[Inducible specific lux-biosensors for the detection of antibiotics: construction and main parameters]

Based on Escherichia coli, highly sensitive specific lux-biosensors for the detection of tetracycline and beta-lactam antibiotics, quinolones, and aminoglycosides have been obtained. To make biosensors, bacteria were used that contained fungal plasmids pTetA'::lux, pAmpC'::lux, pColD'::lux, and plbpA'::lux, in which transcription of the reporter Photorhabdus luminescens luxCDABE genes occurred from the inducible promoters of the tetA, ampC, cda, and ibpA genes, respectively. The main parameters (threshold sensitivity and response time) of lux-biosensors were measured. The high specificity of biosensors responding only to antibiotics of a certain type was demonstrated.

[SOS-repair--60 years]

This review integrates 60 years of research on SOS-repair and SOS-mutagenesis in procaryotes and eucaryotes, from Jean Weigle experiment in 1953 year (mutagenesis of lambda bacteriophage in UV-irradiated bacteria) to the latest achievements in studying SOS-mutagenesis on all living organisms--Eukarya, Archaea and Bacteria. A key role in establishing of a biochemical basis for SOS-mutagenesis belonges to the finding in 1998-1999 years that specific error-prone DNA polymerases (PolV and others) catalysed translesion synthesis on damaged DNA. This review focuses on recent studies addressing the new models for SOS-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli and Home sapiens cells.

[Trigger factor dependent refolding of bacterial luciferases in Escherichia coli cells: kinetics, efficiency and effect of the bichaperone system, DnaKJE-ClpB]

Here were determined the basic parameters of the Tigger Factor (TF) -dependent refolding of thermal inactivated bacterial luciferases. The TF-dependent refolding is less efficient and requires more time than DnaKJE-dependent refolding. The increase in the intracellular concentration of TF leads to an apparent decrease in the level of the thermal inactivated bacterial luciferase refolding. For thermolabile luciferases, the level of TF-dependent refolding is significantly higher, than for thermostable luciferases: 30-40%--for the thermolabile Aliivibrio fischeri and Photobacterium leiognathi luciferases, and 10 and 0.5% for the thermostable Vibrio harveyi and Photorhabdus luminescens luciferases, respectively. The negative effect of the ClpB protein on the TF-dependent refolding was shown: in Escherichia coli clpB::kan TF-dependent refolding is more efficient than in the E. coli clpB+.

[Comparative analysis of antirestriction activity of R64 ArdA and ArdB proteins]

Antirestriction proteins ArdA and ArdB are specific inhibitors of the type I restriction-modification enzymes. The transmissible plasmid R64 ardA and yfeB (ardB) genes were cloned in pUC18 and pZE21 vectors. It was shown that the R64 ArdA and ArdB proteins inhibit only restriction activity of the type I restriction-modification enzyme (EcoKI) in Escherichia coli K12 cells. The dependence of the effectiveness of the antirestriction activity of the ArdA and ArdB proteins on the intracellular concentration was determined. Antirestriction activity of ArdB is independent from the ClpXP protease. Transcription of yfeB (ardB) gene in R64 plasmid is realized from the yfeA promoter.

["Quorum sensing" regulation of lux gene expression and the structure of lux operon in marine bacteria Alivibrio logei]

A group of luminescent strains of marine bacteria Alivibrio logei has been isolated (basins of the Okhotsk, White and Bering Seas). Strains A. logei were shown to be psycrophiic bacteria with an optimal growth temperature of approximately 15 degrees C. Biolumiscent characteristics of strains were studied, and the expression of lux genes was shown to be regulated by the "quorum sensing" system. The A. logei lux operon was cloned in Escherichia coli cells and the structure of this operon and its nucleotide sequence were determined. The structure of A. logei lux operon differs markedly from that in the closely related species of luminescent marine bacteria A. fischeri. In the structure of the A. logei lux operon, the the luxI gene is absent in front of luxC, and a fragment containing luxR2-luxI genes is located immediately after luxG gene. Luminescent psycrophiic marine bacteria of A. logei are assumed to be widely distributed in cold waters of northern seas.

[Effects of the IbpAB AND ClpA chaperones on DnaKJE-dependent refolding of bacterial luciferases in Escherichia coli cells]

The rate and level of DnaKJE-dependent refolding of the thermoinactivated Aliivibrio fischeri luciferase are considerably lower in Escherichia coli ibpA and ibpB mutants than in wild type cells. The rate and level of refolding are lower in E. coli ibpB::kan than in ibpA::kan cells. The decline of refoldings level in E. coli clpA::kan makes progress only with the increase of thermoinactivation time of luciferase. Plasmids with the genes ibpAB don't compensate clpA mutation. It is supposed that small chaperones IbpAB and chaperone ClpA operate independently in a process of DnaKJE-dependent refolding of proteins at the different stages.

