamine synthetase (GS) protein (GSI), and complemented an Escherichia coli glnA mutation. The glnII locus shares DNA homology with the glnII gene of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and encodes a 36,000-dalton monomer subunit of the heat-labile GS protein (GSII). The glnT locus shares no DNA homology with either the glnA or glnII gene and complemented a glnA E. coli strain. The glnT locus codes for an operon encoding polypeptides of 57,000, 48,000, 35,000, 29,000, and 28,000 daltons. glnA and glnII insertion mutants were glutamine prototrophs, lacked the respective GS form (GSI or GSII), grew normally on different nitrogen sources (Asm+), and induced normal, nitrogen-fixing nodules on Medicago sativa plants (Nod+ Fix+). A glnA glnII double mutant was a glutamine auxotroph (Gln-), lacked both GSI and GSII forms, but nevertheless induced normal Fix+ nodules. glnT insertion mutants were prototrophs, contained both GSI and GSII forms, grew normally on different N sources, and induced normal Fix+ nodules. glnII and glnT, but not glnA, expression in R. meliloti was regulated by the nitrogen-regulatory genes ntrA and ntrC and was repressed by rich N sources such as ammonium and glutamine.

Fine-tuning of nif and fix gene expression by upstream activator sequences in Bradyrhizobium japonicum

The significance of Bradyrhizobium japonicum upstream activator sequences (UASs) for differential NifA-mediated fix and nif gene expression was investigated by two means: (i) hybrid fixA- and fixB-lacZ fusions were constructed by transposing a nifH-UAS cartridge in front of their promoters; and (ii) B. japonicum mutants were generated carrying specific chromosomal deletions or UAS cartridge insertions within the fixA, fixB or nifH promoter-upstream regions. Expression of fixA was not affected, and expression of fixB decreased only to 42%, when the respective fixA and fixB promoter-upstream DNAs were deleted. This shows that in B. japonicum the NifA-dependent activation of at least the fixA promoter does not require the presence of a closely adjacent UAS. Deletion of the UASs in front of the nifH gene not only reduced the expression of nifH down to 2.5% but, surprisingly, also resulted in a reduction of the fixB mRNA level to less than 20%. This suggests that the nifH-UASs may exert a long-range effect on the expression of the 3-kb-distant fixBCX operon in nif cluster I or B. japonicum. Artificial transposition of the nifH-UASs in front of the fixA and fixB promoters strongly enhanced fixA and fixB expression.

The DNA sequence of the Rhodobacter capsulatus ntrA, ntrB and ntrC gene analogues required for nitrogen fixation

We have determined the DNA sequence for the genes nifR1, nifR2 and nifR4 in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. These genes regulate transcription of the nifHDK operon and so limit the expression of nitrogen fixation activity to periods of low environmental concentrations of both oxygen and fixed nitrogen. The sequences of these three genes are similar to components of the ntr regulation system in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The two-component regulatory system of ntrB and ntrC in E. coli is represented by nifR2 and nifR1 in R. capsulatus and nifR4 in R. capsulatus is the equivalent of the E. coli ntr-related sigma factor ntrA.

Ammonia-constitutive nitrogen fixation mutants of Rhodobacter capsulatus

Mutants of R. capsulatus that express nif genes constitutively with respect to ammonia were studied in order to define better the circuit that regulates nif gene transcription. One mutant class could be complemented in trans by a cosmid clone containing a wild-type gene (nifR5) defined by Tn5 inserts as being no longer than 1.6 kb. The nifR5 gene is unlinked to previously described nif genes. A second mutant class could not be complemented by the wild-type cosmid library. For one mutant in this class, a nifH::lac fusion was used to select further mutants that were Lac-. Only two of these could be complemented in trans to Lac+; the complementing gene was nifR4, which is analogous to the ntrA gene of enterobacteria. Both complemented strains were Nifc. Therefore these mutations do not bypass the need for the nifR4 gene product. A third class of constitutive mutant was found by selecting Nif+ revertants of a Nif- strain deleted for the nifR1 and nifR2 genes. The nifR1 and nifR2 genes are homologues of enterobacterial ntrC and ntrB genes, respectively. Not all of the Nif+ revertants were constitutive; some were regulated normally by ammonia. We suspect that the latter revertants use alternate Ntr systems to activate nif gene transcription, a suggestion consistent with the observation that numerous bands in Southern blots of total DNA of R. capsulatus are identified by Escherichia coli ntr gene probes.

