ALBERT

Notes: The chaperone-like protein of the main terminal branch of the general secretory pathway from Klebsiella oxytoca, the outer membrane lipoprotein PulS, protects the multimeric secretin PulD from degradation and promotes its correct localization to the outer membrane. To determine whether these are separable functions, or whether resistance to proteolysis results simply from correct localization of PulD, we replaced the lipoprotein-type signal peptide of PulS by the signal peptide of periplasmic maltose-binding protein. The resulting periplasmic PulS retained its ability to protect PulD, but not its ability to localize PulD to the outer membrane and to function in pullulanase secretion. Periplasmic PulS competed with wild-type PulS to prevent pullulanase secretion, presumably again by causing mislocalization of PulD. A hybrid protein comprising the mature part of PulS fused to the C-terminus of full-length maltose-binding protein (MalE–PulS) had similar properties to the periplasmic PulS protein. Moreover, MalE–PulS was shown to associate with PulD by amylose-affinity chromatography. The MalE–PulS hybrid was rendered completely functional (i.e. it restored pullulanase secretion in a pulS mutant) by replacing its signal peptide with a lipoprotein-type signal peptide. However, this fatty-acylated hybrid protein was only functional if it also carried a lipoprotein sorting signal that targeted it to the outer membrane. Thus, the two functions of PulS are separate and fully dissociable. Incorrect localization, rather than proteolysis, of PulD in the absence of PulS was shown to be the factor that causes high-level induction of the phage shock response. The Erwinia chrysanthemi PulS homologue, OutS, can substitute for PulS, and PulS can protect the secretin OutD from proteolysis in Escherichia coli, indicating the possible existence of a family of PulS-like chaperone proteins.

Notes: Because the ferric uptake regulator (fur ) appears to be an essential gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistance to manganese was used as an enrichment to isolate strains carrying point mutations in the fur gene in order to assess its role in the co-ordinate expression of siderophores and exotoxin A (ETA). This report describes a detailed molecular and phenotypic characterization of four mutants and one revertant, which carry point mutations in the fur gene. Two parental strains were used in this study. Three mutants were isolated from the widely used strain, PAO1. One of these, CS (cold sensitive), has a mutation in the 5′ non-coding region of the fur gene while the two other mutants derived from this parent have mutations resulting in the following deduced changes in Fur: mutant A2, H86 → R; mutant A4, H86 → Y. The other mutant (C6) and its revertant (C6Rv) were derived from PAO6261, a mutant of PAO1 with a deletion in the anr gene (anaerobic regulation of arginine deiminase and nitrate reduction) that controls anaerobic respiration in P. aeruginosa. Fur from the C6 mutant has an A10 → G mutation while in the C6Rv spontaneous revertant the mutant Gly residue has been changed to Ser at this position. All mutants were examined for alterations in the iron-regulated expression of siderophores and ETA. The A2 and A4 mutants expressed higher levels of siderophores in iron-deficient media and in iron-replete media. The CS mutant constitutively expressed siderophores at 25°C. At 42°C siderophore biosynthesis was iron repressed as in the parental strain PAO1. The deletion of anr in PAO6261 had no apparent effect on the iron-mediated regulation of siderophore synthesis, but the C6 mutant derived from this strain produces siderophores constitutively. The iron-regulated production of siderophores by C6Rv was similar to the parental strain PAO6261 and PAO1. Because one of the parental strains used in this study is an Anr mutant, regulation of ETA production was assessed under aerobic and microaerobic conditions. Iron-dependent repression of ETA synthesis in both parental strains and A2 and A4 mutants was found to be 50–100-fold under aerobic and microaerobic conditions, as assayed by quantitative Western dot-blot assays. By contrast in the CS and C6 mutants, while iron-dependent repression of ETA synthesis was similar to both parental strains under aerobic conditions, ETA production in these mutants was constitutive in a microaerobic environment. RNase protection analysis of toxA and regAB transcription in PAO1, PAO6261 and the C6 mutant corroborated the results of quantitative dot-blot assays of ETA. The mutant Fur proteins were purified and examined for their ability to bind to the promoter of a gene (pvdS ) that positively regulates the expression of siderophores and ETA. Fur from the A2 and A4 mutants and from the C6Rv revertant was able to bind to the target DNA, but with reduced affinity by comparison to wild-type Fur. Fur from the C6 mutant in DNase I footprint experiments failed to protect the promoter region of the pvdS gene, but it retained some weak binding activity in gel mobility shift assays. The data presented in this study not only furnish some additional insights into the structure–function relationships of Fur, but also afford novel perspectives with regard to Fur and the iron-dependent regulation of virulence factors in P. aeruginosa under environmental conditions that have not previously been considered.

Notes: During endospore formation in Bacillus subtilis an asymmetric division produces two cells, forespore and mother cell, which follow different developmental paths. Commitment to the forespore-specific developmental path is controlled in part by the activation of the forespore-specific RNA polymerase sigma factor, σF. Activity of σF is inhibited in the mother cell by the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB. In the forespore, σF directs transcription of the structural gene for σG. However, σG does not become active until after engulfment of the forespore is complete. This σG activity is dependent upon the products of the spoIIIA operon. We showed that σG is present but mostly inactive in a spoIIIA mutant. We also demonstrated that the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB can bind to σGin vitro. Moreover, a mutant form of σG that binds SpoIIAB inefficiently in vitro was shown to function independently of SpoIIIA during sporulation. These and previously reported results support a model in which SpoIIAB functions as an inhibitor of σG activity during sporulation. Therefore, we propose that the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB antagonizes both σF and σG activities, and that this antagonism is relieved in the forespore in two stages. In the first stage, which follows septation, a SpoIIAA-dependent mechanism partially relieves SpoIIAB inhibition of σF activity in the forespore. In the second stage, which follows forespore engulfment, a SpoIIIA-dependent process inactivates SpoIIAB in the forespore, resulting in the activation of σG.

Notes: The Ty virus-like particles (VLPs) are functionally analogous to retroviral particles. They package the enzymes and the RNA necessary for retrotransposition, and mediate the integration of the reverse-transcription product into the genome of the host cell. Here we map three structural determinants of particle assembly in the subunit protein. We have also identified key residues in these regions that seem to be involved in subunit interaction and particle morphology. In particular, two point mutations in putative amphipathic helices have remarkable effects on VLP morphology, increasing the diameter as much as eightfold.

Notes: Two new yeast genes, named ASN1 and ASN2, were isolated by complementation of the growth defect of an asparagine auxotrophic mutant. Genetical analysis indicates that these two genes are allelic to the asnA and asnB loci described previously. Simultaneous disruption of both genes leads to a total asparagine auxotrophy, while disruption of asn1 or asn2 alone has no effect on growth under tested conditions. Nucleotide sequences of ASN1 and ASN2 revealed striking similarities with genes encoding asparagine synthetase (AS) from other organisms. Regulation of ASN1 and ASN2 expression was studied using lacZ fusions and both genes were found to be several times less expressed in the absence of the transcription activator Gcn4p. The HAP complex, another transcription factor that binds to CCAAT-box sequences, was shown to specifically affect ASN1 expression. Hap2p and Hap3p subunits of the HAP complex are required for optimal expression of ASN1, while the Hap4p regulatory subunit, which is required for regulation by the carbon source, plays a minor role in this process. Consistent with the weak effect of Hap4p, the carbon source does not significantly affect expression of ASN1. Our results show that the role of the HAP complex is not limited to activation of genes required for respiratory metabolism.

Notes: During infection of their hosts, salmonellae enter intestinal epithelial cells. It has been proposed that when Salmonellatyphimurium is present in the intestinal lumen, several environmental and regulatory conditions modulate the expression of invasion factors required for bacterial entry into host cells. We report here that the expression of six different S. typhimurium invasion genes encoded on SPI1 (Salmonella pathogenicity island 1) is co-ordinately regulated by oxygen, osmolarity, pH, PhoPQ, and HilA. HilA is a transcriptional activator of the OmpR/ToxR family that is also encoded on SPI1. We have found that HilA plays a central role in the co-ordinate regulation of invasion genes by environmental and regulatory conditions. HilA can activate the expression of two invasion gene–lacZY fusions on reporter plasmids in Escherichia coli, suggesting that HilA acts directly at invasion-gene promoters in S. typhimurium. We have found that the regulation of invasion genes by oxygen, osmolarity, pH, and PhoPQ is indirect and is mediated by regulation of hilA expression by these environmental and regulatory factors. We hypothesize that the complex and co-ordinate regulation of invasion genes by HilA is an important feature of salmonella pathogenesis and allows salmonellae to enter intestinal epithelial cells.

Notes: The PrfA protein, which is a member of the Crp/Fnr family of prokaryotic transcription activators, regulates the virulence genes of Listeria monocytogenes. In this work, specific binding of PrfA to its target DNA was determined by electrophoretic mobility-shift assays (EMSAs) using cell-free extracts from the two L. monocytogenes strains EGD and NCTC 7973. PrfA-specific binding differs between the two strains, even when the concentration of PrfA was adjusted to similar levels. Both strains exhibited increased PrfA-specific binding after a shift into minimal essential medium (MEM) without showing a significant change in the amount of PrfA protein, relative to extracts from bacteria grown in brain–heart infusion (BHI). The purified PrfA protein from strain EGD produced in Escherichia coli did not exhibit specific binding to the target DNA but did so upon addition of PrfA-free extracts from various Listeria species and Bacillus subtilis. The observed activation of PrfA seems to be caused by a PrfA-activating factor (Paf), which is probably a protein since elevated temperature, but not RNase treatment, destroyed the activation potential of such PrfA-free extracts. Moreover, fractionation of these extracts by sucrose gradient centrifugation yielded the Paf activity in a fraction sedimenting at 3.2 S. Specific binding of PrfA-containing extracts from strain EGD to the hly and actA promoter sequences was strongly inhibited by iron, whereas that of extracts from strain NCTC 7973 was only slightly reduced. The iron effect seems to be mediated by Paf rather than by PrfA itself.

Notes: Mutation fixation at an ethenocytosine (εC) residue borne on transfected M13 single-stranded DNA is significantly enhanced in response to pretreatment of Escherichia coli cells with UV, alkylating agents or hydrogen peroxide, a phenomenon that we have called UVM for UV modulation of mutagenesis. The UVM response does not require the E. coli SOS or adaptive responses, and is observed in cells defective for oxyR, an oxidative DNA damage-responsive regulatory gene. UVM may represent either a novel DNA-repair phenomenon, or an unrecognized feature of DNA replication in damaged cells that affects a specific class of non-coding DNA lesions. To explore the range of DNA lesions subject to the UVM effect, we have examined mutation fixation at 3,N 4-ethenocytosine and 1,N 6-ethenoadenine, as well as at O6-methylguanine (O6mG). M13 viral single-stranded DNA constructs bearing a single mutagenic lesion at a specific site were transfected into cells pretreated with UV or 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Survival of transfected viral DNA was measured as transfection efficiency, and mutagenesis at the lesion site was analysed by a quantitative multiplex sequence analysis technology. The results suggest that the UVM effect modulates mutagenesis at the two etheno lesions, but does not appear to significantly affect mutagenesis at O6mG. Because the modulation of mutagenesis is observed in cells incapable of the SOS response, these data are consistent with the notion that UVM may represent a previously unrecognized DNA damage-inducible response that affects the fidelity of DNA replication at certain mutagenic lesions in Escherichia coli.

Notes: The ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) protein LacK of Agro-bacterium radiobacter displays high sequence similarity to the MalK subunit of the Salmonella typhimurium maltose-transport system (MalFGK2). We have used LacK as a tool to identify sites of interaction of MalK with the membrane-integral components MalF and MalG. Small amounts of LacK, resulting from the expression of the plasmid-borne lacK gene, proved to be sufficient for partial restoration of growth of a malK strain of S. typhimurium on maltose. LacK failed to substitute for MalK in regulating the expression of maltose-inducible genes but the hybrid complex MalFGLacK2 was sensitive to inducer exclusion. The lacK gene also complemented a ugpC mutant of Escherichia coli to growth on sn-glycerol-3-phosphate as the phosphate source. Partially purified LacK exhibited a spontaneous ATPase activity comparable to that of MalK. A MalK′–′LacK chimeric protein was isolated (by in vivo recombination) in which the N-terminal 140 amino acids of MalK are fused to residues 141–363 of LacK. The protein substituted for MalK in maltose transport considerably better than LacK. Furthermore, random mutagenesis of the plasmid-borne lacK gene yielded three clones that were superior to wild-type lacK in complementing a malK mutation. Single mutations (V114M or L123F) substantially improved the growth of a malK strain on maltose, whereas a double mutation (L123F, S295N) resulted in growth and transport rates that were indistinguishable from those obtained with MalK. In contrast, the introduction of the single change S295N into LacK had no effect but combination with the V114M mutation led to a further twofold increase in transport activity. These results indicate that a putative helical domain in MalK, encompassing residues 89–140, is crucial for a functional, high-affinity interaction with MalF and MalG.

