Determination of nucleotide sequences beyond the sites of transcriptional termination

A simple method for 3'-labeling of RNA

We describe a simple method for 3'-end labeling RNAs of known sequence. A short DNA template is designed to anneal to the 3'-end of the RNA, with a two nucleotide 5' overhang of 3'-TA-5', 3'-TG-5' or 3'-TC-5'. The Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I can then cleanly and efficiently extend the 3'-end of the RNA by the incorporation of a single alpha-32P-labeled dATP residue. This method can be used to label one RNA in a mixture of RNAs, or to label 5'-blocked RNAs such as mRNA.

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.

A computer algorithm for testing potential prokaryotic terminators

The nucleotide sequences of 30 factor-independent terminators of transcription with RNA polymerase from E. coli have been compiled and analyzed. The standard features - a stretch of thymine residues and a preceding dyad symmetry - are shared by most sequences, but there are striking exceptions which indicate that these features alone are not sufficient to describe these sites. In two thirds of the sequences the 3'-half of the dyad symmetry contains the pentanucleotide CGGG (G/C) or a close derivative; about one third have TCTG or a close derivative just downstream of the termination point. The TCTG -box might be implied in termination of stringently controlled operons of E. coli. An algorithm to locate terminators in templates of known nucleotide sequence has been constructed on the basis of correlation to the distribution of dinucleotides along the aligned signal sequences. The algorithm has been tested on natural sequences of a total length of about 11,500 N. It finds all known independent terminators and only a few other sites, including some of the rho-dependent and putative terminators.

Studying promoters and terminators by gene fusion

Prokaryotic gene control signals can be isolated, compared, and characterized by precise fusion in vitro to the Escherichia coli galactokinase gene (galK), which provides both a simple assay and genetic selection. This recombinant galK fusion vector system was applied to the study of promoters and terminators recognized by the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. Three promoters created by mutation from DNA sequences having no promoter function were characterized. Mutations that inactivate promoter function were selected, structurally defined, and functionally analyzed. Similarly, transcription termination was examined, and mutations affecting terminator function were isolated and characterized.

Tandem transcription-termination sites in the late rightward operon of bacteriophage lambda

A transcription termination site (designated as t'R2) is located between the rightward late t'R1 terminator and the S gene of phage lambda. This t'R2 terminator is rightward and absolutely dependent on the rho factor, being about 45% effective in rho+ E. coli and only 6% in rho- cells at 30 degrees C. This 7.5-fold rho dependence of t'R2 is in contrast to that of tR1 (4.5 fold, from about 81% to 18%) and the partial rho dependence of t'R1 (1.4 fold, from 96% to 67%). At the elevated temperature of 42 degrees C, t'R2 becomes 1.5 times more leaky (with about 2.5-fold reduction in termination efficiency) than tR1 or t'R1 (with only 1.1-fold reduction) in rho+ hosts. The calculated joint efficiencies of t'R1 and t'R2 are 98% in rho+ cells at 30 degrees C. t'R2 is also active in vitro, but only in the presence of rho factor, whereas t'R1 is active both in the presence and absence of rho. However, the in vitro termination at t'R1 is enhanced about 1.7-fold by the rho factor. The properly oriented lambda nutR site together with the N gene function bring about almost complete antitermination at t'R2 (96% effective), but incomplete at t'R1 (72%). The termination points at t'R2 are located around 532-534 bp to the right of the s'R startpoint of the p'R-initiated RNA on lambda DNA (or 338-340 bp downstream of t'R1) and 66-68 bp to the left of the S gene, as determined by S1 mapping. The t'R2 termination points are located within a dyad symmetry region which, in the transcript, is able to form a hairpin structure consisting of 16 bp in the stem and 6 bases in the loop. It is proposed that t'R2 acts as a second terminator to block any readthrough transcription initiated at the late promoter p'R into the late genes of phage lambda.

