Evidence of participation of McrB(S) in McrBC restriction in Escherichia coli K-12.

The McrBC restriction system has the ability to restrict DNA containing 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, N4-methylcytosine, and 5-methylcytosine at specific sequences. The mcrB gene produces two gene products. The complete mcrB open reading frame produces a 51-kDa protein (McrB(L)) and a 33-kDa protein (McrB(S)). The smaller McrB polypeptide is produced from an in-frame, internal translational start site in the mcrB gene. The McrB(S) sequence is identical to that of McrB(L) except that it lacks 161 amino acids present at the N-terminal end of the latter protein. It has been suggested that McrB(L) is the DNA binding restriction subunit. The function of McrB(S) is unknown, although there has been speculation that it plays some role in the modulation of McrBC restriction. Studies of the function of McrB(S) have been challenging since it is produced in frame with McrB(L). In this study, we tested the effects of underproduction (via antisense RNA) and overproduction (via gene dosage) of mcrBC gene products on restriction levels of the mcrBC+ strain JM107. Among the parameters monitored was the induction of SOS responses, which indicate of DNA damage. Evidence from this study suggests that McrB(S) is necessary for stabilization of the McrBC restriction complex in vivo.

Role of curved DNA in binding of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase to promoters.

The ability of curved DNA upstream of the -35 region to affect the interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and promoter DNA was examined through the use of hybrid promoters. These promoters were constructed by substituting the curved DNA from two Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SP82 promoters for the comparable DNA of the bacteriophage lambda promoters lambda pR and lambda pL. The SP82 promoters possessed intrinsic DNA curvature upstream of their -35 regions, as characterized by runs of adenines in phase with the helical repeat. In vitro, the relative affinities of purified sigma 70-RNA polymerase for the promoters were determined in a competition binding assay. Hybrid promoters derived from lambda pR that contained curved DNA were bound by E. coli RNA polymerase more efficiently than was the original lambda pR. Binding of E. coli RNA polymerase to these hybrid promoters was favored on superhelical DNA templates according to gel retardation analysis. Both the supercoiled and relaxed forms of the hybrid lambda pL series were better competitors for E. coli RNA polymerase binding than was the original lambda pL. The results of DNase I footprinting analysis provided evidence for the wrapping of the upstream curved DNA of the hybrid lambda pR promoters around the E. coli RNA polymerase in a tight, nucleosomal-like fashion. The tight wrapping of the upstream DNA around the polymerase may facilitate the subsequent steps of DNA untwisting and strand separation.

Filtration and Utilization of Laboratory-Cultured Bacteria by Dreissena polymorpha, Corbicula fluminea, and Carunculina texasensis.

Dreissena polymorpha consumed about 6 x 108 Escherichia coli from 20 ml of artificial pondwater (APW) in 30 min under laboratory conditions. The clearance rate per mussel was 143 +/- 25 ml g-1 dry tissue min-1. The E. coli used in these studies ranged from about 1.7 to 2.9 {mu}m in length. 35S-labeled E. coli were used to demonstrate that bacteria-derived nutrients were incorporated into mussel tissue. Electrophoretic analysis of mussel and bacterial proteins on 12% polyacrylamide gels allowed the visual determination of incorporation of labeled amino acids into bivalve proteins and demonstrated that intact bacteria were not simply trapped in mussel tissues. The conversion of bacterial-labeled amino acids into mussel protein was about 26%. Similarly, we demonstrated that D. polymorpha can use other bacterial species ranging in size from about 1.3 to 4.1 µm, including Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus megaterium, and B. subtilus. The ability of D. polymorpha to take up E. coli was compared with that of two other freshwater mussels, Corbicula fluminea and Carunculina texasensis. On a mussel-dry-weight basis, D. polymorpha cleared bacteria 30 to 100 times faster than Corbicula fluminea and Carunculina texasensis, respectively. The ability to filter E. coli appears to be related to the architecture of the cirri on the latero-frontal cells of the gill. Cirri from Corbicula and Dreissena are similar in size, but Dreissena has a larger gill compared to the tissue dry-weight, and has 102 times more cirri than found in Corbicula. Carunculina, the unionid representative, has smaller and fewer cirri, and has relatively limited ability to capture E. coli.