Notes: The Escherichia coli RfaH protein is required for the expression of operons directing synthesis and export of the toxin haemolysin, the lipopolysaccharide core, and the F-factor sex pilus. Mutation of rfaH increases transcriptional polarity along all three operons. By demonstrating strong RfaH-dependent suppression of transcription polarity in vitro, we have established RfaH as a novel transcriptional activator, and we reveal that RfaH is a homologue of the essential protein NusG that modulates general transcriptional pausing and termination in prokaryotes. Full transcription of the distal genes from an upstream promoter required RfaH and the 5′ cis-acting ops element, both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo the requirement for the ops element was suppressed by overexpressing RfaH, and in vitro the presence of ops lowered the concentration of RfaH required to stimulate transcript elongation. We suggest that RfaH directs transcript elongation in an analogous way to NusG, but does so in a subset of bacterial operons primarily engaged in the production of extracellular components required for virulence and fertility.

Notes: A new developmental gene, fruA, of Myxococcus xanthus was cloned using a one-step cloning vector, TnV. DNA sequencing of the wild-type allele of the fruA gene indicated that the fruA gene encodes a protein of 229 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 24 672. The deduced amino acid sequence of FruA protein showed similarity to those of many bacterial regulatory proteins carrying a DNA-binding helix-turn-helix motif. The transcription-initiation site of the fruA gene was determined by a primer-extension experiment. Development of M. xanthus cells with a disrupted fruA gene stopped at the stage of mound formation. Although cells were able to aggregate to form mounds, myxospores were not formed. By Northern and Western blot analysis, it was found that the fruA expression was not detected during vegetative growth but initiated at around 6 h and reached the highest level at 12 h after the onset of development. Expression of the fruA gene was dependent on the expression of asg, bsg, csg, dsg, and esg genes, indicating that a series of intercellular signalling is necessary for the expression of the fruA gene. The effects of the fruA mutation on -galactosidase expression of various developmentally regulated genes fused with the lacZ gene were analysed; three developmental lacZ fusions (Ω4469, Ω4273 and Ω4500) were either poorly induced or not induced at all, while three other lacZ fusions (Ω4408, Ω4521 and Ω4455) expressed at the early stage of development were normally induced but were unable to be repressed at a later stage of development as in the wild-type strain. Interestingly, in the fruA mutant, tps (the gene for protein S) was not activated. From these results together with analysis of the amino acid sequence of FruA, we propose that FruA is a putative transcription factor required for the development of M. xanthus.

Notes: Glutathione (GSH) is an abundant low-molecular-mass thiol which has been implicated in numerous cellular processes including protection against cytotoxic agents such as xenobiotics, carcinogens and free radicals. Utilization of GSH results in its conversion to the oxidized form (GSSG), and it is recycled to GSH by the action of glutathione reductase (GLR) using the reducing power of NADPH. We show that GLR activity is increased by three- to fourfold during stationary-phase growth compared to exponential phase growth, and that a yeast strain deleted for GLR1, encoding glutathione reductase, shows an elevated sensitivity to H2O2 challenge during stationary phase. These data indicate an increased requirement for GSH as the cell arrests growth and enters stationary phase. The stationary-phase increase in GLR activity is entirely dependent upon the action of the yAP-1 transcriptional regulatory protein, previously implicated in regulating GLR activity in response to oxidative stress. Thus, both oxidant- and growth phase-mediated control of GLR1 expression are regulated by the same transcriptional control mechanism. In addition, strains lacking GLR or yAP-1 do not accumulate GSSG during stationary-phase growth, indicating that the cell possesses alternative means of preventing an accumulation of GSSG during stationary phase.

Notes: The precursor polypeptides of periplasmic proteins binding seven types of redox cofactor have unusually long signal sequences bearing a consensus (S/T)-R-R-x-F-L-K motif immediately before the hydrophobic region. Such ‘double-arginine’ signal sequences are not, in general, found on the precursors of other periplasmic proteins. It is suggested that precursor proteins with double-arginine signal sequences share a common specialization in their export pathway. The nature of this specialization, the structure of the double-arginine signal sequences, and the possible relationship with the double-arginine signal peptide-dependent thylakoid import pathway are discussed.

Notes: Bacillus subtilis contains three chromosomally encoded type I signal peptidases (SipS, SipT and SipU), which remove signal peptides from secretory precursor proteins. In the present study the biological function of SipS and the regulation of its synthesis were analysed. Unlike the type I signal peptidase of Escherichia coli, SipS was essential neither for protein secretion nor viability of the cell. However, in the absence of SipS the rate of processing of several preproteins was reduced, and four of the seven major secreted proteins of B. subtilis were hardly detectable in the growth medium. Surprisingly, the processing of Bacillus amyloliquefaciensα-amylase and the secretion of at least two endogenous B. subtilis proteins was improved in the absence of SipS. These findings indicate that the substrate preference of SipS differs from that of SipT and SipU, and that SipS is an important factor determining the efficiency of protein secretion in B. subtilis. SipS is transcribed in a growth phase- and medium-dependent manner. In minimal medium, the growth phase-dependent transcription of sipS is controlled by the DegS–DegU two-component regulatory system, indicating that the expression of sipS is regulated by the same factors that control the expression of most genes for secreted degradative enzymes. Our observations suggest that B. subtilis can modulate its capacity and specificity for protein secretion through the controlled expression of sipS.

Notes: Ferrichrome–iron is actively transported across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli by the TonB-dependent receptor FhuA. To obtain FhuA in a form suitable for secondary-structure analyses, a hexahistidine tag was inserted into a surface-located site and the recombinant protein was purified by metal chelate chromatography. Functional studies indicated that the presence of the hexahistidine tag did not interfere with FhuA localization or with ligand-binding activity. Ferrichrome protected lysine 67 but not lysine 5 of purified recombinant FhuA from trypsinolysis. Results from trypsin digestion were interpreted as a conformational change in FhuA which had occurred upon ferrichrome binding, thereby preventing access of trypsin to lysine 67. Circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a predominance of -sheet structure for the purified protein. In the presence of ferrichrome, FhuA exhibited a secondary structure and a thermostability which were similar to FhuA without ligand. The addition of ferrichrome to purified FhuA reduced the ability of certain anti-FhuA monoclonal antibodies to bind to the receptor. All antibodies which could in this manner discriminate between FhuA and FhuA bound to ferrichrome had their determinants within a loop which is toward the N-terminus and which is exposed to the periplasm. These data indicate that the binding of ferrichrome induces a structural change that is propogated across the outer membrane and results in an altered conformation of a periplasmically exposed loop of FhuA. It is proposed that by such an alteration of FhuA conformation, TonB is triggered to energize the active transport of the bound ligand across the outer membrane.

Notes: Carbapenems are β-lactam antibiotics which have an increasing utility in chemotherapy, particularly for nosocomial, multidrug-resistant infections. Strain GS101 of the bacterial phytopathogen, Erwinia carotovora, makes the simple β-lactam antibiotic, 1-carbapen-2-em-3-carboxylic acid. We have mapped and sequenced the Erwinia genes encoding carbapenem production and have cloned these genes into Escherichia coli where we have reconstituted, for the first time, functional expression of the β-lactam in a heterologous host. The carbapenem synthesis gene products are unrelated to enzymes involved in the synthesis of the so-called sulphur-containing β-lactams, namely penicillins, cephamycins and cephalosporins. However, two of the carbapenem biosynthesis genes, carA and carC, encode proteins which show significant homology with proteins encoded by the Streptomycesclavuligerus gene cluster responsible for the production of the β-lactamase inhibitor, clavulanic acid. These homologies, and some similarities in genetic organization between the clusters, suggest an evolutionary relatedness between some of the genes encoding production of the antibiotic and the β-lactamase inhibitor. Our observations are consistent with the evolution of a second major biosynthetic route to the production of β-lactam-ring-containing antibiotics.

Notes: Salmonella enterica serovar blegdam has a restriction and modification system encoded by genes linked to serB. We have cloned these genes, putative alleles of the hsd locus of Escherichia coli K-12, and confirmed by the sequence similarities of flanking DNA that the hsd genes of S. enterica serovar blegdam have the same chromosomal location as those of E. coli K-12 and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium LT2. There is, however, no obvious similarity in their nucleotide sequences, and while the gene order in S. enterica serovar blegdam is serB hsdM, S and R, that in E. coli K-12 and S. enterica serovar typhimurium LT2 is serB hsdR, M and S. The hsd genes of S. enterica serovar blegdam identify a third family of serB-linked hsd genes (type ID). The polypeptide sequence predicted from the three hsd genes show some similarities (18–50% identity) with the polypeptides of known and putative type I restriction and modification systems; the highest levels of identity are with sequences of Haemophilus influenzae Rd. The HsdM polypeptide has the motifs characteristic of adenine methyltransferases. Comparisons of the HsdR sequence with those for three other families of type I systems and three putative HsdR polypeptides identify two highly conserved regions in addition to the seven proposed DEAD-box motifs.

Notes: Gonococcal pilus antigenic and phase variation result from unidirectional, RecA-dependent recombination of DNA sequences from a silent pilin copy (pilS ) into the expressed pilin gene (pilE ). To develop a quantitative assay for pilin gene recombination that is independent of phase variation, a promoterless cat gene was inserted into pilS, and recombination of ′cat into pilE was detected by selection of chloramphenicol-resistant (CmR) variants expressing ′cat from the pilin promoter. Although RecA-dependent CmR variants occurred, none were generated by the simple transfer of ′cat into pilE. Instead, each CmR variant contained a new pilin locus that was a hybrid of sequences from the pilE and the pilS1::′cat loci in addition to the two starting loci. Therefore, this system could not be used to quantify antigenic variation. However, combined studies of these hybrid loci and of recombination products generated during additional pilS mutational analyses demonstrated that both the size and position of an insertion in pilS differentially affect pilin recombination. Also, the hybrid loci appear to be intermediates of antigenic variation. This enabled the creation of molecular models for the recombination reactions that result in pilin antigenic variation.

Notes: Recent studies examining the molecular mechanisms of isoniazid (INH) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis have demonstrated that a significant percentage of drug-resistant strains are mutated in the katG gene which encodes a catalase–peroxidase, and the majority of these alterations are missense mutations which result in the substitution of a single amino acid. In previous reports, residues which may be critical for enzymatic activity and the drug-resistant phenotype have been identified by evaluating INH-resistant clinical isolates and in vitro mutants. In this study, site-directed mutagenesis techniques were utilized to alter the wild-type katG gene from M. tuberculosis at 13 of these codons. The effects of these mutations were determined using complementation assays in katG-defective, INH-resistant strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. This mutational analysis revealed that point mutations in the katG gene at nine of the 13 codons can cause drug resistance, and that enzymatic activity and resistance to INH are inversely related. In addition, mutations in the mycobacterial catalase–peroxidase which reduce catalase activity also decrease peroxidase activity.

Notes: Budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Rap1p has been expressed in fission yeast (Schizosaccharo-myces pombe) under the control of the regulatable fructose bisphosphatase (fbp) promoter. When the fbp promoter was derepressed, cells containing the complete RAP1 gene failed to show any significant growth, suggesting that Rap1p is toxic. A derivative of Rap1p that has a temperature-sensitive mutation in the DNA-binding domain was not toxic in cells grown at 37°C, a temperature at which DNA binding by rap1pts is severely inhibited. Removal of a short region downstream of the DNA-binding domain, including a region previously shown to be essential for Rap1p toxicity in budding yeast, also abolished the toxic effect. The toxic effect of Rap1p has therefore been conserved between two distantly related yeasts. In budding yeast, overexpression of Rap1p also caused changes to the lengths of the telomeric repeats. No effects on telomeres were detected in fission yeast.

Notes: oriC DNA in the hemimethylated (but not in the fully methylated) state reacts with an Escherichia coli K-12 outer membrane preparation. This reaction is drastically reduced when the membrane preparation of a seqA null mutant is used. An in vitro reconstitution of the activity was undertaken by adding a partially purified SeqA protein to a seqA mutant membrane without success. A possible reason for this failure might be a profound modification of the outer membrane of the seqA mutant (as revealed by the fact that membrane from the mutant sediments more slowly than that from the wild type during ultracentrifugation). There is also a reduction in the content of OmpF protein. Moreover, one of the minor outer membrane proteins involved in partitioning of newly synthesized chromosomes, the TolC (MukA) protein, was also found to be downregulated in the seqA mutant. This is also true of the hobH mutant grown in a high-osmolarity medium. Mutants of both seqA and hobH stop dividing after hyperosmotic shock, forming filaments (as observed in dam mutants).