[Proteolytic control of expression of Vibrio fischeri lux-operon genes in Escherichia coli cells]

The key elements of the regulatory system activating expression of the lux-operon genes in the sea bacteria Vibrio fischeri are the LuxR protein (an activator oftranscription) and N-(3-oxohexanoyl) L-homoserine lactone (an autoinducer, AI). It is shown that the ATP-dependent proteases ClpXP and Lon take part in the negative control of expression of the lux-operon genes and that AI protects the LuxR protein from proteolysis.

[The C-terminal domain of the Vibrio fischeri transcription activator LuxR is not essential for degradation by Lon protease]

The Vibrio fischer luxICDABEG genes are activated by autoinducer N-(3-oxohexanoyl)homoserine lactone and the LuxR protein. The LuxR contains 250 aa and consists of two domains. The C-domain, that extends from around residue 162 to the C-terminus, is thought to bind lux regulatory DNA and activate transcription of the luxICDABEG genes. The N-terminal domain, which binds the autoinducer, consists of about 70% residues of LuxR. In E. coli C-terminal domain can activate the lux genes in the absence of autoinducer. Previously it was shown that the ATP-dependent Lon protease of E. coli takes part in the negative regulation of the transcription of the V. fischeri lux operon and that LuxR is a target of Lon protease. Comparative analysis of effects of Lon protease on the V. fischeri luxICDABEG genes expression was made. Special constructed hybrid plasmids which permit the regulation of luxR, luxR 5'-deletion mutation were used and luICDABEG genes were activated independently and quantitatively. We show that the full length LuxR, but not C-terminal domain is a target protein for Lon protease. The transcription activity by full length LuxR protein isobserved when its intracellular concentration is about two order lower than that of its C-terminal domain.

[Antirestriction proteins ardA and Ocr as effective inhibitors of the type I restriction-modification enzymes]

Genes encoding antirestriction proteins (antirestrictases, inasmuch as the antirestriction proteins inhibit the activity of restriction-modification systems, but have no proper enzyme activity, the name antirestrictase is only tentative) are included in the composition of conjugative plasmids (genes ardABC) and some bacteriophages (genes ocr and darA). Antirestriction proteins inhibit of the type I restriction-modification enzymes and thus protect unmodified DNA of plasmids and bacteriophages from degradation. Antirestriction proteins belong to the "protein mimicry of DNA" family: the spatial structure is like the B-form of DNA, and therefore the antirestriction proteins operated on the principle of concurrent inhibition replacing DNA in the complex with the restriction-modification enzyme. Based on the prepared in vitro mutant forms of ArdA and Ocr, and also on natural proteins ArdA selectively inhibiting restriction activity of the type I enzymes, but not affecting their methylase activity, we have developed a model of complex formation between the antirestriction proteins and the restriction-modification enzymes R2M2S. Antirestriction proteins are capable of competing displacement of the DNA strand from two sites which are situated as follows: 1) in S-subunit (enzyme contact with the specific DNA site) and 2) in R-subunit (through this unit translocation of the DNA strand occurs followed by its degradation). Analysis of estriction and antimodification activities of proteins ArdA and Ocr depending on the expression level of genes ardA and ocr was performed (the cloning of the genes was done under strictly regulated promoter).

[Antirestriction and antimodification activities of the T7 Ocr protein: effect of mutations in interface]

Antirestriction protein Ocr (bacteriophage T7) is specific inhibitor of the type I restriction-modification enzymes. The bacteriophage T7 0.3 (ocr) gene is cloned in pUC18 vector. It was shown that T7 Ocr protein inhibits both restriction and modification activities of the type I restriction-modification enzyme (EcoKI) in Escherichia coli K12 cells. The mutation form of Ocr-Ocr F53D A57E, which inhibits only the restriction activity of EcoKI-enzyme, was constructed. The T7 0.3 (ocr) and the Photorhabdus luminescens luxCDABE genes were cloned in pZ-series vectors with the P(ltet0-1) promoter which is tightly repressible by the TetR repressor. Controlling the expression of the lux-genes encoding bacterial luciferase demonstrates that the P(ltet0-1) promoter can be regulated over and up to 5000 fold range by supplying anhydrotetracycline (aTc) to the E. coli MG1655Z1 tetR+ cells. It was determined the dependence of the effectiveness of the antirestriction activity of the Ocr and Ocr F53D A57E proteins on the intracellular concentration. It was shown that the values of the dissociation constants K(d) for Ocr and Ocr F53D A57E proteins with EcoKI enzyme differ in 1000 times: Kd (Ocr) = 10(-10) M, K(d) (Ocr F53D A57E) = 10(-7) M.