Rotational orientation of upstream curved DNA affects promoter function in Bacillus subtilis.

The Alu156 promoter isolated from the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SP82 is dependent on curved DNA upstream of the -35 region for efficient function. Short DNA insertions of 6-29 base pairs were used to simultaneously change the linear placement and rotational orientation of this curved DNA relative to the -35 region. When these mutant promoters were analyzed in vivo using transcriptional fusions with a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, changes in the rotational orientation of the curved DNA correlated with changes in promoter function. The most efficient mutant promoters contained insertions of 11 and 21 base pairs, and insertions of 15 and 25 base pairs resulted in the least efficient mutant promoters. The importance of the proper rotational alignment of the curved DNA to promoter activity was also observed in vitro at the level of transcription of RNA polymerase binding. Based on the electrophoretic mobilities of DNA fragments containing the various insertion mutant promoters, there was a second region of curved DNA downstream of the insertion point. The findings are consistent with the idea that the curved DNA deflects the helix back toward the promoter-bound RNA polymerase molecule to allow the enzyme to interact directly with upstream DNA. These interactions are proposed to structure the DNA for the formation of the open promoter complex.

Identification of a second polypeptide required for McrB restriction of 5-methylcytosine-containing DNA in Escherichia coli K12.

The McrB restriction system in Escherichia coli K12 causes sequence-specific recognition and inactivation of DNA containing 5-methylcytosine residues. We have previously located the mcrB gene near hsdS at 99 min on the E. coli chromosome and demonstrated that it encodes a 51 kDa polypeptide required for restriction of M.AluI methylated (A-G-5mC-T) DNA. We show here, by analysis of maxicell protein synthesis of various cloned fragments from the mcrB region, that a second protein of approximately 39 kDa is also required for McrB-directed restriction. The new gene, designated mcrC, is adjacent to mcrB and located distally to hsdS. The McrB phenotype has been correlated previously with restriction of 5-hydroxy-methyl-cytosine (HMC)-containing T-even phage DNA that lacks the normal glucose modification of HMC, formally designated RglB (for restriction of glucoseless phage). This report reveals a difference between the previously correlated McrB and RglB restriction systems: while both require the mcrB gene product only the McrB system requires the newly identified mcrC-encoded 39-kDa polypeptide.

Nucleotide sequence of the McrB region of Escherichia coli K-12 and evidence for two independent translational initiation sites at the mcrB locus.

The McrB restriction system of Escherichia coli K-12 is responsible for the biological inactivation of foreign DNA that contains 5-methylcytosine residues (E. A. Raleigh and G. Wilson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:9070-9074, 1986). Within the McrB region of the chromosome is the mcrB gene, which encodes a protein of 51 kilodaltons (kDa) (T. K. Ross, E. C. Achberger, and H. D. Braymer, Gene 61:277-289, 1987), and the mcrC gene, the product of which is 39 kDa (T. K. Ross, E. C. Achberger, and H. D. Braymer, Mol. Gen. Genet., in press). The nucleotide sequence of a 2,695-base-pair segment encompassing the McrB region was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence was used to identify two open reading frames specifying peptides of 455 and 348 amino acids, corresponding to the products of the mcrB and mcrC genes, respectively. A single-nucleotide overlap was found to exist between the termination codon of the mcrB gene and the proposed initiation codon of the mcrC gene. The presence of an additional peptide of 33 kDa in strains containing various recombinant plasmids with portions of the McrB region has been reported by Ross et al. (Gene 61:277-289, 1987). The analysis of frameshift and deletion mutants of one such hybrid plasmid, pRAB-13, provided evidence for a second translational initiation site within the McrB open reading frame. The proposed start codon for translation of the 33-kDa peptide lies 481 nucleotides downstream from the initiation codon for the 51-kDa mcrB gene product. The 33-kDa peptide may play a regulatory role in the McrB restriction of DNA containing 5-methylcytosine.

