Two newly identified membrane-associated and plastidic tomato HXKs: characteristics, predicted structure and intracellular localization.

Two new tomato hexokinase genes, LeHXK3 and LeHXK4, were cloned and characterized, placing tomato as the first plant with four characterized HXK genes. Based on their sequence, LeHXK3 is the third membrane-associated (type-B) and LeHXK4 is the first plastidic (type-A) HXK identified in tomato. Expression of HXK-GFP fusion proteins in protoplasts indicated that the LeHxk3 enzyme is associated with the mitochondria while LeHxk4 is localized in plastids. Furthermore, LeHxk4::GFP fusion protein is found within stromules, suggesting transport of LeHxk4 between plastids. Structure prediction of the various plant HXK enzymes suggests that unlike the plastidic HXKs, the predicted membrane-associated HXKs are positively charged near their putative N-terminal membrane anchor domain, which might enhance their association with the negatively charged membranes. LeHxk3 and LeHxk4 were analyzed following expression in yeast. Both enzymes have higher affinity for glucose relative to fructose and are inhibited by ADP. Yet, unlike the other HXKs, the stromal HXK has higher Vmax with glucose than with fructose. Expression analysis of the four HXK genes in tomato tissues demonstrated that LeHXK1 and LeHXK4 are the dominant HXKs in all tissues examined. Notably, the plastidic LeHXK4 is expressed in all tissues including starchless, non-photosynthetic sink tissues, such as pink and red fruits, implying phosphorylation of imported hexoses in plastids. It has been suggested that trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) might inhibit HXK activity. However, none of the yeast-expressed tomato HXK genes was sensitive either to T6P or to trehalose, suggesting that unlike fungi HXKs, plant HXKs are not regulated by T6P.

Multi-functional T-DNA/Ds tomato lines designed for gene cloning and molecular and physical dissection of the tomato genome.

In order to make the tomato genome more accessible for molecular analysis and gene cloning, we have produced 405 individual tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) lines containing a characterized copy of pJasm13, a multifunctional T-DNA/modified Ds transposon element construct. Both the T-DNA and the Ds element in pJasm13 harbor a set of selectable marker genes to monitor excision and reintegration of Ds and additionally, target sequences for rare cutting restriction enzymes (I-PpoI, SfiI, NotI) and for site-specific recombinases (Cre, FLP, R). Blast analysis of flanking genomic sequences of 174 T-DNA inserts revealed homology to transcribed genes in 69 (40%), of which about half are known or putatively identified as genes and ESTs. The map position of 140 individual inserts was determined on the molecular genetic map of tomato. These inserts are distributed over the 12 chromosomes of tomato, allowing targeted and non-targeted transposon tagging, marking of closely linked genes of interest and induction of chromosomal rearrangements including translocations or creation of saturation-deletions or inversions within defined regions linked to the T-DNA insertion site. The different features of pJasm13 were successfully tested in tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana, thus providing a new tool for molecular/genetic dissection studies, including molecular and physical mapping, mutation analysis and cloning strategies in tomato and potentially, in other plants as well.

Cloning and expression of the genes involved in the production of and immunity against the bacteriocin lacticin RM.

The production of lacticin RM, a novel bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis EZ26, is associated with the presence of a 6-kb plasmid, pHU1. The information necessary for lacticin RM production and immunity was localized to a 2.5-kb SalI-Eco47III fragment. Sequencing analysis of this fragment revealed the presence of six open reading frames (ORFs). Deletion and mutation analyses showed that orfX and orfY are not required for lacticin RM production or immunity, whereas the other ORFs (lacA, lacF, lacG and lacI) are necessary for the bacteriocin's production. Transcription analysis indicated that lacA, lacF and lacG are organized in an operon. lacA is probably the lacticin RM structural gene. It putatively encodes a 134-amino acid peptide, and it does not share homology with known bacteriocins. The deduced LacG protein is hydrophobic and consists of six potential trans-membrane helices. lacF encodes a conserved ATP-binding domain homologous to ABC transporters known in bacteriocin immunity systems. LacF and LacG may form an active ABC transporter. Gene-disruption mutations indicated that both are required for immunity against lacticin RM. lacI encodes a small cationic protein, which is required for the production of and immunity to lacticin RM. Protection was obtained only when lacF, lacG and lacI were present together.