[Mutation clpA::kan in gene encoding the chaperone of Hsp100-family decreases DnaK-dependent refolding efficiency of proteins in Escherichia coli cells]

The rate and level of DnaK-dependent refolding of the thermoinactivated Vibrio fischeri luciferase were considerably lower in clpA mutant (clpA::kan) then in wild type cells. The decline of level of refolding makes progress with the increase of thermoinactivation time of enzyme. The mutation in clpP gene has no influence on kinetic and level of luciferase refolding. It was shown that the approximately equal amounts of the DnaKJE chaperone are synthesized under "heat shock" induction in E. coli clpA+ and E. coli clpA::kan cells. We suppose that the chaperone ClpA (like homological chaperone ClpB) is involved in the disaggregation process of denaturized proteins and that results to the increase of refolding efficacy. This in vivo phenomenon occurs only under long time incubation of cells at a high temperature, i.e. when protein aggregates of large size poorly refoldable by the DnaKJE system are formed.

[Induction of oxidative stress and SOS response in Escherichia coli by plant extracts: the role of hydroperoxides and the synergistic effect of simultaneous treatment with cisplatinum]

Plasmids containing a transcription fusion of Escherichia coli katG, soxS, and resA promoters to the Photorhabdus luminescens lux operon (luxCDABE) were constructed. The bioluminescence method of assessing oxidative stress and SOS response in E. coli cells was applied to test the genotoxicity of cisplatinum and vegetable extracts. Strains MG1655 (pKatG-lux) and MG1655 (pSoxS-lux) were used in the oxidative stress procedure. Strain MG1655(pRecA-lux) was used to test the genotoxicity of the chemicals. All vegetable extracts induced oxidative stress and SOS response. A marked synergistic response was observed when MG1655 (pRecA-lux) cells were exposed to both cisplatinum and vegetable extracts; the level of luminescence measured in the presence of both inducers was much higher than the sum of the levels of luminescence observed with vegetable extracts or cisplatinum alone. The hydroperoxide content in vegetable extracts and in X63-Ag8.6.5.3 myeloma cells was determined. Vegetable extracts were shown to inhibit the HeLa cell growth.

[Influence of mutations at genes of global transcriptional regulators on production of autoinducer AI-2 Quorum Sensing in the system of Escherichia coli]

The control of gene expression in response to an increase in the bacterial population density (Quorum Sensing) involves low-molecular-weight signal molecules (autoinducers, AI). AI-2 and synthase LuxS mediating its synthesis are widely distributed in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In this work, the data were obtained on the role of global regulators of gene expression in AI-2 synthesis in Escherichia coli cells. The mutation inactivating gene rpoS (encodes sigma S subunit of RNA polymerase) was shown to drastically decrease an amount of active AI-2 in the culture medium. Mutations at gene rpoN that encodes sigma N subunit of RNA polymerase and also at gene lon, which encodes Lon proteinase, on the contrary, increase an amount of active AI-2 in supernatants of cultures. Mutant strains lacking histone-like proteins H-NS and StpA accumulate a slightly higher amount of AI-2 than the isogenic wild-type strain: however, an amount of AI-2 decreased in the culture medium of the double mutant devoid of both these proteins.

[Host factors in the regulation of the Vibrio fischeri lux operon in Escherichia coli cells]

It has been shown that the chaperonin GroEL, together with GroES co-chaperonin and Lon ATP-dependent protease are involved in the regulation of expression of the Vibrio fischeri lux operon in Escherichia coli cells. The cells of E. coli groE (pF1)- bearing a plasmid with the complete V. fischeri lux regulon were weakly luminescent. The cells of E. coli lonA (pF1) displayed intense bioluminescence. The same effects also occurred in mutant E. coli strains bearing a hybrid plasmid pVFR1, where the luxR gene and the regulatory region of the V. fischeri lux operon were inserted before the Photorhabdus luminescens luxCDABE cassette. The V. fischeri luxR gene was cloned in the pGEX-KG vector with the formation of a hybrid gene gst-luxR. It was shown that affinity chromatography of the product of expression, the chimeric protein GST-LuxR, on a column with glutathione-agarose resulted in its copurification with the proteins GroEL and Lon. Consequently, LuxR, the transcription activator of the lux operon, forms complexes with these proteins. It is supposed that GroEL/GroES is responsible for the folding of the LuxR protein, and Lon protease degrades the LuxR protein either before its folding into an active globule or at denaturing.