Effect of polyadenine-containing curved DNA on promoter utilization in Bacillus subtilis.

The effect of DNA upstream of the -35 region on promoter function was examined using two promoters isolated from the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SP82. The affinity of RNA polymerase for the two promoters in vitro differed significantly. For each promoter the nucleotide sequence of the upstream DNA was characterized by the presence of successive runs of adenines with a 10-11-base pair periodicity. DNA fragments with the polyadenine-containing upstream DNA displayed aberrant electrophoretic mobilities when analyzed on polyacrylamide gels indicative of curved DNA. A series of mutant promoters in which the upstream DNA was deleted or altered was constructed. The curved DNA upstream of the -35 region was required for efficient RNA polymerase binding. Decreased in vitro transcription observed when the upstream DNA was deleted could be partially restored if the template was negatively supercoiled. Measurements of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase specific activity from B. subtilis strains carrying transcriptional fusions indicate that the curved upstream DNA stimulated transcription from the promoter with the weaker affinity for RNA polymerase. The curved DNA reduced the in vivo activity of the promoter with the strong affinity for RNA polymerase. One function of the curved upstream DNA may be to provide RNA polymerase-promoter interactions that facilitate open complex formation.

Characterization of the Escherichia coli modified cytosine restriction (mcrB) gene.

The McrB restriction system of Escherichia coli K-12 is responsible for the inactivation of 5-methylcytosine-containing DNA. The mcrB mutation of E. coli strain K802 was complemented by hybrid plasmid pUC9-14 which consists of a 5.5-kb Bg/II-Eco RI fragment from the E. coli K-12 chromosome cloned in pUC9 (Ross and Braymer, 1987). The limits of the mcrB gene within the 5.5-kb insert were defined by deleting portions the fragment and assaying for McrB restriction of M. AluI-methylated DNA. A 51-kDa polypeptide was identified as the mcrB gene product based on an analysis of maxicell-labeled polypeptides from pUC9-14 and deletion derivatives of this plasmid. Deletion analyses and transcription initiation assays enabled us to determine the direction of transcription and translation of mcrB. Transcription initiates approx. 710 bp beyond the end of the hsdS gene, and proceeds in the same direction as the transcription of the hsdR, hsdM, and hsdS genes, which is clockwise on the conventional E. coli map.

Interchangeability of delta subunits of RNA polymerase from different species of the genus Bacillus.

RNA polymerase was purified from five species of Bacillus, including Bacillus subtilis. Each polymerase had a subunit composition analogous to that reported for B. subtilis, i.e., beta beta '2 alpha sigma delta omega 1 omega 2. The delta subunits from the B. subtilis and Bacillus thuringiensis polymerases were interchangeable, as judged from their effects on promoter selection in the polymerase binding assay.

The effect of the delta subunit on the interaction of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase with bases in a SP82 early gene promoter.

We have examined the effect of the delta subunit on the interaction of the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase with an early gene promotor of phase SP82. Methylation by dimethyl sulfate, used to probe close approaches of polymerase to purines, revealed that noninitiated complexes formed by holo-enzyme (core-sigma-delta) had significantly fewer contacts than complexes formed by core-sigma. The presence or absence of delta had little or no effect on close approaches to purines in initiated complexes. DNAase I footprinting indicated that core-sigma was bound to the same region regardless of whether delta, initiating nucleotides, or both, were present. These data support the conclusion that delta acts prior to initiation to enhance promoter selectivity by limiting the number of possible interactions that the polymerase can make with DNA.

The role of the delta peptide of the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase in promoter selection.