Mutual effects of growth hormone and growth factors on avian skeletal muscle satellite cells.

Chicken growth hormone (cGH) has been shown to affect chicken skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro. This study describes the interactions of cGH with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Both cGH and bFGF induced cGH receptor (cGH-R) gene expression as well as that of the avian FGF receptor, FREK, when added at low concentrations to satellite cells. bFGF caused a rapid induction of cGH-R mRNA. Combinations of low levels of bFGF and cGH caused a further increase in receptor mRNA expression levels, relative to that caused by each peptide alone, and their effect on DNA synthesis was synergistic. However, combinations of cGH and bFGF at high concentrations decreased cGH-R and FREK mRNA levels and DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. These results imply that the mutual effects of bFGF and cGH on satellite cell proliferation are receptor-mediated and that each peptide regulates both receptors gene expression. IGF-I induced DNA synthesis in satellite cells but did not affect cGH-R gene expression at any of the concentrations tested. Coincubation of 3.5 ng/ml cGH and various concentrations of IGF-I did not significantly change DNA synthesis relative to the effect of cGH alone. However, combinations with high levels of cGH abolished it. Similar time-course (up to 6 hr) induction of DNA synthesis in serum-starved cells was observed in the presence of cGH or IGF-I, suggesting that cGH affects satellite cell proliferation in an IGF-I-independent manner.

Molecular characterization of the replicon of the Pediococcus pentosaceus 43200 pediocin A plasmid pMD136.

The pediocin A-encoding plasmid of Pediococcus pentosaceus 43200, pMD136, was characterized by restriction enzyme analysis. Analysis of its replicon was facilitated by the construction of a probe vector consisting of the Escherichia coli plasmid pSP72 and the cat gene from Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pC194. The replication region of pMD136 was localized on a 1.6-kb EcoRI/BglII fragment. Sequencing analysis revealed a non-coding region, repA, spanning the first 440 bp, followed by an open reading frame, repB, encoding a putative protein of 390 amino acids. The non-coding region contained two sets of 6-bp and two sets of 22-bp direct repeats and two sets of inverted repeats upstream of the open reading frame. Strong homology of the isolated replicon was found to theta-type replicons of Lactococcus lactis plasmids. Segregational stability assay suggested at least two regions as potentially involved in the stabilization of pMD136. The plasmid's strong homology to other theta-type replicons and its relatively high stability suggest that pMD136 belongs to the widespread family of theta-replication plasmids.

Development of polyclonal antibodies for detection of aflatoxigenic molds involving culture filtrate and chimeric proteins expressed in Escherichia coli.

Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) were raised against an aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus parasiticus by using two different sources for antibody elicitation: (i) filtrate of a culture on which the fungus had been grown (ii) and two chimeric proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli as separate products, of the genes ver-1 and apa-2, which are involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. The gene products were amplified by PCR, and each was cloned into the E. coli expression vector pGEX2T. Upon induction, the bacteria overexpressed 38- and 33-kDa chimeric proteins corresponding to the N-terminal domains of the genes ver-1 and apa-2, respectively. The chimeric proteins were isolated and affinity purified for use as antigens. The specificity of the raised antibodies was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The PAbs raised against the culture filtrate reacted with all the species of Aspergillus and Penicillium tested but not with Fusarium species or corn gain. However, the PAbs elicited against the chimeric proteins were highly specific, showing significantly higher ELISA absorbance values (A405) against A. parasiticus and A. flavus than against the other fungi tested and the corn grain. The approach of utilizing gene products associated with aflatoxin biosynthesis for antibody production therefore appears to be feasible. Such a multiantibody system combined with the PCR technique, could provide a useful tool for the rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection of aflatoxin producers present in grains and foods.

Detection of aflatoxigenic molds in grains by PCR.