The nucleotide sequence of the sigma factor gene ntrA (rpoN) of Azotobacter vinelandii: analysis of conserved sequences in NtrA proteins

The nucleotide sequence of the Azotobacter vinelandii ntrA gene has been determined. It encodes a 56916 Dalton acidic polypeptide (AvNtrA) with substantial homology to NtrA from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpNtrA) and Rhizobium meliloti (RmNtrA). NtrA has been shown to act as a novel RNA polymerase sigma factor but the predicted sequence of AvNtrA substantiates our previous analysis of KpNtrA in showing no substantial homology to other known sigma factors. Alignment of the predicted amino acid sequences of AvNtrA, KpNtrA and RmNtrA identified three regions; two showing greater than 50% homology and an intervening sequence of less than 10% homology. The predicted protein contains a short sequence near the centre with homology to a conserved region in other sigma factors. The C-terminal region contains a region of homology to the beta' subunit of RNA polymerase (RpoC) and two highly conserved regions one of which is significantly homologous to known DNA-binding motifs. In A. vinelandii, ntrA is followed by another open reading frame (ORF) which is highly homologous to a comparable ORF downstream of ntrA in K. pneumoniae and R. meliloti.

Direct response of Bradyrhizobium japonicum nifA-mediated nif gene regulation to cellular oxygen status

The nifA genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bradyrhizobium japonicum were constitutively expressed from the pBR329-derived chloramphenicol resistance promoter. The inserts of these nifA plasmid constructs were devoid of any other intact flanking genes. The nifA genes thus expressed led to a marked activation of a B. japonicum nifD-lacZ fusion under microaerobic conditions. Under aerobic growth conditions, however, activation was mediated only by the K. pneumoniae nifA gene but not by the B. japonicum nifA gene. This selective effect was observed in both the Escherichia coli as well as the B. japonicum backgrounds. Several lines of evidence suggest that in these experiments oxygen adversely affects B. japonicum nifA-dependent nif gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level, probably even at the post-translational level, and that this effect does not require a nifL-like gene. Models are proposed in which oxygen inhibits the B. japonicum NifA protein either directly or indirectly via other cellular components involved in general protein oxidation pathways.

In vitro transcription of the nitrogen fixation regulatory operon nifLA of Klebsiella pneumoniae

In vitro transcription from the promoter for the nitrogen fixation regulatory operon nifLA of K. pneumoniae requires four protein fractions: the core form of RNA polymerase; NTRA, an alternate sigma factor; NTRC, an auxiliary DNA-binding protein; and NTRB, a bifunctional enzyme that controls the activity of NTRC by covalent modification (A.J. Ninfa and B. Magasanik, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:5909, 1986). Two DNA-binding sites for NTRC lie approximately 150 base pairs upstream of the nifLA promoter.

Rhizobium meliloti ntrA (rpoN) gene is required for diverse metabolic functions

We report the identification and cloning of an ntrA-like (glnF rpoN) gene of Rhizobium meliloti and show that the R. meliloti ntrA product (NtrA) is required for C4-dicarboxylate transport as well as for nitrate assimilation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. DNA sequence analysis showed that R. meliloti NtrA is 38% homologous with Klebsiella pneumoniae NtrA. Subcloning and complementation analysis suggested that the R. meliloti ntrA promoter lies within 125 base pairs of the initiation codon and may be constitutively expressed.