[Antirestriction and antimodification activities of the ArdA protein encoded by the IncI1 transmissive plasmids R-64 and ColIb-P9]

Proteins of the Ard family are specific inhibitors of type I restriction-modification enzymes. The ArdA of R64 is highly homologous to ColIb-P9 ArdA, differing only by four amino acid residues of the overall 166. However, unlike ColIb-P9 ArdA, which inhibits both the endonuclease and the methylase activities of EcoKI, the R64 ArdA protein inhibits only the endonuclease activity of this enzyme. The mutant forms of R64 ArdA--A29T, S43A, and Y75W, capable of partially reversing the protein to ColIb-P9 ArdA form--were produced by directed mutagenesis. It was demonstrated that only Y75W mutation of these three variants essentially influenced the functional activity of ArdA: the antimodification activity was restored to approximately 90-99%. It is assumed that R64 ArdA inhibits formation of the complex between unmodified DNA and the R subunit of the type I restriction-modification enzyme EcoKI (R2M2S), which translocates and cleaves DNA. ColIb-P9 ArdA protein is capable of forming the DNA complex not only with the R subunit, but also with the S subunit, which contacts sK site (containing modified adenine residues) in DNA. ArdA bound to the specific sK site inhibits concurrently the endonuclease and methylase activities of EcoKI (R2M2S), while ArdA bound to the nonspecific site in the R subunit blocks only its endonuclease activity.

[Antirestriction activity of the IncI1 transmissive plasmid R64 ArdA protein]

The transmissive plasmid IncI1 R64 contains the ardA gene encoding the ArdA antirestriction protein. The R64 ardA gene locating in the leading region of plasmid R64 has been cloned and their sequence has been determined. Antirestriction proteins belonging to the Ard family are specific inhibitors of type I restriction-modification enzymes. The IncI1 ColIb-P9 and R64 are closely related plasmids, and the latter specifies an ArdA homologue that is predicted to be 97.6% (162 residues from 166) identical at the amino acid sequence level with the ColIb = P9 equivalent. However, the R64 ArdA selectively inhibits the restriction activity of EcoKi enzyme leaving significant levels of modification activity under conditions in which restriction was almost completely prevented. The ColIb-P9 ArdA inhibits restriction endonuclease and methyltransferase activities simultaneously. It is hypothesized that the ArdA protein forms two complexes with the type I restriction-modification enzyme (R2M2S): (1) with a specific region in the S subunit involved in contact with the sK site in DNA; and (2) with nonspecific region in the R subunit involved in DNA translocation and degradation by restriction endonuclease. The association of the ColIb-P9 ArdA with the specific region inhibits restriction endonuclease and methyltransferase activities simultaneously, whereas the association of the R64 ArdA with a nonspecific region inhibits only restriction endonuclease activity of the R2M2S enzyme.

[The effect of Clp proteins on DnaK-dependent refolding of bacterial luciferases]

A study was made of the refolding of bacterial luciferases of Vibrio fischeri, V. harveyi, Photobacterium phosphoreum, and Photorhabdus luminescens. By reaction rate, luciferases were divided into two groups. The reaction rate constants of fast luciferases of V. fischeri and Ph. phosphoreum were about tenfold higher than those of slow luciferases of Ph. luminescens and V. harveyi. The order of increasing luciferase thermostability was Ph. phosphoreum, V. fischeri, V. harveyi, and Ph. luminescens. The refolding of thermoinactivated luciferases completely depended on the active DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE chaperone system. Thermolabile fast luciferases of V. fischeri and Ph. phosphoreum showed highly efficient rapid refolding. Slower and less efficient refolding was characteristic of thermostable slow luciferases of V. harveyi and Ph. luminescens. Chaperones of the Clp family were tested for effect on the efficiency of DnaK-dependent refolding of bacterial luciferases in Escherichia coli cells. The rate and extent of refolding were considerably lower in the clpB mutant than in wild-type cells. In E. coli cells with mutant clpA, clpP, of clpX showed a substantially lower luciferase refolding after heat shock.

[The effects of the regulatory proteins RcsA and RcsB on the expression of the Vibrio fischeri lux operon in Escherichia coli]

A study was made of the effect of RcsA and RcsB on the Vibrio fischeri lux expression in Escherichia coli. RcsA suppressed the LuxR activity and thereby inhibited expression of the lux genes coding for luciferase and reductase. In osmotic shock, RcsA-RcsB activated lux expression and, consequently, bioluminescence of E. coli cells in the early log phase.

[Osmotic shock induces expression of Vibrio fischeri lux genes in Escherichia coli cells]

The effect of osmotic shock on the expression of genes in the lux regulon of marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri was studied in cells of Escherichia coli. Bioluminescence of cells was shown to drastically increase, when cells were exposed to osmotic shock at the early logarithmic growth phase. The expression of lux genes induced by osmotic shock is determined by the two-component regulatory system RcsC-RcsB. A nucleotide sequence in the regulatory region of the luxR gene homologous to the RcsB-box consensus of E. coli is assumed to be a primary site for this system.