Comparative biosequence metrics

The sequence alignment algorithms of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) and Sellers (1974) are compared. Although the former maximizes similarity and the latter minimizes differences, the two procedures are proven to be equivalent. The equivalence relations necessary for each procedure to give the same result are: 1, the weight assigned to gaps in the Sellers algorithm exceed that in the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm by exactly half the length of the gap times the maximum match value; and 2, for any pair of aligned elements, the degree of similarity assigned by the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm plus the degree of dissimilarity assigned by the Sellers algorithm equal a constant. The utility of the algorithms is independent of the nature of the elements in the sequence and could include anything from geological sequence to the amino acid sequences of proteins. Examples are provided using known nucleotide sequences, one of which shows two sequences to be analogous rather than homologous.

Sequence of the distal tRNA1Asp gene and the transcription termination signal in the Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA operon rrnF(or G)

Several DNA fragments carrying tRNA genes have been cloned from EcoRI endonuclease digests of Escherichia coli DNA. Using cloned DNA, the sequence of the region around the distal gene for tRNA1Asp (F(or G)) in the E. coli ribosomal RNA operon [rrnF(or G)] has been determined. In the distal portion of rrnF(or G), the genes for 23S, 5S rRNA and tRNA1Asp (F(or G)) are located in that order and separated by intergenic spacers of 93 and 52 base pairs, respectively. A possible hairpin structure, with its center between the 22nd and 23rd base pair downstream from the 3'-end of the tRNA1Asp(F(or G)) gene, followed by a sequence of eight thymidine residues was identified as the transcription termination signal for rrnF(or G). The termination is rho-independent, at least in vitro, and occurs within the region of the contiguous thymidine residues. A possible promoter for a protein gene is present about 50 base pairs downstream from the rrnF(or G) terminator.

Organization of the recA gene of Escherichia coli

The restriction map of a BamHI DNA fragment that contains the recA gene of Escherichia coli has been established and a large portion of the fragment's nucleotide sequence has been determined. The coding region of the recA gene contains 1059 nucleotide residues and encodes a single protein of 353 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of the first five residues of the NH2 terminus of the recA protein agrees with the sequence predicted from the DNA sequence except for the absence of formylmethionine in the purified protein. Immediately after the coding sequence, there is a G+C-rich sequence with dyad symmetry followed by an A+T-rich sequence. These could signal termination of transcription. The site of initiation for synthesis in vitro of the recA messenger RNA has been determined by analysis of the 5' nucleotide sequence of [gamma-32P]ATP-labeled transcripts. The promoter region shos a high degree of symmetry and contains sequences commonly found in recognition and binding sites for RNA polymerase.

Termination of transcription by bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase: homogeneous 3'-terminal oligonucleotide sequence of in vitro T3 RNA polymerase transcripts

RNA was synthesized in vitro from a T3 DNA template by T3 RNA polymerase and subsequently separated into seven discrete size classes (molecular weights ranging between 0.21 x 10(6) and 6.2 x 10(6)) by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide slab gels. RNase T1-generated 3'-terminal oligonucleotide fragments were then selectively isolated from either the unfractionated total RNA or the gel-purified specific transcripts by chromatography on columns of dihydroxyboryl-cellulose. Sequence analysis of these oligonucleotide products indicated that the unfractionated transcripts as well as all the individual major RNA species examined had a unique sequence, (Gp)UpUpUpUpUpGOH, at their 3' termini. The specificity of this sequence, as well as the total lack of any sequence heterogeneity at the ends of these transcripts, indicates a high degree of specificity of termination during transcription in this system.

The structure of a transcriptional unit on colicin E1 plasmid

In an RNA-synthesizing system in vitro, a low-molecular-weight RNA consisting of about 110 residues (RNA-I) was efficiently synthesized on DNA of colicin E 1 plasmid (ColE1) and its deletion derivatives. The promoter site for RNA-I was analysed by testing the RNA polymerase-binding ability and template activity of restriction fragments; it was mapped in the region between the replication initiation site and the colicin immunity gene of ColE1. The direction of transcription was determined by hybridization tests to the separated strands of the template. The DNA region directing RNA-I was sequenced, and RNA-I was assigned on the sequence based on the nearest-neighbour data of RNA. The sequences of its promoter and terminator regions were also deduced. Although the function of this small RNA species is unknown, a unique secondary structure could be constructed from its sequence and sensitivity to RNase.