Notes: The Serratia marcescens haemophore HasA is secreted by an ABC exporter comprising three envelope proteins. The ABC protein (ATP-binding cassette) HasD and the MFP protein (membrane fusion protein) HasE but not the outer membrane component have been isolated previously. In Escherichia coli, TolC, the outer membrane component of the haemolysin transporter, can form a hybrid exporter with HasD and HasE. This hybrid secretes HasA and the very similar metalloproteases from S. marcescens and Erwinia chrysanthemi. By analogy, the genuine exporter was predicted to secrete metalloproteases. The hasF gene was thus cloned from S. marcescens into an E. coli tolC mutant carrying hasD and hasE genes, by screening for a proteolytic phenotype on skimmed-milk plates. hasF encodes a protein sharing 74% identity with the E. coli TolC protein. Anti-TolC antibodies cross-reacted with a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 53 kDa in E. coli expressing hasF and in S. marcescens. hasF is unlinked to the has cluster and, unlike the has operon, is not iron regulated. hasF complements some of the tolC phenotypes, including drug- and detergent sensitivities and haemolysin secretion but not colicin E1 uptake. This suggests that the various functions of TolC could correspond to distinct domains on the protein.

Notes: The uracil permease of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a 633 residue polytopic plasma membrane protein. Hydropathy profile analysis indicates that this protein has long hydrophilic N-and C-termini and 10–12 potential transmembrane segments. Previous results based on analysis of hybrid proteins allowed identification of the first transmembrane segment of uracil permease, and provided a preliminary indication of the cytoplasmic orientation of its N-terminus. In this work, other experimental approaches were used to confirm this orientation, and to determine that of the C-terminus. Epitopes in the N-and the C-termini of the protein were protected against trypsin degradation on intact protoplasts, but readily digested on permeabilized protoplasts. Immunofluorescent analysis showed that antibodies to the last 10 amino acids of uracil permease bind to detergent-treated protoplasts, but not to intact ones. Carboxypeptidase digested the C-terminus of uracil permease inserted into sealed dog-pancreas microsomes. These results establish that both N- and C-termini are cytoplasmic, the permease polypeptide spanning the membrane an even number of times. The orientation of several hydrophilic loops with respect to the membrane was investigated by introducing potential glycosylation sites into these regions. We checked whether the resulting mutant proteins were glycosylated when expressed in the presence of dog-pancreas microsomes. Our data show that two loops of the protein are lumenal. Together with previous results, this work indicates that uracil permease is a 10 membrane-spanning protein, with rather small external loops and three main cytoplasmic regions (the N-and C-termini and a central 60-residue loop).

Notes: Bacterial oligopeptide permeases are membrane-associated complexes of five proteins belonging to the ABC-transporter family, which have been found to be involved in obtaining nutrients, cell-wall metabolism, competence, and adherence to host cells. A lambda library of the strain CS101 group A streptococcal (GAS) genome was used to sequence 10 192 bp containing the five genes oppA to oppF of the GAS opp operon. The deduced amino acid sequences exhibited 50–84% homology to pneumococcal AmiA to AmiF sequences. The operon organization of the five genes was confirmed by transcriptional analysis and an additional shorter oppA transcript was detected. Insertional inactivation was used to create serotype M49 strains which did not express either the oppA gene or the ATPase genes, oppD and oppF. The mutation in oppA confirmed that the additional shorter oppA transcript originated from the opp operon and was probably due to an intra-operon transcription terminator site located downstream of oppA. While growth kinetics, binding of serum proteins, and attachment to eukaryotic cells were unaffected, the oppD/F mutants showed reduced production of the cysteine protease, SpeB, and a change in the pattern of secreted proteins. Thus, the GAS opp operon appears to contribute to both protease production and export/processing of secreted proteins.

Notes: The N gene product of coliphage λ, with a number of host proteins (Nus factors), regulates phage gene expression by modifying RNA polymerase to a form that overrides transcription-termination signals. Mutations in host nus genes diminish this N-mediated antitermination. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the rpoAD305E mutation, a single amino acid change in the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of the α subunit of RNA polymerase, that enhances N-mediated antitermination. A deletion of the 3′ terminus of rpoA, resulting in the expression of an α subunit missing the CTD, also enhances N-mediated antitermination and, similar to rpoAD305E, suppresses the effect of nus mutations. Thus, the N–Nus complex may be affected through contacts with the CTD of the α subunit of RNA polymerase, as is a group of regulatory proteins that influences initiation of transcription. What distinguishes our findings on the N–Nus complex from those of previous studies with transcription proteins is that all of the regulators characterized in those studies bind DNA and influence transcription initiation; whereas the N–Nus complex binds RNA and affects transcription elongation. A screen of some previously identified rpoA mutations that influence transcription activators revealed only one other amino acid change, L290H, in the CTD of the α subunit, that influences antitermination. Although our results provide evidence that interactions of the α subunit of RNA polymerase must be considered in forming models of transcription antitermination, they do not provide information as to whether the interactions of α that ultimately influence antitermination occur during initiation or during elongation of transcription.

Notes: Many factors can influence the ability of plasmids to colonize different hosts, efficient replication probably being the most critical one. Two major strategies seem to facilitate promiscuous plasmid replication: (i) initiation independent of host initiation factors; and (ii) versatile communication between plasmid and host initiation factors. Appropriate communication between a replicon and the different hosts, which becomes crucial at the initation of plasmid replication, plays a major role in plasmid promiscuity. Fused replicons or mechanisms that rescue collapsed replication forks may increase the efficiency of plasmid propagation. However, their contribution to plasmid promiscuous replication remains to be fully evaluated. Several examples of host-specific adaptation of promiscuous plasmids point to an enormous flexibility of these replicons.

Notes: A mutant of Listeria monocytogenes EGD was constructed that carries an extended deletion removing the entire PrfA-regulated gene cluster from plcA to plcB and a second deletion inactivating the inlA gene. Upon supplementation of this mutant with multiple gene copies of prfA, a protein of 30 kDa was detected in the supernatant of the mutant strain. The gene encoding this protein was obtained by direct and inverse polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotide primers that were deduced from partial amino acid sequences of the purified 30 kDa protein. The amino acid sequence of the gene product revealed a protein of 297 amino acids that carried eight repeat units with high homology to those of the two known internalin proteins A and B. This secretory protein, termed internalin C, is much smaller than InlA or InlB and its complete sequence is related to the two known internalins. The gene inlC is transcribed into a monocistronic mRNA from a single promoter which shows a typical consensus sequence for PrfA-binding at the position −40. In contrast to the transcription of the inlAB operon, which is downregulated after shift of an L. monocytogenes EGD culture from brain–heart infusion into minimum essential medium (MEM), transcription of inlC is induced in MEM like most of the other known PrfA-regulated virulence genes. In addition, inlC is strongly transcribed in the cytoplasm of phagocytic J774 cells whereas inlA is poorly transcribed under these conditions, suggesting that internalin C may play a role in a late stage of L. monocytogenes infection rather than in the uptake of L. monocytogenes by non-professional phagocytic cells. An inlC deletion mutant shows reduced virulence when tested in an intravenous mouse model, but intracellular replication of the mutant in Caco-2 and J774 cells appears to be comparable with that of the wild-type strain.

Notes: Previous work established that pH regulation of gene expression in Aspergillus nidulans, a major determinant of penicillin biosynthesis, is mediated by the zinc-finger transcription factor PacC, an activator of transcription of the isopenicillin N synthase gene. We characterize here the pacC gene from the efficient penicillin producer Penicillium chrysogenum, which functionally complements an A. nidulans pacC null mutation. It encodes a 641-residue polypeptide showing 64% identity to A. nidulans PacC and containing three putative zinc fingers specifically recognizing a 5′-GCCARG-3′ hexanucleotide. Penicillium pacC transcript levels are higher under alkaline than under acidic growth conditions and elevate at late stages of growth. The gene contains three PacC-binding sites in its 5′-upstream region. Transcript levels of pcbC (encoding P. chrysogenum isopenicillin N synthase) are low on a repressing carbon source and elevated on a derepressing carbon source. With either carbon source, alkaline pH elevates pcbC transcript levels, correlating with the presence of seven PacC-binding sites in the 1.1 kb pcbAB–pcbC intergenic region and strongly suggesting that pcbC is under direct pacC control. However, in contrast to the situation in A. nidulans, alkaline pH does not override the negative effects of a repressing carbon source, revealing differences in the regulation of the penicillin pathway between Penicillium and Aspergillus

Notes: The starvation-stress response (SSR) of Salmonella typhimurium encompasses the physiological changes that occur upon starvation for an essential nutrient, e.g. C-source. A subset of SSR genes, known as core SSR genes, are required for the long-term starvation survival of the bacteria. Four core SSR loci have been identified in S. typhimuriumrpoSstiAstiB, and stiC. Here we report that in S. typhimurium C-starvation induced a greater and more sustainable cross-resistance to oxidative challenge (15 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 40 min) than either N- or P-starvation. Of the four core SSR loci, only rpoS and stiC mutants exhibited a defective C-starvation-inducible cross-resistance to H2O2 challenge. Interestingly, (unadapted) log-phase S. typhimurium rpoS and stiA mutants were very sensitive to oxidative challenge. Based on this, we determined if these core SSR loci were important for H2O2 resistance developed during a 60 min adaptive exposure to 60 μM H2O2 (adapted cells). Both unadapted and adapted rpoS and stiA mutants were hypersensitive to a H2O2 challenge. In addition, a stiB mutant exhibited normal adaptive resistance for the first 20 mins of H2O2 challenge but then rapidly lost viability, declining to a level of about 1.5% of the wild-type strain. The results of these experiments indicate that: (i) the rpoS and stiC loci are essential for the development of C-starvation-inducible cross-resistance to oxidative challenge, and (ii) the rpoSstiA, and, in a delayed effect, stiB loci are needed for H2O2-inducible adaptive resistance to oxidative challenge. Moreover, we found that both stiA and stiB are induced by a 60 μM H2O2 exposure, but only stiA was regulated (repressed) by (reduced form) OxyR.

Notes: The cer–Xer dimer resolution system of plasmid ColE1 is highly selective, acting only at sites on the same molecule and in direct repeat. Recombination requires the XerCD recombinase and accessory proteins ArgR and PepA. The Escherichia coli chromosome dimer resolution site dif and the type II hybrid site use the same recombinase but are independent of ArgR and PepA and show no site selectivity. This has led to the proposal that ArgR and PepA are responsible for the imposition of constraint. We describe here the characterization of a novel class of ‘conditionally constrained’ multimer resolution sites whose properties support this hypothesis. In the presence of ArgR and PepA, plasmids containing conditionally constrained sites are monomeric, but in their absence, extensive multimerisation is seen. A mutant ArgR derivative (ArgR110), which is defective in cer-mediated dimer resolution, remains able to prevent plasmid multimerisation by a conditionally constrained site. This implies that the accessory factors block recombination in trans rather than ensuring rapid multimer resolution. When the distance between the ArgR and XerCD binding sites in a conditionally constrained site was altered by a non-integral number of helical turns, the site became unconstrained. Constraint was restored by the insertion of a full helical turn.

Notes: The frz genes of Myxococcus xanthus constitute a signal-transduction pathway that processes chemotactic information in a manner analogous to that found in enteric bacteria. Ultimately, these genes regulate the frequency of individual cell reversal. We report here the identification of a novel component of this signal-transduction pathway, designated frzZ, which was discovered as an open reading frame located 5′ to the frz operon but transcribed in the opposite orientation. The translational start site of frzZ  is 170 base pairs from that of frzAfrzZ  utilizes a promoter similar to the σ70 promoters of Escherichia coli, and encodes a 290-amino-acid soluble protein, FrzZ (Mr 30 500). FrzZ contains two domains, both of which show strong homology to CheY and other members of the response-regulator family. Linking these domains is a 39-amino-acid region that is very rich in alanine and proline (38% Ala and 33% Pro). A frzZ null mutant showed abnormally low reversal rates when compared to the wild-type control and was unable to form fruiting bodies on starvation medium, but it did form ‘frizzy’ aggregates. In addition, the frzZ mutant was defective in swarming, particularly on soft agar (0.3% w/v). However, unlike most frz mutants, the frzZ mutant was able to respond to attractants and repellents in the spatial chemotaxis assay. The discovery of FrzZ demonstrates that the M. xanthusfrz signal-transduction pathway utilizes multiple response-regulator (CheY-like) proteins.