[Role of "anti-restriction" motif in functional activity of anti-restriction protein ArdA pKM101 (incN)]

A number of mutant forms of the antirestriction protein ArdA encoded by the ardA gene located in a transmissive IncN plasmid pKM101 have been constructed. Proteins belonging to the Ard family are specific inhibitors of type I restriction--modification enzymes. Single mutational substitutions of negatively charged amino acid residues located in the "antirestriction motif" with hydrophobic alanine, E134A, E137A, D144A, or a double substitution E134A, E137A do not affect the antirestriction activity (Ard) of ArdA but almost completely abolish the antimodification activity (Amd). Mutational substitutions F107D and A110D in the assumed interface ArdA, which determines contact between monomers in the active dimer (Ard)2, cause an approximately 100-fold decrease in the antirestriction protein activity. It is hypothesized that the ArdA protein forms two complexes with the type I restriction--modification enzyme (R2M2S): (1) with a specific region in the S subunit involved in contact with the sK site in DNA; and (2) with a nonspecific region in the R subunit involved in DNA translocation and degradation by restriction endonucleases. The association of ArdA with the specific region inhibits restriction endonuclease and methyltransferase activities simultaneously, whereas the association of ArdA with a nonspecific region inhibits only restriction endonuclease activity of the R2M2S enzyme.

[Sequencing and comparative analysis of the lux operon of Photorhabdus luminescens strain ZM1: ERIC elements as putative recombination spots]

The EcoRI chromosomal fragment (6782 bp) containing the lux operon of Photorhabdus luminescens was cloned in pUC18 and completely sequenced. Enteric repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC), an imperfect palindrome (125-127 bp) characteristics for Enterobacteriaceae genomes, was found in three sites. Strain Zm1 proved to differ in ERIC number and location from strains Hb, Hm, and Hw. Nucleotide substitution analysis showed that luxC and luxB, which are more than 1 kb away from ERIC, are similar to the corresponding Hb genes, whereas luxD, luxA, and luxE, which are close to ERIC, are intermediate between their Hb and Hw counterparts. The Hb/Hw nucleotide substitution ratio was 1:1 in regions adjacent to ERIC. Hence ERIC were assumed to play a role of recombination hot spots in the bacterial genome.

["Quorum sensing", or how bacteria "talk" to each other]

Recent advances in studying the quorum-sensing systems, which regulate gene expression depending on population density, are reviewed. Low-molecular-weight acyl derivatives of L-homoserine lactone (N-AHL) freely diffuse through cell membranes and determine cell-to-cell communications in bacteria. The quorum-sensing systems have first been found to regulate bioluminescence in marine bacteria Photobacterium (Vibrio) fischeri and Vibrio harveyi. Such systems are widespread and control expression of genes for virulence factors, proteases, antibiotics, etc., in various Gram-negative bacteria, including plant, animal, and human pathogens. Quorum sensing is a prominent example of social behavior in bacteria, as signal exchange among individual cells allows the entire population to choose an optimal way of interaction with the environment and with higher organisms.

[Alleviation of type I restriction in Escherichia coli K12 in the presence of the arsR gene from pKW301 of Acidiphilium multivorum AIU 301]

A study was made of the antirestriction activity of Acidiphilium multivorum AIU 301 ArsR, a repressor of the ars operon which confers resistance to arsenite and arsenate and is on pKW301. In Escherichia coli, arsR cloned under the control of Plac in a multi-copy vector alleviated restriction of nonmodified lambda DNA by a factor of 120, six times more efficiently than its analogs of conjugal plasmids R64 (incI1) and R773 (incFI). Amino acid sequence analysis showed that the three ArsR proteins have a homologous region of 38 residues, including the antirestriction motif, in their N domains, whereas the motif is in the C domain in the Ard proteins. The other regions are nonhomologous, and pKW301 ArsR is 33 residues shorter than R64 and R773 ArsRs. The total charge is -4 in pKW301 ArsR and +2 in R64 and R733 ArsRs. A total negative charge was assumed to contribute to the antirestriction activity.

[Cloning and expression of the lux-operon of Photorhabdus luminescens, strain Zm1: nucleotide sequence of luxAB genes and basic properties of luciferase]

A chromosomal fragment of bacteria Photorhabdus luminescence Zm1, which contains the lux operon, was cloned into the vector pUC18. The hybrid clone containing plasmid pXen7 with the EcoRI fragment approximately 7-kb was shown to manifest a high level of bioluminescence. By subcloning and restriction analysis of the EcoRI fragment, the location of luxCDABE genes relative to restriction sites was determined. The nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment containing the luxA and luxB genes encoding alpha- and beta-subunits of luciferase was determined. A comparison with the nucleotide sequences of luxAB genes in Hm and Hw strains of Ph. luminescence revealed 94.5 and 89.7% homology, respectively. The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic sequence (ERIC) of 126 bp typical for Hw strains was identified in the spacer between the luxD and luxA genes. The lux operon of Zm1 is assumed to emerge through recombination between Hm and Hw strains. Luciferase of Ph. luminescence was shown to possess a high thermal stability: its activity decreased by a factor of 10 at 44 degrees C for 30 min, whereas luciferases of marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi were inactivated by one order of magnitude at 44 degrees C for 1 and 6 min, respectively. The lux genes of Ph. luminescence are suggested for use in gene engineering and biotechnology.