Efficient translation of prokaryotic mRNAs in a eukaryotic cell-free system requires addition of a cap structure

In this and the accompanying paper we demonstrate that certain prokaryotic mRNAs, when modified at their 5'-termini with a cap structure, are translated in a eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesising system as efficiently as, or more efficiently than, eukaryotic mRNAs. Apparently, the prokaryotic mRNA contains all the information necessary for efficient recognition and initiation by eukaryotic translational components, except for the cap structure.

Bacteriophage lambda mutants (lambdatp) that overproduce repressor

Lambda tp mutants, selected for their ability to form turbid plaques on lon hosts, overproduce repressor. The tp1 and tp2 mutations have been located within (or adjacent to) the cIII gene. The tp1 mutation reduced late gene expression, as measured by endolysin synthesis (in the absence of functional cI repressor) and progeny phage yield. The tp4 mutation was mapped in the cY-cII region, and complementation tests indicated that tp4 affects the diffusible product of the cII gene. The tp4 mutation also reduced progeny production, but did not markedly affect endolysin synthesis.

Nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage G4 DNA

The 5,577 nucleotide long sequence of bacteriophage G4 DNA has been determined using the 'plus and minus' and chain termination methods of DNA sequencing. This sequence has been compared with that of the closely related bacteriophage phiX174 (refs 1, 55). In the coding regions there is an average of 33.1% nucleotide sequence differences between the two genomes, but the distribution of these changes is not random and the sequence of some genes is more conserved than others. There is less sequence similarity between the untranslated intergenic regions of G4 and phiX174, but despite this the sequences of the J/F, F/G and H/A untranslated spaces in both genomes have similar sized hairpin loops, which may be related to their function.

Transcription termination: nucleotide sequence at 3' end of tryptophan operon in Escherichia coli

We have determined the RNA and DNA sequences in the region specifying termination of transcription at the end of the tryptophan (trp) operon of Escherichia coli. A 3'-terminal mRNA fragment of about 150 nucleotides yielded oligonucleotide products that could be assigned to the end of trpA (the last structural gene in the operon) by correlation with the amino acid sequence of the protein product. Analysis of the DNA corresponding to this region served to align the few noncoding RNA oligonucleotide sequences and demonstrated that termination of trp transcription occurs in vivo at a site 36 nucleotides after trpA, with greater than 95% efficiency. In two different strains partially defective in the transcription termination factor rho, the purified transcript is much longer and more complex, suggesting that a significant amount of read-through occurs in these strains. This is consistent with evidence [Guarente, L. P., Mitchell, D. H. & Beckwith, J. (1977) J. Mol. Biol. 112, 423-436] that efficient termination in vivo at the end of the trp operon is a rho-dependent event. The trp terminator (trp t) shares several features with other known sites of transcription termination, including (i) a 3'-terminal RNA sequence of several uridine residues, C-A-U-U-U-U(OH), (ii) a G.C-rich region in the DNA immediately preceding the site of termination, followed by an A.T-rich region, and (iii) a region of dyad symmetry in the DNA which, in the transcript, is capable of forming a stable hairpin containing seven G.C base pairs and one A.U base pair in its stem.

A rho-dependent termination site in the gene coding for tyrosine tRNA su3 of Escherichia coli

A set of partially overlapping DNA restriction fragments that support promoter-dependent transcription of the tRNATyr1 gene of Escherichia coli has been used to study site-specific termination in vitro. Transcription termination occurs at a specific site 224-226 nucleotides beyond the end of the structural gene and is completely dependent on rho-factor. Certain features of this site suggest differences from other termination sites previously studied. A role for specific sequence recognition is suggested.