Notes: During anaerobic growth, expression of the fdnGHI and narGHJI operons of Escherichia coli is induced by the NarL protein in response to nitrate. The fdnG operon control region contains four NarL-binding sites (termed NarL heptamers) between positions −70 and −130. The two central NarL heptamers of fdnG are arranged as an inverted repeat and are essential for regulation by NarL. We used mutational analysis of these central heptamers to investigate the precise sequence requirements for NarL-dependent induction. Mutations were examined for their effects on NarL-dependent expression in vivo. Substitutions at position 1 of either heptamer had the strongest effect whereas substitutions at position 7 had the weakest effect. For some positions, alterations in both heptamers had a stronger effect than either of the single changes. The 2 bp spacing between these NarL heptamers was also important for normal nitrate induction. The narG operon control region has at least eight NarL heptamers arranged in two groups. Previous work has shown that nucleotide substitutions in two of these heptamers, centred at positions −195 and −89, severely reduce nitrate induction of narG operon expression in vivo and significantly interfere with NarL–DNA interactions in vitro. Substitutions in heptamers −185 and −101 affected narG operon induction only when the concentration of phospho-NarL was low (during growth in the presence of nitrite). Changes in each of the other four NarL heptamers studied had little or no effect on nitrate or nitrite induction of narG operon expression or on NarL–DNA interactions in vitro

Notes: Two genes, designated chsC and chsG were isolated from DNA libraries of the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus. The genes were characterized with respect to their nucleotide sequences and mutant phenotypes. The complete deduced amino acid sequences of chsC and chsG show that the products of both genes are Class III zymogen-type enzymes. A mutant strain constructed by disruption of chsC is phenotypically indistinguishable from the wild-type strain, but chsG− and chsC− chsG− strains have reduced colony radial growth rate and chitin synthase activity, conidiate poorly and produce highly branched hyphae. Despite these defects, the double-mutant strain retained the ability to cause pulmonary disease in neutropenic mice. However, in comparison to the wild-type strain, there was a decrease in mortality and delay in the onset of illness in mice inoculated with the double-mutant strain, which was associated with smaller and more highly branched fungal colonies in lung tissue.

Notes: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) is thought to infect a quarter of the world’s population and accounts for 3 million deaths each year. Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae continues to afflict millions. In many countries, the incidence of TB is increasing due to its association with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the emergence of multidrug resistance strains of tubercle bacilli. Genes that encode major antigens, enzymes, potential virulence determinants and drug resistance in mycobacteria have been isolated and characterized; however, further genetic analysis of pathogenic mycobacteria has been severely hampered by the difficulty in precisely defining the phenotype of both wild-type and mutant genes by utilizing homologous recombination to perform allele exchange. Recombination mechanisms have been intensely studied in Escherichia coli but it is unclear how far mechanistic pathways elucidated in this species are applicable to other organisms, such as mycobacteria. The aim of this review is to examine what is currently known about homologous recombination in mycobacteria. A model is proposed to account for both low levels of homologous recombination and high levels of illegitimate recombination found in the tubercle bacillus.

Notes: Expression of the cysteine regulon in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli is controlled by the LysR-type transcriptional activator CysB and by the inducer N-acetyl-l-serine. Sulphide and thiosulphate are anti-inducers. Two highly purified constitutive CysB proteins, CysB(T149M) and CysB(T149P), were found to bind to the cysJIHcysK and cysP promoters, to activate transcription from the cysJIH and cysK promoters in the absence of N-acetyl-l-serine, and to be insensitive to the effects of anti-inducers. At 10mM MgCl2, the in vitro transcription activity of CysB(T149M) was maximal without N-acetyl-l-serine, but that of CysB(T149P) was increased by inducer. At 2mM MgCl2, both proteins were fully active without inducer. A third mutant protein, CysB(W166R), was totally inactive at 10mM MgCl2, but gave constitutive expression of the cysK and cysJIH promoters at 2 mM MgCl2. Surprisingly, wild-type CysB was also constitutive for the cysK promoter at 2mM MgCl2 but not at 10mM MgCl2; it required inducer for cysJIH promoter activation at both concentrations. Mutagenic studies indicated that this difference between promoters is due to the distance between activation site half-sites, which are separated by 1 bp in the cysJIH promoter and by 2 bp in the cysK promoter. We speculate that inducer acts to decrease the distance between the binding domains of two CysB subunits that interact with an activation site. In vitro activities of wild-type and mutant CysB proteins correlated much better with in vivo behaviour at 2mM than at 10mM MgCl2, suggesting that the former is the more physiological concentration.

Notes: Genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae VF39 coding for the regulatory elements NifA, FixL and FixK were isolated, sequenced and genetically analysed. The fixK–fixL region is located upstream of the fixNOQP operon on the non-nodulation plasmid pRleVF39c. The deduced amino acid sequence of FixL revealed an unusual structure in that it contains a receiver module (homologous to the N-terminal domain of response regulators) fused to its transmitter domain. An oxygen-sensing haem-binding domain, found in other FixL proteins, is conserved in R. leguminosarum bv. viciae FixL. R. leguminosarum bv. viciae possesses a second fnr-like gene, designated fixK, whose encoded gene product is very similar to Rhizobium meliloti and Azorhizobium caulinodans FixK. Individual R. leguminosarum bv. viciae fixK and fixL insertion mutants displayed a Fix+ phenotype. A reduced nitrogen-fixation activity was found for a R. leguminosarum bv. viciae fnrN-deletion mutant, whereas no nitrogen-fixation activity was detectable for a fixK/fnrN double mutant. The R. leguminosarum bv. viciae nifA gene is expressed independently of FixL and FixK under aerobic and microaerobic conditions, whereas fixL gene expression is induced under microaerobiosis. Another orf was identified downstream of fixK–fixL and encodes a product which has homology to pseudoazurins from different species. Mutation of this azu gene showed that it is dispensable for nitrogen fixation.

Notes: Binding of the group A streptococcus (GAS) to respiratory epithelium is mediated by the fibronectin (Fn)-binding adhesin, protein F1. Previous studies have suggested that certain GAS strains express Fn-binding proteins that are different from protein F1. In this study, we have cloned, sequenced, and characterized a gene (prtF2) from GAS strain 100076 encoding a novel Fn-binding protein, termed protein F2. Insertional inactivation of prtF2 in strain 100076 abolishes its high-affinity Fn binding. prtF2-related genes exist in most GAS strains that lack prtF1 (encoding protein F1) but bind Fn with high affinity. These observations suggest that protein F2 is a major Fn-binding protein in GAS. Protein F2 is highly homologous to Fn-binding proteins from Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Strep-tococcus equisimilis, particularly in its carboxy-terminal portion. Two domains are responsible for Fn binding by protein F2. One domain (FBRD) consists of three consecutive repeats, whereas the other domain (UFBD) resides on a non-repeated stretch of approximately 100 amino acids and is located 100 amino acids amino-terminal of FBRD. Each of these domains is capable of binding Fn when expressed as a separate protein. In strain 100076, protein F2 activity is regulated in response to alterations in the concentration of atmospheric oxygen.

Notes: FtsZ is a tubulin-like protein that is essential for cell division in eubacteria. It functions by forming a ring at the division site that directs septation. The archaebacteria constitute a kingdom of life separate from eubacteria and eukaryotes. Like eubacteria, archaebacteria are prokaryotes, although they are phylogenetically closer to eukaryotes. Here it is shown that archaebacteria also possess FtsZ and that it is biochemically similar to eubacterial FtsZs. Significantly, FtsZ from the archaebacterium Haloferax volcanii is a GTPase that is localized to a ring that coincides with the division constriction. These results indicate that the FtsZ ring was part of the division apparatus of a common prokaryotic ancestor that was retained by both eubacteria and archaebacteria.

Notes: We have identified a new class of DNA gyrase mutants of Salmonella typhimurium that show chronic derepression of the SOS regulon. Thus, these mutants mimic the response of wild-type cells to gyrase inhibitors of the quinolone family. SOS induction by conditional lethal mutations gyrA208 or gyrB652, like that mediated by quinolones, is completely dependent on the function of the recB gene product. Introduction of recA or recB null mutations into these strains exacerbates their temperature-sensitive phenotype and prevents growth at the otherwise permissive temperature of 37°C. Selection of suppressors that concomitantly restore growth at 37°C and SOS induction in a recB− background yielded mutations that relieve the RecB requirement for homologous recombination; namely, sbcB mutations as well as mutations at a new locus that was named sbcE. Such mutations also restore SOS induction in quinolone-treated gyr+recB− strains. These findings indicate that Rec functions are needed for growth of the gyrase mutants at 37°C and suggest that recombinational repair intermediates constitute the SOS-inducing signal in the mutants as well as in quinolone-treated wild-type bacteria. Unlike quinolones, however, the gyr mutations described in this study do not cause detectable accumulation of ‘cleavable’ gyrase–DNA complexes in plasmid or chromosomal DNA. Yet gyrA208 (the only allele tested) was found to trigger RecB-mediated reckless degradation of chromosomal DNA in recA− cells at restrictive temperatures. Indirect evidence suggests that double-stranded DNA ends, entry sites for the RecBCD enzyme, are generated in the gyr mutants by the breakage of DNA-replication forks. We discuss how this could occur and how recombinational rescue of collapsed replication forks could account for cell survival (and SOS induction) in the gyr mutants as well as in quinolone-treated bacteria.

Notes: Haemophilus influenzae type b is an encapsulated bacterium that initiates infection by colonizing the upper respiratory epithelium. In vitro studies indicate that H. influenzae type b is capable of expressing two morphologically distinct filamentous adhesive structures, referred to as pili and fibrils, respectively. In this study, we examined adherence to a variety of human epithelial-cell types and demonstrated that pili and fibrils have separate cellular binding specificities. In addition, we found that capsular material inhibits fibril recognition of the host-cell surface. This inhibitory effect was reduced when bacteria were grown to stationary phase, reflecting diminished encapsulation. However, when growth medium was supplemented with Mg2+, stationary-phase organisms were relatively heavily encapsulated and non-adherent. These observations suggest that encapsulation can be modulated in response to growth phase or environmental signals. It is possible that encapsulation is down-modulated early in the infectious process in order to avoid interfering with colonization. In contrast, encapsulation may be up-modulated between hosts and during bacteremia, where it appears to confer a selective advantage. We speculate that this model may also apply to other encapsulated pathogens.

Notes: A new family of homologous membrane proteins that transport galactosides–pentoses–hexuronides (GPH) is described. By analysing the aligned amino acid sequences of the GPH family, and by exploiting their different specificities for cations and sugars, we have designed mutations that yield novel insights into the nature of ligand binding sites in membrane proteins. Mutants have been isolated/constructed in the melibiose transport proteins of Escherichia coliKlebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium, and the lactose transport protein of Streptococcus thermophilus which facilitate uncoupled transport or have an altered cation and/or substrate specificity. Most of the mutations map in the amino-terminal region, in or near amphipathic α-helices II and IV, or in interhelix-loop 10–11 of the transport proteins. On the basis of the kinetic properties of these mutants, and the primary and secondary structure analyses presented here, we speculate on the cation binding pocket of this family of transporters. The regulation of the transporters through interaction with, or phosphorylation by, components of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system is also discussed.

Notes: Depletion of nutrients, including phosphate, is a stress often encountered by a bacterial cell, and results in slowed growth, marking the cessation of exponential growth. Genes that are transcriptionally activated during phosphate starvation have been used to examine the signal-transduction mechanisms governing the Pho regulon in Bacillus subtilis. Alkaline phosphatase, the traditional reporter protein for Pho regulation in prokaryotes, is encoded by a multigene family in B. subtilis. Characterization of the alkaline phosphatase family was a breakthrough in the study of regulation of the Pho regulon, especially the discovery of promoter elements exclusively responsive to phosphate-starvation regulation. Current data suggest that at least three two-component signal-transduction systems interact, forming a regulatory network that controls the phosphate-deficiency response in B. subtilis. The interconnected pathways involve the PhoP–PhoR system, whose primary role is to mediate the phosphate-deficiency response; the Spo0 phosphorelay required for the initiation of sporulation; and a newly discovered signal-transduction system, ResD–ResE, which also has a role in respiratory regulation during late growth. Parallel pathways positively regulate the Pho response via PhoP–PhoR. One pathway includes the ResD–ResE system, while the other involves a transition-state regulator, AbrB. The Spo0 system represses the Pho response by negatively regulating both pathways. This review will discuss how the characterization of the APase multigene family made possible studies which show that the Pho regulon in B. subtilis is regulated by the integrated action of the Res, Pho and Spo signal-transduction systems.