[RNA interference in Escherichia coli cells: the expression of molecules that are complementary to the lon gene mRNA in parallel orientation]

To study the effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on the activity of gene lon in Escherichia coli, genetic constructs were used that could express RNA molecules complementary to the 5' region of lon mRNA in the same direction. These RNAs were termed parallel RNAs (pRNAs). Two approaches were used to control expression. In one approach, lon gene activity was estimated genetically, based on the effect of the Lon protease on bioluminescence determined by the Vibrio fischeri lux regulon. The other approach was direct testing of ATP-dependent proteolysis in vitro. It was found that pRNA considerably suppressed lon expression. The antiparallel RNA (apRNA) was a less effective suppressor of this gene. The specific RNAi was found to decay gradually by the 40th generation. The data obtained indicate that Eubacterium cells have mechanisms for specific regulation of gene activity that are sensitive to the formation of both parallel and antiparallel RNA duplexes involving mRNA of the given gene.

[A test system based on the lux-regulon from Vibrio fischeri for studying the functional activity of mutant forms of Escherichia coli lon-proteinase]

The possibility of application of the bioluminescence method (Lux-test) for studying in vivo functional activity of Escherichia coli protease Lon and its mutants was demonstrated. This assay is based on the capacity of protease Lon and its mutant forms for specific degradation of the LuxR protein, a positive transcriptional activator of the right operon luxICDABE from the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, and thus to affect the level of AB luciferase in the cells. A correlation between in vitro activity of the protease Lon mutants and the intensity of bioluminescence measured by the Lux-test was revealed.

[FMN-reductase from Escherichia coli and its effect on the activity of luciferase from marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri]

Interactions of luciferases isolated from Vibrio fischeri 6 and Escherichia coli JM109(pF3) (bearing cloned V. fischeri luxAB genes) with FMN reductase isolated from E. coli JM109 were studied. FMN reductase formed a stable complex with luciferase, suggesting similar properties of the FMN reductases in the taxonomically close families Vibrionaceae and Enterobacteriaceae.

[Photosensitized inactivation of plasmid and bacteriophage lambda DNA: relative contribution to the lethal effect of monoadducts and diadducts of 8-methoxypsoralen and their repair in SOS-induced Escherichia coli cells]

The curves of UV (254 nm)-inactivation and inactivation by furocoumarin derivatives + UVA radiation (PUVA) of bacteriophage lambda and biologically active plasmid pBR322 were measured using Escherichia coli K12 bacteria with different defects of DNA repair system as a ghost. The ratio of mono- and diadducts (interstrand cross-links) of 8-methoxypsoralen was determined that are formed after treating the DNA of pBR322 and bacteriophage lambda with PUVA. It is shown that, on the average, about five monoadducts per one diadduct are formed in DNA of pBR322, and about 0.9 monoadducts per one diadduct are formed in lambda phage DNA. An increased (up to 50%) efficiency of SOS-repair of monoadducts of 8-methoxypsoralen in DNA of pBR322 and lambda in the presence of plasmid pKM101 muc+ (incN) was found.

[Lux-regulon from Vibrio fisheri reduces type 1 restriction in Escherichia coli K12 cells]

The EcoK restriction of nonmodified phage lambda.0 controlled by Escherichia coli K12 lon- cells is alleviated 10-20-fold in the presence of a hybrid plasmid containing the entire lux regulon of Vibrio fischeri. The La protease participates in degradation of the regulatory LuxR-LuxI proteins; therefore, transcription of the right lux operon begins significantly earlier than in the lon+ bacteria and is characterized by high content of the N-(3-oxohexanoyl) homoserine lactone autoinducer in medium. The effect of lux-induced alleviation of type I restriction in the lon mutants of E.coli K12 is proposed to depend on the reduction at the intracellular level of S-adenosylmethionine, one of the LuxI synthase substrates responsible for autoinducer synthesis.

[Attenuation of type I restriction in Escherichia coli: effect of the ard gene in UV-irradiated cells]

The effect of conjugative plasmids ColIb-P9 (incI1) and pKM 101 (incN), containing the active ard gene, on the efficiency of EcoK restriction of nonmodified phage lambda .0 in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli cells was studied. ard-Dependent antirestriction enzyme activity was shown to decrease in UV-irradiated cells. The efficiency of action of the ard plasmid gene on lambda .0 was also shown not to depend on cell helicases RecBCD and UvrD, in contrast to the UV-induced alleviation of EcoK restriction (SOS alleviation).