Nucleotide sequence of cro, cII and part of the O gene in phage lambda DNA

A nucleotide sequence comprising 960 base pairs of bacteriophage lambda DNA has been determined. The sequence includes the entire genes of the regulatory proteins cro and cII, and part of the O gene, together with control elements for their transcription and translation. The right-hand boundaries of the lambdaimm434 and lambdaimm21 substitutions and the cy42 mutation have been located.

Physical structure of the replication origin of bacteriophage lambda

The nucleotide sequence of part of the replication region of wild-type bacteriophage lambda and of four mutants defective in the origin of DNA replication (ori-) has been determined. Three of the ori- mutations are small deletions, and one is a transversion. The sequence of the origin region, defined by these mutations, contains a number of unusual features.

Influenza virus messenger RNAs are incomplete transcripts of the genome RNAs

The results of ribonuclease T1 oligonucleotide fingerprint analyses indicate that influenza virus messenger RNAs are incomplete transcripts of the corresponding genome RNAs and that in this respect they differ from the unpolyadenylated virus specific complementary RNAs obtained from infected cells. From the position of the untranscribed oligonucleotide in the virus RNA sequence and the ability or inability of the different transcripts to protect the 5' terminal nucleotide of virus RNAs against nuclease S1 digestion, it is concluded that whereas the unpolyadenylated cRNAs are complete transcripts, the polyadenylated messenger RNAs lack sequences complementary to the 5' end of the genome molecules.

Transcription termination at the trp operon attenuators of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium: RNA secondary structure and regulation of termination

Transcription termination at the attenuators of the trp operons of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium was studied in vitro using DNA restriction fragments as templates. Readthrough transcription beyond the terminators occurred with 5 and 30% efficiency, respectively, in E. coli and S. typhimurium. This difference is correlated with the stability of proposed secondary structures of the respective trp leader transcripts. Secondary structure analyses of the two leader transcripts revealed a well-conserved pattern of RNA base paring. This and the possibility that trp leader RNA is translated suggest a model for regulation of transcription termination that is based on ribosome movement along the RNA and a shift between alternative RNA base-pairing configuration.

Transcription in vitro of bacteriophage lambda 4S RNA: studies on termination and rho protein

When bacteriophage lambdapga18 DNA is transcribed in a purified in vitro system by E. coli RNA polymerase (nucleoside triphosphate: RNA nucleotidyl-transferase, EC 2.7.7.6), several major transcripts are synthesized. We have investigated transcriptional termination of one of these transcripts, the 4S, or "oop" RNA. Analysis by two-dimensional "fingerprinting" of T1 oligonucleotides reveals that transcription of the 4S RNA terminates at a specific site on the lambdapga18 DNA template, t-L with an efficiency of approximately 80%, i.e. 20% of transcripts are extended into larger RNAs. Addition of the E. coli protein rho to our transcription reactions has two effects: a) the efficiency of termination at the t-L site is increased to 100%; b) the number of 4S transcripts synthesized is increased by greater than 5-fold. Rho appears to stimulate 4S RNA synthesis by facilitating more rapid release of RNA polymerase from the t-L' termination site.

Nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage phi X174 DNA

A DNA sequence for the genome of bacteriophage phi X174 of approximately 5,375 nucleotides has been determined using the rapid and simple 'plus and minus' method. The sequence identifies many of the features responsible for the production of the proteins of the nine known genes of the organism, including initiation and termination sites for the proteins and RNAs. Two pairs of genes are coded by the same region of DNA using different reading frames.

The isolation and characterization of bacteriophage T7 messenger RNA fragments containing an RNase III cleavage site

We have isolated overlapping RNA fragments which contain the region surrounding the ribonuclease III cleavage site between bacteriophage T7 genes 0.3 and 0.7. Although all of these fragments contain the site of cleavage, only certain fragments are correctly recognized and cleaved by RNase III. Analysis of the cleavage products of the fragments indicates that the enzyme produces a single endonucleolytic break at this site in the T7 early RNA precursor molecule. In addition, the 3'-terminal adenylic acid residues observed previously on the in vivo T7 early RNA species were not found in these fragments and, therefore, must represent a post-transcriptional, post-processing modification of the RNA.