Notes: Making use of a newly designed mobilizable suicide vector, the genetic determinants encoding Shigella sonnei lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were stably integrated into the chromosome of the live attenuated Vibrio cholerae vaccine strain CVD103-HgR. Expression studies showed that the production of complete S. sonnei O-polysaccharide (O-PS)-bearing LPS was limited in bivalent recombinant strains that were also proficient in the synthesis of the host-encoded Inaba O-PS. Conversely, high amounts of LPS carrying S. sonnei O-PS are produced in monovalent Inaba-deficient derivatives, even in those strains which do not co-express the compatible R1 LPS core. Thus, the non-enterobacterial V. cholerae LPS core efficiently acts as a receptor for covalent binding of S. sonnei O-PS provided that competition with the host O-PS is avoided. Expression of the R1 core interferes with cell division in recombinant V. cholerae without affecting other physiological properties of vaccine strain CVD103-HgR. Both monovalent and bivalent strains stimulated high serum-antibody titres specific for their respective O-serotype(s) when administered to rabbits. The potential of V. cholerae as an expression carrier for heterologous O-serotypes is discussed.

Notes: Gel shift and DNase I footprinting experiments showed that Escherichia coli FIS (factor for inversion stimulation) protein binds to at least seven sites in the promoter region of hns. These sites extend from −282 to +25 with two sites, closely flanking the DNA bend located at −150 from the transcriptional startpoint, partly overlapping the H-NS binding sites involved in the transcriptional autorepression of hns. The interplay between FIS, H-NS and the hns promoter region were studied by examining the effects of FIS and H-NS on in vitro transcription of hns–cat fusions, as well as looking at the effect of FIS on preformed complexes containing H-NS and a DNA fragment derived from the hns promoter region. Taken together, our data suggest that in the cell, FIS and H-NS interact with the promoter region of hns and influence their respective interactions (possibly competing for the same binding site), eliciting antagonistic effects so that an interplay between these proteins might contribute to the transcriptional control of hns

Notes: Using an oligonucleotide corresponding to the consensus sequence for the biotin-binding motif, two unlinked genetic loci, bpl1 and bpl2, were cloned from the erythromycin producer Saccharopolyspora erythraea and the nucleotide sequences of a c. 4 kb segment from each determined. The two loci share a virtually identical segment of 1746 nucleotides, coinciding with most of the genes designated bcpA1 and bcpA2 present in bpl1 and bpl2, respectively. The deduced sequences of these genes are highly similar to that of the α-chain of mammalian propionyl-CoA carboxylase. Upstream of bcpA2 lies pccB, the gene encoding the β-chain of this enzyme. Mutant strains carrying frameshift mutations in bcpA1 and pccB were constructed, but we failed to isolate insertional mutants in bcpA2. Propionyl-CoA carboxylase activity was undetectable in the pccB mutant, but was unaffected in the bcpA1-defective strain. These results indicate that pccB encodes the β-chain of propionyl-CoA carboxylases, and suggest that the α-chain of this enzyme, which is likely to be encoded by bcpA2, is shared with some other essential biotin-dependent enzyme. The pccB mutation had no impact on erythromycin production in complex medium.

Notes: The nature of the structure of the bacterial cell is becoming clearer. The envelope contains periseptal annuli, a discontinuous periplasm and adhesion sites, whilst the cytoplasmic membrane is probably organized into distinct proteolipid domains by the coupled transcription–translation–insertion (transertion) of membrane proteins. The structure of the nucleoid is determined by proteins which self-associate and by attachment to membrane, which is achieved in part by transertion. Metabolic pathways form multi-enzyme complexes which channel substrates and which connect membranes and nucleic acids to create the extensive, cross-linked, intracellular structure we term the ‘enzoskeleton’. This enzoskeleton includes eukaryotic-like cytoskeletal structures and elements such as the MukB and FtsZ proteins. We propose that the enzoskeleton is regulated by calcium and by protein phosphorylation during adaptation to different environments and during the cell cycle.

Notes: We have cloned a telomere and adjacent sequences from rat-derived Pneumocystis carinii using the ability of foreign telomeres to complement a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) deficient by one telomere in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Characterization of the cloned DNA in the recombinant YAC demonstrated that it was a chimera of two P. carinii sequences, namely a 13.5 kb fragment of mitochondrial DNA and an 8.3 kb distal portion consisting of subtelomeric DNA. The P. carinii telomere repeat was demonstrated to be TTAGGG, the most common telomere repeat found in organisms from the animal and fungal kingdoms. Karyotype analysis confirmed that this sequence was present on all the P. carinii chromosomes. Sequence adjacent to the telomere repeats was shown by Bal31 exonuclease digestion to be located at the chromosome ends. Analysis of the subtelomeric fragment revealed homology to the gene encoding the major surface glycoprotein of P. carinii

Notes: The surface of Pneumocystis carinii sp. f. carinii contains an antigen known as major surface glycoprotein (MSG), which is encoded by about 100 heterogeneous genes. Expression of MSG genes is not well understood. Previous work identified a sequence termed UCS, which is present at the beginning of nearly all MSG mRNAs, and which is likely to be involved in regulation of MSG gene transcription. Here we show that the UCS was present in one copy per haploid genome, but that different MSG genes were linked to the unique UCS locus in different members of a P. c. carinii population, predicting that individual organisms transcribe a limited number of MSG genes. This prediction was supported by indirect immunofluorescence observations. Comparison of three different populations of P. c. carinii showed that each contained a different set of MSG genes linked to the UCS, suggesting that UCS–MSG junctions are formed by recombination during population growth. Both the UCS and MSG genes were shown to be located at the ends of chromosomes, suggesting that the mechanism for UCS–MSG recombination is reciprocal exchange.

Notes: The Bacillus subtilis glpD gene encodes glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. This gene is preceded by a leader region containing an inverted repeat which acts as a transcription terminator. Expression of glpD is controlled by antitermination of transcription at the inverted repeat. Antitermination is effected by the glpP gene product in conjunction with glycerol-3-phosphate and, consequently, GlpP mutants fail to grow on glycerol as a sole carbon and energy source. We have isolated a number of glycerol-positive revertants of GlpP mutants. Most of these revertants have mutations in the inverted repeat of the glpD leader and produce glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase constitutively. Unlike wild-type bacteria, they are not sensitive to glucose repression of glpD. A few of the revertants are temperature sensitive, i.e. they grow on glycerol at 32°C but not at 45°C and produce glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase only at 32°C. Northern blot analyses demonstrated that the temperature-sensitive expression of glpD is due to destabilization of glpD mRNA. Furthermore, introduction of the wild-type glpP gene into the revertants stabilized the glpD mRNA. This is probably a result of a direct interaction between the GlpP protein and the leader of glpD mRNA. Besides its function in antitermination of transcription of glpD, it is suggested that GlpP is also involved in controlling glpD mRNA stability. Introduction of the glpP gene into the revertants also restored glucose repression, indicating that this repression is mediated by the GlpP protein.

Notes: A phosphate-dependent exonuclease activity was identified in purified protein fractions from Bacillus subtilis that were selected for binding to poly(I)-poly(C) agarose. Based on the characteristics of the degradation products and the absence of this activity in a pnpA strain, which contains a transposon insertion in the B. subtilis PNPase gene (Luttinger et al., 1996 — accompanying paper), this exonuclease activity was shown to be due to polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Processive 3′-to-5′ exonucleolytic degradation of an SP82 phage RNA substrate was stalled at a particular site. Structure probing of the RNA showed that the stall site was downstream of a particular stem-loop structure. A similar stall site was observed for an RNA that comprised the intergenic region between the B. subtilis rpsO and pnpA genes. The ability to initiate degradation of a substrate that had a stem structure at its 3′ end differed for the B. subtilis and Escherichia coli PNPase enzymes.

Notes: Multiple tandem copies of an immunogenic epitope comprising amino acids 8–23 of glycoprotein D of herpes simplex virus (HSV) were expressed as C-terminal fusions to tetanus toxin fragment C (TetC) in different Salmonella typhimurium live vaccine strains. Expression of the longer fusions was best in strains harbouring a lesion in htrA, a stress protein gene. SL3261, an aroA strain, did not effectively express the longer fusions. Mice immunised with an S. typhimurium C5 htrA mutant expressing fusions with two or four copies of the peptide made an antibody response to both the peptide and TetC, whereas constructs expressing one copy of the peptide only elicited antibody to TetC. A non-immunogenic octameric fusion underwent rearrangements in vivo resulting in a predominantly monomeric fusion. In contrast, the S. typhimurium SL3261 aroA vaccine expressing the TetC-tetrameric fusion did not elicit antibody to the peptide. Sera from mice immunised with a single dose of the dimer and tetramer fusions in the htrA strain neutralised HSV in vitro, and the mice were protected from HSV infection as measured by a reduction in virus load in the ear pinna. We have previously shown that mice vaccinated with salmonella expressing TetC are protected against tetanus toxin and virulent salmonella challenge. These results suggest that it may be possible to develop a multivalent vaccine against salmonellosis, tetanus and HSV.

Notes: Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli cells have two different class I ribonucleotide reductases encoded by the nrdEF and nrdAB operons. Despite the presence of one additional ribonucleotide reductase, the nrdAB-encoded enzyme is essential to the aerobic growth of the cell because nrdAB-defective mutants of both species are not viable in the presence of oxygen. Several factors controlling nrdAB gene transcription have been analysed intensively. Nothing is known about the expression of the nrdEF genes. To study this subject, and after cloning of E. coli nrdEF genes and sequencing of their 5′ ends, the promoter of this operon has been identified by primer extension in both bacterial species. The + 1 position was 691 bp and 692 bp upstream of the translational start points of the nrdE genes of S. typhimurium and E. coli, respectively. Downstream of the + 1 position, and before the nrdE gene, two open reading frames (ORFs) of 81 and 136 amino acid residues are present in both bacteria. The synthesis of a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 9 kDa, corresponding to the first of these two ORFs, was observed by using the T7 RNA polymerase expression system. Comparison of the amino acid predicted sequence of this ORF reveals a significant similarity with glutaredoxin proteins. Competitive, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments indicate that transcription from the nrdEF promoter normally takes place in wild-type cells. nrdEF transcription is increased by hydroxyurea, which inhibits class I ribonucleotide reductase activity, in both RecA+ and RecA− cells. nrdAts mutants show a higher level of nrdEF transcription than wild-type cells at either the permissive or the restrictive temperature. nrdEF expression was unaffected by changes in DNA supercoiling whether caused by the introduction of either topA ::Tn10 and hns ::Tn10 mutations or by the inhibition of DNA gyrase with the antibiotic novobiocin. In contrast to the nrdAB genes, the nrdEF operon is not essential to the cells because nrdEF-defective mutants are viable under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Notes: The product of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae omc gene possesses regions homologous to those found in members of a protein superfamily that are associated with the translocation of proteins and DNA-protein complexes across the outer membrane. Amongst its protein homologues, Omc has higher overall homology to PilQ, which is required for type IV pilus expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and OrfE, which is required for sequence-specific DNA uptake by Haemophilus influenzae. The function of Omc, however, is unknown and gonococcal omc mutants have not been described. We constructed gonococcal mutants expressing truncated forms of the protein, and found that these mutants are severely defective for both pilus expression and competence for natural transformation. To be consistent with pre-existing pilus gene nomenclature, we have redesignated the gene pilQ instead of omc, and its product, PilQ instead of Omc. The MS11 gene was sequenced and found to differ from the DNA sequence reported for that of another gonococcal strain; these differences were associated with a repeated DNA element, suggesting a genetic basis for structural variation in PilQ. The results also show that PilQ− mutants are distinct from previously described gonococcal pilus-assembly mutants and P. aeruginosa PilQ− mutants by virtue of their expression of rare pilus filaments. Taking these data into account, PilQ is proposed to function in the terminal steps of organelle biogenesis by acting as a pilus channel or pore.

Notes: The study of pathogenic is often limited to ex vivo assays and cell-culture correlates. A greater understanding of infectious diseases would be facilitated by in vivo analyses. Therefore, we have developed a method for detecting bacterial pathogens in a living host and used this method to evaluate disease processes for strains of Salmonella typhimurium that differ in their virulence for mice. Three strains of Salmonella were marked with bioluminescence through transformation with a plasmid conferring constitutive expression of bacterial luciferase. Detection of photons transmitted through tissues of animals infected with bioluminescent Salmonella allowed localization of the bacteria to specific tissues. In this manner progressive infections were distinguished from those that were persistent or abortive. We observed patterns of bio-luminescence that suggested the caecum may play a pivotal role in Salmonella pathogenesis. In vivo efficacy of an antibiotic was monitored using this optical method. This study demonstrates that the real time non-invasive analyses of pathogenic events and pharmacological monitoring can be performed in vivo.