We have examined the effect of the delta subunit of the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase on the formation of closed, open, and stably initiated complexes with Hha I restriction fragments of phage SP82 DNA; the effect of delta on the transcription of these DNA fragments has also been investigated. In vitro, the holoenzyme (core-sigma-delta) bound to and transcribed the same regions of the phage genome that are transcribed in vivo early in infection. In the absence of the delta subunit, the polymerase (core-sigma) bound nonspecifically and transcribed regions of the genome other than those containing early phage genes. Addition of delta to preparations of core-sigma restored the pattern of binding and transcription observed with the holoenzyme. Similarly, delta-less preparations of two SP82-modified forms of polymerase (the enzyme isolated at 8 min after infection and the enzyme isolated 20 min after infection) bound nonspecifically and transcribed regions of the genome other than those containing "middle" and "late" genes. Addition of delta to these preparations resulted in patterns of binding and transcription expected for enzymes functioning a middle and late times of infection, respectively. Quantitation of polymerase-DNA complexes at various temperatures, NaCl concentrations, and polymerase-DNA ratios supported the conclusion that delta enhanced promoter selection.

The interaction of Escherichia coli core RNA polymerase with specificity-determining subunits derived from unmodified and SP82-modified Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase.

the ability of the core isolated from Escherichia coli RNA polymerase to interact with specificity-determining subunits isolated from Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase has been determined by measuring the transcription of "early" and "middle" genes of phage SP82. Two specificity-determining subunits were tested: the sigma subunit and a 28,000 dalton (28 K) peptide isolated from a modified polymerase produced at approximately 8 min after infection of B. subtilis with SP82. Earlier experiments (Spiegelman, G. B. and Whiteley, H. R. (1978) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 81, 1058-1065) demonstrated that sigma and the 28K peptide are required for the recognition of early and middle gene promoters, respectively, by the B. subtilis core assembly. The present investigation showed that E. coli core interacted more efficiently with the B. subtilis sigma than with the 28K peptide, as judged by the rate of RNA synthesis. Early RNA was produced by the E. coli and B. subtilis holoenzymes and by E. coli core supplenented with B. subtilis sigma and only minor differences were found in comparisons of transcripts by hybridization and by electrophoretic analysis. Measurements of template specificity, the formation of stable enzyme . DNA complexes, and the hybridization of transcripts to fragments of SP82 DNA produced by digestion with restriction endonuclease Hha indicated that E. coli core supplemented with the 28K-supplemented E. coli core with those synthesized by the modified polymerase extracted from B. subtilis 8 min after infection with SP82 suggest that both preparations recognized the same initiation and termination sequences.

Isolation and characterization of morphogenetic mutants of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes.

Mutants of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes that exhibited altered ability to undergo the normal sphere-to-rod-to-sphere morphogenetic cycle were isolated. The procedure used to isolate these mutants involved velocity sedimentation in a sterile sucrose gradient to separate morphogenesis-deficient spherical cells from rod-shaped cells capable of normal morphogenesis. Three classes of mutants were obtained: (i) those that cannot form rods, (ii) those that cannot form long rods, and (iii) those that form long rods but exhibit more extensive rudimentary branching than the wild type. The isolation and characterization of these mutants are described, and the use of these mutants in the study of the morphogenetic cycle of arthrobacters is discussed.

Control of morphogenesis in Arthrobacter crystallopoiets: effect of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

The intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) were measured at various intervals during growth and morphogenesis in Arthrobacter crystallopoietes. Cyclic AMP levels remained relatively constant throughout growth in spherical cells grown in glucose-based media. Immediately after inoculation of spheres from glucose- to succinate-containing media, a 30-fold increase in intracellular cyclic AMP was detected. This dramatic rise in cyclic AMP preceded the observed change in cellular morphology from spheres to rods. The cyclic AMP level in rod-shaped cells rapidly dropped to a relatively stable concentration during the exponential growth phase. At the onset of stationary phase and rod-to-sphere morphological transition, a second peak of cyclic AMP was observed. Neither of these two peaks was detectable in a morphogenetic mutant that grew only as spheres. The intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in this mutant remained constant throughout exponential growth and decreased slightly during stationary phase. Effects of exogenously added cyclic nucleotides and their derivatives to both parent and mutant cultures were investigated. The data presented indicate that dramatic changes in intracellular cyclic AMP levels occur just before the morphological transitions characteristic of the morphogenetic cycle in A. crystallopoietes. It is suggested that cyclic AMP is a contributing factor in the regulatory phenomenon associated with morphogenesis in this bacterium.