Overproduction of the Hsd subunits leads to the loss of temperature-sensitive restriction and modification phenotype

The interrelationship of helicase and nuclease domains during DNA translocation by the molecular motor EcoR124I

The type I restriction–modification enzyme EcoR124I comprises three subunits with the stoichiometry HsdR₂/HsdM₂/HsdS₁. The HsdR subunits are archetypical examples of the fusion between nuclease and helicase domains into a single polypeptide, a linkage that is found in a great many other DNA processing enzymes. To explore the interrelationship between these physically linked domains, we examined the DNA translocation properties of EcoR124I complexes in which the HsdR subunits had been mutated in the RecB-like nuclease motif II or III. We found that nuclease mutations can have multiple effects on DNA translocation despite being distinct from the helicase domain. In addition to reductions in DNA cleavage activity, we also observed decreased translocation and ATPase rates, different enzyme populations with different characteristic translocation rates, a tendency to stall during initiation and altered HsdR turnover dynamics. The significance of these observations to our understanding of domain interactions in molecular machines is discussed.

Characterization of a restriction modification system from the commensal Escherichia coli strain A0 34/86 (O83:K24:H31)

Background

Type I restriction-modification (R-M) systems are the most complex restriction enzymes discovered to date. Recent years have witnessed a renaissance of interest in R-M enzymes Type I. The massive ongoing sequencing programmes leading to discovery of, so far, more than 1 000 putative enzymes in a broad range of microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria, revealed that these enzymes are widely represented in nature. The aim of this study was characterisation of a putative R-M system EcoA0ORF42P identified in the commensal Escherichia coli A0 34/86 (O83: K24: H31) strain, which is efficiently used at Czech paediatric clinics for prophylaxis and treatment of nosocomial infections and diarrhoea of preterm and newborn infants.

Results

We have characterised a restriction-modification system EcoA0ORF42P of the commensal Escherichia coli strain A0 34/86 (O83: K24: H31). This system, designated as EcoAO83I, is a new functional member of the Type IB family, whose specificity differs from those of known Type IB enzymes, as was demonstrated by an immunological cross-reactivity and a complementation assay. Using the plasmid transformation method and the RM search computer program, we identified the DNA recognition sequence of the EcoAO83I as GGA(8N)ATGC. In consistence with the amino acids alignment data, the 3' TRD component of the recognition sequence is identical to the sequence recognized by the EcoEI enzyme. The A-T (modified adenine) distance is identical to that in the EcoAI and EcoEI recognition sites, which also indicates that this system is a Type IB member. Interestingly, the recognition sequence we determined here is identical to the previously reported prototype sequence for Eco377I and its isoschizomers.

Conclusion

Putative restriction-modification system EcoA0ORF42P in the commensal Escherichia coli strain A0 34/86 (O83: K24: H31) was found to be a member of the Type IB family and was designated as EcoAO83I. Combination of the classical biochemical and bacterial genetics approaches with comparative genomics might contribute effectively to further classification of many other putative Type-I enzymes, especially in clinical samples.

Phosphorylation of Type IA restriction-modification complex enzyme EcoKI on the HsdR subunit

Phosphorylation of Type I restriction-modification (R-M) enzymes EcoKI, EcoAI, and EcoR124I - representatives of IA, IB, and IC families, respectively - was analysed in vivo by immunoblotting of endogenous phosphoproteins isolated from Escherichia coli strains harbouring the corresponding hsd genes, and in vitro by a phosphorylation assay using protein kinase present in subcellular fractions of E. coli. From all three R-M enzymes, the HsdR subunit of EcoKI system was the only subunit that was phosphorylated. Further, evidence is presented that HsdR is phosphorylated in vivo only when coproduced with HsdM and HsdS subunits - as part of assembled EcoKI restriction endonuclease, while the individually produced HsdR subunit is not phosphorylated. In vitro phosphorylation of the HsdR subunit of purified EcoKI endonuclease occurs on Thr, and is strictly dependent on the addition of a catalytic amount of cytoplasmic fraction isolated from E. coli. So far this is the first case of phosphorylation of a Type I R-M enzyme reported.

Tetra-amino-acid tandem repeats are involved in HsdS complementation in type IC restriction-modification systems

All known type I restriction and modification (R-M) systems of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica belong to one of four discrete families: type IA, IB, IC or ID. The classification of type I systems from a wide range of other genera is mainly based on complementation and molecular evidence derived from the comparison of the amino acid similarity of the corresponding subunits. This affiliation was seldom based on the strictest requirement for membership of a family, which depends on relatedness as demonstrated by complementation tests. This paper presents data indicating that the type I NgoAV R-M system from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, despite the very high identity of HsdM and HsdR subunits with members of the type IC family, does not show complementation with E. coli type IC R-M systems. Sequence analysis of the HsdS subunit of several different potential type IC R-M systems shows that the presence of different tetra-amino-acid sequence repeats, e.g. TAEL, LEAT, SEAL, TSEL, is characteristic for type IC R-M systems encoded by distantly related bacteria. The other regions of the HsdS subunits potentially responsible for subunit interaction are also different between a group of distantly related bacteria, but show high similarity within these bacteria. Complementation between the NgoAV R-M system and members of the EcoR124 R-M family can be restored by changing the tetra-amino-acid repeat within the HsdS subunit. The authors propose that the type IC family of R-M systems could consist of several complementation subgroups whose specificity would depend on differences in the conserved regions of the HsdS polypeptide.

Localization of the type I restriction-modification enzyme EcoKI in the bacterial cell

To localise the type I restriction-modification (R-M) enzyme EcoKI within the bacterial cell, the Hsd subunits present in subcellular fractions were analysed using immunoblotting techniques. The endonuclease (ENase) as well as the methylase (MTase) were found to be associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. HsdR and HsdM subunits produced individually were soluble, cytoplasmic polypeptides and only became membrane-associated when coproduced with the insoluble HsdS subunit. The release of enzyme from the membrane fraction following benzonase treatment indicated a role for DNA in this interaction. Trypsinization of spheroplasts revealed that the HsdR subunit in the assembled ENase was accessible to protease, while HsdM and HsdS, in both ENase and MTase complexes, were fully protected against digestion. We postulate that the R-M enzyme EcoKI is associated with the cytoplasmic membrane in a manner that allows access of HsdR to the periplasmic space, while the MTase components are localised on the inner side of the plasma membrane.

The effect of recA mutation on the expression of EcoKI and EcoR124I hsd genes cloned in a multicopy plasmid

Type I restriction-modification (R-M) endonucleases are composed of three subunits--HsdR, required for restriction, and HsdM and HsdS which can produce a separate DNA methyltransferase. The HsdS subunit is required for DNA recognition. In this paper we describe the effect of cloned EcoKI and EcoR124I hsd genes on the resulting R-M phenotype. The variability in the expression of the wild type (wt) restriction phenotype after cloning of the wt hsd genes in a multicopy plasmid in Escherichia coli recA+ background suggests that the increased production of the restriction endonuclease from pBR322 is detrimental to the cell and this leads to the deletion of the cloned hsd genes from the hybrid plasmid and/or inactivation of the enzyme. The effect of a mutation in E. coli recA gene on the expression of R-M phenotype is described and discussed in relation to the role of the cell surface and the localization of the restriction endonuclease in the cell.