Notes: Diphtheria toxin enters toxin-sensitive mammalian cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis employing the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor precursor as its receptor. We reported previously (Almond and Eidels, 1994) that cytoplasmic domain mutants of the toxin receptor and cells expressing wild-type receptor internalize toxin slowly, the rate being approximately that of normal turnover of the plasma membrane. To determine whether it was possible to increase toxin sensitivity by increasing the rate of toxin internalization, we constructed diphtheria toxin cytoplasmic domain mutant cell lines containing rapid-internalization signals from either the low density lipoprotein receptor or from the lysosomal acid phosphatase precursor. Although cells transfected with mutant receptor genes internalized toxin at a faster rate than those expressing the wild-type receptor, they showed a decrease in toxin sensitivity. This decreased sensitivity may be accounted for by an observed decrease in the number of toxin-binding sites and by an increased rate of toxin internalization and degradation. These results suggest that the rate of toxin internalization may not be the rate-limiting step in the cytotoxic process.

Notes: Expression of the lactose operon upon induction by IPTG was studied with Escherichia coli B/r and K-12 strains as a function of exposure to ultraviolet light. Patterns of expression inactivation were compared in cells with wild-type UvrABC nucleotide excision repair, with transcription-coupled excision repair (TCR) specifically defective because of a defect at mfd, or with excision repair (ER) and TCR eliminated by defects at uvrA or uvrC. Sets of inactivation patterns were also determined for cells expressing the lactose operon via the ‘UV5’ promoter, an alternative to the wild-type promoter that eliminates dependence of expression on negative DNA supercoiling. The results demonstrated a major contribution by TCR to successful gene expression. Gene expression was more sensitive to u.v. inactivation when TCR was defective and similarly more sensitive when both ER and TCR were defective. Thus, TCR may be the only means of repairing transcription-blocking damage at active genes. Contrasting results with wild-type and UV5 promoters suggested that relaxed supercoiling might accompany repair and reduce expression even though a template lesion is removed. A test of mismatch repair defects on ultraviolet inactivation of gene expression found only limited interference with TCR as it benefits gene expression.

Notes: The upstream activation sequence (UAS) in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin gene promoter contains three different motifs, specifically two AT-rich tracts, two binding sites for the yeast protein REB1, and an Mlul site. Synthetic UAS elements containing individual motifs, or combinations of them, were inserted in place of the natural UAS, and assayed using a lacZ reporter gene. The REB1 binding sites were found to be essential for, and sufficient to restore partial, UAS activity. AT-rich tracts alone were inactive. Multimerization of a REB1 binding site created a UAS that in galactose is more active, but in glucose less active, than a UAS having a single REB1 site with one AT-rich tract. In general, transcription during growth in galactose or glycerol/lactate responds more to multimerization of motifs. The results suggest that the natural actin promoter UAS retains activity on these alternative carbon sources because of reiteration of sequence elements within it; the additional elements appear to be redundant when cells are grown on glucose. The mlul site, which is present upstream of a number of yeast genes involved in DNA synthesis and confers cell cycle periodicity to those genes, contributes to the activity of the synthetic UAS elements, but not in a cell-cycle-dependent manner.

Notes: Expression of the Escherichia coli hlyCABD operon encoding synthesis, maturation and export of haemolysin toxin was strongly dependent upon a 35 bp DNA sequence, spanning the element GGCGGTAG, located 2 kbp upstream. When the hly operon was placed under the control of the inducible tac promoter, expression remained dependent upon this element, when transcribed in its native orientation 3′ of the promoter. The increase in ptac-directed transcription was strongest for the distal, export genes of the hly operon, and was particularly striking when ptac and the element were placed far upstream. The element did not influence transcript stability, and we suggest that it is a key component of a novel regulatory mechanism may suppresses transcription polarity within operons. The mechanism that be of widespread importance in bacterial gene expression because the 8 bp element is present in many Gram-negative species as an upstream component of operons encoding the production of toxins and the surface assembly of polysaccharides and components required for the conjugal transfer of DNA. We name it the ops element for operon polarity suppressor.

Notes: The M protein has been postulated to be a major group A streptococcal (GAS) virulence factor because of its contribution to the bacterial resistance to opsono-phagocytosis. Direct evidence of this was only provided for GAS strains which expressed a single M protein. The majority of GAS express additional, structurally similar M-related proteins, Mrp and Enn, which have been described as IgG- and IgA-binding proteins. To determine the involvement of Mrp and M protein in phagocytosis resistance, the mrp and emm genes from serotypes M2, M4, and M49 as well as from M-untypeable strain 64/14 were insertionally inactivated. The mrp and emm mutants were subjected to direct bactericidal assays. As judged by numbers of surviving colony-forming units, all mutant strains with the exception of the mrp4 mutant exhibited reduced multiplication factors as compared to the isogenic wild-type strains. Subsequent analysis of phagocytosis by flow cytometry, measuring association of BCECF/AM-labelled bacteria and granulocytes, paralleled the results from direct bactericidal assays regardless of whether isolated granulocytes or whole blood were utilized. Resistant wild-type GAS strains bound to less than 24% of granulocytes, whereas phagocytosis-sensitive controls attached to more than 90% of the white blood cells. 40 to 60% of the granulocytes associated with the mrp and emm mutants within 1 h of co-incubation. Kinetic data suggested that attachment to granulocytes proceeds faster for emm mutants than for corresponding mrp mutants. By adding a dihydro-rhodamine123 stain and measuring fluorescence induced by oxidative burst, the experimental data suggested that bacteria bound to granulocytes were also engulfed and integrated into phagolysosomes. Thus, these data indicated that, if present, both mrp and emm gene products contribute to phagocytosis resistance by decreasing bacterial binding to granulocytes.

Notes: The ‘aeg46.5 ’ operon was originally detected as an ‘anaerobically expressed gene’ located at minute 46.5 on the Escherichia coli linkage map. Subsequent results from the E. coli Genome Sequencing Project revealed that the ‘aeg46.5 ’ promoter was located in the centisome 49 (minute 47) region. Downstream from this promoter are 15 genes, seven of which are predicted to encode a periplasmic nitrate reductase and eight encode proteins homologous to proteins essential for cytochrome c assembly in other bacteria. All of these genes, together with the ‘aeg46.5 ’ promoter, have been subcloned on a 20 kb EcoRI fragment from Kohara phage 19D1. Evidence is presented that, as predicted, the region includes structural genes for two c-type cytochromes of mass 16 kDa and 24 kDa, which are transcribed from the previously described ‘aeg46.5 ’ promoter, and that the first seven genes encode a functional nitrate reductase. We, therefore, propose that they should be designated nap (nitrate reductase in the periplasm) genes. Plasmids encoding the entire 20 kb region, or only the downstream eight genes, complemented five mutations resulting in total absence of all five known c-type cytochromes in E. coli, providing biochemical evidence that these are ccm (for cytochrome c maturation) genes. The ccm region was transcribed both from the FNR-dependent, NarL- and NarP-regulated nap promoter (formerly the ‘aeg46.5 ’ promoter) and from constitutive or weakly regulated promoters apparently located within the downstream nap and ccm genes.

Notes: The nod C genes from rhizobia encode an N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase (chitin synthase) involved in the formation of lipo-chito-oligosaccharide Nod factors that initiate root nodule morphogenesis in legume plants. NodC proteins have two hydrophobic domains, one of about 21 residues at the N-terminus and a longer one, which could consist of two or three transmembrane spans, near the C-terminus. These two hydrophobic domains flank a large hydrophilic region that shows extensive homology with other β-glycosyl transferases. The topology of NodC in the inner membrane of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae was analysed using a series of gene fusions encoding proteins in which NodC was fused to alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) lacking an N-terminal transit sequence or to β-galactosidase (LacZ). Our data support a model in which the N-terminal hydrophobic domain spans the membrane in a Nout–Cin orientation, with the adjacent large hydrophilic domain being exposed to the cytoplasm. This orientation appears to depend upon the presence of the hydrophobic region near the C-terminus. We propose that this hydrophobic region contains three transmembrane spans, such that the C-terminus of NodC is located in the periplasm. A short region of about 40 amino acids, encompassing the last transmembrane span, is essential for the function of NodC. Our model for NodC topology suggests that most of NodC, including the region showing most similarity to other β-glycosyl transferases, is exposed to the cytoplasm, where it is likely that polymerization of N-acetyl glucoasamine occurs. Such a model is incompatible with previous reports suggesting that NodC spans both inner and outer membranes.

Notes: Transcription by RNA polymerase utilizing the alternative sigma factor σ54 is regulated by a distinct class of positive activators designated the σ54-dependent family. The activities of these regulators are themselves modulated in response to a wide variety of environmental signals. Factors that modulate the expression or the activity of the regulatory protein in response to chemical and metabolic changes are ultimately responsible for determining the level of expression of σ54-dependent genes and hence the diverse bacterial functions that they encode. Many members of the σ54-dependent family are part of two-component sensor-response systems. This MicroReview emphasizes recent data concerning the activities of a distinct subgroup of the σ54-dependent regulators that directly sense and respond with transcriptional activation to the presence of small effector molecules in their environment. The functional consequences of effector activation in terms of regulation of the enzymatic (ATPase) activity of these transcriptional activators and interdomain interactions are discussed.

Notes: The cell surface of Bacillus stearothermophilus PV72 is covered by a regular surface layer (S-layer) composed of a single species of protein, SbsA, with a molecular weight of 130 000. Recently, the sequence of the corresponding gene (sbsA) has been determined. The SbsA coding region including the signal sequence was cloned as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product into a low-copy-number vector under the transcriptional control of the λpL promoter. Expression of sbsA was shown to be thermally inducible from the resulting vector pBK4 in a strain of Escherichia coli expressing the λcI857 from the chromosome. As shown by ultrathin sectioning of whole cells and immunogold labelling using SbsA-specific antibodies, expression of sbsA in E. coli led to accumulation of sheet-like self-assembling products of the protein in the cytoplasm. No SbsA protein was detected either in the periplasm or in the supernatant fractions. Long-term expression of sbsA from pBK4, including in the late stationary phase, did not lead to degradation of SbsA.

Notes: The secretion of extracellular pectinases, among which there are least six isoenzymes of pectate lyase and one pectin methylesterase, allows the phytopathogenic bacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi to degrade pectin. A gene coding for a novel pectin methylesterase has been cloned from an E. chrysanthemi strain 3937 gene library. This gene, pemB, codes for a 433-amino-acid protein. The PemB N-terminal region has the characteristics of lipoprotein signal sequences. We have shown that the PemB precursor is processed and that palmitate is incorporated into the mature protein. The PemB lipoprotein is not released into the extracellular medium and is localized in the outer membrane. The PemB sequence presents homology with other pectin methylesterases from bacterial and plant origin. pemB-like proteins were detected in four other E. chrysanthemi strains but not in Erwinia carotovora strains. PemB was overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. PemB activity is strongly increased by non-ionic detergents. The enzyme is more active on methylated oligogalacturonides than on pectin, and it is necessary for the growth of the bacteria on oligomeric substrates. PemB is more probably involved in the degradation of methylated oligogalacturonides present in the periplasm of the bacteria, rather than in a direct action on extracellular pectin. pemB expression is inducible in the presence of pectin and is controlled by the negative regulator KdgR.

Notes: Pseudomonas fluorescens is a saprophytic bacterium commonly isolated from soil, water, and the surfaces and tissues of plants and animals. The species has important applications in biotechnology because it can enhance plant growth and protect crops against disease. A complete physical map of the 6.63 Mbp P. fluorescens SBW25 chromosome was constructed using data obtained from combinations of one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis of completely or partially digested chromosomal DNA with end labelling. In total, 139 restriction sites (15 PacI, 53 SpeI, 71 XbaI) were placed on the physical map and complete maps of the circular chromosome were obtained for both PacI and SpeI; only XbaI fragments linking SpeI fragments were positioned. The average resolution of restriction sites was 48 kbp. A genetic map was derived from the physical map by Southern hybridization and 31 genes were positioned including oriC, rDNA operons (rnnA–E), recAgacA and pyvD

Notes: Multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA) molecules consist of single-stranded DNA covalently linked to RNA. In Escherichia coli, such molecules are encoded by genetic elements called retrons. The DNA moieties of msDNAs have characteristic stem-loop structures, and most of these structures contain mismatched base pairs. Previously, we showed that retrons encoding msDNAs with mismatched base pairs are mutagenic when present in multicopy plasmids. In this study we show that such msDNAs, in a similar manner to genetic defects in mismatch repair, increase the frequency of interspecies recombination in matings between Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli. To demonstrate interference with mismatch repair by msDNA, we show that the addition of a plasmid containing the gene for MutS protein suppresses the mutagenic and recombinogenic effects of msDNAs. We also show that in mutS mutants, msDNA does not increase the frequency of either mutations or interspecies recombination. We conclude from these findings that the mutagenic and recombinogenic effects of msDNAs are due to titrating out MutS protein.