Genetic and structural analysis of the Rhizobium meliloti fixA, fixB, fixC, and fixX genes

The fixA, fixB, fixC, and fixX genes of Rhizobium meliloti 1021 constitute an operon and are required for nitrogen fixation in alfalfa nodules. DNA homologous to the R. meliloti fixABC genes is present in all other Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species examined, but fixABC-homologous sequences were found in only one free-living diazotroph, Azotobacter vinelandii. To determine whether the fixABCX genes share sequence homology with any of the 17 Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes, we determined the entire nucleotide sequence of the fixA, fixB, fixC, and fixX genes and defined four open reading frames that code for polypeptides of molecular weights 31,146, 37,786, 47,288, and 10,937, respectively. Neither DNA nor amino acid sequence homology to the R. meliloti fixA, -B, -C, and -X genes was found in the K. pneumoniae nif operon. The fixX gene contains a cluster of cysteine residues characteristic of ferredoxins and is highly homologous to an Azotobacter ferredoxin which has been shown to donate electrons to nitrogenase. The fixABC operon contains a promoter region that is highly homologous to other nifA-activated promoters. We also found a duplication of the 5' end of the fixABCX operon; a 250-bp region located 520 bp upstream of the fixABCX promoter bears more than 65% homology to the 5' end of the transcribed region, including the first 32 codons of fixA.

Deletion analysis of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase promoter: importance of spacing between conserved sequences around positions -12 and -24 for activation by the nifA and ntrC (glnG) products

The nitrogen fixation promoters of Klebsiella pneumoniae are atypical procaryotic promoters lacking the usual -10 and -35 elements, requiring instead conserved sequences around -12 and -24 for transcriptional activation. By constructing a set of five deletions between the -12 and -24 elements in the nifH promoter, the spacing between the conserved GC and GG motifs at -12 and -24, respectively, has been reduced from the wild-type 10 bases to 9, 8, 6, 5, and 4 bases. The deletion of a single nonconserved nucleotide was sufficient to eliminate transcriptional activation by either nifA or ntrC (glnG). All deletions relieved the multicopy inhibition of chromosomal nif expression normally shown by the nifH promoter. These results demonstrate a stringent requirement for the 10-base spacing found in ntr-activated promoters. In addition, specific sequences around the invariant GG at -24 were shown to be necessary for activation by either nifA or ntrC, with a minimal requirement for nucleotides through to position -27 for this activation.

The xylABC promoter from the Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid is activated by nitrogen regulatory genes in Escherichia coli

The xylABC promoter (OP1), located on the TOL plasmid of Pseudomonas putida contains sequences homologous to the conserved regions found in nitrogen fixation (nif) promoters and in other promoters subject to nitrogen control. XylA-lac fusions were constructed in order to monitor expression from the OP1 promoter in Escherichia coli. Transcription was activated in the presence of the heterologous regulatory genes ntrC or nifA from Klebsiella pneumoniae as well as by the homologous P. putida regulatory gene xylR. In all cases activation was also dependent on the ntrA gene, whose product has been implicated as a specific sigma factor for ntr activatable operons. The 5' ends of xylA mRNA, detected by S1 nuclease mapping of in vivo transcripts, were identical in strains containing xylR, ntrC or nifA as transcriptional activators. However, activation of the K. pneumoniae nifL or nifH promoters by xylR was not detected.

Two functional domains conserved in major and alternate bacterial sigma factors

Sequences of the sigma factors of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were aligned with the sequences of two sigma-like proteins, HtpR, involved in the expression of heat-shock genes in E. coli, and SpoIIG, necessary for endospore formation in B. subtilis. An internal region is highly conserved in the four proteins and is proposed to be involved in binding of sigma factors to core RNA polymerase. The carboxy-terminal part of the four proteins presents the characteristic structure found in several prokaryotic DNA-binding proteins and is proposed to be involved in promoter recognition.

Expression of Rhizobium japonicum nifH and nifDK operons can be activated by the Klebsiella pneumonia nifA protein but not by the product of ntrC