[The ard gene, coding for a type I restriction inhibitor, is present in plasmids of FII, B/O, and K-groups of incompatibility]

The effect of conjugative plasmids of various incompatibility groups of the enterobacteria family on the activity of the cell restriction-modification system of type I (EcoK) was studied. Twenty-two conjugative plasmids of 15 incompatibility groups were tested. In addition to plasmids of the incI1 and incN groups studied earlier, conjugative plasmids of the incFII, incB/O, and incK groups were also shown to be able to weaken the action of type I restriction enzymes upon nonmodified DNA (Ard phenotype). A hybridization analysis of all the plasmid DNAs studied, using ard gene DNA sequences from the ColIb-P9 (incI1) plasmid as a probe, was performed. The ard locus of the R100 (incFII) plasmid was cloned in the pBR322 and pACYC184 vectors. The ard gene was located 2.5 kb from the oriT site in the leading region on the R100 conjugative plasmid.

[A kinetic method of determining the frequency of homologous recombination of plasmids in Escherichia coli cells]

To test the frequency of recombination by the RecF pathway the hybrid plasmids have been constructed which allow the bioluminescence recombination assay in the transformed E. coli cells. pF2(+) and pF6(+) are derivatives of pUC18 and pACYC184 respectively, with the luxA and luxB genes of Vibrio fischeri cloned downstream of the lac promoter. The luxA genes in pF2(+) and pF6(+) were mutated at the XhoI site and the HindIII site, accordingly, pF8 is a pACYC184 derivative with two copies luxA and luxB genes. The one copy of luxA gene was mutated at the XhoI site and another copy of the luxA gene was mutated at the HindIII site. A kinetic analysis of the population of the replicating and recombinating plasmids has been carried out. Experimental values of the frequency of recombination per one generation (P) were determined for the different E. coli strains.

[Bacteriophage lambda:lux: design and expression of bioluminescence in E. coli cells]

The bacteriophages lambda:lux and lambda:luxAB have been constructed by ligation of phage arms generated by BamHI or SalGI restriction endonucleases digestion of EMBL4 to BamHI digested plasmid pF1 lux+ or to SalGI digested plasmid pF2 lambda:luxA+B+. Cells of Escherichia coli prototrophic strain Cs were infected with lambda:lux or lambda:luxAB and intensity of bioluminiscence of the samples registered at different time intervals determined. The signal of bioluminiscence was first detected 15 min after infection and its level increased exponentially thereafter demonstrating replication of the lambda:lux bacteriophages. We have used the recombinant lambda:luxAB bacteriophage to detect the enteric indicator bacteria without enrichment in 15 min, provided that they are present at levels higher than 10(4).

[Lon-protease participates in the regulation of transcription of the Lux-operon of Vibrio fischeri]

Lon protease of Escherichia coli specifically inhibits the activity of the regulatory protein LuxI responsible for synthesis of the autoinducer N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)homoserine lactone. As a result, transcription of the right lux operon is initiated in lon+ bacteria much later than in lon- mutants. Lon protease does not affect the activity of LuxAB proteins (luciferase) and LuxC, LuxD, and LuxE proteins involved in synthesis of an aldehyde substrate for luciferase.

[Alleviation of type I restriction in the presence of plasmids of group inc I. General characteristics and molecular cloning of the ard gene]

The capability of a number of plasmids of incN and incI groups to alleviate an action of type I EcoK, EcoB, EcoD, and EcoA restriction endonucleases on the unmodified DNA was revealed. The efficiency of EcoK action on lambda 0 DNA is alleviated about 10 divided by 100 fold in E. coli K12 AB 1157 bacteria containing the plasmid of incN group (pKM101, N3, pJA4733) or incI group (R144, R648; R621a; ColIb-P9). We have cloned ard gene of ColIb-P9 plasmid (SalI-C fragment) in pBR322 multicopying vector. A hybrid clone abolishing the EcoK restriction has been received. Ard gene activity is independent of the recA, recBc, recF, lexA, umuC, lon bacterial genes activity. Ard gene's product does not inhibit the EcoK restriction endonuclease action as well as ocr protein (phage T7) and does not increase the process of methylation of DNA as well as ral protein of phage lambda.

[Weakening of type I restriction in E. coli: the effect of 2-aminopurine and 5-bromouracil]

2-aminopurine (2-AP) and 5-bromouracil, strong mutagens of base analog type, were found to induce efficiently the alleviation of I type restriction in Escherichia coli. 2-AP induced restriction alleviation occurs in recA, lexA and mut- mutants, but no additional relief of restriction is registered in dam-bacteria in the presence of sublethal 2-AP concentrations. 2-AP specifically alleviates I type restriction in Escherichia coli (EcoA, EcoB, EcoD, and EcoK) and does not affect restriction systems of II (EcoRI) and III (EcoP1) types. We suggest that 2-AP-induced mismatches and other replication errors may be signals inducing restriction alleviation in Escherichia coli.