Notes: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the foremost cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the United States. A major virulence factor for GBS is its capsular polysaccharide, a high molecular weight polymer of branched oligosaccharide subunits. N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac or sialic acid), at the end of the polysaccharide side chains, is critical to the virulence function of the capsular polysaccharide. Neu5Ac must be activated by CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase before it is incorporated into the polymer. We showed previously that a transposon mutant of a serotype III GBS strain which had no detectable capsular Neu5Ac was deficient in CMP-Neu5Ac-synthetase activity (Wessels et al., 1992). In this paper, we report the identification and characterization of cpsF, a gene interrupted by transposon insertion in the previously described Neu5Ac-deficient mutant. The predicted amino acid sequence of the cpsF gene product shares 57% similarity and 37% identity with CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase encoded by the Escherichia coli K1 gene, neuA. The enzymatic function of the protein encoded by cpsF was established by cloning the gene in E. coli under the control of the T7 polymerase/promoter. Lysates of E. coli in which the cpsF gene product was expressed, catalysed the condensation of CTP with Neu5Ac to form CMP-Neu5Ac. In addition, when a CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase-deficient mutant of E. coli K1 was transformed with cpsF, K1 antigen expression was restored. We conclude that cpsF encodes CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase in type III GBS, and that the GBS enzyme can function in the capsule-synthesis of a heterologous bacterial species.

Notes: To test the effects of theta-type replication on homologous DNA recombination, we integrated in the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis a structure comprising a conditional replication region and direct repeats of ∼ 4 kb. The replicon was derived from a broad-host-range plasmid, pAMβ1, which replicates by a unidirectional theta mechanism and is thermosensitive. The direct repeats were derived from plasmid pBR322 and flanked the chloramphenicol-resistance gene of plasmid pC194. Recombination between the repeats could therefore lead to a loss of the resistance gene or the appearance of additional repeats. The integrated replicon was active at the permissive temperature, and ∼ 25% of the integrated plasmids could be isolated as Y-shaped molecules after restriction, having a branch at the replication origin. Replicon activity stimulated recombination four- to fivefold, as estimated from the proportion of chloramphenicol-sensitive cells at the restrictive and permissive temperature, and also led to the appearance of additional direct repeats. We conclude that theta-type replication stimulates homologous recombination and suggest that many or even most recombination events between long homologous sequences present in a bacterial genome may be the consequence of DNA replication.

Notes: The induction of stress proteins is an important component of the adaptional network of a non-growing cell of Bacillus subtilis. A diverse range of stresses such as heat shock, salt stress, ethanol, starvation for oxygen or nutrients etc. induce the same set of proteins, called general stress proteins. Although the adaptive functions of these proteins are largely unknown, they are proposed to provide general and rather non-specific protection of the cell under these adverse conditions. In addition to these non-specific general stress proteins, all extracellular signals induce a set of specific stress proteins that may confer specific protection against a particular stress factor. In B. subtilis at least three different classes of heat-inducible genes can be defined by their common regulatory characteristics: Class I genes, as exemplified by the dnaK and groE operons, are most efficiently induced by heat stress. Their expression involves a σA-dependent promoter, an inverted repeat (called the CIRCE element) highly conserved among eubacteria, and probably a repressor interacting with the CIRCE element. The majority of general stress genes (class II, more than 40) are induced at σB-dependent promoters by different growth-inhibiting conditions. The activation of σB by stress or starvation is the crucial event in the induction of this large stress regulon. Only a few genes, including lonclpCclpP, and ftsH, can respond to different stress factors independently of σB or CIRCE (class III). Stress induction of these genes occurs at promoters presumably recognized by σA and probably involves additional regulatory elements which remain to be defined.

Notes: The AMA1 sequence was isolated from a genomic library of Aspergillus nidulans on the basis of its ability to enhance transformation frequency and generate phenotypically unstable transformants in this fungus. These properties were previously shown to be the result of extrachromosomal replication of AMA1-bearing plasmids. Here we demonstrate that AMA1 is an inverted duplication of a sequence which has other isolated genomic copies. These sequences (mobile Aspergillus transformation enhancers, or MATEs) share a high degree of sequence similarity and exhibit some features characteristic of mobile elements, including a potential Met-tRNA priming site, similar to that found in retrotransposons of the Ty-copia group. The nucleotide sequence does not encode any extended polypeptides but contains ARS-consensus matches and a multiply repeated ‘Spe’ motif, which may be described as a symmetrically duplicated topoisomerase I recognition site. This motif was shown to be a target for illegitimate recombination events. The mobility of members of the MATE family is inferred from the observation that their chromosomal locations are highly variable between wild Aspergillus isolates. The inverted duplication AMA1 is present in laboratory strains derived from the Glasgow isolate but not in other wild isolates tested. This indicates that the inverted duplication AMA1 is of recent evolutionary origin and probably does not exert any conserved function in the chromosome. We discuss possible connections between structural features of AMA1 and its ability to promote extrachromosomal plasmid replication.

Notes: A novel gene shuffle approach has been developed for investigating the functions of genes on the cytoplasmic linear DNA killer plasmids of Kluyveromyces lactis. By transplacing k2ORF5 from the larger plasmid pGKL2(k2) onto pGKL1(k1) we have shown this gene to be essential and functionally interchangeable between plasmids. Once transferred onto k1, k2ORF5 is fully able to complement a k2ORF50 deletion on k2 in trans, giving rise to yeast strains containing only the two recombinant plasmid forms. Additionally, the in vivo product of k2ORF5 has been identified as a 19.5 kDa protein by transplacing an epitope-tagged k2ORF5 allele from k2 to k1. The ease of detection of the tagged ORF5 product in comparison to TRF1, the gene product of k2ORF10, indicates that Orf5p is one of the most abundant k2 products, implying structural rather than regulatory function.

Notes: Abf1p and Rap1p are global regulatory factors which play an essential role in the transcription activation of yeast ribosomal protein genes. This functional link prompted us to investigate whether these factors may be functionally interchangeable. We focused on the indispensable C-terminal portions of both factors and performed mutual domain swaps. The functional capacity of the resulting hybrid proteins was subsequently examined using yeast strains conditionally expressing either the ABF1 or the RAP1 gene. Both the Abf1p–Rap1p and the Rap1p–Abf1p fusion proteins were found to be able to complement the growth defect of the respective strains. Furthermore, Abf1p and Rap1p are both able to promote transcription of a reporter gene through a combination of the respective binding site and a T-rich promoter element. These data strongly suggest that the C-terminal domains of Abf1p and Rap1p have, at least partially, identical functions. Finally, a deletion analysis of the so far largely uncharacterized C-terminal domain of Abf1p was performed, which revealed that two regions of 50 amino acids can perform all essential Abf1p functions.

Notes: The genomic transferrin receptor genes (tbpA and tbpB ) from two strains of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and two strains of non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) have been cloned and sequenced. The deduced protein sequences of the H. influenzae tbpA genes were 95–100% conserved and those of the tbpB genes were 66–100% conserved. The tbpB gene from one strain of NTHi was found to encode a truncated Tbp2 protein. The tbpB genes from four additional NTHi strains were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing primers derived from the conserved N-terminal sequences of Tbp1 and Tbp2 and were found to encode full-length proteins. Although several bacterial species express transferrin receptors, when the Tbp1 and Tbp2 sequences from different organisms were compared, there was only limited homology. Recombinant Tbp1 and Tbp2 proteins were expressed from Escherichia coli and antisera were raised to the purified proteins. There was significant antigenic conservation of both Tbp1 and Tbp2 amongst H. influenzae strains, as determined by Western blot analysis. In a passive model of bacteraemia, infant rats were protected from challenge with Hib after transfer of anti-rTbp2 antiserum, but not after anti-rTbp1 antiserum.

Notes: The virulent phenotype of Shigella requires loci on the chromosome as well as on the large virulence plasmid, and is regulated via a complex web of interactions amongst various chromosomal and large plasmid genes. To further investigate the role of chromosomal loci in virulence, we performed random Tn10 mutagenesis in Shigella flexneri YSH6000T, and isolated an avirulent mutant (V3404) incapable of spreading throughout an epithelial cell monolayer. Although V3404 initially spread intercellularly at the same rate as the wild-type, it gradually slowed down and ceased spreading as a result of increasing defects in cell division, leading to the formation of long filamentous bacteria lacking septa, trapped within cells. In addition, the mutation affected the ability of V3404 to polymerize actin, a prerequisite for intra- and inter-cellular spreading ability. Sequencing of Tn10-flanking DNA revealed that the mutated gene, designated ispA (intracellular septation), was equivalent to a previously sequenced but uncharacterised gene of Escherichia coli located between trp and tonB. Using E. coli sequence data, we cloned the ispA gene from the YSH6000T chromosome and found that it complemented the V3404 mutation. Nucleotide sequencing and in vitro expression experiments revealed that ispA coded for a small (21 kDa), very hydrophobic protein. These results thus show that ispA is an essential virulence gene affecting several functions of the virulence process.

Notes: The glycine decarboxylase complex (GDC) is composed of four subunits referred to as H-, L-, P-, and T-proteins. The Saccharomyces cerevisiaeGCV2 gene, encoding the P-protein has been cloned by complementation of the gsd2 mutation which prevents cells converting glycine to serine or using glycine as the sole nitrogen source. The gene, located on the right arm of chromosome XIII adjacent to TPS1, encodes a product with a Mr of 114 385. Expression of GCV2 was induced by the addition of more than 200 μM glycine in the medium, and a maximal sixfold induction occurred above 1 mM. This response was specific to glycine and was not observed for any other amino acid. Under the same conditions, the intracellular level of glycine increased up to 30-fold. The levels of P- and L-protein transcripts and GDC activity were also elevated in cells grown in the presence of glycine. Deletion analysis of the GCV2 promoter delimited the control region which contains putative regulatory sites for GCN4 and GLN3 transcription factors.

Notes: Aerolysin is one of a large group of bacterial proteins that can kill target cells by forming discrete channels in their plasma membranes. The toxin has many properties in common with the porins of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane, including an extensive amount of β-structure, a high proportion of hydrophilic amino acid side-chains and no hydrophobic stretches in the primary structure. It also oligomerizes to produce an insertion-competent state. Aerolysin is secreted as a dimer by members of the Aeromonas family. It binds to a high-affinity receptor on the target cell that has recently been shown to be a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein. Binding is followed by heptamerization to form a structure that we propose contains a β-barrel which can insert into the membrane and produce a channel.

Notes: Exposure of bacterial cells to temperature changes induces the synthesis of a set proteins. We investigated the control of expression of the cspA gene, coding for the major cold-shock protein of Escherichia coli. This protein was shown to be transiently induced upon shift to low temperature. We demonstrated that the cspA mRNA is extremely unstable at 37°C with a half-life of approx. 10 s. Upon shift to 15°C cspA mRNA becomes highly stable. This mRNA stability is transient and is lost once the cells are adapted to the low temperature. Transcription fusions of lacZ containing part or most of the cspA gene do not show the rapid degradation at high temperature. Our results suggest that mRNA stability plays a major role in the control of the cspA gene. The expression of cspA is also regulated, to a smaller extent, by the relative increase in transcription after transfer to low temperature. A model by which cspA mRNA is regulated in response to temperature shift is discussed.

Notes: Physical maps of the chromosomes of three strains of Streptomyces ambofaciens were constructed by ordering AseI fragments generated from the genomic DNA as a single linear chromosome of about 8 Mb. The physical maps of the three strains were very similar. For strain DSM40697, a DraI map was obtained by positioning the DraI sites relative to the AseI map. Eighteen genetic markers as well as the deletable and amplifiable region were assigned to the AseI and DraI fragments in this strain. The resulting genetic map resembled that of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). The twoterminal AseI fragments exhibited retarded pulsed-field gel electrophoresis mobility, demonstrating that proteins are covalently bound at this position. A restriction map of this region was made using four additional endonucleases. Repeated sequences present at both ends of the chromosome were mapped as long terminal inverted repeats stretching over 210 kb. This corresponds to the longest terminal inverted repeats so far characterized. The deletable region of S. ambofaciens was localized at the chromosomal extremities.