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic metabolites produced by several members of the Aspergillus flavus group in grains and floods. Three genes, ver-1, omt-1, and apa-2, coding for key enzymes and a regulatory factor in aflatoxin biosynthesis, respectively, have been identified, and their DNA sequences have been published. In the present study, three primer pairs, each complementing the coding portion of one of the genes, were generated. DNA extracted from mycelia of five Aspergillus species, four Penicillium species, and two Fusarium species was used as PCR template for each of the primer pairs. DNA extracted from peanut, corn, and three insect species commonly found in stored grains was also tested. Positive results (DNA amplification) were achieved only with DNA of the aflatoxigenic molds Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus in all three primer pairs. The detection limit of the PCR was determined by using the primer pairs complementing the omt-1 and ver-1 genes. Sterile corn flour was inoculated separately with six different molds, each at several spore concentrations. Positive results were obtained only after a 24-h incubation in enriched media, with extracts of corn inoculated with A. parasiticus or A. flavus, even at the lowest spore concentration applied (10(2) spores per g). No DNA spores per g). It is concluded that genes involved in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway may form the basis for an accurate, sensitive, and specific detection system, using PCR, for aflatoxigenic strains in grains and foods.

The effects of growth hormone on avian skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation.

Growth hormone receptor (GH-R) mRNA was expressed in avian skeletal muscle tissue and satellite cells in culture, and was capable of binding chicken growth hormone (cGH). In the satellite cells, GH-R gene expression was regulated by cGH in a biphasic manner which correlated with the GH effect on cell proliferation: 2-10 ng/ml of the hormone increased GH-R mRNA and DNA synthesis, whereas higher concentrations attenuated these effects. GH induced insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA, a potential factor for satellite cell proliferation and differentiation. However, GH inhibited the gene expression of myogenin and the expression of muscle-specific proteins in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest a role of GH for inhibiting satellite cell differentiation in an IGF-I-independent manner. During satellite cell differentiation, both GH-R mRNA expression and cGH binding peaked when cells were still proliferating and beginning to fuse, and then declined as cells fully differentiated. GH-R mRNA expression in muscle tissue and the satellite cell fraction was evaluated during chicken growth. In both fractions, GH-R mRNA peaked at 4 days of age and then declined in correlation with the reduction of muscle regulatory gene expression. Our results are in contrast with previous studies on rat muscle satellite cells, suggesting a difference between mammalian and avian species in the mode of action of GH in these cells. Our notion is that GH, via its own receptor, promotes more satellite cells to proliferate by inhibiting their differentiation, leading to the addition of more nuclei to the growing muscle.

A new avian fibroblast growth factor receptor in myogenic and chondrogenic cell differentiation.

We studied the expression of FREK (fibroblast growth factor receptor-like embryonic kinase), a new receptor recently cloned from quail embryo, during the differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells and epiphyseal growth-plate chondrocytes. Although FREK mRNA was expressed in both cell types, satellite cells expressed higher levels of this mRNA than chondrocytes. FREK gene expression was found to be modulated by b-FGF in a biphasic manner: low concentrations increased expression, whereas high concentrations attenuated it. In both cell cultures, the levels of FREK mRNA declined during terminal differentiation. Moreover, retinoic acid (RA), which induces skeletal muscle satellite cells to differentiate, also caused a reduction in FREK gene expression in these cells. Induction of chondrocyte differentiation with ascorbic acid was monitored by a decrease in collagen type II gene expression and an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. Satellite cell differentiation was marked by morphological changes as well as by increased sarcomeric myogenin content and creatine kinase activity and changes in the expression of the regulatory muscle-specific genes, MyoD and myogenin. DNA synthesis in both cell types was stimulated by b-FGF. However, in satellite cells, the response was bell-shaped, peaking at 1 ng/ml b-FGF, whereas in chondrocytes, higher levels of b-FGF were needed. b-FGF-dependent DNA synthesis in satellite cells was decreased by RA at concentrations over 10(-7) M. The observed correlation between the level of FREK gene expression and various stages of differentiation, its modulation by b-FGF and RA, as well as the correlation between FREK gene expression and the physiological response to b-FGF, suggest that this specific FGF receptor plays an important role in muscle and cartilage cell differentiation.

[Restriction mapping of recombinant plasmids carrying the genes for arginine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli K-12]. / Restriktsionnoe kartirovanie rekombinantnykh plazmid, nesushchikh geny biosinteza arginina Escherichia coli K-12.

ArgA and argECBH genes of Escherichia coli K-12 were cloned on the pBR322 vector. Restriction maps of the recombinant plasmids were constructed. Deletion mutants of these recombinant plasmids, retaining the functional argA and argE genes, were obtained using different restriction enzymes. All of the recombinant derivatives have the replication properties of the pBR322 vector.