[Weakening of type I restriction in E. coli: the effect of dam mutation]

The host-controlled EcoK-restriction of unmodified phages lambda.0 and T7ocr. is 100-fold alleviated in dam- mutants of E. coli. In addition the EcoK modification activity is considerably decreased in dam- strains. The I and III types restriction (EcoB, EcoD, EcoK and EcoP1) were relieved in dam- mutants, but no alleviation of EcoRI restriction occurred in dam- strains. We interpret the alleviation of the I type restriction in dam- mutants as consequence of induction of the function, which interferes with the I type restriction systems.

[Reduced restriction of EcoK in the presence of the plasmid pKM ard+. II. Cloning of the gene ard]

Plasmid pKM101 affects the I type restriction EcoK in E. coli. The gene ard responsible for alleviation of EcoK restriction was shown to be located within the BglIIB fragment of pKM101. Here we have cloned ard gene into high copy vectors pBR322 and pUC12. Plasmid pD12 was constructed by introducing into pUC12 a 1.87 kb HindIII-Pst fragment, carrying ard gene. Tn5 and Tn1000 insertions were obtained in the ard gene region.

[Weakening of bacteriophage lambda EcoK DNA restriction in the presence of plasmid pKM101 ard+. I. General characteristics and genetic localization]

The host-controlled K-restriction of unmodified phage lambda is ten to hundred-fold alleviated in the E. coli K12 strain, carring plasmid pKM101 of N-incompatibility group. By restriction mapping Tn5 insertion in pKM101, which reduced pKM101-mediated alleviation of K-restriction, was shown to by located within BglII-B-fragment approximately 9 kb anticlockwise from the EcoRI-site of pKM101. We have termed the gene(s) promoting the alleviation of K-restriction ARD (Alleviation of Restriction of DNA). It was shown that (i) plasmid pKM101-mediated alleviation of K-restriction did not depend on bacterial genes LexA, RecBC, umuC and plasmid gene muc; (ii) ard gene did not mediate EcoK type modification of DNA and did not enhance the modification activity of EcoK system in a way similar to that observed with RAL gene of phage lambda. Action of Ard gene of plasmid pKM101 is highly specific: alleviation of restriction of DNA lambda takes place only in K-strains of E. coli and is practically absent in B-strains and also in E. coli strains which have restricting enzymes of 11 type, EcoRI and EcoRIII.

[Excision repair of plasmid in competent Escherichia coli cells]

Excision repair in calcium-treated cells E. coli K12, which are usually used for transformation, was studied. A great decrease in excision repair capacity of calcium-treated cells compared to that of untreated cells was observed when cells were incubated in buffer. Analysis of excision repair in E. coli cells were performed by following methods: (1) plasmid DNA, treated in vivo with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) plus light (lambda less than 310 nm) was transformed into calcium-treated E. coli cells and excision of 8-MOP monoadducts was measured by method of repeated irradiation; (2) plasmid DNA, treated with 8-MOP plus light or irradiated at 254 nm in calcium-treated cells, was isolated, and conversion of supercoil plasmid DNA to relaxing form was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. Excision repair capacity of calcium-treated cells was restored to the level of that of intact cells after the addition of carbon nutrients (L-broth, glucose). It is supposed that decrease in excision repair capacity of calcium-treated cells is due to the limitation of the intracellular energy sources (probably, ATP), required for the formation of single-stranded nicks in damaged DNA by UVR ABC--endonuclease.

[W-reactivation and W-mutagenesis in lambda and T7 bacteriophages: a comparative study of the action of ultraviolet radiation (254 nm) and of the photosensitizing agents, 8-methoxypsoralen and angelicin]

Monoadducts and interstrand cross-links are formed in DNA after psoralen plus light treatment of bacteriophage lambda . Survival and clear plaque mutation frequency of lambda after photosensitization with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) are increased when the wild type host is slightly UV-irradiated (W-reactivation and W-mutagenesis). The recA13, lexA1 and uvrA6 mutations block W-reactivation and W-mutagenesis of lambda treated with 8-MOP plus light. Using the technique of "repeated irradiation" we showed that the mutagenic effect of 8-MOP plus light treatment on phage is due mainly to formation of cross-links in DNA. The mutagenic activity of monoadducts had been studied by using angular furocoumarin, angelicin which forms mainly monoadducts in DNA. Upon W-mutagenesis of phage lambda treated with angelicin plus light a high mutagenic effect is observed. The results indicate that the mutagenic activity of monoadducts is 15-20 fold slower as compared to that of cross-links. W-reactivation and W-mutagenesis of UV-irradiated (254 nm) bacteriophage lambda are also observed after 8-MOP plus light treatment of Escherichia coli uvrA and wild type hosts. It is possible that the difference in mutagenic activity of psoralen adducts could depend on the repair mechanism of adducts: cross-links repair in bacterial and lambda DNA is controlled by lexA gene (error-prone SOS-repair mechanism), while monoadducts can be efficiently repaired by error-free excision and recombination.