Notes: The flagellins of Campylobacter spp. differ antigenically. In variants of C. coli strain VC167, two antigenic flagellin types determined by sero-specific antibodies have been described (termed T1 and T2). Post-translational modification has been suggested to be responsible for T1 and T2 epitopes, and, using mild periodate treatment and biotin hydrazide labelling, flagellin from both VC167-T1 and T2 were shown to be glycosylated. Glycosylation was also shown to be present on other Campylobacter flagellins. The ability to label all Campylobacter flagellins examined with the lectin LFA demonstrated the presence of a terminal sialic acid moiety. Furthermore, mild periodate treatment of the flagellins of VC167 eliminated reactivity with T1 and T2 specific antibodies LAH1 and LAH2, respectively, and LFA could also compete with LAH1 and LAH2 antibodies for binding to their respective flagellins. These data implicate terminal sialic acid as part of the LAH strain-specific epitopes. However, using mutants in genes affecting LAH serorecognition of flagellin it was demonstrated that sialic acid alone is not the LAH epitope. Rather, the epitope(s) is complex, probably involving multiple glycosyl and/or amino acid residues.

Notes: Three enzymes are specifically required for uptake and catabolism of citrate by Klebsiella pneumoniae under anaerobic conditions: a Na+-dependent citrate carrier (CitS), citrate lyase (CitDEF), and the Na+ pump oxalo-acetate decarboxylase (OadGAB). The corresponding genes are clustered on the chromosome, with the citCDEFG genes located upstream and divergent to the citS—oadGAB genes. We found that expression of citS from its native promoter in Escherichia coli requires the DNA region downstream of oadB. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this region revealed the presence of two adjacent genes, citA and citB, By sequence similarity, the predicted CitA and CitB proteins were identified as members of the two-component regulatory systems. The sensor kinase CitA contained, in the N-terminal half, two putative transmembrane helices which enclosed a presumably periplasmic domain of about 130 amino acids. The C-terminal half of the response regulator CitB harboured a helix-turn-helix motif typical of DNA-binding proteins. K. pneumoniaecitB null mutants were unable to grow anaerobically with citrate as the sole carbon and energy source (Cit− phenotype). When cultivated anaerobically with citrate plus glycerol, all of the citrate-specific fermentation enzymes were synthesized in the wild type, but not in the citB mutants. This showed that citS, oadGAB and citDEF required the CitB protein for expression and therefore are part of a regulon. In the wild type, synthesis of CitS, oxalo-acetate decarboxylase and citrate lyase was dependent on the presence of citrate, sodium ions and a low oxygen tension. In a citA null mutant which expressed citB constitutively at high levels, none of these signals was required for the formation of the citrate fermentation enzymes. This result suggested that citrate, Na+, and oxygen exerted their regulatory effects via the CitA/CitB system. In the presence of these signals, the citAB gene products induced their own synthesis. The positive autoregulation occurred via co-transcription of citAB with citS and oadGAB.

Notes: Surface-associated plasmin(ogen) may contribute to the invasive properties of various cells. Analysis of plasmin(ogen)-binding surface proteins is therefore of interest. The N-terminal variable regions of M-like (ML) proteins from five different group A streptococcal serotypes (33,41,52,53 and 56) exhibiting the plasminogen-binding phenotype were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant proteins all bound plasminogen with high affinity. The binding involved the kringle domains of plasminogen and was blocked by a lysine analogue, 6-aminohexanoic acid, indicating that lysine residues in the M-like proteins participate in the interaction. Sequence analysis revealed that the proteins contain common 13–16-amino-acid tandem repeats, each with a single central lysine residue. Experiments with fusion proteins and a 30-amino-acid synthetic peptide demonstrated that these repeats harbour the major plasminogen-binding site in the ML53 protein, as well as a binding site for the tissue-type plasminogen activator. Replacement of the lysine in the first repeat with alanine reduced the plasminogen-binding capacity of the ML53 protein by 80%. The results precisely localize the binding domain in a plasminogen surface receptor, thereby providing a unique ligand for the analysis of interactions between kringles and proteins with internal kringle-binding determinants.

Notes: Synechocystis PCC6803 displays two inorganic carbon-uptake processes, a low-affinity one (apparent Km: 300–400 µM) functional in cells grown under standard or limiting inorganic carbon concentrations, and one with a higher affinity (60±12 µM), detected only in cells adapted to limiting inorganic carbon conditions. A mutational and screening procedure allowed the isolation of a mutant deficient in the high-affinity system, but only slightly impaired in its growth capacities. The mutated genomic region revealed two open reading frames (ORFs), possibly belonging to an operonic structure. A clone in which the downstream ORF, hatR (high-affinity transport), had been inactivated showed a phenotype close to that of the original mutant. Inactivation of the other ORF, hatA, yielded a clone unable to grow in limiting inorganic carbon conditions. The deduced HatA protein showed no homology with any registered protein. It possessed three hydrophobic domains, including a putative signal peptide. Several hypotheses are considered as to its role. The deduced HatR protein, which possessed the features characteristic of the response regulators of the two-component regulatory systems ubiquitous in bacteria, might be a regulator controlling the activity of the high-affinity transport process. It would belong to the subclass of these molecules lacking the DNA-binding domain.

Notes: In one experimental system, several handles on the molecular mechanism of apparent adaptive mutation have emerged. The system is reversion of a lac frame-shift mutation in Escherichia coli. The molecular handles include a requirement for homologous recombination; the implication of DNA double-strand breaks as a molecular intermediate; a unique sequence spectrum of −1 deletions in mononucleotide repeats which implies polymerase errors, and also implies a failure of post-synthesis mismatch repair on those errors; and the involvement of sexual functions at some stage of the process. These molecular handles are revealing an unexpected new mechanism of mutagenesis.

Notes: An operon including two new genes (nasS and nasT) has been defined, cloned and sequenced. The deduced NASS protein is homologous to NRTA from Synechococcus sp. and to NASF from Klebsiella pneumoniae, two proteins involved in nitrate uptake. The predicted NAST polypeptide is homologous to the regulator proteins of the two-component regulatory systems. NASS plays a negative regulatory role in the synthesis of the nitrate and nitrite reductase. NAST is required for the expression of the nitrite—nitrate reductase operon (nasAB). Expression of the nasST operon is not under the control of the NTR system and is not regulated by the nitrogen source. A Φ(nasA—lacZ) fusion has been used to analyse expression of the nasAB operon in three different genetic backgrounds with altered nitrate reductase activity. Beta-galactosidase activity in two of them was independent of nitrate but in a mutant unable to reduce nitrate, nas-4, it was normally induced by nitrate.

Notes: Coliphage λ employs systems of transcription termination and antitermination to regulate gene expression. Early gene expression is regulated by the phage-encoded N protein working with a series of Escherichia coli proteins, Nus, at RNA sites, NUT, to modify RNA polymerase to a termination-resistant form. Expression of λ late genes is regulated by the phage-encoded Q antitermination protein. Q, which appears to use only one host factor, acts at a DNA site, qut, to modify RNA polymerase to a termination-resistant form. This review focuses on recent studies which show that: (i) N can mediate antitermination in vitro, independent of Nus proteins, (ii) Early genes in another lambdoid phage HK022 are also regulated by antitermination, where only an RNA signal appears necessary and sufficient to create a termination-resistant RNA polymerase. (iii) A part of the qut signal appears to be read from the non-template DNA strand. (iv) A host-encoded inhibitor of N antitermination appears to act through the NUT site as well as with the α subunit of RNA polymerase, and is antagonized by NusB protein.

Notes: A virulence-associated region in the genome of Dichelobacter nodosus has been shown to contain an integrase gene which is highly related to the integrases of Shigella flexneri phage Sf6 and coliphages P4 and φR73, together with open reading frames (vapB, C and D) related to genes borne on plasmids in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Treponema denticola. Similar to P4 and φR73, the vap region is bracketed by putative bacteriophage att sites and is adjacent to a tRNA gene, which suggests that the vap region has been derived by the integration of a bacteriophage, or a plasmid carrying a bacteriophage-related integrase gene. Many similarities in genes and genes clusters encoding virulence determinants have been found in distantly related bacteria. These genes are often located on plasmids in one organism but on the chromosome in others, implying that transmission of the genes has been followed by integration. Thus, the events which have generated the vap regions of D. nodosus may represent a common mechanism for transfer of virulence determinants. A number of genes involved in the virulence of bacterial pathogens are found on integrated bacteriophages, and we suggest that others will prove to be associated with tRNA genes and/or integrase genes derived from bacteriophages. The use of tRNA genes as integration sites for many bacteriophages and plasmids may favour intergeneric transmission, as tRNA genes are highly conserved.

Notes: STB secretion-deficient mutants were isolated using the synthetic transposon TnβIaM. Cultures were plated using a double-membrane system of cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose placed on Luria agar plates containing carbenicillin. The STB bound to the underlying nitrocellulose membrane was detected with anti-STB antibodies. The altered genes of two STB secretion-deficient mutants were identified by conjugation and complementation as toIC and dsbA. In cultures of well-characterized dsbA and toIC mutants, STB was absent from the culture supernatant. The role of ToIC and DsbA in the secretion of peptides is discussed.

Notes: HfIB, also called FtsH, is an essential Escherichia coli protein involved in the proteolysis of the heat-shock regulator σ32 and of the phage regulator λcll. The hfIB1(Ts) allele (formerly called ftsH1) conferring temperature-sensitive growth at 42°C is suppressed by loss of the ferric-uptake repressor Fur and by anaerobic growth. We show here that suppression requires TonB-dependent Fe(III) transport in the hfIB1(Ts) fur mutant during aerobic growth at 42°C and Feo-dependent Fe(II) transport during anaerobic growth at 42°C. Temperature-resistant growth of hfIB1(Ts) strains is also observed at 42°C in the presence of a high concentration of Fe(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) or Co(II) salts, but not in the presence of Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Ca(II) or Cr(III) salts. However, neither Ni(II) nor a fur mutation permits growth in the complete absence of HfIB. The heat-shock response, evaluated by an htpG::lacZ fusion, is overinduced in hfIB1(Ts) strains at 42°C because of stabilization of σ32. Growth in the presence of Ni(II) or in the absence of the Fur repressor abolishes this overinduction in the hfIB1(Ts) strain, and, in the hfIB1(Ts) fur mutant, σ32 is no longer stabilized at 42°C. These results reinforce the recent observation that HfIB is a metalloprotease active against σ32in vitro and suggest that it can associate functionally in vivo with Fe(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Co(II) ions.

Notes: The production of insecticidal crystal proteins (ICPs) in Bacillus thuringiensis normally coincides with sporulation, resulting in the appearance of parasporal crystalline inclusions within the mother cell. In most instances, the temporal and spatial regulation of ICP gene expression is determined at the transcriptional level by mother-cell-specific sigma factors that share homology with σE and σK from Bacillus subtilis. The crylll ICP genes are a notable exception; these genes are transcribed from σA-like promoters during vegetative growth, are induced or derepressed at the onset of stationary phase, and are overexpressed in sporulation mutants of B. thuringiensis blocked in the phosphorylation of Spo0A, a key regulator of sporulation initiation. Transcription alone, however, cannot account for the impressive ability of this bacterium to accumulate insecticidal proteins. A variety of post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms also contribute to the efficient production of ICPs in B. thuringiensis, thus making this bacterium a cost-effective biological control agent.

Notes: We have mutated Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCIB8250 to growth deficiency on phenol as sole carbon source and isolated genes with similarity to phenol hydroxylase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase by complementation. Sequence analysis reveals the presence of six open reading frames (ORFs) with similarities to a Pseudomonas multicomponent phenol hydroxylase which are followed by an ORF with similarity to catA from A. calcoaceticus ADP1. Transformation of these genes to ADP1 confers the ability to grow at the expense of phenol as sole carbon source. Primer extension analysis indicates phenol-inducible transcription from an RpoN-dependent promoter sharing sequence similarity with the σ54 consensus promoter sequence, except that the −12 box is GG instead of GC. A catA::lacZ transcriptional fusion shows the same induction profile for β-galactosidase expression as transcription from the σ54-dependent promoter. This result suggests that catA is cotranscribed in the same operon with the phenol hydroxylase-encoding genes and is consistent with the fact that no apparent additional promoter is found for catA by sequence analysis or primer extension. Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity is induced in NCIB8250 by benzoate, whereas β-galactosidase expression from the catA::lacZ fusion is not. This observation leads to the hypothesis that two differentially regulated catA genes should be present in that strain.