Rhizobium japonicum nifH'- and nifD'-'lacZ fusions were constructed using the translational fusion vector pMC1403. beta-Galactosidase activities from these fusion plasmids were measured in wild-type, ntrA- and delta(ntrBC) Escherichia coli strains carrying plasmids which overproduced the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifA or ntrC gene products. In contrast to results reported in R. meliloti (ref. in the text) neither nifH nor nifD promoters were activated by the ntrC product. In the presence of nifA gene product, however, beta-galactosidase activity from both nifH and nifD fusion plasmids increased substantially. NifA-mediated activation of these Rhizobium promoters was temperature sensitive and was dependent on the host ntrA product. In order to determine the point at which the fusion transcripts were initiated, RNA was extracted from the wild-type E. coli strain carrying each of the R. japonicum fusion plasmids plus the nifA overproducing plasmid. This RNA was used to perform S1 mapping experiments. NifA-mediated transcription from both R. japonicum promoters, began at the same point as previously determined in soybean root-nodule bacteroids (ref. in the text). The results obtained suggest that there may be differences in the mode of regulation between members of the fast- and slow-growing rhizobia. Also, the results of the S1 mapping experiments indicate that activation of the R. japonicum nitrogenase structural genes may be similar to the activation of nif genes in K. pneumoniae thus raising the possibility that R. japonicum may contain nifA and ntrA-like genes.

Studies on the regulation and function of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ntrA gene

The ntrA gene from Klebsiella pneumoniae has been cloned and the product identified as a 76-kDal acidic polypeptide. An ntrA::lacZ fusion was used to demonstrate that expression of ntrA is not controlled by the nitrogen regulation (ntr) system and is independent of the nitrogen status of the cell. Studies with multicopy plasmids carrying ntrA and rpoD suggest that the ntrA product competes with the rpoD product (sigma 70 of RNA polymerase) in mediating transcription initiation by RNA polymerase at ntrA-dependent promoters. No significant homology between ntrA and rpoD was detected by Southern blotting.

Characterization of nif regulatory genes in Rhodopseudomonas capsulata using lac gene fusions

Translational fusions of the Escherichia coli lacZYA operon to Rhodopseudomonas capsulata nif genes were obtained by using mini-MudII1734 [Castilho et al., J. Bacteriol. 158 (1984) 488-495] inserts into cloned fragments of R. capsulata DNA. A lac fusion to the nifH gene, which encodes dinitrogenase reductase, was used to classify Nif- mutations occurring in regulatory genes. Nine mutations were unable to activate nifHDK transcription. The nine mutations define four nif regulatory genes. Three of these genes are located on the same R. capsulata 8.4-kb EcoRI fragment. Each is transcribed independently. One of these (complementing mutant J61) is partially homologous with the ntrC gene of Escherichia coli, based on Southern hybridization. The fourth nif regulatory gene (complementing mutants LJ1, AH1 and AH3) is unlinked to the others. Lac fusions to all four regulatory genes were constructed. Each regulatory gene is weakly expressed compared to derepressed nifH and partially repressed in the presence of ammonia.

A Rhizobium meliloti symbiotic regulatory gene

We have characterized a Rhizobium meliloti regulatory gene required for the expression of two closely linked symbiotic operons, the nitrogenase operon (nifHDK genes) and the "P2" operon. This regulatory gene maps to a 1.8 kb region located 5.5 kb upstream of the nifHDK operon. The regulatory gene is required for the accumulation of nifHDK and P2 mRNA and for the derepression of an R. meliloti nifH-lacZ fusion plasmid during symbiotic growth. The nifH and P2 promoters can be activated in free-living cultures of R. meliloti containing plasmids that produce the Escherichia coli ntrC(glnG) or the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifA regulatory gene products constitutively. The R. meliloti regulatory gene hybridizes to E. coli ntrC(glnG) and, to a lesser extent, to K. pneumoniae nifA DNA. Our results suggest that the R. meliloti regulatory gene acts as a positive transcriptional activator and that it is related to the K. pneumoniae nif regulatory genes.

The use of transposon Tn5 mutagenesis in the rapid generation of correlated physical and genetic maps of DNA segments cloned into multicopy plasmids--a review

The properties of transposon Tn5 that render it useful for in vivo mutagenesis of cloned DNA sequences are reviewed. Transposition frequency, insertional specificity, polarity and stability of Tn5 insertion mutations are among the topics discussed. Examples are cited from the published literature which illustrate the applications of Tn5 mutagenesis to the analysis of cloned prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes. A methods section is included which outlines precisely how to carry out transposon Tn5 mutagenesis analysis of cloned DNA segments.